At the end of last year, I sat down with Houzz to discuss what I thought bathrooms would look like in 2022.
What will be the must-have items?
What are the touches of luxe we are all craving?
Will sustainability become a focus?
And what really came out of the conversation was a point I have been making for the past 5 years,!
Look at the bathroom with your living room eyes ...
When I ask clients to start by looking at the bathroom with their living room eyes, they look at me bemused! When we start a design we aim to tap into all the senses, such as the tactile elements of natural stone and timbers or the aromatic scents from natural oil steam diffusers set into purpose-built niches around the bath. Think of it as a place to relax with luxe touches, a space that evokes the feeling of rest and rejuvenation.
VISUALISE
Really consider the visual aspect of statement function pieces. I’ve built a design around a sink before. Starting with a one-of-a-kind high contrast terrazzo basin wall mounted with satin brass wall mounted taps led me to consider how to build on this in other areas of the room. Letting the sink take center stage the muted color palette of the tiles (a soft sage with a creamy taupe) were chosen but laid in a linear stripe pattern in key areas of the room i.e. the shower cubicle.
Add to this simple line drawing for art, scents from natural oil diffusers, and French antique floor tiles, the overall effect is that of calming space that allows the quality and beauty of a key piece to shine.
WATERPROOF WALLPAPER
Waterproof wallpaper is a technology that has been around for a good few years, however, over the past year, the industry specialist wall and deco have been busy adding several new ranges to their wet system range, and I for one are here for them. So let's just myth bust before we get
into the pretty side of things.
The question we get asked a lot is how is it possible to put a fabric-like material in a wet space? Will it bubble and start to peel? how easy is it to fit? This answer is very simple when using the right product. The Wet system is designed to withstand full water emersion, It is made with adhesive compounds to create a complete waterproof membrane that will protect the wallpaper from direct contact with water. Always ensure your bathroom fitter has worked with this product before, as installation is key.
Now let's talk color and scale, If you'd love to achieve a sense of luxe within the bathroom, remember that pattern doesn't need to be detailed and bold to make a statement. As seen below you can look at large-scale printmaking this seem like an art installation. An amazing backdrop to detailed brassware.
NOW FOR THE FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS, THE NUTS, AND BOLTS OF THE SPACE.
UNDERFLOOR HEATING
Underfloor heating is an element that we often work on closely with clients looking at where they will benefit the most from the heat pads create our own bespoke heating plan, outlining exactly where the mats will be laid for example shower and bath exit points or vanity unit periphery. Whilst the underfloor heating is still very much a luxury add-on, with this considered approach it becomes efficient and affordable.
We are also using underfloor heating pads on walls! I know mind blown. We add the panels beneath the tiles with the view to fix standard slim towel bars. This gives a cleaner aesthetic to cumbersome heated towel rails and allows for the towels to dry with ease.
WATER SAVING
Within the bathroom, I am always on the lookout for ways to encourage sustainability with more water-saving devices set to make an impact in 2022.
Back in 2018 water-saving was seen as showerheads that limit the flow of water. Times are changing especially when working with multiple bathrooms in larger family homes, so we need to work out how we can be clever about it.
One piece of technology I’m seeing appear more in residential projects is a closed-loop shower system that recycles the water. In the next five years, I think this technology is going to have a big push forwards because the market is asking for it. It’s already been a big thing in the commercial world; many hotels are very much invested in this tech.
For a technical explanation, here is the manufactures blurb!
A closed loop shower system that instantly filters and recycles water as it is used in order to reduce water consumption. The used water is collected beneath the drain and pumped through a micro-filter system that removes all larger particles like hair or skin. Next, it is sterilized using ultraviolet light to kill any remaining bacteria and any wastewater is disposed of. Finally, it is reheated to return to the initial temperature, creating a comfortable and consistent experience.
These systems can save you as much as £800 a year and over 98,000 liters of water! It really is an investment for the future of our planet and your overall household income.
Please do drop me an email below if you'd like to find out more about this or any of the points mentioned above.
As always this can seem a little daunting and If you've read this far you are probably feeling overwhelmed and I don't blame you as a studio we create on average 24 room designs every year and we learn something new every day. This is why we are so proud to launch our new service the pre-build consultancy, we aim to highlight the potential pitfalls when undertaking a house extension /renovation before you start. Within this session, we examine the architect's plans, with a view to futureproofing your home. Focusing on how you will live in the space on a daily basis.
Our key objective is to ensure each room scheme works together with design continuity. Once the session concludes we send you over a full video link to watch back at your leisure as the information comes thick and fast and we don't want you to miss a beat.
Head over to our services page and hit the contact us tab to book your session and get your project underway.
That’s all folks! I really hope you found the piece interesting, and as always I’m happy to answer any further questions you may have or head over to email – emma@EmmaMerryStyling.com. All images & mood board copyright are owned by Emma merry styling except where noted. Please make sure you credit and tag if you use them. Thank you. x