Soak in Style - Updated Website

The updated Soak in Style website has recently gone live - big thanks to Rawnet who designed and built our site and update it for us.

Trend Mosaics - one of the rotating images on the Soak in Style website

We have added some new pages including News and Portfolio pages which showcase some of our recent design and installations.

Wallingford Bathroom designed and installed by Soak in Style

A luxury ensuite for an old Georgian home in Wallingford with a separate walk-in shower area.

Holyport Bathroom with a Japanese influence designed and supplied by Soak in Style

Shower area for Master Bathroom in Holyport, designed and supplied by Soak in Style

Master ensuite for a newly renovated house in Holyport.  Our client has spent 20 years in Japan and wanted our designer to draw on that influence in all the bathrooms.

Fun family bathroom in Beaconsfield

Storage area in fun family bathroom

Our clients were refurbishing a 1930s home in Beaconsfield and our Creative Director designed and specified for their 6 bathrooms and 2 cloakrooms.  

Prospective clients can download our brochure from a link on the front page.  Also now shown on the Soak in Style website is a link to the blog so it's easier to follow.  We also have a Before and After page on the blog which is always helpful for those looking for inspiration.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our blog readers.

Catriona, Chris, Fiona + Rob

Creative Director Finalist KBBR Awards 2013 - Bathrooms up to £10K

Catriona Lock is a finalist in the KBBR Awards 2013 in the Bathroom Design Category up to £10K.  Catriona, who is Soak in Style's Creative Director, is a finalist for the 3rd consecutive year in the KBBR Awards.

The second floor where this bathroom is located has 2 bedrooms with their own en suite.  The children are now young but it is anticipated that this is where they will move when they are older - perhaps teenagers -  as these rooms adjoin a central room that could be a joint study.
  
Our clients had a young son with a daughter on the way, and wanted to reflect a grown up masculine versus feminine feel.  This room is the more feminine of the two and our client had some fairly set ideas  about the style and feel of the room.

Must haves were:

• Cross head taps, specifically a 3 tap hole wall mounted basin mixer to sit above a sink style basin on a wooden shelf.
• A large shower and separate bath
• A wall hung WC
• Storage was not important as the room had access to the eaves storage area from within and the bedroom would also house a fair mount of storage.  However this did mean incorporating 2 doors.
• Our client had sourced and chosen some small white brick mosaics which she wanted for the walls.  

These tiles enabled Catriona to get a clear picture of her vision for the space and brought it altogether harmoniously.

Catriona designed and specified the 6 bathrooms and 2 cloakrooms for the refurbishment of our clients 1930's home in Beaconsfield.  They are delighted with all the bathrooms.

Feeling the the blues . . .

Blue is the colour of the sea and sky bringing calm and tranquility to a room, and is always a popular choice in interiors and often used in a bathroom. Depending on the light in a room certain shades of blue can give a cold look but with the correct lighting blue brings a soft, soothing and clean feel to a room, which is desirable in a bathroom.  Adding an electric or cobalt blue give a dramatic effect that fills you with energy.  

Palazzo del Mare, Fisher Island FL,  by Pepe Calderin Design 

Close up of one of the Palazzo del Mare bathrooms

Dazzling blue bathroom featuring Trend mosaics in a home on Fisher Island, Florida.  This was designed by Pepe Calderin Design - click on the link to see the whole of this inspirational project.

Fabulous blue, grey and black tiles on display in the Soak showroom

The Ascot factor ...

You will stand out from the crowd with this cobalt blue fascinator

Not for the shy and retiring!  Stunning Royal Blue Crinoline and Feather Fascinator by Titfer Designs. 

Bisazza mosaics in an en-suite master bathroom designed and installed by Soak in Style as shown here.

Axor Starck Shower System with Bossini Dream Head with lights + Axor Starck body jets

Large Raindance Shower also with handheld shower head - ideal if you don't want to get your head drenched.

Bisazza Gerbera Shading Blend mosaics

Lighting on shower tray area adds a soothing effect when showering in the evening or very early morning.

Taking inspiration from Autumn/Winter / Spring fashion trends blue is a perennial favourite for all the seasons ..

Feeling the Blues - taking inspiration from fashion trends

Jason Wu's divine dress from his Spring / Summer 2013 show in New York; Blue Suede Shoes by corals and cognac needs no explaining (so which one is your favourite?);  Alexa Tassel in Ink Blue by Mulberry; Cobalt Blue Autumn / Winter 2012 - from Fashion Caramel featuring  Stella McCartney, Celine and Chanel; Essie Rhapsody Blue nail varnish.

And this rich shade of blue nail varnish from Chanel - terrific for your toes!

Blue Satin nail varnish from Chanel

New from Bisazza at Cersaie 2012

Bisazza Shift Antonella

Part of the Shift mosaic collection from Bisazza.

Interiors colour trends for Autumn / Winter 2012/13 - warm earthy tones, pale neutral as well as cooler greens.

Interior colour trends for Autumn / Winter 2012/13

Note the 2 different shades of blue from an inky blue similar to the fashion trends to a petrol blue - from Design with Purpose.

Bisazza China Blue

Bisazza China Blue mosaics add vibrancy and dynamism to any room.

True Blue kitchen via Habitually Chic designed by Københavns Møbelsnedkeri 

Kitchen in delicate shade of blue by København Møbelsnedkeri 

Close up of the kitchen with the pale colour complemented by a variety of blue patterned china.

Blue Kitchen by København Møbelsnedkeri

How about a blue radiator to enhance your colour scheme?  Bisque Decorative Panels come in a range of different sizes and colours can be ordered.

Bisque Decorative Panels available in assortment of sizes and colours

Decorative Panel Radiators with towel rail are available in different colours and sizes on a 6 week delivery from your Bisque stockist.

Blue Interiors

Blue Interiors - subtle colours of blue from nature with flowers and blue bottles; Anna French Glamour wallpaper in Lavinia, Wild Flora Bouquet wallpaper and Ballad Standish Embroidery Drapes in Blue.

Oasis Frame

Oasis Frame from the Master Collection in Blue as seen at Cersaie 2012.

Every shade and hue of blue can bring something different to your room, adding dramatic vibrancy or a soothing calm.  So how do you feel about a blue bathroom and would you choose a soft shade or a bright colour?

Baby, it's cold outside ..

It's a chilly winter's morning, and you are up early getting ready for the day ahead...

National Trust woods at Pinkneys Green Winter 2012

Scenario A

You enter your bathroom making sure you have a pair of slippers on as you know as you know from experience how unpleasant it is stepping on a freezing cold floor.  But if you are having a shower you are unable to avoid stepping on the tiled floor at some stage.  You are in and out of the bathroom as fast as possible and may even hop back into bed for a few minutes to warm up again.

Scenario B

When having your bathroom updated you have taken the advice of the designer at your local bathroom showroom and you have opted for underfloor heating.  So you stroll into your bathroom barefoot knowing the room will be warm, and you can confidently go barefoot as you tread on the toasty warm floor.

If you have cats you will find they make their way to the warmest area in your home ...

The cat crept in - sleeping on a toasty warm floor

Bathroom designed and installed in Maidenhead by Soak in Style with underfloor heating
- towel warmer is located just outside the shower area

Many bathrooms in the UK are small and underfloor heating saves you valuable radiator space on a wall as well as costing you less to run than a traditional radiator.  Our designers incorporate in their design a towel warmer on the wall where grabbing your towel is easy after a bath or shower.

Towel Warmer next door to the shower in Bray bathroom designed and installed by Soak in Style

Our designers also make recommendations on the size or shape of the towel warmer depending on how many people will be using the bathroom.   

Wet room with Impey Luxury Wetrooms + Aqua-Dec Drainage,  Aqua-Mat Underfloor Heating System + Thermostatic Timer; Wall-hung Duravit New Darling WC, Geberit WH Frame and Trend Feel + Liberty Mosaics

Walk-in shower and wall-hung WC in bijoux Bray weekend cottage with underfloor heating.

300mm Fixed Glass Panel 10mm thick, Duravit New Darling WH WC, Zhender Altai Spa Blue Quartz Towel Warmer

Wall-hung WC and towel warmer in Blue Quartz.

Catalano C3 90 1 TH Basin, Gessi Goccia Basin Mixer, unit supplied by builder

The towel warmer is located between the shower and the basin with easy access from either location.


Underfloor heating does need to be installed by a specialist, so you need to select your installer with care. 

Mint Inspirations

Whilst peppermint is a love it or hate taste, mint is a balmy soft hue that always has a feeling of calm and adds light to a room.  Green is the colour of nature and the delicate pale green shades of Mint are often used throughout a house.  Mint was extremely popular in bathrooms during the Art Deco period teamed with the classic black border tiles at floor level and borders breaking up the room. 

Art Deco Bathroom from Tim Barber Ltd

Mint really comes into its own on painted walls or furniture, and is frequently used in kitchens and bathrooms.

Anthony Mullan kitchen

Don't you just love this kitchen with a green work station with shelf that is made by Anthony Mullan Furniture from their Timeless Kitchen range.

Mint coloured tiles are often used in bathrooms as a soft colour which creates a luminous atmosphere adding light and space.

Mint Sensations from Soak in Style

Gessi Private Wellness Colour, Bisazza Sfumature Begonia and Zehnder towel warmer Regate in Green Quartz in the Soak in Style showroom; Bisazza Tosca; Trend Shading Jasmine and Valentino Harmony Verde

You can see in this collage the intensity and choice of colour you can achieve.

Mint Bliss with Soak in Style

Bisazza Green Mint; Bisazza Shading Blends, Bisazza Opera 25.06 (available 2013), Bisazza Green Wall and Burgbad Sinea.

Using mint with soft shades of cream, ivory or white create a light and airy room.  Mint and raspberry or any vivid shade or pink adds warmth and vibrancy as you can see in this picture from our showroom.

Taking inspiration from all things minty ... 

Mint Bedroom from Thornton Designs, Mint + Pink by Marmalade Interiors,  Brooch from BettyOctopus, Smeg Fridge/Freezer, Mint Candy Apple by Essie, Mint + Pink Macaroons 

A beautiful mint bedroom; mint walls with vivid pink chairs in a guest bedroom; a pink and mint felt brooch; a Smeg fridge/freezer from their Vintage 50's style collection; luscious nail varnish from Essie and scrumptious macaroons that would melt in your mouth. 
... including current fashion trends, paint, tea and back to bathrooms!

Cocoon Coat,  Duravit Starck 2 + Axor Starck Organic, Twinings Double Mint Sensations,  Bisazza Giza Bianco,  Farrow + Ball Breakfast Green

Fresh from the Winter 2012 collection J Crews Cocoon coat in Dublin Green; Duravit Starck 2 basins with Axor Starck Organic mixers with Mint tiles; Axor Starck mixer with alternative Duravit Starck 2 basin complemented by shades of Mint wallpaper; Twinings new Double Mint Sensations tea; Bisazza Giza Bianco mosaics on display in the Soak showroom; a coat stand is enhanced by Farrow + Ball Breakfast Green on the wall.

So are you all minted out or are you inspired to add mint to your bathroom?

Ex-Display - Duravit Happy D

Ex-Display Offer

Duravit Happy D

Wall Mounted Vanity Unit American Walnut + 650 1TH Washbasin,

Close Coupled WC, Axor Uno2 Single Lever Basin Mixer

+ Schneider Prideline 2 Door Mirror Cabinet 600

On display in the Soak showroom

Retail  £2847.60

Sale Price only £1695  SOLD

Thoughts on Cersaie 2012

Firstly apologies for the delay in posting this.  Went to Cersaie with the dregs of a viral infection and it returned - now on day 40 and so far it is winning ...

We started off in the main tile blocks, and colourwise things seemed more restrained than previously.  Summed it up in a Twitter post as 50 shades of neutral, as all shades of beige, greige, taupe, stone and grey led the way.

Purestone by Piemme

Metropolis from Epoca

Palladio vanity unit from Sbordoni

Satin from Valentino

Oasis furniture

Bisazza Variations Marzia

Bisazza Variations Fabia

  But of course there were bright colours - this is Cersaie after all; full of fire and passion, panache and colour with outstanding innovative designs and trends for the forthcoming year.  Here comes the colour!

Trend had a beautiful bright and eye-catching stand and showcased many of their Liberty mosaics.

Liberty Pearl by Trend

Liberty Red by Trend

Peacock from Trend

Stunning new high gloss furniture from Sbordoni to complement their Palladio traditional range.

Palladio vanity unit from Sbordoni

Sbordoni have also introduced a soft black nickel in their Neoclassica range to include stands, mirrors, taps and wastes and accessories.

Neoclassica soft nickel stand, taps and accessories by Sbordoni

Also showcased at Cersaie was the Florentia range of shower enclosures and Piatti Doccia trays.  Sbordoni firmly believe if you prefer a traditional bathroom you should have the choice of traditional shower enclosures and trays to enhance the showers.

Florentia Shower Enclosure by Sbordoni

Piatti Doccia trays from Sbordoni

Close up of Sbordoni shower enclosure and tray in gold finish

Bisazza looked glorious with white display stands enhancing their mosaics - their new range Variations is simply wow to see up close and personal ...

Bisazza Variations Fabia

Variations Marzia from Bisazza

 Variations Dark Line in shimmering shades of brown and gold.

Variations Dark Line

Bisazza Hayon with Brick mosaics

Vibrant colours lit up the Oasis stand as they introduced updates to their Luxury and Master ranges.

Oasis Luxury Collection

Oasis Luxury Collection

Oasis Master Collection

Oasis Master Collection

We saw many more companies and stands than those featured here and for creativity, innovation and sheer panache you can't beat Cersaie and the 2012 was no exception.