BATHROOMS Q&AWITH…
Justin Homewood, Founder andManaging Director, TheWaterMonopoly, is put under the spotlight, looking at bathrooms and the history of design
Q
As a bathroomdesigner,what is your favoured type ofmaterial to
workwith? At TheWaterMonopolywemake all of our cast iron baths fromrecycled brake discs and I particularly like the different effects that you can makewith iron, polished or patinated. The embossing on the exterior of The Jennings Bath was a challenge,wellworth itwhen you look at the result.
Q
What type ofmaterial gives the best effectwhilst being easy to
manipulate and giving long lasting results? The easiest tomanipulatewould be brass, providing it isn’t a casting. In our newrange of taps, it is simple tomake tweaks here and there to get the perfect result.
Q
What is your favourite piece of furniturewithin a bathroom?
The bath for sure, closely followed by taps. It is
the
centrepiece.My reply to a clientwho says they don’t bathe, is ‘that they haven’t had the right bath yet’.
Q
Which period of history do you think had themost opulent style of
bathrooms? Themost opulentwas the lateVictorian/early Edwardian era. Bathroomswere very new, and thus themain bathroomCompanies, Twyfords, Shanks andDoulton, produced some very beautiful products.We have the original catalogues to prove it. When I showclients they cannot believe the range of products they offered.
Q
Howhave bathroomdesigns and client expectations of their
bathrooms changed over the years? Dramatically -whenwe first started TheWater Monopoly in 1988,we used to call the bathroom ‘the forgotten room’.Now, customerswill gladly sacrifice a bedroomfor a bathroom. I think that
they are starting to appreciate that it is the only roomwhere you can lock the door and get away fromthe stresses and strains of everyday life.
Q
Howhas the recession affected the choices clients aremaking?
During a recession peoplemove less and are possibly looking to refurbish their existing home. Eitherway, our clients are beingmore considered about the products they are
choosing.Customers do notmind spending a bit extra, as long as they are getting quality products. They are taking amoremeasured approach as they aremaking an investment into their premiumasset,whilst getting the day-to-day pleasure fromit over a longer period of time.
Q
If youweren’t a bathroomdesigner, whatwould you be?
Psychology
fascinatesme.Givenmy career again, Iwould definitely choose a profession that allowsme to live next to the sea.
designers and consumers lots of creative flexibility.”With 2012 set to be a big year for all things British, British Ceramic Tile’s latest offering couldn’t have come at a better time, as Sheila explains: “British design is at the heart ofwhatwe do and has been since the very first foundations of the company back in the 1890’s.We use ourwonderful British landscape as a continuous source of inspirationwhen creating each newrange, adding value through British design, quality, value and a serious approach to social and environmental responsibilities. The Colour Compendiumis verymuch a celebration of our strong British ethos.” British Ceramic Tile launched the Colour Compendiumto the trade this Spring, supported by a lifestyle brochure, dedicatedmedia relations campaign and point of salematerial. For more information telephone 0845 6187 148 or visit
www.britishceramictile.com
THE COLOUR COMPENDIUM
British Ceramic Tile, has launched itsmost extensive collection of coloured ceramicwall tiles to datewith the introduction of The Colour Compendium. Designed andmade in the UK, this newcollection is a complete range of coloured ceramicwall tiles in gloss, satin and textured finishes. Available in a versatile 148 x 148mmsize, in over 60 on trend colours, these high quality tiles have premiumglazes and a durablewhite body,with a shade to suit every tiling project. There are 46 gloss and 20 satin colours to choose from,with each colour also complemented by a scored option enabling amosaic effect to be created - helping to keep installation costs to aminimum. Sheila Elliott, Creative Director at British Ceramic Tile, commented: “The latest colour trends in interior design have been a key influence in the creation of this collection, allowing us to provide customerswith a rainbowof shades that are verymuch of themoment, yetwe have still taken into considerationmore traditional and conservative tastes. The Colour Compendiumcollection has truly covered the full spectrumgiving both
30 | Interior Design Today |
idtmagazine.co.uk
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