Compact living: bathrooms | FOCUS 3. 4.
3. The Young 2GS bifolding shower enclosure by Novellini features a rise-and-fall hinge, allowing the screen to be folded as well as hinged 5. Geberit’s Smyle bathroom series includes units with drawer dividers. These provide structure, allowing the user to maximise the space
4. The ModernLife range from Kohler features compact sink and toilet designs that are ideal for compact bathrooms where space is at a minimum 6. The 1,500mm Tubby Torre Duo, from The Albion Bath Company, features a purpose- built plinth that cleverly conceals the waste system
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trends for customisation and ‘wellness’ within the bathroom, it is understandable how hotel design elements are being incorporated into private homes like never before.” This might go some way to explaining why, even in the tiniest bathrooms, homeowners are so keen to express themselves and make a statement.
Fitting it all in
Of course, one of the biggest challenges when designing a compact bathroom is fitting everything in. Once you’ve included everything the client deems essential into the plan, working in clever storage can lift the design to new heights. Teverini suggests not only using walls and under the basin, but also including a drop-down bath panel where things can be stowed neatly away.
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your space. I do think it’s important for designers to keep on top of trends by following ‘influencers’ on social media, as trends are changing faster than ever.”
A vanity unit can provide an ideal solution in a small bathroom, providing there’s space for it, but Teverini notes that in the past these “often looked too modern and lacked visual depth”. However, she adds that the wood, stone and even metal- finished options available now provide a practical, yet beautiful, visual centrepiece that also looks seamless and airy, which is essential in a space-challenged room. Where there is no space for a vanity unit, Lyons recommends adding a 150mm stud wall. “By creating this stud wall, you do lose 150mm in space,” he says. “However, you then have the advantage of being able to include a wall-hung toilet (to free up floor space), as well as recesses within the shower cubicle to hold all toiletries and possibly a recessed mirror cabinet as well. This extra storage space more than outweighs the disadvantages of making the room that bit smaller.”
Go bespoke Teverini suggests using a bespoke joinery company to design and build wall cabinets and even under-basin cabinets, “as they really add value to a compact bathroom design project, because every centimetre of space can be used efficiently and to its maximum potential, which is so important for housing all the things you need to store discreetly”. Offering some final advice to fellow designers, Lyons says to be careful you don’t overdo it. “It is very easy to fall into an over- decorated design when you are simply following trends and not looking to find the balance between what is ‘in’ and what suits
August 2019 · kbbreview Bright future
Looking at how the market is likely to shape up over the next 12 months and beyond, it seems that pastels are going to be big. Trend forecasting service WGSN revealed that a pastel shade of green called ‘neo mint’, will dominate the worlds of fashion and interiors in 2020.
Meanwhile, we are likely to see soft pinks, peaches, blues and milky chocolate browns coming to the fore as ‘pastel neutrals’. Lyons sees these colours coming in matt finishes and being paired with metallic accents and accessories: “Pale pink and gold, pastel blue and brass, mint and bronze – the combinations are endless and the best way forward to keep a neutral palette and create a big impression in small spaces. Using pale and pastel colours help to bring light and keep harmony to create a welcoming room. These finish options bring individuality to a totally different level.”
But although homeowners are looking to inject personality and are prepared to make bolder choices to suit their style, they’re also looking for quality designs that will stand the test of time, Teverini says.
This means that designers will have to think carefully about how that personality is brought to the fore, as a cute pink sit-on basin that is trendy now isn’t necessarily going to be in five or 10 years – better perhaps to go mad on the walls with colour or tiles and stick to more neutral shades, or white, for most of the sanitaryware.
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Now, more than ever, showrooms need to be more on-trend and update their displays more regularly to gain the sale
Wayne Lyons, director, Soaks Bathrooms, Belfast
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7. This colourful design was created by a DIY hobbyist but demonstrates what can be achieved in a small space. The Crittall-style shower screen was manufactured and supplied by Soaks Bathrooms 8. The Inga mirrored floating shelf by My Furniture creates the illusion of light and space
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