Once upon a time the humble bathroom was less about luxury than it was functionality; for most of us luxury bathrooms were largely unheard of. But not anymore.
Over the last decade increasing importance has been attached to an area of our homes – and lives – which has steadily become so much more than merely a place to bathe. The modern bathroom helps to fulfil multiple roles; part beauty parlour, part art installation and part sanctuary. It is a place from which we can escape the rigours of daily life and rejuvenate, for a little while, at least.
Hardly surprising then, that year on year bathrooms have become ever more luxurious, design driven and highly conceptualised spaces. But, as luxury bathrooms receive ever more attention, it becomes increasingly important to be fully aware of what’s hot, and what’s not!
And so, working with experts at leading online retailer, Big Bathroom Shop, Luxury Lifestyle Magazine has taken look at what we should all be aiming for in 2016.
Designer Kitchen and Bathroom Awards
To get the best idea of who, and what, to keep an eye on, there can be few better resources than the Designer Kitchen and Bathroom Awards. Last year’s event saw 400 of the sector’s key figures gather to celebrate the hottest designs and designers, while taking a peek at upcoming trends. They weren’t disappointed!
“The big finale,” said Martin Allen-Smith, editor of Designer Kitchen & Bathroom magazine, “was the presentation of a Simon Taylor Award for Lifetime Achievement to Ludovica+Roberto Palmoba in honour of their colossal contribution to design within our industry.”
Finalists in the bathroom design category included such luminaries as David Aspinall, of Sapphire Spaces; Lesley Taylor and Ceri Evans, of Taylors Etc and Lisa Morgan of Morgan McDonnell Architecture.
Morgan, Mozzano, Victoria and Albert
Morgan, who walked away with the Bathroom Design of the Year (Under 15K) award, made excellent use of incoming light to beautifully compliment the natural materials used in both bath and basins.
A stunning limestone Mozzano bath, from Victoria and Albert, along with a floor mounted Hansgrohe filler, draws the eye immediately to what is the centrepiece of the room. In perfect harmony understated twin basins, along with wall mounted taps, serve to impart a sense of luxury while maintaining a broad appeal. The entire ensemble, set atop discreet double storage vanities, is offset by a full width mirror which adds a feeling of augmented space.
Steve Jacques, design expert with Big Bathroom Shop, said: “This year is all about organic shapes and natural materials, with Victoria and Albert a case in point. Their highly stylised use of material, rich in volcanic limestone, is setting a benchmark that will be with us for years to come.”
