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.

Trending at Cersaie

Grege seemed to be the new colour!

Seen in tiles and furniture along with all shades of beige and grey, metallic colours featuring copper shades as well as the ever-popular black and white.  So although all shades of yellow (many of them very delicate and varied hues) are featured in clothes for next Spring, all shades of grey, beige and cream were leading the way in bathrooms.

Cersaie always previews forthcoming trends of colours and textures for interiors for the next year, and the neutrals continue in their pole position.

Avant Garde in Grege from Valentino-Piemme

Valentino-Piemme Ceramic Tiles

Gold and Silver was used occasionally to feature opulence, but in these times of financial uncertainty it seems that the manufacturers believe the consumer is playing safe, and has produced designs and ranges to cater for this.

There are always exceptions to this and there was of course plenty of extravagant diva-inspired designs of furniture and tiles to please those who prefer this look and have the funds for it.

Trend

Basins and Stand from The Wanders Collection, Bisazza Bagno

Valentino-Piemme Ceramic Tiles, Vanity Unit from Etrusca

On display at the Bisazza Bagno stand was a preview of The Wanders Collection designed by Dutch architect Marcel Wanders.  Bisazza have wowed us all with their mosaics for years, and now amaze us with their new line in bathrooms where they have collaborated with Jaime Hayon and Marcel Wanders who have worked with Bisazza before.

Star of the show for us is the amazing chandelier that is a shower on the Bisazza Bagno stand.  Delicate tear drops of crystal with water pouring from the middle - simply sensational.

  Shower from Bisazza Bagno Wanders Collection

Aren't those showers absolutely amazing?