Bathrooms
Quality plumbing Don’t judge taps and other plumbing fixtures on looks alone. The inner components are vital to how these pieces function and how long they’ll last. Poorly made fixtures often have plastic gaskets and other pieces inside that quickly break down, affecting water flow and other performance features. “High-quality plumbing fixtures are an absolute must,” designer Carmit Oron says. “This is not an area where it’s wise to save money. I usually explain this to my clients during our initial meeting, which takes place in a plumbing showroom. For me, quality plumbing is the starting point for everything, and where my design process begins.”
A handheld shower head A handheld sprayer might seem like a small detail, but its inclusion can have an enormous effect on the shower experience. They’re great for rinsing shaved legs, cleaning shower walls and more. “I always recommend adding a handheld in the shower,” designer Chloe Rideout of Cummings Architecture + Interiors says. “It makes cleaning pets, kids or the walls so much easier.”
Natural materials Many people feel, either consciously or subconsciously, that natural materials have an inherent quality that’s hard to put into words. They provide a feel-good something that seems absent in synthetic materials. “Our bathrooms represent rest, relaxation and self care,” designer Kymberlea Earnshaw says. “For these spaces, I always look to nature. I recommend using natural materials whenever possible – real stone, wood, plants, etc. The earthy elements balance out the water element, and together they create that spa-like feel that’s so nourishing for the mind, body and soul.” Consider a wood vanity unit, natural woven elements or, many pros’ favourite, marble. “Marble is our number one favourite material,” designer Tracy Huntington says. “If a client can enjoy a few marks and some wear, marble patinas beautifully over time. It’s a total classic. You can’t go wrong with marble.”
If you get up frequently during the night, don’t forget to include a nightlight. “I like to do these at the toe kick or underside of a floating vanity,” “This light is set on a sensor so it’s only on at night or when the room’s dark. This helps with those middle-of-the-night bathroom breaks so you don’t blind yourself.” If possible, a skylight over the shower, preferably operable for ventilation, is something you’ll never regret. And a dimmer switch for light fixtures is a must, pros say. “Sometimes you want it to be dim; sometimes you need to shave or put on make-up,” architect Tim Barber says. “We strive for several different choices of lighting to set a mood.” And be sure to cast yourself in the best light. “Always install lighting on the sides of the mirror, so there aren’t shadows on your face,” designer Tiffany Waugh says.
‘Alternatively, extraction could be a centralised system if you are building more than one bathroom/cloakroom at the same time, whereby a number of bathrooms can be ventilated by the same fan remotely located in, say, a roof void. The advantages of this are that there is no noise from ceiling fans in the cloakroom itself.’
Shower controls near the entrance Nobody likes getting sprayed with cold water when reaching in to turn on the shower. Placing the controls on the opposite side of the shower head will add some extra expense to a renovation, but it’s a feature you’ll appreciate every day.
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