For so many people, the bathroom is a sanctuary providing retreat from the hustle and bustle of our busy, technology-saturated lives. It will always be that one place that reliably offers welcome repose and somewhere to unwind and literally wash away the stresses of the day. Thankfully, this isn’t likely to change any time soon. 

Much like a Japanese onsen or luxury day spa, the domestic bathroom is a calm, quiet space that rejuvenates and reinvigorates, and it keeps us clean. The bathtub is enjoying a resurgence in popularity, and designers and architects are utilising the principles of biophilic design to ensure clients have the best bathing experiences possible. Spaces with strong connections to nature, that let in plenty of natural light and are well ventilated hold great appeal, especially in warmer climates.

But it’s not always possible to let the outside in and, certainly, not every client wants this. Soft curves and graphic elements are enjoying a moment and the beauty of both these trends is that they work well in any bathroom, regardless of size or scale. And, while minimalism will never go out of style, eclecticism is also being celebrated via maximalist combinations of bold patterns, materials, finishes and colours. 

Designers and architects are invested in creating relaxing, visually pleasing sanctuaries, yet they also understand the importance of functionality in this smallest of small spaces. As a result, bathrooms are becoming smarter and digital technology is being utilised to make life a lot easier. Voice-activated mirrors and showerheads that play music will become run-of-the-mill in no time, taking well-being to the next level. 

Soft curves

Circular mirrors, rounded edges and curved detailing are popular again, featuring in both residential and hotel bathrooms. Key to the current trend is judicious application, making for elegant schemes with sophisticated art deco leanings.

The two bathrooms in the apartment in Turin by Marcante Testa feature a series of understated curve motifs that read as subtle interventions in a palette of satin finishes, hardy terrazzo and
lolly-coloured accents.

Oasis

In so many ways, this trend represents the ideal bathroom retreat, where a connection to the outdoors can transport even the weariest person to another place. Letting the outside in is key as is natural materiality and neutral, calming colours.

Planchonella House’s bathroom in Queensland by Jesse Bennett Studio is breathtaking in its biophilic approach to design. Letting the outside in is taken to the next level in this project, making it the ideal oasis to escape to for 15 minutes or so.

Restrained

This trend instils the bathroom with a sense of calm and quiet retreat, where no one finish or detail vies for attention and clean lines and minimal palettes are celebrated.

Challis Avenue Apartment’s bathroom by Retallack Thompson is a minimalist study in clean lines and pared-back materiality. The Sydney project’s singular colour palette also adds to the overall home’s restrained-yet-chic aesthetic.

Eclectic

Maximalist in spirit, this trend has a little bit of everything – colour, pattern, texture – and is confident in its contrasting combination of shiny and matte surfaces, intricate and pared-back detailing and high-tech and bespoke styling.

Marcante Testa has a way with colour and materiality and its eclectic sensibilities are what make its interiors stand out. The bathrooms in their apartment in Venice hold great appeal, not least for their mix of forms and rainbow palette.

Graphic

Not for the faint-hearted, this is a style characterised by bright colour, distinct lines and sharp angles. There’s a pop-meets-hard-edge sensibility to this trend, which makes everything look playfully two-dimensional.  

Coloured grout against white tiles is what gives a bathroom in a small apartment in Madrid by Elii architects its distinct aesthetic. Bright yellow and timber joinery complete a master study in graphic sensibilities.

Local angle

Matisse’s Jeanne Bertenshaw describes some of her favourite European bathroom products.

“Our clients tend to choose unpretentious, well-designed luxury bathroomware, whether it’s for the home, apartment or beach house. It can be anything from sumptuous marble to ascetic functionalism.

The Agape Vieques bath has been a great seller ever since Patricia Urquiola originally designed it for the W Retreat & Spa on the island of Vieques. It works well in New Zealand as it can suit a more-formal Japanese or Scandinavian minimal interior but can equally enhance the aesthetic of a wooden beach house amongst the p-ohutukawa.

Benedini Associati’s Memory range for Agape also works well with our clients as the tap, in one of several versions, looks like traditional aged brass, yet the classic look hides modern technology. In the single cross-handle version, its progressive tap goes from hot to cold without changing the flow rate.

High-pressure showers are always popular and some of our more adventurous clients are choosing the Azimut showerhead by GI-RA for Antonio Lupi. Either wall or ceiling mounted, each outlet has four compact nozzles that can direct the jet at more than 180 degrees.”

This article first appeared in Houses magazine.

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