PRODUCTS | Luxury market
LEFT: A design from Ceramique Internationale’s Stripes tile collection
Bette produces a variety of bold and colourful baths and basins
But colour and size are not the only aspects
that make an appliance luxurious, there are also functional elements, such as smart technology or energy-saving credentials says Novy’s Harrison. Creating a luxury kitchen can also be about adding in non-essential items like a coffee machine or wine cabinet. Neil Pooley, category manager for Kitchens at Miele GB, agrees, saying that built-in coffee machines have become particularly popular this year as local coffee shops closed during the fi rst lockdown.
Bold and brilliant tiles Tiles have enjoyed a resurgence in the past couple of years. Thanks to the evolution of the sector and the introduction of new printing techniques, tiles are no longer just available in plain white. Choosing a patterned or coloured tile can really make a luxury statement in either a kitchen or a bathroom. Despite the move away from plain white, natural tones and shades are still the most popular tile fi nishes, but a few customers are becoming bolder. “We are noticing more and more that homeowners are becoming increasingly brave when it comes to surface and colour choices in the home. Natural stone is the perfect choice for those wanting to make a statement without completely overpowering the space,” says Hege Lundh, marketing director of Lundhs. Neutrals are a base for designers to build upon, as too many patterns or colours can be overwhelming. Mar Esteve Cortes, director at Neolith, says: “Don’t overcrowd the room with
A small space that is uncluttered and streamlined, with a splash of colour and standout materials and
fi nishes can be just as breathtaking as a large room Ben Bryden, sales and marketing director at RAK Ceramics UK
too many different, loud colours or busy patterns. It’s best to settle on just one, offset with something neutral.” Steph Harris, product manager for Shower- wall, believes that they can be the base that a design can be focused around. She says: “Surface materials do play a major role, however, because they can be a simple canvas on which everything is built or the single focal point that anchors the scheme.” Statement tiles can be an excellent frame- work to help style the rest of the bathroom or kitchen. For example, pairing cabinetry colours to worktops or a colourful bath to the tiled fl oors. Ceramique Internationale, for example, launched the Stripes range of hexagon-shaped tiles as it saw bolder colours and patterns
become more prevalent. Extra-large tiles are a big trend in bathrooms this year – a striking design option that also means less grouting to maintain. “For a genuinely wow-factor look, entire walls can be clad, or sinks and shower trays can match seamlessly,” says Laura Davie, marketing manager for Cosentino UK.
Practical and pretty bathrooms Creating a statement in a bathroom should always relate back to the customer and practicalities of their life. Although the dreamy bathroom suites from fi ve-star, luxury hotels featured on a client’s Pinterest board might look amazing, they may not be the most practical solution for every day. “While the term ‘luxury’ is commonly asso- ciated with decadence and the best of the best in terms of materials and product, a truly luxuri- ous bathroom space is ultimately one that provides the user with a sense of comfort and ease during their everyday routine,” says Paul Bailey, senior category manager at Grohe UK. A statement bathroom is determined by its ambience and style, which can be enhanced by a colour theme, or a statement piece, such as an eye-catching bathtub or a special material for the furniture.
Sally Cutchie, marketing manager at BC Designs, says: “For us, luxury is the whole space, while statement is focused on a particular object, such as a bath or brassware. Statement pieces are needed in luxury bathrooms to provide the very essence you are trying to achieve.”
BC Designs adds colour to give a contemporary twist to this modern design
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BC Designs advises that there should be a ‘hero’ piece in a bathroom and this can be tiles, a bath or even brassware. The ‘hero’ piece can
· December 2020
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