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Virtual roundtable: Color & personality in the bathroom

Our latest virtual roundtable, in clan with Bathroom Brands Group, comes following Hotel Designs Live in May where nosotros hosted the panel word entitled: 'Bathrooms across applied spaces'. Extending what we learned at the event, Editor Hamish Kilburn invites a scattering of designers to explore how to inject color and personality into the bathroom…

Gone at present are the days of bathrooms beingness used solely as practical spaces. When colour, pattern and material trends spilled over in the '70s, the bathroom became an experiential expanse where designers could rip upwardly the rule book to reflect personality. With the need for experience-driven travel and the addition in contempo years of wellness and wellbeing being tiptop of modern travellers' agendas – non to mention technology evolving at a rapid charge per unit – the options designers can at present use in the bathroom is phenomenal.

To meet how far we tin take colour and personality in the bathroom, we invited leading designers from multiple brands and studios to assistance us explore how we can meaningfully add a bit of flair in these once-forgotten spaces.

On the console:

Fiona Thomspon, Principal, Richmond International

Akram Fhami, Co-founder, London Design House

Nick Hickson, Co-Founder, THDP

Diana Darmina, Interior Design Manager, Lamington Group

David Balmer, Senior Projects consultant, Crosswater

Tom Lowry, Key Accounts Director, Projects

Hamish Kilburn, Editor, Hotel Designs

Paul Savage, Design Director, IA Architects

Hamish Kilburn: Traditionally, why did color non play a large a role in the bathrooms?

Fiona Thompson: In the luxury hotel sector, the simple answer is that nosotros were reflecting what had been done previously – so it was more a nod back to the heritage of the projects, which were ordinarily sheltered in historic buildings. In terms of sanitaryware, at that place was a big change in the 70s from using colour to so but using white. And that's probably because white represents cleanliness. However, in more than trendy brands we are seeing colour beingness injected back into the bathrooms, but it is a big stride for more luxury hotels.

The bathroom is the last matter that gets stripped out of a hotel, and then anything we do has to stand the examination of fourth dimension.

"I have seen a shift toward a more than feel-led design when it comes to bathrooms in hotels" – Diana Darmina, Interior Blueprint Manager, Lamington Group.

Akram Fahmi: I would say there has been a shift over the concluding 10 years of moving to blacks, nighttime bronzes for accent colour in the bathroom. Only I think sanitaryware companies have been widening their colour ranges every bit styles and fashion has besides moved on. I think blackness is here to stay; it's now staple and consumers accept information technology'due south a fashionable option, merely colour, bold colours, pastels are having a renaissance. We have been devoid of fun for almost two years, staring at our own bathrooms at home thinking, 'I desire something to elevator me in the morning, perk me, surprise me continually'. I call up color has that ability to affect your mood. Bold yellows give you warmth and comfort, red is energetic and bold, greenish is calming and fresh. All these astonishing feelings from colour, and designers need to exist braver when it comes to utilising it in powder rooms and bathrooms. In fact, I think bathrooms are the perfect place to exist a petty quirky or offbeat. The bathroom is the most informal space in a house or hotel. It'southward ultimately the infinite you need to feel comfortable without clothes on – and if you tin't take fun without clothes on, when tin can yous!

Diana Darmina: Working in the hotel industry, I accept seen a shift toward a more feel-led design when information technology comes to bathrooms in hotels. At room2 we always push for our bathrooms to be playful and energising in their look and feel. We always push button for our bathrooms to be remembered as a place which guests love, but would probably not have the backbone to do in their ain homes.

Image credit: Bathrooms Brands Grouping

Nick Hickson: Some brands are very prescriptive when it comes to brand standards and certainly with the sanitary ware existence white. So, information technology's tough to have conversations nigh injecting colour in. You could suggest pocket-sized changes, such as the shower tray existence made from Quartz Stone or designing the space with tile surfaces.

Meanwhile, there are new brands entering that want to define new categories. Those lifestyle brands don't want white or to experience corporate. Instead, they are reaching out for something more experiential – something coloured or made from other materials than simply white porcelain.

David Balmer: Also, with hygiene being such a big focus indicate, there is still that need and demand for the perception of cleanliness. And so, what nosotros are seeing is that color is existence used on the outside of ceramics and not on the within to maintain that.

"Traditionally, nosotros were concerned and timid to utilize coloured brassware because of the cost and quality." – Paul Fell, Blueprint Director, IA Architects.

Paradigm credit: Bathrooms Brands Group

HK: Crosswater, from a brand's perspective, would y'all say those lifestyle brands have allowed you lot to inject color in your products?

DB: Without a incertitude. If yous look at the new versions of the basins with the tinted brass or gilt on the outside of the bowl you volition see we are able to add more than personality in our products thanks to the demand.

Paul Brutal: From my previous experience of working with i of the large American operators, there was no colour in the bathrooms. If we take the high-luxury brands as an example, they want to achieve a swish await, and they are likewise protecting the owner's investment. And then typically we would expect a hard refurb of a bathroom every 14 years. Traditionally, we were concerned and timid to use coloured brassware because of the cost and quality. We would say that housekeeping would do the almost impairment to the rooms because of some of the strong cleaning solutions they use. Now that the quality has improved and the price has come downward I think we will come across more of information technology.

Epitome credit: Bathrooms Brands Grouping

HK: Were you wanting to inject more colour into your projects before you were able to practice so because of the delay in the supply catching up to the demand?

PS: I think with how popular lifestyle brands are, I remember it'south a really skilful opportunity to make a bath really unique. I really practice retrieve the development of lifestyle hotels – and the expansion of that sector – is assuasive the industry as a whole to retrieve more creatively when it comes to the bathroom. You tin can yet sensitively add together colour to these bath spaces to more than classic hotel bathrooms only there are less opportunities.

FT: Too, the perception of a bathroom in a luxury hotel was traditionally marble or stone or granite. That has inverse substantially – and now there are so many other materials for designers to choose from that still requite the perception of loftier-stop luxury. The traditional mindset has inverse quite a lot.

NH: Nowadays, nosotros would design the room, selecting from a vast range of surfaces and materials before we specify the bath products in order for the infinite just to feel equally considered as other areas of the hotel.

"Yous don't have to exist clinical to be clean." – Fiona Thompson, Master, Richmond International.

HK: With Covid-nineteen existence the elephant in the room, do yous think the new demands will put a halt in how much colour will exist put into the bathrooms?

FT: I think everyone just wants to move on. Yous don't have to exist clinical to be clean.

HK: As designers, selecting colours and tones that match is very important. Do yous ever observe this difficult in the bath?

NH: Sometimes. So, at the moment, matt black is a very popular bathroom cease for taps and even basins. I have in the past struggled to find hinges of doors that lucifer in, only by and large the effect is very impressive when y'all use contrasts in the bathroom.

"We are not against the idea of taking out the basin exterior the bathroom in lodge to open up up the space and create more of a language between the bathroom and the bedroom." – Nick Hickson, Co-Founder, THDP.

Image credit: Bath Brands Grouping

HK: How else, other than using colour, tin we inject personality into bathrooms?

FT: Bathrooms are becoming quite focal key points in the design of a guestroom considering they are the differentiator. I think using and exploring patterns and textures are therefore great ways to hep these areas stand out. People are becoming more playful, I have noticed, especially in hotels where the bathtub is removed from the bathroom in order to open upwards space.

NH: And even the basin, we are non against the idea of taking out the bowl outside the bathroom in lodge to open upward the space and create more of a linguistic communication betwixt the bathroom and the sleeping accommodation.

PS: There has been a massive renaissance in materials such as terrazzo in the last few years, so that's a really good opportunity to bring in colour. Also, we are seeing that wallpaper is becoming a pop option in bathrooms for a feature wall. So, people are certainly getting bolder. The simply affair I would tend to avoid is lighting that changes pare tone, because these areas are spaces where people go to groom and become set up. The other easy style to tell the design narrative is through artwork.

HK: Nick, you joined us for Hard disk Live where we explored bathrooms across practical spaces. What would you say were the fundamental takeaways in that discussion?

NH: One of the biggest things for me was existence able to sit down with other designers (both seniors and juniors) to discuss primal topics. We had a designer from Marcel Wanders Studio and Zaha Hadid Architects – and just understanding how others think about this topic. The other conversation we had, which I accept been asked about since then, was materiality in bathrooms – I think we tin can afford to be a bit more audacious these days.

HK: What would you say is really heady y'all at the moment when specifying bathroom projects?

FT: I call up it's across look and feel and now it'due south really near guest experience. The earth has moved from wanting just a good thermostatic shower and a good toilet. I call up at present at that place are more products out there to assist us create more of an immersive experience. With that in heed, the vast array of materials out in that location is very exciting! There'southward certainly a demand to empathise more near where materials come from.

NH: There are so many new products out in that location that are pushing the envelope. In-firm designers are besides pushing us to be more creative when reacting to a cursory. I'one thousand as well loving the fact that broken-up mosaics are existence used in bathroom design schemes, which I think is very interesting.

PS: The biggest difference for me, in recent years, is now the accessibility to coloured brassware – earlier y'all only couldn't afford it in the budget! Also, the improvement to finishes and coating. Developers and investors don't like taking risks – they need to know that the products are going to stand the exam of time. So, we accept really enjoyed being able to use these materials. The trends become full circumvolve – next affair you know, chrome will be back in fashion!

Tom Lowry: Yes, and it's important for brands like Bathrooms Brands Grouping to ensure that we focus on long-lasting trends. I have certainly seen an appetite for bawdy colours and materials that have texture – as opposed to merely looking at color.

HK: I think the Bespoke Collection by Burlington is a fantastic instance of this  – and really it was this drove, followed by the Riviera Drove, that allowed me to really see how the bathroom can absolutely go the 'hero shot' for a hotel. What are your thoughts?

PS: I call back guests are much more sophisticated – and exposed via social media to loftier-terminate design. I think they wait this design being carried through to the bathrooms.

NH: Being conventional is now unforgivable on the hotel scene – we are constantly thinking, as designers, how we can push button a projects blueprint narrative.

HK: For many, it's piece of cake to see colour injected in bathrooms sheltered nether lifestyle brands. How can colour be sensitively injected in more luxury hotels?

FT: Whether it's color or texture, it's about giving the infinite personality – and injecting sense of place. So, it becomes nigh using locally sourced materials. We did a projection in Las Vegas where the bathroom was bigger than the rooms, so we used lots of dorsum-painted drinking glass to make it an extraordinary space. Information technology is about doing things that are advisable for the local location and culture. The bath now is quite oft one-half the size of the bedchamber, so it has to be a signature slice, if you lot like, but also go on information technology cohesive to the remainder of the room.

"Layering colour, tone, emphasis in the choices of FF&Due east, accessories, artwork, make bold choices in the colour of joinery, doors and of grade powder rooms!" – Akram Fahmi, Co-Founder, London Pattern Firm.

AF: I remember it'southward a very adept question, color is sometimes seen as cheap or tacky, merely I totally disagree. Many modern luxury hotels have this element of seriousness, elegant and sophisticated tonality – we are all guilty of information technology at some point in our careers, and yes, that tonality and "properness" is expected and frequently pushed by the hotel operator and guest expectations, and yes it might look cute, but is it fun? No. Is information technology quirky? Non actually. So how practise y'all bring interest, surprise, moments of emotion into a the luxury environment, and I think the answer is layering. Layering colour, tone, accent in the choices of FF&E, accessories, artwork, make assuming choices in the colour of joinery, doors and of course powder rooms! Colour has been slowly done out of hospitality over the years, if you look dorsum historically at hotels like the Savoy, the bold greens, or the Dorchester ballroom in the 1930s was full of pinks, blues and golds. These spaces historically had colour and nosotros need to get back to jubilant these spaces again and have fun rather than align to a pretence that sophistication is blackness and white or greyness.

HK: We've spoken in depth almost guestroom bathrooms, but what nigh public bathrooms – can we afford to throw out the dominion book in these spaces?

FT: I recall public bathrooms can be much more playful – I like to run across a bit of reverence in these areas!

PS: I agree, a bit of humour doesn't go a miss. You actually tin can, to a degree, judge a restaurant's design on their bathrooms. If they are not an reconsideration, if they have been considered so it's a great opportunity to do something unlike.

HK: And finally, how can designers working on a tight budget still add together personality into the bathroom?

PS: Accenting. The price of coloured brassware has come downwardly so it's easier to include these in a project – and opens blueprint opportunities. Some other manner is to add colour on the outside of basins, and as well paint on the wall – a half height tiled wall and pigment is an easy way make these spaces a chip more characterful.

NH: And don't be afraid to paint the ceilings also.

AF: I remember that white is always an like shooting fish in a barrel 'go to' in terms of making a space feel larger or brighter naturally. However, there are many tricks one can use to give that feeling of space, whether it exist to give the feeling of height, or making a space feel brighter. Use of colour is very clever tool, highlighting door architraves and skirtings for example in an accent colour can give a feeling of height as your centre is physically fatigued upwards and down.

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Source: https://hoteldesigns.net/page/6/?attachment_id=qssbrmzlmzs

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