Project inspiration hot trends from hotel bathrooms

Take inspiration from some of the world’s most stylish schemes to create a superior suite at home

Nine key themes to emulate from some of the hippest boutique hotels across the globe

1 FEEL THE PEEL

there’s a certain insouciance that comes with a bathing space that celebrates perfectly imperfect plasterwork. It’s a weathered, worn look that says, ‘this old riad? had it for years, darling…’ hotels that work the peeled-back, palazzo-look include G-rough in Rome and london’s Rough luxe. the trick – as all hip hotels know – is to add elements that contrast dramatically with the rough, be it slick contemporary artwork, poised Giò ponti chairs or shiny brasswork. Just don’t leave an uninitiated builder alone in the house – he’ll have those rough walls skimmed up in no time.

2 BLACK LINES

Whether you aspire to art Deco decadence, modern minimalism or dazzling tessellations that dance across walls and floors, black and white gets it right every time. Outlines instantly look clearer and glossy basins appear squeaky clean set against black – always a good vibe to channel in a bathing space. it’s the reason iconic hotels retain their Twenties tiles (london’s claridge’s, new York’s The Plaza) or reinstate them in more arresting patterns (The Mark Hotel in nyc). it’s also why the plain white metro still outsells any other style at Topps Tiles… and why selfies always look better with a black-and-white filter…

‘White predominates, creating the mood of an airy artist’s studio, yet with the luxury fittings of an elegant home’ Zorislav Petrić, project architect, 3LHD

‘Retro taps and cast-iron baths feel as if they have been here for decades, yet offer the comfort of today’ Jorge Almeida, general manager, vidago Palace

3 Classic glamour

A mark of a luxury hotel bathroom is having ample space to do your own thing. You wouldn’t catch the

habitués of palazzos and stately homes jostling for mirror space, or the first squeeze of the toothpaste. even in a more bijou bathroom, decorative touches that you’d also find in a living room, such as painted wood panelling, handcrafted cabinetry and framed artwork, can create an air of grandeur. Classic glamour keeps colour refined, with one calm shade dominating rather than an unruly cacophony of tones. For the final touch, keep brassware similar but coordinated, instead of bulk-bought matchy-matchy.

‘The bathroom is part of the poetic, colourful, almost surreal world of Karim Rashid, which engages technology, textures and colour to create an uncluttered, sensual environment’ Jessica emde, marketing director, nhow Berlin

4 Cool Curves

seductive, organic shapes or space-age swirls immediately let you know a bathroom wasn’t bought off the peg. Curvaceous fittings also give off an aura of creative dreaming, of a designer who isn’t working to rule, but can take a line for a walk and let it spiral into a delightful doodle… Curvy designs are also perfectly placed to harness the latest innovations in bathroom materials. Tinted serpentine glass can be combined with chromotherapy, while deliciously pliable Cristalplant composite can be moulded into new shapes, as demonstrated by the playful folds of Michael Bouquillon’s strip bath for Aquamass.

5 chic marble

ever adaptable and durable, marble can be worked into the latest tile formats and formations or, for all-out indulgence, go for book-matched slabs. as louisa morgan, director at mandarin Stone, says, ‘it’s a material that offers endless possibilities. it varies from pure white to shades of gold, pink, green, grey and black. marble also works as a high-gloss material, or can be honed for a sophisticated matt finish.’ hotel spaces give designers the freedom to experiment with finishes and the material’s natural veining. ‘Fresh new formats we’re currently seeing include herringbone, chevron and octagonal tiles, as well as impressive large-format sizes,’ morgan adds.

‘Moody colours, natural materials and finely crafted objects create a space where guests feel as though time has been suspended’ David rockwell, founder and president, rockwell Group

Project details Actor Lupita Nyong’o once soaked in this bath amid a sea of rosebuds for Vogue.It’s at El Fenn, Morocco, and is made from tadelakt. The project was conceived by general manager Willem Smit, but Tadelakt London can create walls, £125 per sq m, and a bath like this for approx £2,000. Words / Jo leevers * picture research / Nicola Rowe

Project details satisfying symmetry and bespoke fittings in almond green set a regal mood at the Vidago Palace Hotel in Portugal. The bathroom and washstand were designed by José Pedro Vieira and diogo Rosa Lã. The Chichester curved basin base, from £1,770, by neptune, is a similar style, as is the galleon bath, from £1,595, by Hurlingham The Bath Company, and the devon tile, £25.25 per sq m, from Tons of Tiles.

Project details Twin basins and mirrors, designed by architect Antonio girardi for Rome’s Palazzo dama, shine out against an inky backdrop. This is Patricia Urquiola’s Vieques bath for Agape, from £7,774.50, at West One Bathrooms.

Project details new York designer Karim Rashid’s ‘digipop’ designs dance through this bathroom at nhow Berlin. The tiles are bespoke to Rashid’s design, as is the shower, created by Bayer glasbau. Try the Chiocciola spiral enclosure designed for Agape, £13,277, at West One Bathrooms, with optional chromotherapy; or Matki’s eauzone Plus Curved screen, from £2,236.80.

Project details This bathroom at Hôtel du Clôitre in Arles is by designer india Mahdavi. The tiles were made bespoke to her design, but check out her range at Bisazza, from £162 per sq m. This is the Trefle mirror, also by india Mahdavi.

Project details At The Time new York, the Rockwell group design team went for dramatic sweeps of book-matched marble. stone Age can provide book-matched statuary marble, from £1,200 per sq m. The black Jee-o soho hand shower, £922, at CP Hart, is similar to this one.

Project details gold on marble in Robert de niro’s The greenwich Hotel, NYC, designed by samantha Crasco. This is Urban Archaeology’s estate bath, £18,330; and industrial washstand, £10,100. Arcade’s Albany bath, £3,190, at West One Bathrooms, is comparable.