With daring new designs and bold use of colour, modern bathrooms are becoming invigorating. Associate editor Piet Smedy researches 11 ways to successfully plan and execute a contemporary bathroom.
1. Colour blocking and graphic pattern are a surefire way to fast track a style upgrade – and the bolder the better. Take this Patricia Urquiola-designed bathroom for Room Mate Giulia hotel in Milan, which champions the use of primary hues.
Photograph: Courtesy of Room Mate Giulia
2. There’s a lot to be said for the advantages of a classic free-standing bath, argues Lynne Mausenbaum of Linea Brigio Design. ‘For starters it’s highly decorative yet still timeless. Most importantly, it doesn’t have to be built in, which gives homeowners a lot more freedom to play with room layouts.’
Photograph: Greg Cox/Bureaux.co.za
3. ‘Consider the thickness of your bathtub rim,’ says Lavo Bathroom Concepts’ Kirsten Stigling (who stock the pictured Novecento bathtub). ‘You want to rest your head on something comfortable, and a thicker edge is better suited to providing that.’
Photograph: Tessa Neustadt for Vanessa Alexander of Alexander Design p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #00afcd; -webkit-text-stroke: #00afcd} span.s1 {font-kerning: none}
Read more:
Victorian Bathrooms’ Joslyn Goodale Pickering shares four key ways to create luxury in your bathroom.
4. Corner baths, especially a free-standing unit such as this Duravit‘Paiova 5’ by EOOS, offer some interesting solutions in trickier bathroom spaces. The convex-polygon shape means it could fit snugly into a space that may have been less accommodating to an oval tub.
5. Be sure to investigate bathtub options that have a strong ergonomical-design element to them. Take the Sebastian Herkner for ex.t ‘Plateau’ bathtub, which comes with a customisable tray that works as an additional platform for displaying products while still keeping with the stylish feel.
6. A floating basin and shelving is a sure way to create an architectural, minimalist look – especially effective in smaller spaces. The trick here is getting the balance of proportion and alignment right; the different elements need to work cohesively rather than fight for dominance.
7. Tailor the design of your space to meet its specific needs. This pool house bathroom is the definition of casual chic – the oversized Kuadro basin, available through Lavo Bathroom Concepts, rests informally on the bench (perfect for rinsing off feet) and leaves room for towels, bathing suits or seating.
Photograph: Elsa Young
8. Guest bathrooms are by nature very transient spaces, so make yours high impact through unexpected design touches. This eclectic example combines colourful Christian Lacroix ‘Butterfly Parade’ wallpaper, available at Home Fabrics, with rustic furniture pieces and raw stone.
Photograph: Elsa Young
9. Bathroom accessories, such as this wooden towel rail from the Dot Line range by García Cumini, are a great opportunity for form and function to work together. ‘Due to its linear nature, it connects the different bathroom zones,’ says Lavo Bathroom Concepts’ Kirsten Stigling.
10. ‘Brass-plated products – generally with copper as the base metal – are a great choice in bathrooms, given its perennial popularity, as well as the material’s ability to add warmth and glamour, that is often lacking in chrome
finishes,’ says Geoff Ross at Copper Bath.
11. Monochromatic fixtures, such as this ‘Diametro 35’ bath mixer from the Black&White collection by Ritmonio, have become a popular option in recent years. Against a white wall, this piece would completely fade out of view yet, in this dark setting, it becomes an almost sculptural feature.
Photography
Supplied; Elsa Young, ritmonio.it, Greg Cox/bureaux.co.za, Tessa Neustadt for Vanessa Alexander of Alexander B Design, Duravit, shop.ex-t.com, Derek Swalwell for Ong&Ong
