Creating the ultimate indulgent bathroom

Are you thinking about updating your bathroom to create the ultimate indulgent bathroom?

The Soak Design Team often are asked to offer suggestions for co-ordinating the en-suite look into the master bedroom or a dressing room.  We suggest taking one of the themes, usually colour, to link in with the bedroom.  In one of our installations the customer chose the Tresor range of tiles by Valentino and is planning to theme the room round this look.  We selected the floral tiles in black and white, and white and grey matching floor and wall tiles, along with black and white and white gold Bisazza tiles in the shower area .  We have suggested a couple of options - a black or black and white floral theme for one wall in the bedroom and using that as a theme for the whole room, or adding accessories in bathroom such as coloured towels that is then linked through to the bedroom, with perhaps black and white floral curtains.  Whichever our client chooses it is going to add tie in the glamour to both rooms and the bedroom continues seamlessly with the design. 

Soak in Style Design for Master En suite featuring Tresor by Valentino tiles

Soak in Style Design for Master En suite featuring Dansani Zaro

So what can you do to achieve the ultimate indulgence?

•  Look through magazines and keep pictures of what you like.  Look on websites of home related websites and at recently updated hotels which often have the ultimate indulgent bathrooms.
•  Decide on a budget and let the Design Team know what level you are thinking of, and what you want to achieve.  Your Designer can then plan your ultimate indulgent bathroom.
•  If you take showers most of the time, a wet room or flat walk in shower area is the way to go.  If you prefer the relaxing feeling of soaking in a bath you can choose a from a range of traditional or modern styles, or you can have a bath - such as the Bette Ocean - which is designed for showering and bathing.  In a small bathroom it is often better to have a large shower area rather than squeeze in a bath which can make the room look cramped.
•  Is storage a must?  If the answer is yes and it usually is, you can consider wall-hung furniture with either drawer of cupboards which give an attractive slimline look which gives a strong focal point in the room. It also means you can store all the clutter out of sight.  
•  Then comes the huge choice of colours and finishes!  High gloss colours - particularly the classics of grey, black, white or neutral (beige, greige etc) are popular at the moment, but plenty of people plump for a wood, or wood style finish.  
•  Do you like space either side of the basin?  You can  have a basin on top of a work-surface which has a wide choice of colours so you can compliment your choice of tiles.  Or you can choose a basin such as the Dansani Cadenza with plenty of space to the side.

Dansani Zaro in White with Cadenza basin, PuraVida basin tap

 Dansani Cadenza basin + Hansgrohe PuraVida tap

Or the Burgbad Oteo with plenty of space either side 

Burgbad Oteo

•  Most of the furniture manufacturers offer matching mirrors or mirror cabinets, giving you more storage as well as adding light to the room.  The cabinets also include the all essential electric toothbrush / shaver socket.  
•  Do you like listening to music in the bathroom? Bluetooth is available on a wide assortment of mirror cabinets from Duravit, or you can have the ultimate indulgence: a TV/Radio. 

  

  Duravit Sound System
  
  

  

  TV / Radio in a client's bathroom

•  Once you have established the colour of your furniture, you can think about tiles.  If your room is small you might want to consider neutral tones, you can always add a wow factor with some mosaics.  The larger the tiles, the larger the space will appear.  As well as colour, tiles and mosaics can also add texture and / or pattern to your bathroom. 
•  Lighting is equally important, and can create whatever mood you wish in your ultimate indulgent bathroom. 

Has this given you some ideas about creating your ultimate indulgent bathroom?  Why not come and see our showroom in Maidenhead and talk to us about your plans.  

Contact us by email on sales@soakinstyle.comor call us on 01628 783686.

Our Creative Director was a Finalist for the KBBR Bathroom Designer of the Year Awards 2013, 2012, 2011.

Soak in Style offer a bespoke design and installation service, or supply only.

Cersaie 2013

Bologna - Cersaie 2013- as usual a smorgasborg of visual delights and an assault on the senses!  If we were to sum up our visual impressions on tiles in a few words we would say Concrete, Neutral, Texture and Wood (effect).  All shades of neutral abounded, with 50 shades of grey leading the way.  Textured tiles were in abundance, with wood effect, etched or fabric designs.  In terms of sanitaryware and bathroom furniture there was a mix of contemporary and traditional.  Contemporary was cutting edge designs with whippet thin furniture.  Traditional was rich and ornate with lots of gold or brass, this may be an Italian trend rather then spreading over the rest of Europe.

Balmy Bologna on a September morning

Catalano Impronta

Catalano Impronta 1250

Catalano Proiezioni 1050

Catalano Sfera 1000 c/w Innova furniture

Valentino by Piemme -  Elite

Valentino by Piemme - Marmi Reali

Valentino by Piemme - Prestige Bianco

PiemmeGres - Essenze Frassino

PiemmeGres - Geostone Beige

Hansgrohe Raindance Select

Hansgrohe Raindance Select - fabulous flow of water

Bisazza Flow

Bisazza Kumo Light Cloud

Bisazza Andromeda

Bisazza Opera

Bisazza Frozen Garden - Winter designed by Marcel Wanders

Bisazza Frozen Garden - Ice

Frozen Garden - Ice from Bisazza, designed by Marcel Wanders

Amalfi bath by Victoria + Albert on the Apavisa stand

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?

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.