This bathroom is very small and we needed to pack in a lot. The family wanted a separate bath and shower, so in order to fit it all in, we opted for a Japanese bath from The Japanese Bath Company that is deep but not very long. The arrangement allowed us to put in a separate shower. A frameless glass shower screen adds to the feeling of openness. A steep raked ceiling makes the room appear larger and the high, north-facing louvres flood the room with natural light and provide perfect ventilation. A mirrored vanity is opposite the high louvred windows and helps bounce natural light around the light-coloured tiles.
Having no door between the ensuite and walk-in wardrobe in the master suite allowed us to borrow space from both areas, maximising spaciousness. We placed all services along one wall to save on circulation space. We also ran mirrors the full length of the room to enhance the sense of space and bounce light around. We laid black and white tiles on the floor and extended them up the shelf to differentiate between the shelf and the walls. If the bold tiles were on the walls, it would feel as though the room was closing in, so we kept the walls white and minimal.
Problem solved? “The ultimate solution is to get the best of both,” says Jean9diener. “We installed this gorgeous bath recently and love it.” The Urbane Back-to-Wall Bath by Caroma “solves those hard-to-reach cleaning issues, has a ledge against the wall for putting ‘stuff’ on, but still has the look and beauty of a freestanding tub at the front and sides,” she says. “What’s not to love? It’s practical and pretty!”
Make a feature of your shower niche, as these owners have done, by adding warm downlights and a luxurious marble surface that echoes the floor trim.
9. Smart showers Like your shower pressure gentle in the morning and a little more powerful after a trip to the gym? Get ready for intelligent showers, where you can set your desired temperature and spray pattern with the touch of a button. “The introduction of thermostatic technology, which offers a completely customisable shower experience, has changed the game in showers,” says Santilli. “We’ll continue to drive innovation in this space as the customers’ appetite for personalisation and digitisation grows.”
Slim is definitely in when it comes to tub and basin profiles, says Santilli. “People are looking to minimise clutter and maximise space, particularly in small bathrooms. That means looking to products with fine edges,” she says.
5. Organic lines If you have the space, a striking freestanding bath is guaranteed to make a statement in your bathroom. This season’s styles have a looser and more asymmetrical feel compared with previous seasons’ styles. “Rather than classic oval and symmetrical styles, we’re seeing organic forms and natural shapes coming through in baths,” says Thompson. “Tubs are also being specified in materials other than standard acrylic and steel enamel, such as solid surface and volcanic limestone, which creates a warm, textural feel.”
3. Rimless toilets Sick of trying to reach under that awkward toilet rim with your brush? If so, the new breed of rimless toilets is sure to appeal. “Toilets are becoming more high-tech with rimless edges for easy cleaning,” says Roussos. “Think of it as ‘cleanovation’ – that meeting point between production innovation and hygiene-focused design,” says Daniela Santilli, Reece bathroom marketing lead. “You’ll find rimless, bacterial-minimising toilets from a variety of brands at different price points to suit every budget.” Also look out for water-saving vortex-flushing toilets, she says, which offer powerful flushing with minimal water usage. “In keeping with the current focus on space-saving minimalist bathrooms, in-wall cisterns are another popular trend in toilet design,” says Santilli. “They’re streamlined and space-efficient – perfect for smaller bathrooms.”
Rich, moody colours emerge
Shower Mirror
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