GOOD CLEAN FUN
Small but beautifully formed laundries and bathrooms make short work of domestic chores and elevate everyday rituals
The latest trends for brilliant bathrooms and good-looking laundries
When Natalie Du Bois (duboisdesign.co.nz) was asked to design a bathroom for two pre-teen girls in a “big, beautiful and elegant” double-storey villa in Auckland’s Epsom, she immediately knew a touch of romance was on the agenda.
The hero of the show is undoubtedly the curvaceous, custommade vanity, which has turned legs but was hand-painted silver for a feminine feel. “It has a slight lilac tint to it and huge drawers for all the storage two almost-teen girls need,” Natalie explains. Above it, a bespoke mirror echoes its curves.
Traditional elements such as a clawfoot bath, classical tapware and a wall of bricked tiles are complemented by the unexpected. “We chose a pretty patterned floor tile and added a wall of sparkly mosaics by the bath.”
To ensure this textural palette was not overwhelming, the upper walls and ceilings were kept plain white. Crystal knobs and a curved beading on the bifold doors of the cupboard are an exquisite finishing touch.
The girls, who are spending more and more time in the bathroom as they grow into typical teens, love its glamour.
DETAILS
Vanity unit: Custom made and hand-painted in Porter’s Paints metallic ‘Astoria’; vanity top is Retro Nouveau by Bagno Design
Bath: Cheshire by Victoria and Albert
Handles: Erba crystal knobs
Floor tiles: Artisan by Southern Cross
Wall tiles: Matt white Cotswold behind vanity and Peronda Iceberg silver and white mosaics
Paint: Resene ‘Double Alabaster’
Accessories: Tapware, hooks and toilet roll holder all Perrin & Rowe
Lighting: Lita sconce in polished nickel with cut crystal shades
FINDING ROMANCE
Curves, rather than straight lines, soften a look. •• Although pastel shades suit a romantic scheme, consider resale value and don’t go overboard. Opt instead for something with a shimmer and shine, such as metallic accents. •
Don’t make the bathroom too busy or cluttered – spaciousness has more grace. •
Give the vanity unit star billing with plenty of storage for cosmetics and creams and enough space on the counter top to add a vase with flowers or candles. •
A free-standing bath surrounded by a diaphanous fabric draped from the ceiling makes the most romantic centrepiece – and as the curtain is not a built-in piece, it can easily be taken down.