Nothing makes a statement in a bathroom like a monumental, dramatically veined marble slab. True in the beginning of 20th century, true today.
Bathroom in Jean Michel Frank's apartment, c.1925.
Bathroom in Stanislas Oshima Paris apartment, by Olivier Loser.
I gathered a small collection of lovely contemporary bathrooms that very much remind me of our own Naturalist 2. The common elements are: clean lines, soft limestones, warm woods and contemporary plumbing fittings. All featured bathrooms are quite generous in size and feature some pricy materials. On the contrary our Naturalist 2 is very small, only 35 square feet and the cost of materials will not break your bank.
I like the chunky vanity and the white towel rack complemented by the white sconces.
A shower in Pirates Bay house by O'Connor and Houle Architecture. Nice use of wood and beautiful black fittings.
A luxurious Naturalist shower. I like the big shower platform.
Our Naturalist 2 bathroom.
Our own Naturalist 2 bathroom, faucet and sink detail.
If you like the bathrooms featured above but don’t quite have the space or the budget see how to get this look here.
Thomas Bendel is a Berlin, Germany based architect whose projects I very much admire. His approach to bathroom design is very interesting and bold. He uses monolithic surfaces, cast stone and black stained wood veneer. The bathrooms are very spare, clean and airy, but they do not feel sterile due to the use of wood and the warm color of stone. If you look at Thomas Bendel’s projects you will find that he approaches bathroom design in a similar manner as the design of other rooms, carefully arranging bold shapes and surfaces in otherwise empty spaces.
Bad Eulgem / Goldhammer Berlin bathroom.
Bathroom in Haus Bold.
Bathroom in Haus Plath/Bosse.
Bathroom in Wohnung Braun.
Spring is finally here, and I am feeling green. I feel like picking up a can of green paint and changing my bathroom color scheme to a spring palette. Who is with me?
A bathroom with green infusions by Dutch architect Hesther Buunk.
Carola Vannini uses green on walls and cabinets in this master bedroom / master bathroom suite of an apartment in Rome.
Soaking baths have played an important role in Japanese culture. From the social Sento public baths to the Ofuro (Japanese bathtub) in private homes, they provide a place for rituals that are beneficial and enriching to Japanese society.
Undressing, washing in a shower and then soaking in a tub for thirty minutes to an hour is pretty much how the daily ritual goes. The Ofuro is a deep soaking tub that allows the user to be covered with water up to the chin. The most traditional ones are made of Hinoki, a Japanese cypress. The warm water releases the wood’s natural oils and fragrances and enhances the bathing experience, making it a ritual with very positive effects to the mind and body’s well being.
The Ofuro, together with the Japanese bathing culture, reminds us how important it is to consider design decisions that enhance the quality of our lives.
About today’s guest blogger: Esther Beke has been practicing Interior Design in NYC since 2003. She is currently working on her Masters in Industrial Design and is very much interested in humans’ relationships and interactions with surrounding objects and spaces.
A few weeks back I wrote about bathroom windows, and shared with you some amazing bathroom designs featuring incredible views. What is second best to having a window in your bathroom? Of course: a skylight. Any type of natural light, even from above, is a welcome enhancement to a space. Moreover, skylights, if used in a smart way, can create dramatic effects within a room. Below, some examples.
The bathroom of the Sky Garden House in Central Tokyo by Keiji Ashizawa Design floods the tub area with natural light. Photo by Daici Ano.
The large skylight in this bathroom by Dan Brill Architects provides a solid amount of daylight.
The skylight plays a leading role in the Long Barn Studio bathroom by Nicolas Tye Architects.
When we think of treatment of bathroom surfaces first material that comes to mind is tiles. More adventuress designers and clients are venturing into wood, textured stones and even board formed concrete.
There are two things that really appeal to me in the two bathrooms shown below. The first one is respecting the character of the space and complementing it in a very simple way. The second one is the celebration of the material used, exploring its inherent beauty.
Bathroom in a Julian King designed house in Greenwich, CT.
Bath in a Mill Valley house, designed by Quezada Architecture.
The bathroom in my childhood home had a quite large vertical window. There was a yucca plant standing on the window sill, and there was a view of nearby tree tops. I loved this window and this bathroom. Bathroom windows are fantastic as they provide natural light and ventilation. If they offer a view – that is another huge bonus, very hard to come by. My current bathroom does not have a window, and I cannot distinguish day from night when I am in it. Therefore, I believe, it is understandable that the images below move me so much. How amazing must it be to feel like you are taking a bath in a forest, in a field, or in a garden? I surely hope I will find out one day.
Summer House bathroom by LASC Studio.
New Orleans bathroom by Lang Architecture.
A bathroom by Julian King Architect.
Doe Bay Residence bath by Heliotrope Architecs.
Berkshire House X bathroom by Burr & McCallum Architects.
For the rest of us: a tree wallpaper on a bathroom wall.
Memories of growing up in the tropics, washing the sand and salt off behind a zinc sheet bring to life feelings of freshness, warmth, openness and freedom. The tactile quality of those moments, turning the old faucet and grabbing the hose while standing on a mix of stones, dirt and grass are thankfully hard to forget.
The outdoor shower provides an opportunity to use all kinds of materials, to loose control and let nature take over. They also become an inspiration for the way we design our bathrooms, so that our experience can be as rich and pleasant as all those times we washed outdoors.
About today’s guest blogger: Esther Beke has been practicing Interior Design in NYC since 2003. She is currently working on her Masters in Industrial Design and is very much interested in humans’ relationships and interactions with surrounding objects and spaces.
We had a great first blogging season here at Uniform Design and we enjoyed creating the posts and interacting with our audience. A big thank you to all our readers, supporters and clients – without you, there would be no point in what we are doing. We would like to wish you all a fantastic year 2012 full of fresh ideas and dreams come true.
Below you will find the best of the best – the most popular blog posts of 2011.
The Backstory of Naturalist 1 was one of the favorite inspiration stories for our designs.
The Renovation Dos and Dont’s were and will remain a good resource for anyone who considers (or is in the midst of) a renovation.
White remains a classic favorite color for bathrooms, therefore the Story in White was well received.
We were very excited about the Customized Townhouse 1 Bathroom in Europe, and so were our readers.
The Natural Accessories post provided simple and inexpensive ideas for introducing that feel of nature to any bathroom, and was very well received.
The Customized Naturalist 2 bathroom may be the smallest in the world, but arguably it is also one of the most beautiful.
To be continued next year…
