Victoria + Albert - Amiata

AMIATA - the new bath from Victoria  +   Albert

Victoria  +  Albert recently added a new bath to their collection of luxury QUARRYCAST® baths; the Amiata.  The Amiata, designed by the Italian designers Sandro Meneghello and Marco Paolelli of Meneghello Paolelli Associati, has elegant proportions with soft curves, and is a combination of stylish Italian design with all the comfort and elegance that Victoria  +  Albert baths are known for.  Amiata's timeless look is ideal for both modern and traditional bathrooms.  The designers, who have collaborated with several Italian companies including Antonio Lupi, were delighted with work with the unique QUARRYCAST® material.

The Amiata collection features a sophisticated ergonomic shape manufactured out of the Victoria  +  Albert trademark QUARRYCAST® - a highly durable white volcanic limestone and resin that ensures a smooth and glossy finish.  The innovative design is continued in the basin which echoes the stylish design.

The Amiata bath is 1645mm long, 800mm wide and 611mm deep, and the Amiata basin is 600mm long, 413mm wide and 157mm deep. 

The Barcelona and the Cheshire are currently on display in the Soak in Style showroom.  Come in and feel the quality and slip off your shoes and try the baths for size.  The Amiata bath and basin, and all other Victoria  +  Albert baths and basins, are available from Soak in Style.

Amiata bath and basins + Tubo basin taps and Bath Shower Mixer + Hand Shower

Amiata Collection by Victoria  +  Albert

Victoria  +  Albert Amiata basins, bath and Tubo basin taps + Bath Mixer and hand held Shower

Victoria  +  Albert Amiata with Tubo Bath Mixer

The Amiata by Victoria  + Albert

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.

Exciting New Changes ..

Soak are delighted to announce that they have been appointed dealers for The Grand Tour, which is now on display in the Soak in Style showroom.

The Grand Tour is a collection of exclusive bathroom products of superb quality .. let us take you on a voyage of discovery...

See the brochure for full information or come and see the quality of finish and how the stylish designs could be included in your new bathroom.

Mastella at Cersaie 2011

Mastella are one of the visionary leaders of bathroom design and they presented their newest ranges at Cersaie 2011, in Bologna.  As main dealers for Mastella, Soak attended the exhibition and can share a preview of the new ranges.

Kalla

Taking inspiration from the Calla Lily ... 

Calla lily

Kalla from Mastella

and you can see how the delicate lines of the Calla Lilly are replicated in the Kalla design

Fluted, sensual shape of the calla lillies

Kallashort 

The elegantly-executed, highly-sculptural 'Kallashort' by Oriano Favaretto and 'Sasso Nero' by Christian Piccolo  have been developed in Cristalplant; 'a fusion of acrylic resins and minerals which gives the product a compact, non-porous, full paste, resistant and pleasant to the touch'.  The Sasso (stone) Nero Basin was inspired by nature, in the form of a pebble in a brook and is available in black and white, the black version is created with a solid surface of the paste.  Soft and smooth surfaces give an aesthetic Rock basin, creating a unique and sophisticated style.

Mastella Sasso Nero and Gessi Goccia Basin Tap

Mastella Sasso Nero complemented by the teardrop design of Gessi Goccia

Anahita bath has been designed by Marco Baxadonne for a spacious and contemporary style bathroom. It is a freestanding bathtub: the wide elliptical shape with a spiral movement makes this bathtub a masterpiece.

Mastella Anahita bath

Design, high technological standards and functionality characterise the new Mastella products, which combine elegance with innovative composition.

Check out the new Mastella ranges on You Tube.

Decorex 2011 - The Grand Tour Collection

Shown here in bevelled Smoked Mirror-Glass with polished chromium handles, Daphne brings a moody sophistication to any bathroom or dressing-room setting. The lines of its elegant counter-top basin are echoed by a matching 'narciso' mirror.

Grand Tour Daphne Vanity Unit

 Employing precision firing and glazing techniques, the Ceramica Antica series boasts two very distinctive personalities: gloriously embellished ... with fine metallic finishes (example shown) and charmingly rustic thanks to earthy, pastel tones.

Grand Tour Ceramica Antica

Featuring a striking black lacquer finish to emphasise its curves coupled with genuine Swarovski crystal 'string of pearl' handles, the Jubilaeum series also comprises a choice of complementary WCs and Bidets in back-to-wall or wall-hung format.

Grand Tour Jubilaeum Vanity Unit

From Amethyst to Malachite, from Tiger’s Eye to Mother-of-Pearl, the Pavia tap range adds a flourish of colour and touch of character to any setting. Its wide choice of semi-precious stones are expertly set into fine metal-plating by skilled master-craftsmen.

Grand Tour Pavia Taps

You can see the The Grand Tour range or read the Grand Tour brochure and see what a fabulous range it is, and we saw it up at Decorex 2011.  The quality of the products is superlative and it is incredibly tactile.  A stunning impact can be achieved with this range.

Valentino-Piemme at Cersaie

Can't wait to see the new ranges from Valentino-Piemme at Cersaie 2011 as we are planning changes to the Soak Showroom.  So much to see and so much to choose from!

Here's a taster from last years new lines available from Valentino-Piemme:

Romantica Fiore Bianco from Valentino-Piemme

Romantica  

Romantica Beige; Romantica Giardino Beige from Valentino-Piemme

Valentino-Piemme Marmi Reali

Pico by Bouroullec from Mutina

Looking forward to seeing this at Cersaie!  Pico by Bouroullec from Mutina

Pico Floor Tiles

Pico Floor Tiles

Pico Floor tiles

Pico Wall Tile

Pico Mosaics

See the Pico Collection here

I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair!

Most of us know the glorious song I'm Gonna Wash that Man Right Outa My Hair from South Pacific by Rogers and Hammerstein, and you are probably wondering what that has to do with bathrooms?  Well on a wet and warm day in the Home Counties it seems appropriate to talk about showers (guess who regularly gets rained on walking their dogs between Autumn and Spring - and if we're really unlucky in the summer as well - before or after work!).

Many times in the showroom we find the showers are something the guys tend to concentrate on, particularly the latest technology, the flow rate, accompanying LED lighting, to give them an invigorating start to the day.

For the ladies it's often all about the bath as they like something comfortable to soak away the stresses of the day, and the Victoria and Albert Amalfi is particularly popular.

This works well for those who have 2 en suites, but most people have to find something suitable for either a family bathroom or a shared en suite.  Over the years we have listened to quite a few lively debates as people make their minds up about which route to go down!

However we can suggest a simple solution to this problem; a shower that suits those who prefer to be drenched all over with a rain shower and an alternative option for those who prefer a gentler flow aimed at the back of their head so not soaking the face.

“Haute Couture for the Shower”

“The Axor Starck ShowerCollection,” said Philippe Starck, “is a complete program, a genuine system consisting of a whole lot of small, square objects that can be combined to form an infinite range of totally flexible solutions. This is what we call Haute Couture for the shower.”

The shower, thermostat, lighting and speaker modules as well as shelf units are in the same square shape and the same minimal design, as are the control elements such as taps and mixers. All the modules can be combined freely in any arrangement, and in any number, giving a very clean look.

Axor Starck Shower Collection

Personality squared

“Just mix it” is the motto of the Axor Starck ShowerCollection. The modular design can be used to transform the shower into a tailored-made spa. The simple, easily customised system comprising shower heads, mixers and accessories provides almost endless design freedom. 12 x 12 cm squares can be arranged in line with your visions: whether in a linear or a free pattern – anything is possible, just talk to our designer.

To give you a few ideas here are an images from an en suite we are in the middle of installing:

Axor Starck Shower Collection

Axor Starck Shower Collection, Tresor -  Valentoni-Piemme, Soak in Style

Axor Starck Shower Collection; Tresor - Valentino-Piemme; Soak in Style

Apologies for the quality of the pics, taken on a mobile, but you can select whichever option you prefer even while singing to I've Gonna Wash that Man Right Outa my Hair!  Or going with the whole Raindance and music theme, how about "Singing in the Rain" or matching the striking Tresor Valentino-Piemme tiles "Flowers in the Rain"?