Size counts: The bathroom is increasingly becoming a place of refuge – an intimate area in which you can really relax and unwind, and with this trend, it is essential that the room accommodates everything a homeowner would need in order to facilitate optimum relaxation. Gone are the days of poky little bathrooms at the back of the home – today's homeowners are knocking out walls to make their current bathrooms bigger, more functional and comfortable. A bigger space gives the room enough capacity for large separate showers and luxury bathtubs, as well as furniture to make the experience that much more sumptuous. Function marries form: Increasingly more homeowners are using fittings and fixtures that are not only functional, but that have an inspired design as well. Modern, traditional, elegant, cutting-edge – never before has sanitaryware been so stylised and design friendly.
With regards to faucets, rounded squares are all the rage, offering a sleek and minimalist design, which are high on functionality and ideally boast water-saving properties. Stand-alone baths and large showers, big enough for two, with body sprays for all-over showering pleasure are also modern day bathroom must-haves. Vessel basins are very popular, as are those fashioned from stone or composite to form the vanity top and the basin all in one solid piece.Furniture can be fun: With the increased size of bathrooms, there is now more room for furniture.
With the quest of refuge from the outside world, the notion of luxury has proven wildly attractive to consumers, and today we are seeing armoires, antique vanities, carets, chandeliers, and even the odd sofa or chaise longue being added to the bathroom. Yesterday's ho-hum bathroom now resembles and elegant living room – making an escape to the bathroom an indulgent and truly luxurious experience.The eclectic use of materials: Before, materials used in the bathroom were limited to ceramic, marble and steel. Today, however, the art of combining various materials has become a hot design trend – everything from chrome, steel, ceramic, composite and natural stone, glass, concrete and wood.
Mixing man-made materials with natural materials is an especially popular combination – for example, glass and chrome can be softened by the juxtaposition of natural stone and wood. Glass tile has also emerged as a very popular material, and believe it or not, stainless steel is also making its way back into the bathroom.Colour me beautiful: Although white remains the number one choice when it comes to bathroom sanitaryware, more and more homeowners are looking to add a bit of colour into their bathroom composition in the form of accents, on the walls and floors, as well as in their choice of tiles.
The latest color trends are running the gamut – natural hues are the most versatile, but increasingly, bolder colours, such as red, magenta, blue and green, are also popular.In the pursuit of luxury: For expedient on-hand luxury and comfort, more and more high-tech equipment and fittings are finding their way into the bathroom. The heated towel rail for example, is not so much a luxury today as it is a must-have. In the top-end bathrooms especially, the likes of a television, state-of-the-art sound system, bathroom heating and even an open fireplace is not uncommon. Spa baths and steam baths are also increasingly popular, and bathrooms with views are a real design windfall.
A blast from the past: More and more modern looks are borrowing elements from the past, combining new and old to create something that is both timeless and present, fresh and familiar.
An injection of subtle retro elements can make your bathroom look trendy, fresh and sophisticated. The trick is to keep things from looking dated or kitschy by creating a cohesive, balanced and classical look.Photos
Images courtesy of:
- Hans Grohe
- Duravit
- Lavo
- Tile Africa
Readers' Comments
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I wouldn't recommend glass tiles to anyone. We purchased ours through TileAfrica through a local supplier (glass tile) and now they are shattering on our walls! Not the greatest look at all for what we paid for - R2k for about 3 sq m (without the labour). Now Glass Tile and Tile Africa are pointing fingers at one another and no one is taking responsibility for a crappy product that is overpriced! Please, I really wouldn't recommend this glass tiles unless you make your readers very aware of how easily they can break. - Nicole
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