Whether warm and cosy or clean and minimalist, a great bathroom requires both space-savvy planning and the right finishes.
1. Spa-style Serenity (Above)
Give your bathroom a luxurious quality with an indulgent round freestanding tub. Browse the Terrazzo range at Concept Stone Solutions for a selection made from reconstituted stone. A timber drainage tray, neatly echoing the shape of the bath, takes care of any overflow, while an amenities tray ensures close-to-hand convenience.
2. Open Washroom
Photograph: Lar Leslie/Bureaux
This bathroom, designed by architect Lauren Bolus, has been transformed from a closed, private area to an open-plan space. ‘The double shower and freestanding bath share a wet area,’ says Bolus. ‘There are no vertical glass barriers to interrupt the flow, and the dark-grey tiles give it a masculine and minimalist feel.’ This ‘Emily’ bath is available from Dado Baths and the spout, shower heads and mixers are all from Lavo Bathroom Concepts.
3. Bright Lighting
Photograph: Maxwell Mackenzie
When natural light is hard to come by, a combination of task and ambient lighting becomes key for creating a well-lit space. Place pendant lights in front of the vanity or use wall-mounted mirror lights to illuminate functional areas and use ceiling-mounted downlights to provide general lighting. ‘Dimmer switches are great for controlling the mood in your bathroom,’ suggests interior designer Yvonne O’Brien.
4. Period Character
Photograph: Brandon Barre Photography
An old-world aesthetic is created in this bathroom through the layering of details — dark wood, exposed plumbing and weathered copper fixtures. Italian copper taps and basins are available at Antique Bathrooms, while Handles Inc has an antique accessories range.
5. Updated Elegance
Photograph: Elsa Young
An old tub is upscaled — boxed in with marble and mouldings — giving this bathroom feminine, yet well-finished appeal. This ‘Burlington’ mounted bath mixer is available from Victorian Bathrooms, while classic Carrara marble can be found at World of Marble and Granite.
6. Fuss-free Finishes
Photograph: Alejandro Mezza
Clad from top to bottom, Carrara marble is simultaneously glamorous and practical — easy-to-clean, durable surfaces mean very low maintenance. A carved oblong slot in the front vanity façade provides a cool and compact hand-towel hanging space. For this look, try Primo Marble and Granite and finish it off with bathroom accessories from La Gio Bella.
7. Savvy Zoning
Photograph: Courtesy of Architects EAT
A great bathroom layout designates areas for specific functions. In this bathroom by Australian Architects EAT, the bathing area is separated from the washbasins — spectacularly mounted on cantilevered marble slabs — by two slender vanity walls. This allows privacy, without making the space feel small or stuffy.
8. Colour Pops
Photograph: Jean-Philippe Piter
A shower need not always be glassed off. If it occupies the corner of the room, like this one at Villa La Banane in the Caribbean, then retain a sense of openness by leaving off the screens and rather define the ‘wet’ space with waterproof feature walls in brightly coloured tiles. Create this look with the ‘Iceberg Collection’ Glass Mosaics from Italtile.
9. Little Luxuries
Photograph: Courtesy of Estancia La Bamba De Areco
Heated floors and towel rails may not be a necessity but these added extras can take a bathroom from good to great. Jeeves heated towel rails are 100-per-cent stainless steel with a 25-year guarantee, and with energy-efficient eco options on offer, you can indulge your senses without compromising the planet.
10. Quirky Touches
Photograph: Courtesy of Hotel De Brett New Zealand
When designing your bathroom layout, consider where and how towels will be stored and hung, and plan a space to dry off when stepping out of the tub. This bathroom at Hotel DeBrett in New Zealand uses a ladder as a towel rack placed within easy reach of both the bath and basin — an element that is both practical and visual. For similar bamboo ladders, contact LIM.
