BeautifulBathroomsandBedroomsSummer20152016.pdf

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SHOWCASING THE LATEST TRENDS AND DESIGNS FOR IDEAS AND INSPIRATION

PLANNING ADVICE | PRODUCT INFORMATION | NEWS

B E AU T I F U L BATHROOMS

A N D B E D R O O M SSOUTH AFRICA’S ONLY MAGAZINE DEDICATED TO BATHROOMS AND BEDROOMS

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Beautiful Bathrooms and Bedrooms is published by:Multi Media PublicationsPO Box 52699Wierda Park, 0149Tel: (012) 653-4801e-mail: [email protected]

PUBLISHER: Max Madlener

EDITOR: Wendy Madlenere-mail: [email protected]

FEATURE WRITER: Antonella Desi

ADVERTISING: 012 653 4801

DESIGN & LAYOUT: Multi Media Publications

PRINT: ABC Press - Cape Town

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PERMISSIONS:Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without permission. If you want to quote from an article or use the Bathrooms and Bedrooms logo, contact the editor.

© COPYRIGHT:Multi Media PublicationsSouth Africa

DISCLAIMER:The opinions expressed in Beautiful Bathrooms and Bedrooms do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers.

CONTENTS

Cover image: Courtesey of Axor by Hansgrohe

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Beautiful Bathrooms and Bedrooms - Summer 2015-16 1

Orientation The 15-point checklist page 2

Planning Design your bathroom page 6

Layout Planning it all out page 12

Bathroom furniture Fabulous furnishings page 18 Basins Basin beautiful page 24

Taps Tapping into trends page 28

Baths Blissful bathtubs page 32

Showers Take a power shower page 38

Toilets Toilet talk page 42

Accessories The cherry on top page 46

Tiles On-trend with tiles page 52

Installation Make it better page 58

Trends forecast 2016 The in thing page 62

Interior & Atmosphere Bedroom serenity page 68

Beds and Bedding Make your bed page 72

Bedroom storage In the closet page 76

2 Beautiful Bathrooms and Bedrooms - Summer 2015-16

As exciting as a bathroom renovation may be, it can also be overwhelming, time-consuming and costly. So, before you jump into the project unprepared,

we have designed a 15-point checklist that you can follow to ensure that your project stays on track and that the renovation runs as smoothly as possible – because forewarned, is forearmed.

Step 1 – Consider your budget: Before you begin you need to have a clear idea of how much you can afford to spend. It is imperative to outline a solid budget, as knowing what you can and can’t afford will help you make decisions about what to include in the remodel. Working out costing might be an arduous job – but it is definitely a necessity, especially if you can’t afford to go over your set budget.

The 15-point checklist

Bathroom Butler

“It is often surprising that an element that makes such tremendous difference is not given more consideration. Not only can the right bathroom accessories change the atmosphere of the bathroom entirely, but they can also create an ease to the bathroom style,” says Craig Taylor from Bathroom Butler. Bathroom accessories are visible items that carry a functional purpose, as such they need to be both beautiful and durable.


ORIENTATION

Today, the majority of the costing can be done from the comfort of your own home, as most sanitaryware and tile suppliers have online stores, where you can browse various products and examine their specs and prices.

Step 2 – Work out a reasonable time frame: Renovating a bathroom is certainly not a process that takes a day or two. Depending on how many things are being changed, it is a project that can take weeks, and sometimes even months. Any renovation can be incredibly disruptive to family life, and very inconvenient if you only have one bathroom in your home. As such, it is wise to get an idea of how long the project is going to take. The best way to do this is to ask the contractors to give you an estimated

timeline. Compare the estimated time frames and draw up a chart of best and worst case scenario, so that you have a sound idea of how long the project will take.

Step 3 – Calculate a logical work sequence: When it comes to bathroom renovations, if you complete a job in a specific sequence, you can save yourself a lot of time, mess and unnecessary costs. First you will need to work out where all the wiring and plumbing will be going, then you can focus on the ceiling, then the walls, the sanitary installations, then the tiling and lastly, mounting all the bathroom accessories and light fittings.

Step 4 – Design, style and functionality: Have a definite idea of what you want the end result to look like. Today, there is so much choice on the market, that you can often be tempted to be swayed into changing direction – however, avoid this at all costs. Choose your style and colour palette and stick to it right from the word go for a successful and streamlined end result. Also, design needs to work hand-in-hand with functionality, so when you are creating your design, be sure to consider the eventual resale of your home, how the bathroom will fit in with the rest of the home, as well as what kind of experience you will have using this space.

Step 5 – Take your measurements: Before you can do any layout design or select any fittings or tiles, you will need to know the size of you bathroom. When you are measuring, it is a good idea to draw some kind of plan – in this plan you can include the overall size of the room, as well as the location of the existing plumbing and electrical wiring. Also, work out the dimensions of the average bathroom fixtures, so that you can see what space you have for what fitting.

Step 6 – Hidden dilemmas: Most experienced contractors will tell you that virtually no renovation project is completed without at least a few unexpected problems that need to be sorted out along the way. This is especially true for older homes that are being renovated. Common issues in bathroom renovations include water damage, structural deficiencies, inadequate ventilation, corroded plumbing, and so on. As such, it is essential to factor in at least 10% to 15% into your budget for these unforeseen costs.

Step 7 – Call on a contractor: Bathroom renovations are a complex job that requires skills in many fields, including building, plumbing, electrics, tiling, painting, carpentry, and so on. There are many advantages of hiring a professional contractor to oversee this project – as they are well versed on how to best go about the renovation, what it will cost and how long it will take. To renovate this space, you will be investing a sizeable amount of money, so it is advisable to hire a professional who can guarantee a professional end result.

Step 8 – Choose your sanitaryware: the bathroom fittings and fixtures will largely define how the bathroom will look and how it will be used. Write down a checklist of the larger items you would like to include in the space, such as a shower, bathtub, toilet, bidet, bathroom vanity, sink, faucets, shower doors and showerheads.

Step 9 – Storage is king: In the bathroom, storage plays a majorly influential role in how the room looks and what it is like to use. The old adage of “you can never have enough storage” is certainly true for this particular space. Bathroom storage needs to be aesthetically pleasing, functional and it must be able to accommodate all your stuff, while keeping everything within easy reach.

Step 10 – Walls and floors: Both the walls and floors need to be finished with materials that make these as waterproof as possible. Tiles are the most popular go-to solution for these wet spaces – they are durable, available in a wide variety of colours, textures and shapes, and they are water-resistant. You can choose


porcelain, ceramic or natural stone tiles for this space.

Step 11 – Let the light shine in: At its core, a bathroom is a practical and functional space – a room where you perform many tasks, from showering, bathing, applying make-up, shaving, brushing your teeth, doing your hair, and in some cases, even getting dressed. Inadequate lighting can render this space impractical and downright dangerous. So for optimum functionality, be sure to include a well designed, layered lighting scheme in this room.

Step 12 – Make or break with accessories: It’s the little things that can really set one room apart from the other – and in the bathroom, it comes down to your choice of bathroom accessories. Permanent items include the likes of towel rails, heated towel rails, toilet paper holders, soap dish holders, robe hooks, mirrors. Softer, décor items

include bath mats, towels, blinds, and various décor accents that can be used to soften the space and add some added visual interest to the room.

Step 13 – Ventilation is key: Ventilation is crucial in a wet area such as a bathroom. Without it, your bathroom will end up damp, mouldy and unhygienic. You need to decide whether you require an extractor fan, and if so, which model is the optimum choice, and where it should be positioned. Good ventilation helps get rid of nasty odours, creates a healthier space, and prevents timber trims and fixtures from decaying.

Step 14 – Going green: By being environmentally aware when choosing products for your new bathroom, you will not only ensure you are doing your bit for the environment, but it can also save you a lot of money down the line, especially on your utility bills. Consider choosing water-efficient taps and toilet, a solar-powered geyser, low-VOC paints, LED lighting options, using sustainably harvested timber products, and so on.

Step 15 – The final clean-up: Building is a messy and dusty job, so once the renovation is complete, you will need to undertake a final clean of the new space – this will include cleaning all cabinetry, both inside and out, ductwork, walls, floors, windows and light fittings. Depending on whether any building work was done, you may also have to hire a skip to remove building rubble. It is important to work this into your costing, as it is a pricey, yet often-overlooked element of renovation projects.

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PLANNING

When you’re trying to achieve your dream bathroom, it is highly recommended that you spend some time carefully considering the different aspects

of the space right from the onset of the project.

Far too often, homeowners rush into finalising bathroom designs, and the end result is far from being ideal. With some careful planning, you can create your ideal bathroom area – one that fits the space, your needs and tastes, as well as the home in which it is featured.

Don’t waste spaceLayout and space are the primary aspects to consider when designing your bathroom. Making the most of the space at hand is important, specifically because space is often at a premium in the majority of bathrooms. When planning your bathroom layout, it’s crucial to consider how you’ll be able to move around and use the space in question. Where to install storage is another important aspect. Today, there are many online bathroom planners that are a great aid when designing the space – they offer great inspiration for different layout possibilities, and allow you to figure out how to best use your bathroom space. Smaller bathrooms require extra planning to ensure that the space is used well. In-bath showers are a great option for very small bathrooms, or alternatively you can choose to skip the bath all together. Using light colours and having a big mirror installed will help to make the space feel a lot bigger than it actually is. Sometimes, storing things like spare towels and spare toiletries in the bathroom can take up unnecessary space – it is often a better idea to rather allocate part of your linen cupboard or any other cupboard located outside the bathroom instead.

Design your bathroomTapitalia

Image courtesy of Supergres Italy. Available from Casabella


While space planning is more important in smaller bathrooms, planning your space shouldn’t be over looked in bigger bathrooms. Here, it’s important to make sure your bathroom space is utilised to its full potential, installing bigger baths, and floor-level showers, are great ways to use your space constructively. The trick with bigger bathrooms is trying to keep the open feeling of a big bathroom, while not ending up with a space that is either too sparse or too cluttered.

Boutique Baths

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Inspired by the cupped, organic shape of a single leaf the simple, white Leaf basin makes an understated – yet very beautiful – contribution to a serene bathroom setting. The Kohler Leaf basin is a 600mm wide countertop design ideally suited to bench or wall-mounted basin mixers. While its lines are simple in the extreme its design is both functional and practical. Suggested partner taps for the Leaf basin are the bold Margaux with joy-stick control and the statuesque Singulier mixer


PLANNING

Perfectly practicalThe functionality of a bathroom may seem pretty basic at face value, but who will be using the bathroom can have a big effect on the planning of the overall space. In bathroom design, there are three main uses for a bathroom, and while the principle for each is similar, they all need to be handled slightly differently. They include:

Master bathroom: Master bathrooms are usually en suite, and are most commonly used by one person or a couple. Installing double vanities is a popular choice for the master bathroom, and as this is a space usually used for relaxation – luxury features, such as steam showers and spa baths are a popular inclusion.

Family bathroom: A family bathroom, as the name suggests, is a bathroom used by the whole family. As both kids and adults will be using the space, it’s important to strike a balance between practicality and style. A family bathroom is a great place to add a unique wall colour and personal touches, and of course, let’s not forget about including cleverly planned storage and multiple towel rails. As this bathroom is usually only used by one person at a time, a single vanity is often the most practical and space-efficient option.

Kid’s bathroom: In a kid’s bathroom, the main focus needs to be safety and usability. If your children have their own bathroom, it’s important that they feel independent but you know that they’re safe. There are a number of easy additions that will give you peace of mind - things such as textured floor tiles will make the floor less slippery, as well as shatter-proof mirrors and shower doors. Baths are usually preferred over showers for smaller children. Rounded vanity corners, and rounding-off any other sharp corners, is highly advisable to prevent any unfortunate accidents and unnecessary injuries. Adding locks to cabinets that store medicine or other potentially toxic products is a highly advisable precaution, especially if small children have access to the room.

Set the moodUsing things like colour, texture and lighting are a fantastic way to set the mood in your bathroom. A good design will make the space feel more inviting. Bathroom designs can be categorised into two main groups:

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trying to get into small spaces behind vanities and around toilets. To avoid this, choose as many wall-mounted options for your bathroom space as possible. These could include a wall-hung toilet, vanity or basin, and even your bathroom accessories.

Add some texture: Plain, smooth tiles can often leave a bathroom feeling a little clinical and uninteresting. However, with the added bumps, raised designs and grooves inherent in textured tiles, they can often prove difficult to clean. To create some textural appeal, why not enliven your tile options up with the addition of some smooth mosaic tiles instead.

Smart storage: Storage is an important part of a bathroom design - not only does it help you to maximise the space at hand, but if everything is neatly stored away, it will save time spent cleaning too. Cupboard organisers and specialised storage spaces are becoming increasingly popular in bathroom designs.

Calming and sophisticated: A calm and sophisticated mood is a great choice when you want your bathroom to be a place where you can relax and unwind. It is not too difficult to create this kind of ambience in your bathroom – the main focus needs to be on natural aspects, like natural stone floor tiles, and an abundance of natural lighting. The colour scheme should mainly comprise neutral tones, while a pop of colour can be used as a stand-out feature. Modern styled fittings usually work well when trying to achieve this mood, and adding plants and candles will help tie the whole look together.

Lively and invigorating: Another extremely popular mood for a bathroom is one that is more uplifting and awakening. This sort of ambience is usually characterised by pops of colour and quirky touches. Brighter colours, whites, and pastels are the main types of colours used to create this mood. While you have a variety of options to choose from when designing this kind of bathroom space, it is advisable not to go overboard with colours and decoration, as a bathroom that is cluttered and too busy, will be more stressful and overwhelming than lively and uplifting.

Keeping it clean No one enjoys cleaning their bathroom, but unfortunately, it’s a task that needs to be done – so why not plan your bathroom in such a way that it is a synch to clean. This can be achieved by making a few smart choices – here are a few examples:

Cut out the grout: Grouting is arguably one of the worst things to clean in a bathroom, and it can start looking grimy very easily. While grout isn’t completely avoidable, you can definitely make sure you use less of it by choosing solid slab countertops, and larger format wall and floor tiles.

Frameless enclosures: It’s time to ditch the shower curtains. If you’ve chosen to install a shower in your bathroom, choose a frameless shower enclosure for maximum visual appeal and ease of cleaning. They are easy to clean and help make your bathroom feel lighter, brighter and bigger.

Off the floor: bathroom floors can be a nightmare to clean, especially if you’re

The clean design links the Geberit Sigma20 actuator plate with extra environmental friendliness through dual flush actuation.


Bathrooms are one of the most used rooms in the home, but they can also be one of the most difficult to design. This is due to the fact that you need to fit a lot into what

is often a small space, and often, the room has to be able to service and accommodate the needs of more than one user.

Over and above its functionality, the design also needs to be attractive and trendy. This is why the layout of your bathroom is so important, and while bathroom design seems tricky, if you get the layout right, then the rest of the design should fall into place. Your ideal bathroom layout can be easily achieved with a bit of planning and know-how – here’s how:

The basicsWhen it comes to the initial bathroom layout plan, there are a few basic things that are important to establish. These will help create a good foundation, which will guide you for the best possible design for the space in question.

Wet or dry: While we all take precautions to try and prevent the bathroom floor from getting wet, it is rarely something that is achievable. Spaces that are likely to get

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LAYOUT

wet are known as wet zones, and are usually located next to baths and showers. Dry zones on the other hand are parts of the bathroom that are not likely to get wet. It is important to bear these two types of areas in mind when designing your bathroom space. For example, wet zones are particularly inconvenient when they obstruct your pathway to your vanity and the toilet, and can also be dangerous if they overlap into what should be dry walking spaces.

Toilet talk: Toilets usually form part of some of the bigger layout choices in bathrooms. One of the first choices you need to make is whether your toilet will be in a separate room to make it more accessible to guests, or if it will be included in your main bathroom area. The location of the toilet is important, and in most bathroom designs, it is located either on the far side of a vanity or behind a door in order to hide it from the line of sight as you enter the room. Of course, these principles should only be applied where practical, as while having a toilet that is unobtrusively placed can be more aesthetically pleasing, it is not always a functional must.

Windows: Windows are an easy element to overlook from a layout perspective. While windows offer much needed natural light and ensure that the room is well ventilated, they can also make the space less private. Some ways to make sure you get all the perks of having windows, while still maintaining your privacy, is by either frosting glass windows, including stained glass windows, installing blinds, or placing your windows slightly higher than eye level. This will let light and air in, without allowing anyone to easily see in.

Know your limits: If you’re renovating an old bathroom space, you might come across a few layout limitations. The main limitation is the location of the plumbing and specifically the toilet. This is due to the fact that you have to work with pre-existing plumbing. Sometimes it is worth it to design a completely new layout and get the plumbing redone, as having to work around old plumbing installations can be counterintuitive, and if they are really old, they may have to be replaced anyway.

The subject of sizeBathroom layout design can go a long way when it comes to smaller bathroom spaces – there is a lot that can be done to make a smaller space appear larger than it actually is. Here are some tricks of the trade that you may be interested in:

Through the looking glass: Mirrors are an effective, and affordable way to open up the

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Adding furniture: A unique way of filling up the bathroom space is to include actual pieces of furniture in the room – this not only uses the space to its fullest, but also ensures that the room appears more inviting; turning it into more of a living space than a mere utilitarian space.

Creative colour: Painting the walls a colour and hanging art and interesting items on the walls will also help fill up some space. Choosing darker neutral colours, such as greys and beiges, will add style to your bathroom while making the space feel warmer. You can use paint or tiles for this purpose.

Break it up: In big bathrooms designers often install small walls to help break the bathroom up into smaller spaces, which can also add an interesting style feature to the room or help partially separate the toilet, or bath from the rest of the space for example.

Alter the atmosphere The layout of your bathroom definitely plays a big role in the overall mood of the room. The aim of most bathroom designs is to ensure that the bathroom space feels luxurious and calming. This is usually achieved by keeping the layout of the space as clean, light and open as possible. Ensuring you have proper storage to keep your bathroom space clutter-free is very important when trying to achieve a tranquil atmosphere. The position of baths and showers can also help the space feel more relaxing – if they are positioned near windows with outdoor views, they help to create a natural calming ambience.

Strange spaces Often after designing bathrooms, there are strange spaces that are left unused, like pokey corners or an empty wall behind a door. In many cases the best solution to these awkward spaces it to fill them, either with decorative pieces and plants, or to have custom storage built to fill them up. Bespoke storage solutions are usually the best route to go if space and budget allow, as extra storage in a bathroom is always welcome.

space in your bathroom. Their reflective property makes the room seem like it extends further than it actually does, which is useful in creating the il lusion of a bigger space.

Light it up : Stay away from darker colours in a small bathroom, as it will just close in the space and make it appear small and uninviting. Instead choose light colours for your walls and floor, and include a sound layered lighting design to really open the space up and make the room appear larger than it actually is.

Totally floored : As far as f itt ings go, choosing toilets and vanities that are wall-mounted wil l open up your bathroom’s floor space, which while not necessarily adding space, wil l provide the il lusion of more space because of the increased floor area and uninterrupted lines of sight.

Smart storage : Storage is another important factor in a smaller bathroom, as there is nothing worse than clutter to make a room feel small and pokey. A clean, streamlined, neat and well-organised space is a great way of ensuring that the area looks larger than it actually is. You can utilise the space under your vanity for storage, or you could install wall cupboards, above vanity shelving, shower baskets, and wal l-mounted bathroom accessories and towel rails to ensure that everything that you need can be both easily accessible when required, but neatly packed away when it isn’t. Bigger bathrooms also pose a space problem – often, large bathrooms can feel too empty and sterile, and not cosy or relaxing. There are many ways to fix this problem, all of which require using up more space – these include:

Think big : When it comes to large bathrooms, installations such as vanities with two sinks, or install ing a larger Jacuzzi bath, are popular choices. While these luxuries are usually not an option in smaller bathrooms, they’l l certainly offer an enjoyable and even practical addition to the space, and wil l serve to make the bathroom feel less empty. Another very stylish fixture in a large bathroom is a big seamless shower.

Tapitalia


Fabulous furnishings

Bathrooms are one of the most important parts of the home, not only because they are very frequently used, but also because they act as a great place in which you

can truly relax and de-stress. It is important to choose your bathroom fittings carefully so that you create a space that feels like a luxurious retreat – a place that feels comfortable, yet remains aesthetically pleasing and functional.

It is in this realm, where bathroom furniture plays a major role – well chosen pieces can take a bathroom from a purely totalitarian space, and turn it into a well loved and intimate additional living area in your home. Bathroom furniture comprises elements such as vanities, shelving and mirrors, while it can also refer to actual pieces

of furniture, such as seating, armoires and chest of drawers. Bathroom furniture not only improves the look of your space, but it can also provide much needed storage.

Planning makes perfectWhen it comes to any aspect of bathroom décor, planning is crucial. Bathroom spaces tend to be quite small, which makes the need for planning even greater. Bathroom furniture in particular, needs to be chosen with the style, size and the layout of the space in question. Choosing huge furniture for a small space or vice versa, can really impact the overall appeal of your bathroom. Measuring up the space where you want to install the furniture before you make your purchase decision is a fantastic way to ensure a perfect fit.

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BATHROOM FURNITURE

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marble are some of the most common choices when it comes to vanity countertops, because of their durability and water-resistance.

Mirror, mirrorA definite bathroom necessity, mirrors are functional, but also help make a small space look bigger. Today there are a wide variety of bathroom mirrors to choose from, with the most popular options being

Full wall/ frameless mirror: Many modern bathrooms utilise big, custom-cut mirrors that take up the entire wall above a vanity or a bath, creating a frameless look that is minimal and clean. This is a great option for both small and dark rooms, as the large mirror surface reflects a lot of natural light, making the room brighter, and the reflection will create the illusion of the space being bigger than it actually is.

Cabinet mirror: Small medicine cabinets often have a mirror installed onto the door. This is a great way to bring a mirror into a small space, and if placed at the right level, a medicine cabinet can be as practical as bigger mirrors. Medicine cabinets also function as storage, something that is always needed in a bathroom. Today, you can opt for cabinet mirrors that open in the traditional hinged-manner, or ones that slide from side to side, which is a great option when space is at a premium.

Placement is also crucial – you need to make sure there is enough walking space around your vanity, even with the doors open, to ensure optimum manoeuvrability in the room. Mirrors should be located near good lighting and adding furniture that offers added storage in places that would otherwise remain unused, such as awkward corners, are good examples of well-planned furniture placement.

Vanity Vanities come in every style imaginable, and they form an integral part of how the bathroom space is used. They are also available in a variety of different formats, namely:

Free-standing: Free-standing vanities usually come in the form of a cabinet with a sink installed into the countertop or with above-the-counter vessel sinks. Although freestanding vanities are available in a variety of contemporary design, they are especially suited to more rustic bathroom styles, as the vanity can either be a new model with a traditional design, or it can be made from repurposed vintage sideboard of chest of drawers.

Floating: Floating or wall-mounted vanities are a great option for smaller bathroom spaces – they create the illusion of added space, as they leave the floor beneath open. Floating vanities are often the go-to choice for minimal bathrooms due to their clean and simple design lines.

Open space: Open space vanities comprise a sink that has been mounted on a base of open shelves. These are great for making your bathroom space feel more open, and also provide a great place to create a bathroom display featuring neatly folded towels, objets d’art or even plants.

Bespoke vanities: If you have the budget, a custom-made vanity is a great option – it ensures a perfect fit and optimum use of space, and can be built in a manner that utilises even the most awkward of areas in your bathroom.

Because of the basin, many people choose to install a countertop with their vanity, specifically when it comes to wooden vanities that could potentially be damaged by water. Tile, granite, composite stone and

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BATHROOM FURNITURE

Framed mirror: Framed mirrors are the most common type of mirror – their design can be plain or intricate, and they can be used as a focal feature in the room. These mirrors are affordable and practical, because they don’t require any custom cutting. They also allow you to choose a frame that enhances your bathroom style, and come in a wide variety of sizes.

Shadow box mirror: Very similar to framed mirrors, shadow box mirrors just have a more box-like frame, making the frame of the mirror double as a small shelf, perfect for compact or more minimal bathrooms.

Extension mirrors: These are small mirrors mounted to the bathroom wall on an accordion or swing arm, so they extend out from the wall. Extension mirrors are an ideal way to save space in a small bathroom, or can even be used in conjunction with other mirrors, for close-up make-up application.

Back-lit mirrors: Back-lit mirrors will not only make you feel like a movie star, but the lighting around their edges will also make them much more functional, offering much-needed task lighting, as well as contributing to the overall lighting of the bathroom space.

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Choosing cabinetsA bathroom can never have enough storage space. Space-permitting, cabinets are an ideal addition to this room and can be used to house toiletries, make-up, spare towels, cleaning products and other bathroom and hygiene necessities. Cabinets need to be both practical and aesthetically pleasing and like all other bathroom furniture, they also need to be chosen with the overall style and size of your bathroom in mind. Fortunately, bathroom cabinets are available in a wide number of styles – ranging from vintage, to rustic, traditional, modern and contemporary – ensuring that there’s a style for every taste.

Open shelves are becoming a more

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BATHROOM FURNITURE

popular form of bathroom storage, although they do require you to keep the shelves neat and tidily stocked at all the time. They provide an ideal place for storing rolled towels and more aesthetically pleasing toiletries, such as interesting perfume bottles and candles for example. Customised bathroom storage is also another great option to look into, many cabinets can be fitted with special storage places for hairdryers, and some even include plug points within the cabinet itself.

Seating Seating hasn’t been a major bathroom consideration – largely due to the fact that traditionally, bathrooms were more utilitarian spaces and not really designed to be a living space. However, as this has changed over time, and with the increase in floor space, benches and chairs are becoming a more welcomed inclusion. Bathroom seating can either be a practical and functional addition, such as shower seating for example, or it can be a décor feature and added for pure relaxation and indulgence – offering you a welcome place to sit and dry yourself off, or creating a stylish place where your partner can sit and keep you company while you wash.

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Timeless bathrooms that are designed for every lifestyle.

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The Easylife Kitchens is here! Visit one of our showrooms to view the latest European design trends.

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Selecting the right bathroom basin can be a difficult task, considering the array of options on the market today. From wall-hung, to inset, semi-recessed,

above-counter, freestanding or vessels sinks – your choice will largely depend on the style and size of your bathroom, who will be using it and of course, your budget. Here are some insights into the hottest basin trends to inspire your purchase decision:

Basin beautifulNamed for the ancient capital of Morocco, the Marrakesh design was inspired by Moorish architecture. Marrakesh, the city, once served as a stop along a major trade route to the famous Timbuktu. The Marrakesh vanity top draws inspiration from mosaics found in quaint Moroccan courtyards, while the intricate and abstract floral pattern embellishing the sink is inspired by artwork found in mosques - Kohler Africa


BASINS

The legendary island Antilia was said to have been discovered – in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Portugal – by people fleeing Hispania in 734. Today, cartographers know no such island exists, but its intrigue remains. By bestowing this name on the Antilia Wading Pool sink, Kohler celebrates the sense of allure found throughout nature. Slightly curved edges and a subtle, rippled texture convey both the substantial force of nature and its shifting fluidity - Kohler Africa


Form and functionThe common thread connecting all trendy basins today is that, whether curved or contemporary and geometric, the underlying design principle is one of streamlined elegance. Gone are the days of chunky and visually heavy basin designs – today it is all about sleek simplicity. This doesn’t mean that on-trend basin design has to be boring – on the contrary, today’s basins boast incredibly interesting, bold, often

organic-inspired aesthetics – but they are polished, stylised and sophisticated.

Customisation is kingIn today’s market, being able to customise your home to make it something that reflects your personal sense of taste and lifestyle is what it is all about. Nobody wants a bathroom that is a carbon copy of their next-door neighbour’s – they want something that is as unique as they are. To this end, it is important that homeowners can select a particular type of basin that best fits their vision, whether it be vessel sinks or countertop basins, built-in, wall-mounted, freestanding, double or corner basins.

Although it is true that the majority of homeowners opt for white sanitaryware and basins, design leaders are looking

A matter of qualityToday’s well informed homeowners are on a mission to make their renovation or new-build money stretch as far as it can, without compromising on quality or style: Increasingly more homeowners are looking to spend more on the initial purchase price in order to invest in a quality product that will not only look better visually, but that will offer added convenience and longevity. They understand that in the long run, quality, although initially more expensive, eventually pays for itself.

It seems counterintuitive that increasingly more homeowners are choosing to spend more by investing in premium quality products, especially when economically, times are tough. However, when you analyse the trend, it isn’t – as more and more consumers are feeling the pinch, so are they becoming increasingly selective and looking at their spend as an investment, and here, longevity pays off. For example, the cost of replacing a basin after three to four years works out far more expensive than investing in a good quality one from the onset.

As a result, premium quality materials are the “in” thing. This trend is noticeable across industries – consumers are willing to pay more for craft beers, organic produce and genuine cotton clothing for example, all in the quest for quality over quantity.

Kamala names both a Southeast Asian tree and the orange-red dye made from its seeds’ powdery coating. The Kamala Vessels cast-bronze sink evokes the tropical climate where this sought-after medicinal tree grows. Its low-relief pattern of dots, ridges, scrolls and links draws inspiration from patterns created two millennia ago by the Dong Son and others who used a lost-wax casting technique to craft intricate rain drums - Kohler Africa

BetteBowl washbasins lend special character to the room, with their reduced form and the brilliant quality of the finish—BetteGlaze. The long-lasting enamel surface is known for its glossy shine and its resistance to UV light, scratches, dents and chemicals - Bette by Bathroom Butler


BASINS

at innovative and stylish ways to use these functional pieces as stand-alone features in their own right – and aside from gorgeous design, colour seems to be another way of achieving this. The introduction of colour in sanitaryware was very popular in the ‘60s and ‘70s, and started tapering off in the ’80s in lieu of white. Although white remains the colour of choice today, we are seeing more colour variety being offered for better design freedom.

More than skin deepBeing environmentally responsible has never been more front of mind with consumers the world over, even here in South Africa. Consumers are becoming more aware that every purchase decision that they make can have an impact, whether good or bad, on the environment. As a result, just choosing something because it looks good is no longer a decision imperative – it needs to perform, and it needs to be an environmentally responsible choice as well.

Bathroom Butler

Keramag byGeberit


When it comes to picking out tapware for your bathroom, you’ll find that you’re spoilt for choice. And while having so many tap options to

choose from definitely makes it easier to match your taps to your chosen style, it can also make it more difficult to decide what you want. When choosing your taps, it is important to keep in mind that they have to play both a functional and aesthetic role in your bathroom – so it is important to understand your choices from both a technical and design angle.

Style and typeTaps come in a variety of different styles and combinations – so there is sure to be a style that will suit virtually every bathroom space. When selecting your taps, bear in mind that you need to select taps for your basin, your bath and your shower – and even if they don’t all come from the same range, they should all complement one another visually for a seamless end result. There are also different types of taps that you need to choose from. The type of sanitaryware that you have chosen, the space constraints of your bathroom, and your bathroom style will largely define what type of tap you should go for. The most common include:

Tapping into trends

Gio BellaAxor by Hansgrohe

TAPS


Pillar taps: Pillar taps are styled after more traditional looking taps, and are made for baths and basins that have two tap holes, one for cold water and one for hot water. Pillar taps are generally the tap with the handle positioned on top of it, and are available in both very classic, and slick and minimal styles.

Wall-mounted taps: As the name implies, wall-mounted taps are installed on the wall just behind your bath or basin. They generally consist of a separate spout and two individual wall-mounted handles. These taps allow for clean and sophisticated looking installation, and they are great for rooms where space is at a premium. However, the drawback is that they can be costly to install and to fix down the line, as all the plumbing is contained in the wall.

Kohler Africa

Axor by Hansgrohe


Freestanding bath taps: Freestanding bath taps have emerged to compliment the freestanding bath trend. As freestanding baths are not always positioned next to a wall, they don’t always allow for wall-mounted taps, and their often thin contouring is not amenable for taps to be mounted on the bath’s edge. Freestanding bath taps are installed alongside the bath – they can be positioned wherever suits, but usually, the best place is either at the foot, or on either side of the bath. The plumbing for these taps usually runs underneath the bathroom floor.

Finishing touch From copper, to matte black – taps come in a variety of different finishes and materials. While most people take the safe route and stick to the classic polished chrome tapware, using different materials or finishes, can really add to the overall style of your bathroom. Some materials are so unique and interesting in fact, that they can make your tapware the star of the entire bathroom space. Some of the more notable materials include:

Polished brass: While slightly more expensive than common faucet materials, polished brass adds a lovely golden colour to your bathroom taps – offering a perfect finishing touch in an eclectic or classic styled bathroom.

Satin brass: Satin brass is a brushed brass that boasts an understated, yet stylishly dull gold finish. This matte finish is interesting, but subtle, and could suit almost any bathroom style. It is particularly effective when used to compliment a neutral colour palette.

Oil-rubbed brass: For a deep brown colour and finish, oil-rubbed brass is low maintenance and very suited to rustic and traditional bathrooms.

Copper: Copper faucets are the next big thing – they offer an edgy hipster-inspired touch to any bathroom space. With natural antibacterial properties, copper is perfect for bathroom faucets, and works equally well in eclectic and farmhouse-styled bathrooms.

Mixer taps: Mixer taps have two temperature handles that flow into one spout; this type of tapware is one of the most popular in modern bathroom designs. It is very functional, as it allows for easier and more controlled temperature selection – perfect for baths and basins alike. Due to their popularity, mixer taps also come in a wide variety of styles. They are available in both single mixer-type units, or in the form of wall-mounted taps.

Monobloc mixer taps: This type of mixer tap evolved from the huge move towards a more contemporary, minimalist bathroom design, and it works on the same principle as mixer taps, but instead of two temperature handles it only has one. This is one of the easiest types of taps to install – requiring a single hole, it can be installed straight onto the counter behind a basin or on the basin itself. It is a great option for above-the-counter vessel sinks, offers ease of use, and it is a space-efficient design.

Gio Bella Gio Bella

Axor by Hansgrohe


TAPS

Polished nickel: Unlike chrome, faucets made from nickel boast a slightly deeper silver colour. They provide an ideal means of adding a bit of style to your bathroom, without going too over the top. Nickel is as versatile as chrome, and can provide a nice contrast in an all-white bathroom space.

Brushed nickel: The matte version of polished nickel, brushed nickel offers a soft, gentle aesthetic that blends in well with most bathroom styles. Brushed nickel is also extremely durable. The one thing that you need to bear in mind when choosing brushed nickel taps, is that all your other fittings will need to be made from brushed nickel too for a cohesive end result, as brushed nickel and polished faucets can clash.

Chrome: By far the most popular choice of material for bathroom faucets, chrome is well known for its shine, durability and ability to work in every bathroom style. If you’re uncertain about what faucet finish you want, you can’t go wrong with chrome.

Matte black: Definitely the most dramatic of all the finishes, matte black faucets are a must if you’re looking to make a statement. Matte black faucets act as a style feature in themselves, and can be matched to many different bathroom styles. The one thing to keep in mind however, is that they can be a bit difficult to match to other fittings.

On trend Current bathroom trends can be incorporated into most bathroom styles without spending an absolute fortune by simply changing your tap and sanitaryware selection. By following the latest trends, you can be sure of a bathroom update that is both aesthetically pleasing and trendy. Some of the most popular bathroom, and specifically faucet trends at the moment, are:

Minimal and modern: Minimal bathrooms have become a constant, and will always remain a stylish bathroom trend. They incorporate simple geometric lines that are currently very in vogue. Today, faucets are no longer just for function, newer bathroom designs are also using the simple bathroom style as a canvas on which to display unique and nearly sculpture-like contemporary bathroom fittings.

Mother Nature: Incorporating natural inspiration into bathrooms is also a growing trend that is easy to translate into your tapware. Choosing taps and fittings that offer a more fluid and organic look tend to compliment the natural, Zen-inspired bathroom space.

Cool copper: Copper bathroom fittings are one of the biggest faucet trends at the moment. Exposed piping and traditionally styled tapware is being used in abundance to add some eclectic old world charm to simple black-and-white bathrooms. This trend is something that is both chic and fun, and can be used as an easy way to add some extra colour to your bathroom space.

Going green In a country like South Africa where water shortages are a reality, it’s important to try and conserve water wherever possible, and your bathroom faucets are one of the best places to start. The first way to ensure that you’re not wasting water is to have taps that close properly and don’t constantly leak. Another sure-fire way to use less water is to make sure your taps have aerators. Aerators mix the water coming out your tap with air, which increases the pressure of the water, while reducing the actual amount of water leaving the tap. Aerators are one of the most simple and fuss-free ways to go green in your bathroom. You can invest in taps that already have built-in aerators, or you can buy aerators and install them into your existing taps.

Axor by Hansgrohe


Axor by Hansgrohe


BATHS

There’s nothing quite as relaxing as taking a long bath after a busy day. While showers may be faster and more water efficient – there’s nothing that can

compare to a long soak in a hot bath to wash away the stresses of everyday life.

In fact, bathing is not only a relaxing and stress-reducing pastime, but it also boasts a variety of other health benefits as well, including improving circulation and sleep, and helping with weight loss. When choosing a bathtub, it is important to consider its aesthetic appeal and design, but also by how it fits in to the space and layout design of your bathroom, and who will be using it.

Selecting a styleBaths can either blend into your bathroom space or they can stand out as a focal feature in the room. There are different tub styles to suit different room sizes – for example 3-wall alcove baths are ideal for smaller spaces, while free-standing baths are a great addition to larger bathrooms. The most common styles of bath include:

The 3-wall alcove bath: These are one of the most popular bath designs, and are perfect for smaller bathrooms. This type of tub is usually rectangular in shape and fits against two walls, with the third side neighbouring either another wall, a bathroom cupboard or shower enclosure.

The corner bath: As the name suggests these baths are designed to fit into a corner space – they are usually quite big and are perfect for laying back and relaxing. Corner baths are especially suited to family use, as they generally boast larger proportions and a seat.

Blissful bathtubs

Boutique Baths

The BetteOne Highline features a central outlet and a generous inside body. The high edge to the bath gives it a new type of elegance.Bette by Bathroom Butler


The drop-in bath: Drop-in baths are designed to be fitted inside a rectangular enclosure. It is important to note that the enclosure needs to be built separately, which adds an additional cost to the bath installation. Drop-in baths are the go-to choice for corner tubs.

Freestanding: Easy to install, and visually eye-catching – freestanding baths are very popular, and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They come in a variety of styles – from old world ball-and-claw styles, to contemporary vessel-shaped forms, and turn-of-the-century skirted designs – there is most definitely a free-standing bath to suit virtually every bathroom style.

Material mattersBath materials are usually not something that is widely considered in the design of a bathroom space, but by choosing a unique material for your tub, you can make it the centrepiece of the space. Here are some popular bathtub materials explained:Acrylic or fibreglass: These are the most common bathtub materials. Acrylic or fibreglass baths are available in a wide variety of colours, shapes and sizes and they are comparatively more affordable. Fibreglass is cheaper, but less durable than acrylic, and both types can be easily sourced and come ready to install. These types of baths are also warm to the touch, which means that they hold the warmth of the water for longer, making for a pleasant bathing experience. Cast-iron: Covered in enamel, cast-iron baths were very popular during the early 19th Century; however they are not widely available anymore. These types of baths are very heavy, and as such, they sometimes require the floor located underneath them to be reinforced for added support. The enamel on these baths can chip, revealing the

Tapitalia

Stunning Bathrooms’ locally manufactured brushed stainless steel Frail Care products are designed to assist with daily living activities. Stylish, yet extremely robust, they are specified with confidence for use in shopping centres, hospitals, retirement homes and private residences.


BATHS

black cast iron underneath, but they can be easily re-enamelled if need be.

Copper: Copper baths are very rare, but they will most certainly make a style statement. Copper boasts admirable qualities for bathtub applications, including impressive durability, strength, and being mould- and bacteria-resistant. Unfortunately, copper tubs can be very pricey, and come in a limited variety of styles – unless of course you have yours custom-made.

Enamelled steel: Enamelled steel is a great alternative to cast-iron – it is much lighter and boasts sleeker, thinner profiles for a more updated visual appeal. It is also incredibly durable, easy to clean, as well as being chip-,fire-, bacteria- and crack-resistant.

Stone: If you’re after a natural look, and you want to add that “Wow!” factor to your bathroom space, then a stone bath is a great solution. They’re luxurious and elegant, but come with an extravagant price tag, as well

Boutique Baths

Axor by Hansgrohe


as requiring a fair amount of upkeep. Stone baths are also very heavy and may require floor reinforcement.

Wood: Wooden baths are another bathroom statement piece, and offer a much cosier look than other types of bath materials. Wood is smooth and warm to the touch, and it is easily customisable for a truly bespoke end result. This type of tub is very expensive though and requires a lot of maintenance to ensure it remains well-sealed and water-resistant.

On tap Bath taps should be chosen carefully to ensure that they complement the style of your bath and the overall style of the entire bathroom design. More importantly, you need to consider their placement suits the type of bath that you have chosen. Deck-mounted taps are mounted directly onto the edge of the bath – this is a popular and practical choice. Wall-mounted taps work best for tubs positioned against a wall – it’s

Tapitalia

The built-in BetteStarlet includes standard rectangular and oval versions and a range of other styles with a combination of straight and rounded edges which are designed to be

used against a wall or into a corner - Bette by Bathroom Butler


also a great way to ensure the plumbing is well hidden, but since the plumbing needs to be chased into the wall, they can be time consuming to install. And lastly, freestanding floor-mounted bath taps are the optimum choice for freestanding baths – they offer maximum placement freedom, and they are designed to encapsulate all the plumbing, making for a slick overall look.

The lap of luxuryWhen a normal bath just isn’t enough, why not think about adding some luxury features to your tub. Luxury baths are gaining popularity, some with more subtle features like water-jets and water therapy, while others take the meaning of luxury to whole new levels. Built-in lighting and music, as well as digital controls for temperature and water flow, are just some of the luxurious state-of-the-art choices that you can choose in order to make your bathing experience one that epitomises sumptuousness and opulence.

BATHS

Bette by Bathroom Butler

Gio Bella


Axor by Hansgrohe


SHOWERS

Take a power shower

The shower is arguably one of the most utilised features in most homes today – offering a quick, practical, relaxing, space-saving and water-efficient

way of getting clean. With all the different options available, you can create a space that is a true amalgamation of luxury and practicality.

Improved efficiencyWater is a precious commodity, especially in light of the current water shortages that our country is experiencing. Showers use approximately 16.8% of you total indoor water usage, however, if chosen correctly, a shower can offer an incredibly water-saving alternative to bathing. The most obvious way to save water is by replacing older showerheads with a low-flow showerhead. In fact, it is estimated that installing a low-flow showerhead could save as much as 70% on your water consumption in the shower.

Low-flow showerheads have the added benefit of providing a variety of other features as well, including adjustable spray, self-cleaning, pressure-balancing valves to keep the temperature constant when water is being used elsewhere, some showerheads are even equipped with an on/off button or switch that can stop the flow of water entirely while applying soap and shampoo or shaving.

It is estimated that 73% of water used in the average shower is hot water. By reducing the amount of hot water, you can save on hot water heating. If you were to reduce the mixture of hot and cold water to 50:50, you would save approximately 11 litres of hot water per minute. If you can’t picture yourself reducing the heat level of your shower, you can still save some money on hot water by reducing the time you spend showering. For the standard 9 litres-per-minute low-flow showerhead, you can save approximately 9.5 litres of hot water for each minute you shave off your shower time. This not only saves water, but also saves you money on the electrical cost of heating the water.

Different types of showersMost of us think of a shower as a small cubicle in the bathroom with two taps and a shower head. Of course, this is the simplest version of the traditional shower enclosure, however, today there are a plethora of various other options available as well, allowing you to really “pimp this space out” for maximum appeal. Here are some other popular shower formats:

The walk-in shower: The typical walk-in shower has three walls, made either from tiled brick or glass walls, and an entrance comprising a shower curtain or glass door. The traditional walk-in shower cubicle has really evolved – today, you can choose from a variety of attractive additions, such as glass enclosures, glass seamless doors, shower columns, multiple shower roses, as well as detachable shower heads that can be used for more targeted hygiene purposes. Double walk-in showers are an especially popular trend at the moment, particularly for en-suite bathrooms – allowing two people to shower simultaneously.

Gio Bella

Gio Bella

Gio Bella

Gio Bella


Bath showers: Some bathrooms are too small to accommodate a separate shower cubicle, so very often, in these spaces, the shower forms part of the bath. This a great space-saving option, and a bath offers great drainage for the shower, however, it can also be a little dangerous as most tubs become slippery when wet. As such, it is highly recommended that you invest in a rubber mat for inside the bath for added safety. You will also require some form of curtain or screen to keep the water from spraying all over the bathroom. Today, you can opt for screens that can be attached to the side of the bath for a streamlined and stylish aesthetic.

Wet rooms: Wet rooms are becoming increasingly popular – providing an affordable way of adding value to your home. A wet room is basically a room that has been dedicated to the shower – doing away with the shower enclosure and the shower tray all together. In a wet room, the floor of the room is the same floor as the shower. As such, the entire floor of the bathroom needs to be sloped very slightly towards the drainage system below the shower head, so that the floor does not remain wet for too long. If you want a wet room in a much smaller bathroom it may be necessary to include a shower screen in order to prevent the entire bathroom from being drenched when you take a shower.

Shower headsOnce you have decided on what kind of shower you want, you need to look at what kind of shower head you would like to include. You can opt for one single shower head, a multitude of shower heads or a shower column. There are also different types of shower heads to choose from – from massage showers, rain shower heads, waterfall showers, multi-head showers and high and low pressure jets in singles or multiples.

Hand-held shower heads are another popular addition - they can either be mounted on a holder or held in the hand for much greater control over where water is directed. Hand-held shower mounts are often adjustable too, mounted on a vertical rail allowing for big adjustments in height. Their flexibility makes hand held showers particularly useful for those with small children or those with disabilities.

Drainage for the showerMake sure that when the shower is installed, you have a trap underneath it. The

Tapitalia

Stunning Bathrooms

Stunning Bathrooms


SHOWERS

trap is the u-shaped pipe you see under your bathroom basin. The water remains in the u bend after the shower has drained and acts as a seal against all the unpleasant smells from the sewer system. Try to have access to the drain pipe so it is easy to clean out hairs that can cause blockages. Also ensure that the grill on top of the shower drain is removable to help with unblocking as well.

With the increased popularity of floor-even shower areas – so has the demand for discreet floor-even shower drainage grown. These drainage solutions are characterised by an attractive design, a high discharge rate and innovative technology. The wall drain for example, moves the water outlet from the floor to behind the wall, thus combining elegant design with cleaning-friendly technology. Shower channels are another hot shower trend at the moment - they comprise a long drain that is flush with the floor and runs the width of the shower. Shower channels are not only aesthetically pleasing, but they are very practical additions as well.

Axor by Hansgrohe


Kombifix concealed cistern, with Sigma01 dual flush actuator plate in white. The trend in bathrooms is towards a minimalistic and elegant look, where the bathroom is an oasis and sanctuary for relaxation. Form and function meet creative and beautiful design along with innovative use of space. Geberit concealed cisterns play a large role in this trend which cleverly conceals the plumbing and piping in the wall. A Geberit Kombifix cistern for the wall hung toilet, together with the Geberit Sigma01 dual flush plate was used in this bathroom image combining beautiful design with function. The Geberit Kombifix is optimally suitable for installation in solid wall constructions and is a proven, reliable system which is not only space saving, efficient and quiet, but with the factory setting of either 6/3 litre flush option, saves water. The Geberit Kombifix is compatible with most wall-hung toilets and is simple and practical to install.

TOILETS


Toilet talk

While not the most spoken about part of a bathroom, the toilet is definitely the most used. This practical bathroom feature contributes to

both the functionality of your bathroom space, and it impacts on its overall style, comfort, and eco-friendliness.

The basicsToilets are a bathroom necessity, and while toilets can be found in a large variety of different styles, there are three main types of toilets - namely:

Close coupled toilets: close coupled toilets consist of an exposed cistern that is conveniently attached to the bowl of the toilet – making the bowl and cistern one complete unit. The pipes of the toilet are usually concealed in the casing of the whole unit, making for an attractively neat and streamlined look, as well as allowing for easy fuss-free installation. This type of toilet is also usually quite affordable, and will fit right up against the wall for optimum space efficiency.

Back-to-wall toilets: These types of toilets are fast gaining popularity for their slick look and space saving design. Back-to-wall toilets consist of a separate bowl and cistern, reason being that the cistern is often installed within a piece of furniture or more popularly in the wall behind the toilet bowl. This allows for a toilet that takes up a small amount of space and looks very modern and slick. In-wall cisterns also boast quite a few benefits; while obviously being a space saving option, they also make for a quieter flush.

Wall-hung toilets: A very similar concept to back-to-wall toilets, a wall-hung toilet also boasts a hidden cistern, but instead of a floor-standing toilet bowl, it is mounted directly on to the wall. This gives the toilet a “floating” visual effect and maximises space as the floor below the toilet is open. Looking modern and stylish isn’t the only perk that this sort of toilet boasts – it is also one of the easiest types of toilets to clean around as it doesn’t obstruct the bathroom floor at all.

Flushed awayFlushing mechanisms have come a long way since their original pull-chain form. The most commonly known flushing mechanism is the toilet handle, but with modern toilet design and hidden cisterns, the flush plate is becoming the go-to flushing mechanism option. Flush plates are mounted on the wall above the toilet, and usually have a dual-flush system. The dual-flush system is represented by two separate flushing buttons: a smaller one to save water for flushing away liquid waste, and a larger button that uses slightly more water for flushing away solid waste. Flush plates come in a wide variety of modern shapes, styles and colours to make sure there’s a flush plate to suit every bathroom style and design.

Bathroom Butler


Eco-friendly Toilets are one of the biggest water users in the home, and in a country where water isn’t plentiful this can be quite problematic. Choosing environmentally friendly options is a great option – not only will you reduce any wastage of this precious commodity, but by reducing your water consumption, you will also save money on your monthly utility bills.

By replacing an older toilet with a 6/3-litre or 4.5/3-litre dual flush model, a family of four can save as much as 35 000 litres of water annually. Alternatively, you can choose a low-flow or low-flush toilet, which uses significantly less water than the average toilet, saving around 7 litres of water per flush. If you cannot afford to replace your entire toilet, why not consider installing a cistern displacement bag or a cistern weight, which reduces how much water is being flushed – this can save you as much as 1.8 litres of water per flush.

The lap of luxuryLuxury toilets are a trend that originated in Japan – they have a space-age feel, and some even include voice control operation and seat warmers. While many of these toilets seem too strange for the Western world, we are slowly starting to include popular luxury toilet features in our toilet designs to improve their overall function and comfort. Some of these features include:

Seat warmers: One of the most popular luxury toilet features are seat warmers – this extravagant addition is perfect for taking the chill off on those cold winter mornings.

Automated lid: Many luxury toilet features are specifically designed to make the whole toilet experience more hygienic, and automated toilet seats are the perfect example. They are usually operated via a single button that lifts or lowers, either one or both of the toilet seats with minimal touching.

Shower toilets: Shower toilets are like toilets with built-in bidets, they are built to assist with cleaning and have many settings that can be adjusted for optimum personal comfort – including water pressure, water temperature, and some even have a drying feature.

Deodorisers: Most luxury toilets boast built-in deodorisers to make for a better smelling toilet experience.

Some more outrageous features inherent in luxury toilets include blood pressure and heart rate measurement apparatus, as well as toilets that play music, or even come with a built-in television screen, for the ultimate in bathroom entertainment.

Luxury toilets aren’t the only way to make your bathroom experience more comfortable. In bigger bathroom spaces, additions such as bidets and urinals can improve their overall functionality and luxury as well. Bidets are extremely popular in European and Asian countries and are used for personal hygiene after one uses the toilet. Urinals are most commonly wall-mounted, porcelain fittings designed exclusively for male urination. Installing a urinal in your bathroom will not only reduce water usage, but will also make time spent in the bathroom faster and easier for any males using it.

Keramag byGeberit

With Rimfree®, the innovative technology for rimless WCs, Keramag is setting the bar higher in terms of hygiene and ease of care – both in private bathrooms and public properties. With no rims, there are simply no more hidden, difficult to clean cavities and the inner basin can easily be kept spotlessly clean. This saves time, water and detergent – and also protects the environment - Keramag byGeberit

HYGIZONE PRODUCT INFO


Hygienic, pure and cleanNo matter how elegant a bathroom is, nasty odours have been the downfall of this space. Traditional extractor fans have helped but their main purpose was for ventilation purposes – to extract excess moisture from the room. However, with the introduction of the innovative Hygizone system, nasty odours are a thing of the past – even in spaces that don’t have any windows or ventilation from the outside at all.

Hygizone is a bespoke odour extraction system for commercial and residential applications. According to the company, when it comes to eliminating harmful odours, there is no solution as effective as the Hygizone. The difference comes in the form of source-based odour extraction technology. Unlike traditional extraction units that draw odour out of the toilet bowl and up to the ceiling; the Hygizone prevents airborne odour particles from leaving the toilet bowl and contaminating your clean bathroom air by extracting toilet odour directly at the source.

Hygizone was born from a journey that was inspired by the profound desire to solve an everyday problem. The solution works exceptionally well, using a

small fan motor to create the necessary extraction required to remove smells. So how does it actually work? Hygizone links your toilet to a small exhaust vent fitted to the exterior of your home where smells and germs are released efficiently and effortlessly. A small ceiling-mounted motion sensor is fitted directly above the toilet. This sensor detects movements allowing the Hygizone unit to switch on automatically and run for a period of time before switching off again, thereby ensuring the system runs efficiently and cost-effectively.

The Hygizone system is made up of the following core parts:

A Smart Sensor: Coupled with a courtesy light, this intelligent infrared motion detector starts-up your Hygizone when it detects movement within a 1-metre radius. After 2 minutes, if no movement is detected, it turns the system off.A Fan Motor: To create the extraction flow required to remove odours.A Flush Saddle Hose: The flush-saddle connects to your concealed cistern – it directs odours through the hose to the exhaust vent.An Exhaust Vent: This efficiently expels odours to the outside.12V Controller Box: The unit comes with a 220V power supply.

All components are hidden and concealed, and have no impact on the aesthetics of the bathroom.

For more information visit www.hygizone.com


The cherry on top

O nce the bath, toilet and bathroom fittings have all been chosen, it’s time to choose the bathroom accessories. Just like with a good outfit, the

accessories of a bathroom help pull the whole look together, while also adding a luxurious touch. When selecting your bathroom accessories, look for ones that will not only make your space a more functional one, but will also add to it from an aesthetic point of view. Well-chosen bathroom accessories can really take an ordinary bathroom and turn it into something special.

See the lightLighting is one of the most important, and practical bathroom accessories. Light fixtures can definitely be used as a style aspect in the space, but lighting is also very practical, especially in a room like the bathroom. Most bathrooms require a combination of different types of light fixtures in order to create functional and cohesive lighting in the space.

Task lighting: Vanities require brighter task lighting, as this will provide sufficient light to perform a number of tasks, such as applying your make up or shaving. Task lighting should be positioned at eyelevel on either side of your mirror – this is far superior to overhead lighting, which can create distorting shadows on your face.

Bathroom Butler


ACCESSORIES

Bathroom Butler Victorian Bathrooms

Heated towel rails by Bathroom Butler not only provide a beautiful design feature for towels, but you can also store and dry towels and bath sheets effortlessly. Simply fold your towel in four layers and hang it on the heated bars for the perfect out-of-the-way storage solution. All Bathroom Butler heated towel rails boast innovative, state-of-the-art Dry Element Technology (DET) for better functionality, quicker heat-up times and lower energy consumption.


Decorative lighting: This is another popular bathroom lighting choice. Decorative lighting functions as both a source of light and as a style aspect in the room – this is an area where you can express your style by choosing a quirky pendant light, or a chic rustic chandelier. Decorative lighting doesn’t have to be limited to just one fixture, especially in bigger bathrooms, where you have more space to be creative with your lighting choices.

Ambient lighting: Choosing a gentle, more discrete form of lighting to ensure your whole bathroom is well lit, is the main purpose of ambient lighting. Wall mounted pendants or overhead lighting in darker areas of the room will provide a well-lit space that is functional, inviting and attractive.

Heat things upWith tiling being the most popular and practical choice of bathroom flooring, it can be quite difficult to overcome the chill, especially during the colder winter months. Which is why you should consider investing in under-floor heating for your bathroom. Under-floor heating remains one of the easiest, luxurious and safest ways to heat up a bathroom space. It is laid directly beneath your bathroom tiles, so it is safely out of the way, it doesn’t interfere with your bathroom aesthetics, and you can feel the heat where it is needed most – underfoot.

The only downside of under-floor heating is that it does require electricity to run, but not as much as you would think. Energy consumption depends on each individual’s comfort needs. However, 1kW of floor heating will be more efficient and cheaper to run than a 1kW conventional heater, due to thermostat control and the even spread of the heating over the floor surface. You can save up to 50% on running costs by installing proper flooring insulation and the correct use of programmable controllers.

Alternatively, bathroom 3-in-1 units are an all-in-one lighting, extractor and heating solution, which has been specially designed for the hot, wet and humid conditions prevalent in bathroom spaces. The 3-in-1 combo units offer three useful functions in one unit – they come with a built-in extractor fan for optimum air circulation, as well as infrared globes that supply lighting and warmth. They are rustproof and purpose-built for steamy and wet areas, so they are safe, durable and long lasting. The main advantage of a bathroom 3-in-1 unit is that it comes grouped with three functions in one unit. This means that you can create heat and bright light at the

Bathroom Butler

Bathroom Butler


ACCESSORIES

flick of a switch, but at the same time, you can also turn on the extractor fan, to keep the bathroom clear of steam while you are showering. Another benefit is that these units are an incredibly streamlined, space-saving solution that requires only one installation point in order to perform all three functions.

The 3-in-1 units are purpose-built for installation in the bathroom ceiling for a streamlined and space-saving aesthetic. You no longer have to install a heater on the wall, a separate light overhead, and then fit an exhaust fan in the room as well. They are perfect for small bathrooms, but they work just as well in larger bathrooms. However, as they are recessed units, they cannot be installed in cement or concrete ceilings, nor can you install them vertically on the walls.

Finishing touches The last bathroom accessories that you’ll need to decide on for your bathroom are things like toilet brush holders, soap dishes, shelving and toilet roll holders. When choosing these finishing accessories, it’s important to ensure they match the rest of your bathroom, either by being an exact match to the design, or being something a bit different that compliments the style of the space. With the ever rising modern bathroom trend, slick matching sets of bathroom accessories are currently available, some of which include very clean features like wall-mounted soap dishes

Bathroom Butler

Stunning Bathrooms

Bathroom Butler’s special glass mounting system allows you to mount its range of bathroom accessories directly onto glass – prefect for bathrooms where wall space is limited. Glass is a great way to make small spaces appear larger because it reflects light. It also provides added space where accessories can be installed. Being able to install Bathroom Butler’s range of bathroom accessories on glass, makes any glass divider or glass enclosure a piratical addition to the space.”


and toilet brush holders. Another popular bathroom accessory trend is installing small simple shelves in your bathroom. These can house a charming collection of ornaments or plants, or can even be used more practically for toiletries. It’s important to keep in mind that smaller accessories can be played around with more than larger ones, and may be used to add a unique and more eclectic touch in the bathroom.

One of the latest trends in accessory design is to include freestanding accessories. Freestanding towel rails in particular are becoming increasingly popular in today’s homes – they don’t need to be installed, they simply need to be moved into place. This portability makes them ideal for those who move homes often, as you can just take them with you when you move. Their increasingly popular appeal also lies in the fact that they are very versatile pieces. Before you get into the bath or shower, you can move the rail right next to the bath or shower cubicle, so that your towels can be conveniently located within easy reach when you get out. No more dripping all over the bathroom floor when you get out and walk over to reach for your towel.

Once you are dry, you can simply move the rail into a more convenient location so that it doesn’t block access to the bath or shower. They are also ideal for large open-plan bathrooms with freestanding baths, as the towels will be within easy reach whenever required.

Gio Bella Gio BellaGio Bella

Stunning Bathrooms

Stunning Bathrooms


Deliciously dry towelsOnce the reserve of exclusive upmarket hotels and multi-million-Rand mansions, today, heated towel rails have taken their rightful place as an affordable, tried and trusted towel-drying essential in most residential bathrooms. Many people believe that heated towel rails cost the earth, but this is just not the case – they are actually really affordable. Today, heated towel rails are not just for the rich and famous – now everybody can afford to invest in a heated towel rail and enjoy their many benefits. Heated towel rails that boast Dry Element Technology (DET) are also cost-efficient to run – unlike the more expensive European-type radiators that consume large amounts of electricity, you can purchase heated towel rails that have been purposely designed for the South African climate. The main purpose of these heated towel rails is to dry towels and take the chill off of them, and not to heat the bathroom space, which means that in comparison, they consume very small amounts of energy. They are also available with various control options, which can reduce running costs even further.

ACCESSORIES

Stunning Bathrooms


One of the simplest and most effective ways of re-doing a bathroom is to retile it. However, the choice of tiles can be one the most difficult parts

of any bathroom renovating plan.

Today, there is an enormous choice of tiles currently on the market – to help you narrow down the selection, it is a good idea to find out what the current tile trends are. Not only will this serve to enlighten you about what is currently available, but it will also serve as a source of design and colour inspiration, and offer you insight into how to maximise the resale value of your home.Tiles come in all shapes, colours and textures. When choosing tiles for your bathroom, it is best to choose sealed, non-porous tiles as they handle the often-wet nature

On-trend with tiles

Image courtesy of ABK Spain. Available from Casabella

TILES


of bathroom applications best. Natural and other porous tiles can of course also be used, however, they will need to be professionally sealed – otherwise they will absorb the oils and soaps used in the bathroom, which will end up staining them. The water-resistant and durable nature of ceramic and sealed porcelain tiles make them a perfect fit for any bathroom – they protect the walls and floors, and they are available in a plethora of various colours, texture and prints. Read on to find out about the top tile trends currently leading the way:





All about textureTextured tiles are all the rage at the moment – they are visually stunning, practical as they offer a great non-slip surface, and offer a wide commercial appeal, which makes them great if you want to maximise the resale value of your home. Leading the way, wall tiles with a wave-type texture are incredibly popular – they create a water-like visual effect and light is reflected off the different curved facets of the designs. Available with a high-gloss or matt finish, since there are no crevices or cracks in the design, they are very easy and practical to clean. The larger, the betterIncreasingly more people are opting for oversized, large format tiles for both the floor and wall applications. Large tiles have a timeless look that won’t date, and they have the added bonus of making a space seem larger than it actually is. This is due to the fact that there are less grout lines, and so the wall or floor area in questions is not broken up visually. When it comes to large format tiles, it is best to keep the grouting between them as thin and unobtrusive as possible.

Eu naturalMother Nature has been a major source of design inspiration in our homes for many years now – and she is still making a big impact today. As such, tiles that are designed to emulate the natural qualities of wood or

TILES




natural stone are incredibly sought after. They imitate the real thing so closely, that it is often difficult to tell them apart from the genuine article. What makes them so popular is not only aesthetic however – they are also a more practical choice for wet areas – they provide the feel of wooden flooring and panelling, or natural stone flooring or cladding, without the high cost. They also handle water, moisture and heavy traffic better as well – they are not porous, they won’t crack or peel, and they require absolutely no maintenance apart from cleaning.

Blending is beautifulIf, more often than not, you are sitting with two kinds of tiles and you just can’t choose between the two – why not opt to use both. More and more high-fashion bathrooms have opted to use two completely different types of tiles in one clever design. Not only does this effect create an incredibly eye-catching aesthetic, but it also creates something entirely unique and the tiles become the focal feature of the entire room. This trend is especially effective if the tiles boast complementary, harmonious or juxtaposing colourways.

Down underThe subway tile remains bang-on trend. As their namesake implies, subway tiles were originally used in the underground subway stations – their narrow rectangular profile made them easy to install on curved surfaces. Subway tiles are ageless and much like parquet flooring, they can be laid in a number of different ways to

suit a variety of styles, including herringbone, diagonal herringbone, diagonal basket weave, plain basket weave, brick, or just plain old horizontal layout. Using the subway tile with the same colour grout or white on black can make a very big difference to the overall look of the room.

Undercover neutralsTiles in neutral tones remain an ever-popular choice. For those who want their bathroom’s walls and floors to offer a blank canvas, allowing the selected sanitaryware, window views, and other design features of the room to take centre stage. However, today, neutrals are taking on a whole new persona – they are no longer the dull and often boring hues that were so popular in years gone by. Modern neutrals remain subtle and widely liked, but they also offer interesting and appealing undertones. Various shades of grey and stone are particularly popular currently.



Going with glassGlass tiles come in all shapes and sizes, and their sleek and elegant aesthetics remain increasingly popular. The only drawback to glass tiles is that they are priced on the higher end of the price scale. As such, they are often used as a smaller feature or mosaic tile. However, glass sheets are also used for a more seamless end result – especially in shower enclosures, or as basin or bath splashbacks.

Tile designs have expanded greatly in the last few years, and if choosing the tile you want is proving to be too difficult, just pop down to your local tile merchant and tell them your ideas. Specialised tile companies like Casabella (see display advert on page 15) can come up with the correct tile to enhance your design and keep you up date with the latest trends.

TILES




From the George collection by Falper Italy


INSTALLATION

Make it better

The bathroom is not the simplest room to makeover. It entails a number of different specialty trades, including plumbing, tiling, design and layout,

installation, building, electrical and carpentry. What’s more is that during the renovation, many of these trades need to run concurrently with one another, which requires superb planning skills.

Before you begin, you need to decide if you are happy with the layout of your bathroom, but you just want to change its look and feel, or whether you want to completely overhaull the entire space, enlarge it and move things around. The first option is by far the easiest and most affordable, whereas the second option will take considerable planning to get right.

Victorian Bathrooms


All in orderBefore you even think about removing the first tile, it is highly advisable that you give careful consideration on how you would like to use the space, and who is going to use it. For example, if you shower the majority of the time, and bath only on occasion – then it would be best to spend more on your shower than on your bath for example.Deciding on who will be using this space will also have a major impact on the design of the room. For example, if it is a main en-suite, then a double vanity and double shower are a great addition. However, if it is a family bathroom that will be used for small children, then a bath is a must-have inclusion.

Also, if the bathroom will be used by multiple members of the family, of all different ages, you may want to consider including designs that maximise its use. For example, designing the toilet as a separate room allows somebody to use the toilet, even when there is somebody else taking a shower or brushing their teeth.

Let the light inA bathroom needs to be a bright and inviting space. A layered lighting design is the best choice, as you require various types of

Shutters are brilliant thermal insulators, their adjustable louvres allow ventilation and light control while limiting the heat gain through windows and doors - American Shutters

Keep the colour scheme neutral but add an accent shade to stay on trend. By keeping to your accent colours it means they are also easy to change, giving you more flexibility in the future - Craig Parr, Interior Specialist


INSTALLATION

Better the budget For optimum longevity and to help the budget, it is best to choose a low cost design for high impact results. Use neutral colours for the permanent features, such as the tiles and sanitaryware, and then add pops of colour and design accents in the form of easily changeable soft furnishings and accessories. This way, you can change the entire look and feel of the room, without breaking the bank.

DIY does itUnless you are an expert in design, tiling, plumbing, building, electrics and carpentry, it is best to leave the work to professionals. It is important to remember that buying all the materials to remodel your bathroom is an expensive endeavour in itself, and once the items are installed, for the most part, you can’t uninstall them and start over. As such, professional experts are the order of the day – you don’t want to end up with mediocre results, just because you didn’t hire the right professional to install it.

Also, with regards to installations such as plumbing and electrics – by law, you need to use qualified and registered professionals; when these are not installed correctly, it can be very dangerous. This is especially valid in wet areas in the home, such as the bathroom, where electricity can potentially be exposed to water - a lethal partnership and a certain fire hazard.

Shop around for the professionals and always ask to go and see previous work that they have completed, or at the very least, phone up past clients to find out what experience they had. Once you are satisfied with both the workmanship and the quote, you can go ahead and commission them without any stress.

lighting in this room – from ambient, feature, and of course, task lighting. The light over the toilet area can be the dimmest, while the lighting over and around the bathroom vanity area should be the brightest.

Storage storiesThere is no use having a beautifully designed bathroom, if it is hidden under a ton of clutter. This room is where carefully thought out storage solutions really come into play – not only do they have to be able to store a lot of different items, of all different sizes, but they also need to be stored in an easily accessible manner.

More often than not, the upper wall area of the bathroom is empty and this can be used for shelving and cleverly placed towel rails. One of the most unused areas of the wall is the area above the cistern. One could install shelves here, as well as a small cupboard if need be. If space is not an issue, then items such as floor-standing towel holders or woven washing baskets can be used to give the room a whole new look.


Rexa Design

TRENDS FORECAST 2016


The in thing

With the New Year fast approaching many of us are thinking of interesting ways, which we can spruce up our homes. While major renovations

aren’t on the cards for everyone, sometimes adding small touches can really make the space feel brand new. Drawing inspiration from up and coming trends is always a great place to start when trying to decide what changes you want to make. Here are some of the latest trends in bathroom design today:

Au naturel Nothing says Zen-oasis quite like natural stone, which is why it’s a trend we see year after year. Unlike most years though, 2016 offers a unique take on stone accents, more specifically solid stone basins. Solid stone basins come in a wide variety of

Lisa Millbacher from Bespoke Bathrooms expects to see the following trends at the Milan Furniture Fair next year.

Article by Antonella Desi

Kohler


Green thumb With their natural beauty and ability to purify the air, it’s no surprise that plants are on the list of bathroom trends for 2016. Bathrooms specifically, provide a great environment for tropical plants due to the high humidity levels. While plants require a bit more care when compared to bathroom ornaments, choosing the right type of plants for the space will make your job a whole lot easier. The most popular and well-suited plants for bathrooms include ferns, philodendrons, bamboo and ivy.

Plants are easy to buy and place anywhere in your bathroom, and while a pot next to the sink may be your first choice, getting creative with your plant placement can go a long way in making your bathroom look like a luxurious tropical retreat. Layering plants is a great way of achieving a full, opulent and trendy look. Don’t be scared to experiment with different types of plant displays, such as hanging plants, creepers and even using old stools and side tables as an extra surface to display the plants. Going forward, bathrooms that look like a cross between a luscious greenhouse and luxurious bathroom is bang on trend.

Pot of goldFashion and colour forecasters are predicting that 2016 will be a golden year. Moving away from the stark white colour palettes of previous years, trending colours for this year include soft pastels, black, and ochre gold taking pride of place as the star of the show. While these colours couldn’t be more different, when combined they create an uber-stylish and eclectic look. The way to apply this colour palette must be carefully planned for a successful end result. Most bathrooms are on the smaller side, so using darker colours like black and gold for the whole space, can end up making your bathroom feel small and closed in. Rather use lighter pastels for the majority of your walls, and then use black and gold for dramatic, eye-catching accents.

shapes, styles and colours, making them a unique and “oh so” stylish addition to the space. Their durability, and sculpture-like shape makes them a definite investment for your bathroom.

Another way natural stone is taking over bathroom décor is with marble. Marble is the epitome of timelessness and elegance, boasting an amazing light colour and fantastic natural veining. Marble can be used in so many different ways – from tiles, through to countertops, basins, mosaics or even décor accessories. While many designers are choosing to go for a full-marble look, incorporating marble everywhere, from the floors to the counter, and even the walls, this may be a bit extravagant for most.

Fortunately for those working on a tight budget, marble can be effectively used as an interesting accent. Marble countertops and splashbacks for example, are great ways to add a touch of elegance to your bathroom. Marble is soft and easy to work with, making it great for basins, and floors, but it’s important to remember that marble is a very porous stone, and can easily be stained by dyes and coloured detergents.

Artisanal accents This not-quite-trend is encouraging people to go out and find unique and interesting bits and pieces to adorn their bathroom spaces. Finding things for your bathroom that you love, that are hand-crafted and one-of-a-kind is a sure way to ensure your personal style shines through. Finding pieces like this is a process, but looking in flea markets, boutique stores or second-hand shops is a good way to source small independent manufacturers, as well as classic vintage pieces.

Alternately, if you just can’t find anything you like; then you can always get aspects of your bathroom custom designed. There are many artisans on the market willing to customise various items to ensure your bathroom is a unique retreat. Some examples of customised and artisan items that are popular this season include copper piping used as towel rails, custom made or even custom painted basins, and small trinkets like antique dressing table sets.

Kohler Africa


Pattern perfect Wallpaper is back with a bang, and will definitely add some pizzazz to your bathroom space. The tip for this season is to go over the top with your choice of pattern, but use the actual wallpaper as more of an accent piece than covering all your walls. Nature-inspired patterns are very popular, specifically when used to add interest to a more contemporary bathroom space.

Although wallpaper isn’t for everyone, pattern can still be easily incorporated into your bathroom design in easier, more affordable and subtle ways. Mosaics and natural stone tiles for example, can be mixed and matched to create a show-stopping feature wall or splashback. Many mosaics this season are incorporating geometric patterns and metallic finishes for a unique take on a bathroom classic. Patterned floors are also becoming more prevalent, and help add a vibrant, retro touch to any bathroom space.

TRENDS FORECAST 2016

Bespoke Bathrooms

Kohler


Mirrors are a great inclusion in many rooms throughout the home – they offer a practical and aesthetically pleasing element to the decor, with the added

benefit of making the room appear larger than it is, and reflecting light to make the space brighter.

However, they serve an especially important role in both the bathroom and the bedroom, where they help you to perform various daily tasks, such as grooming, applying make-up, doing your hair, or ensuring that you are looking your best.

Now they can serve another purpose – due to state-of-the-art technology, your mirror can double as your TV as well. Mirror Edge Networks is the official distributor of technology that allows the integration of a special LED TV monitor behind a glass or mirror surface. Says Morgan Irwin from Mirror Edge Networks: “The surface options include coloured glass in any RAL colour of your choice, or the Crystal Mirror, which is an especially popular choice as it completely hides the monitor when it is switched off.”

The company creates beautiful and elegant mirror televisions. The mirror is a specially tailored glass that has been optimised to give outstanding reflection and image quality. Once switched on, the LED monitor behind displays a full HD 1080p picture, and when switched off, it completely disappears into a perfect mirror or glass feature wall.

So how does it work? Morgan explains: “On the surface, the installation only offers the stylishly slick look of glass, however, behind you will find the only LED monitor systems that are factory-calibrated for integration behind glass. These monitor systems are custom-engineered display screens – they are exclusively designed to overcome the unique challenges of operating in ventilation-deprived environments and to allow easy and adjustable mounting. The elaborate unique mounting systems accompanying these monitors are distinctively designed to suit all types of placements behind any glass surfaces.”

What’s more, is that these monitors are rated for installation in high moisture environments, such as bathrooms and kitchens, says Morgan: “This is incredibly

important, as ordinary LED screens cannot withstand constant exposure to moisture, and would get damaged quickly if installed in a bathroom for example. Our technically advanced screens however, are specifically designed for high humid areas and ventilation-deprived installations, which means that they won’t over-heat and the moisture won’t damage any circuitry.”

The purpose built LED monitors are installed in a recess in the wall on which the mirror will be placed. All the cabling and wiring requirements are installed in this recess as well, and all external wiring is neatly chased into the wall, so that you won’t see any of it once the installation is complete. Once the electrical installation is complete, then your choice of mirror or glass is mounted on top for a glamorous end result.

Says Morgan: “The Crystal Mirror finish is especially popular, as it hides the installation entirely when the TV is switched off. It comes in either a silver or a bronze finish. However, the colour finishes are virtually endless, which means you can integrate the glass surface or mirror finish with practically any décor style and colour palette – hiding the somewhat garish looks of a TV, neatly behind an attractive surface for a truly awe-inspiring result.”

For more information visit www.MirrorEdgeNetworks.com

The mirror TV

BEAUTIFUL BEDROOMS

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S H OWC A S I N G T H E L AT E ST T R E N D S A N D D E S I G N S FO R I D E A S A N D I N S P I R AT I O N

INTERIOR and ATMOSPHERE | BEDS and MATTRESSES | STORAGE

Colombini Casa by Diva Cucine.


INTERIOR & ATMOSPHERE


Bedroom serenity

The bedroom provides the ideal haven in which to end a stressful day. Bedrooms are seen as a place where you can escape from the pressures and demands of

everyday life, which is what makes them such and integral room in the home. In order to create a bedroom space that is tranquil and serene, it is paramount that you pay special attention to the mood of the room when finalising its design.

Pick and choose When choosing the décor for your bedroom you want to stick with something that is calming and not overwhelming. Serenity and tranquillity is the name of the game here, and while a calming or Zen-like mood is an ever-popular option, it’s also important to incorporate your own personal style into the space. This can be achieved by complimenting the ambience with a secondary mood – some popular moods that people use in conjunction with a calm atmosphere include:

Lively: A lively mood will make the space feel more invigorating.

Warm: A warm mood is very similar to a calm or Zen mood, except with a cosier and richer overall feeling.

Creative: A creative mood is perfect for someone with an artistic side, who prefers eclectic styled spaces.

Sophisticated: This mood will create a classy and mature ambience that also features calming elements.

Coricraft American Shutters


but should centre on rich moody colours, such as dark greys, and jewel tones, such as purples and blues. This colour palette can be paired well with light walls, or even used for just a touch of drama in a more neutral space.

Lively: While most people prefer a bedroom that is either serene or opulent, others prefer a space that makes them feel energised and rejuvenated. When trying to achieve a lively mood, your first instinct will be to choose bright in-your-face colours, but you should try and avoid this impulse as choosing very bright colours can be a little overwhelming. Instead opt for muted spring-inspired tones, such as duck-egg blue, sunshine yellows and mint greens. These colours will add a fresh, lively touch to the decor, while still maintaining a balance of calm serenity.

When incorporating colours into your bedroom décor, it is important to remember that the majority of the space, specifically the walls, should be in light neutral tones to ensure that the tone of the room is comfortable and open. Use darker colours for accent pieces, and medium hues for feature walls.

Let in the light Lighting is one of the most popular means of creating ambience in a room. In a space that needs to be soothing, bright lights and fluorescents are out of the question. In this most intimate of spaces, a layered lighting design is the optimum choice, and it is advisable to only use gentle, warm lighting tones to ensure a serene mood. Bedroom lighting can be divided into three main types, namely:

Ambient lighting: This is the main light source for your bedroom, and will provide the whole space with a gentle light. Ambient lighting is where stylish light fixtures come into play. Chandeliers are especially on trend for bedroom spaces, as they offer sufficient light and add a touch of glamour. Using dimmers for ambient lighting is a great idea, as it gives you the ability to customise the brightness to suit your mood.

Colour therapy The colours you choose for your bedroom can have a huge influence over how you feel about the space. Colours have been proven time and time again to affect a person’s mood, which is why the colour palette you choose remains a crucial element for creating your ideal atmosphere. Moods can be easily translated into colour palettes and act as a good guideline for the type of paint and other décor elements that you choose for this space. Some popular bedroom moods and their colour palettes comprise:

Zen: This popular and calming mood is characterised largely by gentle neutral tones of beige, stone, off-white and light grey. Colours used for this mood should be gentle on the eyes and make you feel relaxed. While neutral is your base, adding pops of colour can help liven up the space, such as greens and blues, to maintain the nature-inspired tones of this theme.

Dramatic: More opulent than Zen, this mood will make your bedroom feel more rich and luxurious. Colours for this mood are more dependent on your personal taste,

Craig Parr


INTERIOR & ATMOSPHERE

Accent lighting: Accent lighting is used to create focal points in your bedroom and is perfect for highlighting key design aspects or artworks. Accent lights are usually small and discrete, usually taking the form of recessed downlights.

Task lighting: As its name implies, task lighting is designed to enable you to perform various tasks, such as reading, putting on your makeup or getting dressed. Task lighting needs to be focused and very bright. Lighting options such as mirror lights, bedside lights and in-wardrobe lighting are all good examples of task lighting in the bedroom.

Take to the floor As floors are not on eye level, they are an often-overlooked bedroom element. However, when you consider that more often than not, you walk barefoot in your bedroom, you’ll see that floors have a very tactile influence on the space. To create a warm and calming bedroom atmosphere, there are various types of flooring options to choose from, the most popular being

carpeting, hardwood and laminate flooring. Carpeting is warm and soft, come in a variety of shades and textures, and really helps contribute to the luxury of a bedroom space. It also helps reduce noise and to insulate your bedroom, and they are warm underfoot. The only downside to carpeting is that they can be difficult to clean and they stain easily.

Hardwood floors bring a timeless elegance to your bedroom. The warm colours and feeling of natural wood make it an ideal choice for a bedroom floor. While slightly noisier compared to carpeting, hardwood flooring is easy to clean, it is exceptionally durable, and timelessly beautiful. However, it is priced at the higher-end of the price spectrum. If you have your heart set on timber flooring, but hardwood flooring is just not in your budget, laminate flooring is the next best thing. It resembles the real thing, but it is much more affordable than hardwood flooring, comfortable, easy to clean and although not as durable as genuine timber flooring, it is long lasting.

Curtain call Window treatments act as the finishing touch when it comes to creating the perfect bedroom atmosphere. They can tie a space together, as well as allowing you to control the amount of natural lighting you let into your bedroom. As window treatments are available in such a large variety of styles, choosing one that suits the rest of your bedroom is very important. Choosing bedroom window treatments can be conflicting, as sometimes we need the darkness that shutters and shades provide, and at other times, we prefer the more romantic and airy feeling that curtains provide. Layered window treatments offer the best of both – providing the ability to blackout your bedroom when required, and to open it up to the outdoors as required.


Linen Drawer

Linen Drawer

Designer Range - Latitude - Taupe on Cream (Linen)These unique product ranges have been designed by the Linen Drawer design team. A combination of modern styling and classical elegance, these ranges are produced from 200 thread count, pure cotton percale fabrics with pure Linen cuffs (or aspects), creating unique design effects on these duvet cover sets.

Designer Range - Opulence - Taupe (Aspects in pure linen)


BEDS AND BEDDING

Make your bed

The bedroom is one of the most intimate and used places in the home, and the bed takes pride of place in this room. Not only does the average person

spend a third of their lives sleeping or in bed, but we’re also well accustomed to the difference a good night’s sleep can make in our day-to-day functioning.

Beds should be treated as more than just a place to sleep, but rather as a space that you want to make as luxurious and comfortable as possible, which is why every choice you make, from your choice of mattress, through to linen and accessories is important.

Starting at the bottomOne of the key factors in creating a comfortable and luxurious bed is your choice of mattress. Mattresses are much more important than you think, and can effect your health and overall wellbeing. While good quality mattresses are often quite expensive, they are well worth the cost and should be seen as an investment, as they can help alleviate back pain, and allow for a better night’s sleep. The most popular and comfortable mattresses at the moment include:

Innerspring mattresses: This is the most commonly known type of mattress and has a support system that consists of steel springs. The number, type and size of coils varies from mattress to mattress, and these coils are encased in foam and upholstery. The general rule of innerspring mattresses is that the more springs it has, the greater the support the mattress will offer.

Memory foam: Memory foam mattresses are relatively new, and since being introduced, they have taken the mattress world by storm. They are made from dense foam that contours to the shape of the body, offering excellent support. This type of mattress is ideal for people who suffer from back, neck and shoulder pains, and has been known to help alleviate a myriad body aches, to ensure a better night’s sleep. While a good option, memory foam mattresses are positioned at the upper end of the price spectrum, and because of their composition, may take a bit of time to adjust to.

Hybrid mattresses: Comprising an amalgamation of both an innerspring mattress design, with a top layer of memory foam, hybrid mattresses offer users the best of both worlds. They provide the support of an innerspring mattress, with the comfort and body-hugging benefits of memory foam.

Cover upSheets and bedding offer the tactile elements of your bed – it is what you will physically be in contact with when you are in bed. While it is important that linen is both functional and aesthetically pleasing, it should also be chosen on the basis of how practical it is for your climate and bedding needs. In a warmer climate like South Africa, bedding that is breathable and

Premium Range - Classique White. This range is manufactured from brilliant white, pure combed cotton in a 600 thread count sateen percale construction giving an exceptionally smooth, lustrous and luxurious handle to the fabric - Linen Drawer


always best to opt for the best quality that you can afford. High-end cotton linen may come with a high-end price tag, but it is incredibly durable, offers a smooth feeling on the skin, it is breathable and moisture absorbing.

Cotton blend: Made of a mixture of polyester and cotton, cotton blend bed linen is one of the most affordable sheeting options currently available on the market. It is very durable and very easy to care for, but because of its synthetic component, it is not as breathable as linen made from 100% natural materials.

Egyptian cotton: Egyptian cotton is a speciality sheeting fabric, and is made from cotton grown along the Nile River. This type of sheeting is known to be one of the most luxurious, due to its soft, silky feeling, its breathability and because it is very absorbent. Egyptian cotton sheeting has a higher thread count than most, which is one of the contributing factors to its opulent feel.

Flannel: This type of sheeting is extremely popular in cooler climates and offers a soft, fuzzy and cuddly feeling. Made from either wool or a cotton derivative, the heat retaining properties of flannel don’t make it very breathable, but still offer a comfortable sheeting option for cold winter nights.

Pure linen: Made out of the natural fibre of the flax plant, linen boasts a number of the same characteristics as other natural materials, such as offering maximum

absorbent is usually preferred. Bedding comes in a wide variety of different materials, each with their own pros and cons, including:

Bamboo: Bamboo is a relatively new bedding fabric. It is an impressively environmentally friendly option, as the bamboo plant is fast growing and requires little land and no pesticides. As a fabric, bamboo is soft, breathable and moisture absorbing, and unlike a lot of other sheeting fabrics, it is also hypoallergenic. Bamboo sheeting is ideal for anyone prone to allergies, and it is best suited for warmer climates.

Cotton: One of the most popular sheeting materials, cotton is crisp, strong, and available in a wide variety of different colours and designs. However, cotton can crease very easily, and if it is of a lower quality, it can also be scratchy on the skin. As such, when buying cotton sheeting, it is

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BEDS AND BEDDING

breathability and absorbency. On top of these favourable characteristics, linen is also hypoallergenic, and has been shown to be the first choice of bedding for people with sensitive skin. Pure linen is also extremely durable, and unlike most sheeting, actually gets better and softer with age. When it comes to white bedding, linen wins hands down, as unlike cotton, white linens do not yellow with age. Linen is odour-resistant and it is also environmentally friendly, as it requires less water and chemicals to produce than other sheeting materials.

Add onsBedding forms more than just the sheeting on a bed, but also includes bed accessories; such as throws, blankets, pillows and scatters. Blankets and throws are a thin blanket, usually draped over the foot of the bed – they add a nice touch to the style of the bed, as well as being very practical as they offer an extra layer for when the weather gets a bit chilly. Blankets and throws come in a wide variety of styles and colours – from quaint crochet options, to opulent faux fur. Scatter cushions, while not as functional as throws, are definitely the most popular way of adding a personal touch to the bed. When picking out throw cushions, people usually tend to mix and match to create the desired look. When selecting scatters, it is best to choose a colour palette or theme to stick to, and to choose 3 to 5 cushions of varied shapes and sizes.

Channelling trendsWhile bedrooms should be treated as spaces where you can express yourself and add your personal sense of style to create a comfortable and personal retreat, using the latest trends to help inspire your space, is a good way to achieve a stylish end result. The latest colour trends in the bedroom comprise colour palettes of whites and greys, complimented by minimal, fuss-free decorating. White bed linen is bang on trend – it is extremely versatile and can be used in almost any bedroom style.

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Bedrooms are comfortable oases where we go to unwind, but when they start getting cluttered it can be difficult to stay calm. Storage is often a huge issue in bedrooms,

as the space is usually rather small and most of the space is taken up by your bed, making it difficult to find sufficient space to store all your bedroom necessities. Fortunately storage comes in many shapes and sizes so finding suitable storage for your bedroom shouldn’t be too difficult.

Working wardrobes Whether they’re built-in, walk-in or free standing, wardrobes form one of the biggest storage spaces in a bedroom. Wardrobes usually contain the real necessities like clothing and shoes, which take up the most space as far as storage is concerned. Unfortunately due to their large size, storage space in wardrobes tends to be badly used. It’s important to maximise all storage space in your bedroom, a few ways to better utilise your wardrobe are:

Get rid of things you don’t use: While this is advice that is repeated over and over again, it really is important in keeping your bedroom storage, and especially your wardrobe in order. Keeping things that you don’t use or wear will just take up more space, and make keeping your closet organised more difficult.

Invest in a shoe rack: Shoe racks may seem a bit excessive, but they will really allow you to make the most of your space. Not only will you be able to see all your shoes properly but most shoe racks fit neatly at the bottom of a closet, a space which may otherwise go unused.


Smart storageBEDROOM STORAGE

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Insert extra shelves: When it comes to shelving more is more. Often the space in between wardrobe shelves is far too big, leaving a lot of space unused, by inserting an extra shelf in this space you’ll give yourself a whole new layer of storage.

Make use of all the space: The tops and bottoms of wardrobes are often left unused as they aren’t very easy to reach, but these places are perfect for storing things you don’t need on a day-to-day basis, like heavy winter coats or duvets. Using boxes for the items you store in these places, will help make everything more organised and accessible.

Wall flower Shelving is a popular form of storage in most parts of the house, but is often overlooked in the bedroom. Fortunately shelves are becoming more and more popular in bedroom spaces, specifically in the form of headboard storage. Headboard storage is a great place to store small items, ornaments and books, this type of storage usually comes in the form of shelves above the headboard up to the ceiling. This type of storage also has a trendy aesthetic, and can also be used to




display personal things like photographs. The only thing about shelving as a form of bedroom storage is that they have to be kept extremely clean and tidy, as unlike wardrobe, you can’t just close the door on a shelf when it starts looking messy. Using baskets and boxes are the best way to make shelving a practical storage option while not being cluttered or untidy.

Out of sight, out of mindThere are many places in the bedroom that are overlooked when it comes to storage, the main one being under the bed. Under bed storage is extremely popular, especially because it’s well hidden away and doesn’t take up any extra visible space in the bedroom. The rising interest in under bed storage has resulted in many specialised boxes, some with wheels that fit perfectly underneath a bed. These are often used for storing things like shoes, or even things that need to be reached less often like winter bedding.


BEDROOM STORAGE

On display Your most prized possessions need not be hidden away, keeping things on display is a great way to free up storage space elsewhere. Things like scarves, coats and jewellery can make the style of your bedroom feel more personalised. There are many ways you can display things in your room, coat hangers and towel hooks are perfect for scarves, jewellery and for hanging small items of clothing. Cute dressing table jewellery stands are a great way of storing jewellery and in a tighter space you can even turn a pin board into a clever jewellery display.

On the sideDon’t disregard bedside tables when it comes to storage, although they don’t have a lot of space, they are a perfect place for storing smaller things like makeup, jewellery, books and electronics. Chests at the foot of your bed are also another great place for storage, not only will these bring an antique-chic look to your room, but they’ll also provide quite a bit of space for throws, pillows, or anything else that needs to be stored away.


CHECKLIST


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Step by step to a new bathroom

Fill in and take with you when visiting a showroom!This bathroom checklist will come in handy when planning and designing your new bathroom. Renovating your bathroom will take up a lot of your time and is quite costly. The first important step to your new bathroom is to determine your current situation and your future bathroom requirements.

What budget do you have available for the bathroom?

Do you need additional finance? yes / no

Will more than one person be using the bathroom

at the same time? yes / no

Are special provisions required for the elderly

or physically impaired? yes / no

Is the floor suitable (strong enough) for the bathroom? yes / no

Are there sufficient possibilities for ventilation? yes / no

Is there suitable heating in the room? yes / no

Is there a boiler / geyser? yes / no

Does the geyser have sufficient capacity? yes / no

Does the electrical installation need to be adjusted? yes / no

Do you require a new plan for the lighting? yes / no

Do you require extra loudspeakers or a

cable connection? yes / no

Do you require a lowered ceiling or a raised floor? yes / no

Are any construction activities required?

Demolishing yes / no

New walls yes / no

New floor yes / no

Plastering yes / no

Which elements will be fitted?Material of preference DesignBathtubShower bathWhirlpoolBath mixer tapShower trayShower accessoriesShower panelsWalk-in showerSteam cabinShower cabinStand-alone showerWashbasin(s)Tap(s)ToiletUrinalBidetBathroom furnitureAccessoriesVarious

Do any household appliances need to be installed in the bathroom?Washing machine yes / noTumble dryer yes / noWill any double walls be used? yes / noWill use be made of any pre-fitted modules? yes / no

Step by step to a new bathroom

New

Fea

ture

1805

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Isn’t it time you fell in love with your bed again?

At Sealy Posturepedic® our aim is to provide healthy,

happy sleep every night, to give you a great day

every day. We do this by tirelessly exploring new

ways to give you more comfort, more support, and

more delicious luxury. No wonder people who sleep

on a Sealy are often heard saying... “I love my bed!”.

For more information visit us at

www.sealy.co.za or call 011 309 4000. Sealy South Africa

The cool action GEL Memory foam regulates

body temperature and reduces pressure points

for no more tossing and turning, keeping you

cooler in Summer and cosy in Winter.

CoolSmart™ GEL Memory Foam

Micro Beads

Memory Foam for body support

Cool Smart GEL Memory Foam regulates body temperature

+

Come to our showroom for a free ConsultanCy

or disCover our ColleCtions on www.ColombiniCasa.Com

Creating your home has never been as easy as with our exclusive promotions.Discover our beautiful Italian design, our wide range of styles and furnishingsand our quality craftsmanship. And of course, our customized solutions withprices that are tailor-made as well.

Colombini Casa - Johannesburg435 Jan Smuts Ave, Blairgowrie2024 Johannesburg , R.S.A.Tel: +27 11 [email protected]

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Documents

BeautifulBathroomsandBedroomsSummer20152016.pdf