With a new tile shop in town there’s no better time to rethink your bathroom.
FIXTURES AND FITTINGS
“The big bathroom story this year is feature tiles.” says Jenny Simmons of Wright Tile, Chorleywood, “They come in so many finishes – high gloss or reflective, strong colours, bold patterns or super-size in scale. There are lots of brick tiles and geometric shapes like hexagonal and octagonal. As for colour, grey is still the winning neutral – dove, slate grey and graphite wall and floor tiles and vanity units look great teamed with white sanitaryware. There’s an element of black, used in wallpapers and cabinets or in tiles, often laid alternately with white in 60s chequerboard style.”
Another strong 2016 bathroom trend is the use of natural materials …timber in floors and vanity units, stone in floors and basins. Plus there are some convincing wood-lookalike tiles. Freestanding baths are getting more popular as are trough basins that come in a wide range of sizes and materials..copper, brushed nickel, even concrete. We are seeing square and angular shapes in baths, basins and fixtures – taps and showerheads, as well as the ever popular organic forms.
There are lots of metals coming through too, especially brass, copper and gold.
“I visited the Porcelanosa headquarters and factory in Spain recently and they had stunning rose gold shower heads” adds Jenny, “but the piece de resistance was a bath with Swarovski crystal trims that cost over £8000! It was amazing!”
COLOURS
Paints in pastel shades (calamine pink, cornflower blue) and warm subtle mid-tones and neutrals stand alongside vibrant colours like golden yellow, ochre and cherry red this year. There’s not a primary in sight…coral instead of orange and ochre replaces citrus or canary yellow (Dulux paints available from Lords; Farrow and Ball from Timeless Interiors). Tones of grey and any whites are always effective in the bathroom – Lords have a special offer on Dulux brilliant white this month.
Current wallpaper designs especially suited to bathrooms include bold geometric patterns, stylised nature-inspired prints, stripes and metallic (See fab ranges by Romo, Jab and Farrow & Ball at Timeless Interiors)
WINDOWS
Sheer fabrics work with contemporary or traditional bathrooms allowing soft filtered light while retaining privacy. There are some stunning voiles available from companies like Jab, Casamance, and Camengo (from Timeless Interiors). If shutters or wooden slatted blinds appeal, Timeless Interiors are also agents for Luxaflex as well as other leading brands.
WATER MUSIC
WATER MUSIC
Music and relaxation go hand in hand but wireless speakers and radios are best avoided when water is around. Sound and vision companies like Sevenoaks (p46), who specialise in multi-room AV, can sort out a sound system or TV in your bathroom.
“A Single stereo waterproof bathroom speaker linked to electronics outside the bathroom (commonly Sonos) are set into the ceiling so you can enjoy your music, radio, Spotify etc while you soak.” says Chris Ramsay of Sevenoaks, “We are also agents for Aquavision TVs which are specifically designed for bathroom installations. These TV’s can be set into any wall type and are normally tiled flush. Screens come from 16in to a whopping 65in and can connected to sky or virgin boxes normally located elsewhere.
Or you can listen to music through a smart mirror! Wright Tile supply Vibe and Pulse mirrors made by HiB that not only have backlit LED illumination but Bluetooth connectivity & integrated stereo speakers.
so you can play music or listen to internet radio from your iPhone or other Bluetooth™ devices. Check one out in their Chorleywood showroom soon.
EXTRAS
Not ready for a complete bathroom refit? Do a swift update with accessories like a glass panel splashback (Studio Six), add some open shelves or a streamlined glass trolley (Chaplins) and pile up the towels spa-style.
Stockists: Wright Tile Stone and Bathroom Centre, Lords Timeless Interiors Sevenoaks Chaplins , Studio Six
Main Pic: Farrow and Ball Rectory Red paint
Local Farrow and Ball Stockist Timeless Interiors