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.

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"?

Flowers that flirt with Fashion

Adding floral theme in your bathroom can range from flowers on your bathroom furniture to floral tiles.  They can be strong dramatic flowers or delicate pastel hues with subtle floral impressions.

Flower Power never goes out of fashion!

Catalano Roma Basin with delicate floral imprint

Catalano Roma sit on Basin with floral imprint

And there is even a Roma Shower Tray with the same delicate pattern

Bisazza tiled Mini with floral pattern

Bisazza Winter Flowers Oro Bianca

Bisazza Springtime Nero

Tresor Tiles by Valentino-Piemme

 Soak Design for ensuite wet room featuring Tresor tiles from Valentino-Piemme,
Zaro 2 drawer basin unit, mirror and cupboard in black rubber finish.

Soak design for en suite wet room featuring Tresor tiles from Valentino-Piemme, Raindance Rainfall Overhead Shower + Axor Starck Shower Collection Thermostatic & Shower Handset

Dune Petroglythe Floral Nero

Dune Petroglyphe Floral Cream - delicate golden hues

Often a floral theme is used in a Country / Traditional design for a bathroom, but with the increase of Boutique hotels with their stunning bathrooms and bedrooms, this has also moved into Contemporary designs, especially in an en suite.  You can instantly create an opulent feel or add instant glamour with a careful selection of tiles.  Include a feminine touch with flowers and counteract this with dark furniture gaining a masculine edge.  Sometimes less is more, so think of a small feature decor, or just one wall in the shower or where the bath is, or a splashback between a basin unit and a mirror.  Choose complementing towels picking out a colour in the tiles and feature this in your bedroom.  You can have your traditional roll top or slipper bath with a wall of floral tiles behind, reinforcing the design of your bedroom.

The world of florals is waiting to be explored, and our designer, who has also studied Interior Design, will be happy to help you indulge your dreams.