The bathroom is such an essential space. It bookends the day – it’s where you prepare for work as well as rest. Given its importance in our daily routines, the bathroom might deserve a bit more attention.
“Of all the rooms in the house, it’s the most personal,” says Barbara Sallick, senior designer and co-founder of Waterworks. “It’s the place where [people] have been encouraged to close and lock the door.” The design needs to reflect that security and comfort for those who use it. The space must be convenient, but it should also contain potential for escape – it could be a room where you spend hours on a Sunday, reading and having a restful soak in the tub. The bathroom, says Sallick, “is all about you.”
Memory and Modernity
“Design is very focused on memory,” says David O’Neil, president of Renaissance Tile & Bath. “When you see something, it invokes some history, somewhere you’ve been.” This explains the current trend of vintage and vintage-inspired pieces, like footed tubs and lighting that resembles old streetlamps. There is a delicate balance, however – filling a space with too many memories becomes chaotic. O’Neil says the key to achieving balance between artful nostalgia and kitsch is controlling the details of your space. Just a few small treasures can go a long way to enhance a room’s design.
Juxtaposition is important in this balance – you don’t want to simply copy a stale look because it’s evocative of a certain place or time. Make it your own, and make it fresh. Nostalgic looks can be updated in their embellishments (or lack thereof), in subtle color schemes, even in their materials.
When looking for inspiration, think about something specific that appeals to you. It could be an antique necklace, a piece of fabric, a pattern from old wrapping paper. Consider how that item makes you feel, and what the essence of that design could be.
Sallick took this approach for a bathroom of her own, and almost by accident. “I once saw the most extraordinary monogrammed towel,” she says. It was an ornate cream monogram on linen – she loved the way the colors looked together. The look stayed in Sallick’s mind, and evolved into an entire concept for her bathroom.
Embracing the Unusual
The first thing to shake off when redesigning the owner’s bath is the notion of how it “should” be arranged. Think about what you would like from that space. Increasingly common requests include a comfortable chair near the tub, shower seating, coffeemakers integrated with storage, or tiny refrigerators to hold makeup, water, or even a bottle of champagne. And the sky’s the limit where amenities are concerned – aromatherapeutic showers, Infiniti tubs, fireplaces, exercise equipment, bar areas, and media centers are showing up in expanded owner’s baths.
The perfect mix of usefulness and serenity is, of course, different for everyone. While some people are renegotiating their owner’s baths to be a catchall space, a place where they can prepare for the day while absorbing media (music, news, e-mail, even stock quotes), others just want it to be a true retreat, where they can turn everything else off.
Exotic Effects
With a bit of creativity, even a simple layout can energize and inspire. Big trends throughout the house are about bringing the outside in. This concept may be achieved with the use of natural materials and large windows, or even on a grander scale – by displaying artifacts from travel or incorporating design elements from other parts of the world. Asian-inspired design is big in the bathroom (as it is in the kitchen), and many designers agree this is because of the style’s simplicity and clean lines.
As a design element, tile is rich with possibilities. (For more on tile, see some of our favorites featured on page 153.) Mosaics continue to be popular in the bathroom, and people are experimenting with abstract designs. Sallick and O’Neil agree that mosaics have become far less literal; they are increasingly geometric or thematic. Designers are seeing the repeated use of a simple pattern (as either a full surface or an elegant trim) or a random smattering of complementary colors. These types of mosaics are much more versatile elements than, say, a realistic scene of a woman holding a jug.
Experiment with color. Marine colors are quite popular in the bathroom, and the quality of those colors is purer and clearer than the muted, dusty shades we’ve grown accustomed to, O’Neil says. A layout that is very basic can be enlivened with bright tiles or textiles, and sinks and vanities are available in bold colors and finishes.
Furnishings and Fixtures
Where bathroom furniture and storage are concerned, O’Neil says, people are moving toward custom pieces. “People want a true piece of furniture, not cabinets that look slammed up against the wall.” This contributes to a look that is deliberate and personal. Oversized chairs and lounges have a strong presence as well.
Shallow sinks are emerging as a dramatic design element, and are available in many shapes. Kohler’s line of Wading Pool lavatories feature rectangular basins just inches deep. Faucets are best unadorned, and a unique angle or delicate curve in a faucet’s line is a simple way to add modernity to a traditional space.
With finishes, natural is better. Faux finishes are on the decline, as are brushed metals. Living metals such as copper remain popular, and chrome is making a comeback.
Be Good to Your Guests
Most homeowners pay thorough attention to their owner’s baths, but the guest bathroom is commonly forgotten. It’s the space they’ll “get around to,” doomed to hold lesser quality towels and outdated accessories. That, says Sallick, is simply not good enough.
Take it up a notch. Remind yourself of the touches you’ve seen in fine hotels – the way an area attuned to your every need can feel. Bring this level of attention to your guest or child’s bath. Consider the shelving – is it an appropriate height? Is the design and storage understood upon entrance? Is everything stocked and full? Small touches such as aromatherapy products in the shower and bath or extra robes can make an unforgettable difference.
Many people, Sallick says, are taking guest bathroom cues from the newer boutique hotels and urban spas. Bathrooms in these buildings make the most of modest space, and triumph efficiency without skimping on creature comforts.
The Great Escape
Moments of respite can be difficult to come by. With the availability of spa amenities, luxuriant textiles, and soothing, clean designs, your bathroom can be transformed into a true experience, a place of escape. “Find your comfort level,” O’Neil says, “and push forward.”
It’s your space. Make it memorable.
