Minimalist Bathing
February 9, 2009
By Olive O' Donnell
When it comes to careful redesigning, there is seldom a room where the results pay off as much as the bathroom and, as anyone who's had the pleasure, there's nothing like a spa getaway to lower the stress levels and revitalize your spirit. Bathrooms are no longer just a functional space, people want to recreate a spa-like feel in their own home. I spoke with Glenn Sullivan from Global Design on the key elements of a minimalist bathroom and some of the newer trends on the market.
What are the key elements to a minimalist look?
Some of the signatures of minimalist design in bathrooms are using large format tiles, furniture that is up off the ground and using a maximum of two colours in the room. We have found using low profile shower trays or wetrooms give a sense of space and clean lines combined with a single panel shower screen or frameless shower enclosures. We have also found that the free standing baths are the best solution for the minimalist look with either wall‐mounted or floor mounted bath mixer combined with wall‐hung toilets.
What are the main obstacles your clients have?
Space is the biggest obstacle we have come across. One of the main ways to rectify this is to extend out into the bedrooms or reconfigurate large hot presses. There are also many more space saving products available on the market today. Such as Ideal Standard, Catalano and Globo, where they haven't compromised on design for practicality.
Most people think minimal means white? is this the case with bathroom furniture?
Yes, white does create a sense of minimal, but you are not just restricted to white. Two of our exclusive brands Progettobagno and Dansani have made minimalist bathroom furniture an art form, with integrated washbasins and furniture, push button drawers and countertops made of Corian, which brings bathroom furniture within a whole new aesthetic.
Is there a feature that you like to use that brands your bathroom designs?
For us the wetroom concept is one of the most exciting formulas in bathroom design. Being one of the pioneers of wetrooms in Ireland for over a decade we would install 5 out of 10 bathrooms as wetrooms.
What are the trends to watch for in bathroom design?
Some of the trends to watch out for in regards to tiles are oversized rectangles. In terms of tile design floral, organic ‐ bamboo, leather effect, metallic, neutral colours. Light grey in limestone or porcelain is much in demand. Also rain heads have become the latest must have giving the wow effect with combing chromo therapy, waterfall and mist effect‐ Gessi. (see gallery)
The concept of luxury nowadays is about the quantity and quality of the time dedicated to oneself in spaces of one's own where moments of indulgency to relax, intimacy, rebalance and energy recovery become possible. From this point of view our concept of innovative products support a new vision of the bathroom, turning it from its obsolete function of mere practical place to a
personal space to invent and personalize. The bathroom becomes a place combining function and emotion, where taking care of oneself also and especially from aesthetic point of view, almost verging to the concept of your own personal ‐ SPA.
When designed with planned and care, your bathroom can serve as a relaxing retreat from the demands of the day. For a lot of people, getting away from it all means getting away from clutter and the stuff of everyday life. That's why many homeowners are adopting a clean, minimalist design for their private retreats.
To see the full range available from Global Design check out .... www.globaldesign.ie
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