Stephanie McDonald reports on three words dominating new bathroom trends — colour, materials and shapes.
Bathrooms are not typically considered the most exciting area of a home. But as consumers look to spend time creating a resort-like feel in their home instead of travelling to a resort, the bathroom has emerged as a room in the house in which creativity can be let out. This has largely manifested in the use of colour and interesting and unique shapes.
Despite the economic downturn, the trend towards environmentally friendly design and products is still growing. This has had a flow on effect to the materials being used, for example, Paco Jaanson’s Drop showerhead, which is made from silicone, has no toxicity and low chemical reactivity.
The sustainability movement has also focused on saving water. Damien Cool, general manager — marketing at Argent Australia, says manufacturers have responded to this through simple measures such as creating basins which hold less water and therefore reduce excess water consumption.
While white and chrome will remain consumer and designer favourites, Ari Zorlu, director at Paco Jaasnon, says colour trends are leaning towards pastels in basins and bathroom accessories. “We are seeing a trend toward introducing a ‘splash of colour’ to vamp things up a little, whether that be in accessories or a feature tap, basin, etc.”
This move towards colour is a step away from the monochromatic colours of minimalism. But at Villeroy & Boch, black still has a place in the bathroom as a secondary and contrasting colour for basins and even toilets. “The black and white monochromatic look is particularly popular and is especially evident in tiles and tapware,” Cool says.
Villeroy & Boch’s Memento Black comes in a rectangular shape in a glossy black finish in the sizes 1,200 mm x 470 mm; 800 mm x 470 mm; 500 mm x 420 mm; and 600 mm x 420 mm. More colour is also being thrown into the bathroom with bright walls, such as red, orange and green tiles, but Cool concedes this could just be a short-term theme. Paco Jaanson has also introduced elements of black into its products with the Antonio Miro bathroom concept, comprising a washbasin, drawers, shelving and mirrors.
Different shapes have also been introduced into the bathroom, namely through uniquely shaped basins to give the room a twist. Paco Jaanson’s Urban range includes the Helix bench mount basin, which has an asymmetrical curl towards the tap and allows for wall or bench mounted tapware. Meanwhile, the Piroga basin looks like a 3D leaf with thin and varying edges. All the counter top basins also incorporate water efficiency with a shallow design.
In another departure from the minimalist theme, the sharp, strong lines of that trend are being softened into a more organic feel. Royston Wilson, designer at Caroma, says the company had a strong minimalistic style which has now softened out. In the long-term, Wilson sees a blending of the minimalist style and the Rococo Revival — glitz and glamour — into a trend called the New Romantic. “This basically means softer and more feminine colours using natural neutral tones, walnut, oak and mid-tone browns. Also, more softening features, though a little bit more fussy,” Wilson says.
This is evident in products like Caroma’s Cosmo above counter basin, which has a self-rimming edge and smooth tapware landing for easy cleaning. The round basin is available in white or ivory and has a bowl capacity of 3 litres. Caroma’s Geo was also developed after consultation with architects and interior designers and reflects the minimalist trend with a hint of softness. With the emphasis on shape, form and functionality, the Geo range combines round geometric lines with intersecting rectangular elements.
Jefa Greenaway, director at Greenaway Lowe, a multi- disciplinary architectural practice, believes bathrooms are being seen less as a functional space and more as an extension of the bedroom. This has been manifested in his use of feature lighting in bathrooms, including light fittings often seen in living areas.
Greenaway put this theory into practice recently in a home he designed in Kew, Melbourne. In the ensuite, he designed a curved double shower to give a sense of embrace and intimacy. Wall-hung sanitary fittings created a ‘floating’ sensation and helped to spatially enlarge the room.
A jade coloured opalescent mosaic tile extended the full length along the west wall. An obscure glazed floor-to- ceiling front window to the study provides light while shielding out the busy road and views of a cemetery opposite. Greenaway also used 300 mm x 600 mm porcelain floor tiles in ‘Metallic’ from Signorino.
Although the sustainability trend is continuing, consumers are now demanding products which not only have a positive affect on the environment, but which also come with a budget price-tag. Cool says product development is a long process, with the current ranges designed before the economic downturn set in. As a result, current products have not been impacted.
But Wilson says if the credit crunch increases in severity, we are likely to see an increase in the number of products within the bathroom space because when people feel stressed, they gather things around them to make them comfortable.
“We may see spaces becoming smaller and more intimate, more like a cocoon or security blanket. We will probably see baths getting wider and shallower and warmer materials being used. It will bring about the demise of minimalism in the long-term.”
