Feel like royalty when you freshen up.
Lavish yourself with a long soak in a vintage ball-and-claw tub filled with bubbles and the refreshing delicate aromas of luxurious bath salts – the classic vintage style bathroom is one that pivots around the feelings of romance, splendour and indulgence, and it is a style that is to be savoured and enjoyed.
If your sensibilities lean towards the romantic, but you also adore modern conveniences – a classical bathroom design will satisfy all of your longings. Jasmin Kraneveldt, director of leading sanitaryware supplier, Bathroom Bizarre, says that the vintage bathrooms of today merge a timelessly elegant look with the convenience of modern plumbing technology: “The simple, clean lines inspired by vintage bathroom design popularised in the 1920s and 1930s are very much back in vogue.
“This is no surprise, as with the drive to turn your bathroom into a spa-like retreat gaining momentum, so is the demand for lavish, yet classical bathroom styles on the rise. Another benefit of the vintage-style bathroom is the fact that they boast mass appeal and a timeless elegance that won’t date quickly, which ensures you get maximum bang for your renovating buck,” she explains.
The classic style
Whether you enjoy an abundance of visual elements or prefer a less cluttered look, your vintage bathroom can be decorated in a manner that reflects your personal sense of style. The main driver of this style stems from inspiration found in the sheer glamour of the roaring ‘20s. Otherwise known as the ‘Old Hollywood Glam’ look, it allows you to mix vintage and modern elements to create a bathroom composition that inspires a certain calmness, elegance and prestige.
Making a statement
What would any vintage bathroom be without a bath that makes a statement? Featured here, the Monte Carlo ball-and-claw bath from Bathroom Bizarre is manufactured from cast acrylic that has been reinforced with fibreglass. This material is exceptionally durable, boasts stable colour-holding qualities, is stain-resistant to any normal household detergents, and it is very easy to maintain and clean. “Weighing in at a mere 50kg, the bath is far lighter than its cast iron counterparts. Its compact design makes it a great solution for small bathrooms, and it is comparatively very reasonably priced,” notes Kraneveldt.
On a pedestal
Pedestal sinks are a must-have for any vintage bathroom – what you will lose out on storage; you will gain in old world charm. Made of glazed ceramic vitreous clay, Bathroom Bizarre’s Spectra basin and pedestal set boast an unusual cylindrical design, with lines that emulate the Roaring ‘20s. Brimming with period charm, the basin and pedestal set offer great space-saving dimensions, making them ideal for smaller vintage- or cottage-style bathrooms. For added storage, two floating glass shelves have been mounted above each sink.
Stylishly curved
Although the traditional ball-and-claw bath take pride of place in this bathroom, a separate shower enclosure keeps things practical, says Kranevedt: “There is no reason why you cannot use new fittings in your vintage shower – there are many high-end shower faucets and heads on the market that are manufactured with a vintage look.”
Taps of distinction
Faucets are generally more ornate and rounded in vintage bathrooms. Today there are many reproduction fittings with the vintage look of the past, but also boasting all the advantages of modern valve systems that are durable, water-wise and easy to repair. In this bathroom, the Isca Antica range of faucets available from Bathroom Bizarre has a well-suited classical appearance and a timeless appeal. Their star-shaped handles make them easy to grip, which is especially suited to the aged and the very young. Bathroom Bizarre’s standard Antica bath mixer can either be wall-mounted or mounted onto a floor-mounted stand pipe set so that they can be used alongside a free-standing bath.
Colour inspiration
Keep the tone calm and fresh with a neutral and light colour palette, accented with a hint of metallic pop. “Here, the walls have been painted in a very pale wild mushroom hue, complemented with crisp white sanitaryware, ceilings and trimmings. The colour palette was further accented with wallpapered panels in a Silver Birch theme, as well as various accessories and artwork in a variety of white, beige and silver tones,” explains Kraneveldt.
A silver forest
To add interest to the bathroom design, six wallpapered panels, each measuring 450mm x 2000mm, were hung behind the bath. Vinyl wallpaper was used with a Birch Pearl design printed directly onto the vinyl, which comes with a fine paper backing. It boasts a texture similar to heavy embossed paper, but requires less paste for hanging. It is a very durable surface, which can be lightly scrubbed, and although it is not entirely waterproof, it is splash-proof – making it an ideal choice for bathroom applications.
Elegant flooring
Lightly coloured, White Egger Vintage Wood laminate flooring was chosen to complement the room. Says Kraneveldt of the suitability of laminate flooring in the bathroom: “Laminate flooring can be installed in bathrooms, kitchens, and other places where you encounter topical moisture, but it will not tolerate standing pools of water. However, neither solid hardwood nor engineered wood can tolerate standing water either. For areas that experience heavy moisture, you would need a very impervious surface like vinyl or tile.” For an extra touch of indulgent glamour, a Persian carpet with gold, brown and light beige hues has been used as a super luxurious bath mat.
Sparkles up above
“When it comes to lighting, vintage bathrooms offer an opportunity to explore the decadent, the fanciful and the playful. In this bathroom, we featured a stunning crystal chandelier to supply the general lighting, and for practical reasons, this was complemented by a number of down lights for extra illumination,” concludes Kraneveldt. - Antonella Dési
All pictures courtesy of:
Bathroom Bizzare: www.bathroom.co.za.
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