Material Possessions: How to Add Style and Texture to Your Bathroom
We are definitely living in a material world, especially when it comes to design. Materials -- wood, glass, porcelain, ceramic, concrete, stone, steel, laminate, rubber, plastic or cork -- fill our homes with color, texture and style. With more materials available to home remodelers and decorators, it's important to understand how, when and where to use them. In design, the form and function of materials isn't immaterial.
Nowhere is this truer than in the bathroom, where everything has to work hard and last. But as the bath continues transforming from a commonplace, utilitarian space to, among other things, an at-home spa, the palette of applicable materials has become more luxurious. Some materials are naturally more durable and water-resistant. Some are more slippery, and some easier to clean. Others add a splash of glamour as the belles of today's design ball. These include classic building materials such as glass, stone and concrete, as well as man-made cast stone and terrazzo. Even metals, such as aluminum or stainless steel, particularly in matte finishes, are finding their way into bathrooms beyond traditional hardware and accessories.
Glass: A Clear Design Choice for Luxury Bathrooms
Many of today's homeowners are seeking transparency and shimmer in their contemporary baths and powder rooms. This translates to the growing use of glass for basins, counters and tub surrounds, and surfaces from counters to walls to floors. Surface-mounted glass basins are widely available in many styles and colors, from the mass-produced marvel to the one-of-a-kind, handcrafted art piece.
More manufacturers make glass basins that can be mounted in a number of ways. Porcher, for example, offers an array of choices for every taste and style, including the Geometrique series of clear glass, above-the-counter basins in such pure forms as a cube, circle, rectangle and cone. These basic shapes can be paired with the element of light to create a dramatic statement in the bath. In addition, homeowners can select from Porcher's Rock Ice above-counter basins, featuring a "textured" glass exterior and smooth matte interior. Other choices range from Porcher's Carnivale series of original, hand-crafted, patterned basins in ruby and cobalt glass to Striata, a striking fused glass design in jewel tones with striations.
Glass Tile Complements Fixtures
Glass tile is clearly the material of the moment, partly because contemporary style values the sense of lightness and ease. These tiles tend to play well with others, too. Not only are they easy to clean, but they also come in lots of sizes and colors that mix happily with fixtures and other materials. Today, sea tones and watery hues, such as aqua, sea-foam and cobalt, are especially chic. Some decorators are using glass mosaic -- small, shimmering beauties that can cover large surfaces or simply accent porcelain or stone, as budget and preference dictate.
Concrete Decisions: Mixing and Matching Materials
Concrete, properly sealed and finished (and colored to choice), is another material that's finding its way into bathrooms, particularly of those longing for Zen-like serenity. Concrete works well for the minimalist bath, as does marble, granite, slate or even soapstone. Fittings with clean lines, correct proportions and little ornamental detail suit this style. Silver-toned metals are preferable, whether high-polish or brushed, and whether nickel, pewter, aluminum or chrome. Combinations of wood and porcelain, or wood, porcelain, stone and metal, look just as beautiful in a concrete- or tile-lined space as they do in more traditionally finished rooms. Many manufacturers have introduced elegant designs for just this type of interior. Porcher, for example, offers the Onda suite, an Italian-designed minimalist series that combines stainless steel with Wenge or white-finished wood. Porcher's Japanese-inspired Kyomi suite incorporates ceramic, glass, wood, metal and marble in minimalist designs with uncommon warmth.
If you want a more contemporary or decorative look, consider jazzier materials. Think glass block instead of glass mosaic tiles. Consider mixing marble, granite, onyx, agate or semiprecious materials like mother-of-pearl or abalone with porcelain or woods, including teak or mahogany. All of these are current options, or are becoming more readily available. Remember, when it comes to anything modern, you really can't go wrong with basic black and white, regardless of what materials you use. Polished brass hardware smartly accents this style, as does chrome. In bathrooms and powder rooms, as elsewhere in the house today, anything goes. Once you've plumbed your personal taste, and found the right mix of materials and elements to suit your available budget, go ahead and make a visual splash.
For more information, visit www.porcher-us.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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