An eclectic bathroom

There are plenty of examples of eclectic, multifunctional applications in the world of home design. Interiors and exteriors – such as balconies, terraces and courtyards – are becoming more and more interconnected, while outdoor furniture is increasingly suitable for use in indoor spaces such as living and dining rooms. With the surge in home working, desks or bookcases originally intended for workplace applications can now be used in home offices because their design has become easier to coordinate with the furnishings already present in the other rooms. The same applies to floors, with ceramic tile collections increasingly designed to extend seamlessly between living spaces and bedrooms and between indoor and outdoor areas. The only thing that changes is their slip resistance, which must comply with applicable standards for exterior uses.

Likewise, bathroom furnishings and accessories no longer have such a clear identity and unambiguous function as in the past. Cabinets, chests of drawers, shelves and accessories designed for the bathroom could just as well be used in a bedroom or walk-in wardrobe, to give just two examples.

Opi Bob, by Ceramica Globo, consists of a Dekton vanity top with a matt white washbasin and a matt black steel under-basin unit with right or left side towel rail. The storage unit base is made of lacquered MDF with an Agate finish and push and pull opening system.

The pictured composition from the Spazio Time collection specially designed by Ideagroup for the laundry room includes a shelving unit with structural aluminium poles in a Nero (black) finish, Rovere Fight shelves and matt Laccato Cappuccino basin. Dimensions 82x196x50 cm.

 

This trend is driven mainly by two different dynamics in the world of design. The first is the growing desire for homes with a consistent style, where the colours, materials and patterns found in the living area are similar to those chosen for the bedrooms and bathrooms. This trend is confirmed by the results of the Houzz&Home 2022 survey, which found that 27% of homeowners undertaking renovations opted for a holistic approach based on an organic, uniform design. The functions or contents of cabinets and chests of drawers may differ, but their consistent style and details enable them to be used either in the bathroom or elsewhere in the home, helping to create a coherent interior design style.

 

The Heritage Collection designed by Enrico Cesana for Artesi includes dressers, washbasin units and mirrors. The units come in two new finishes, oak and Canaletto walnut, which enhance their versatility and allow them to coordinate with other spaces in the home.

Denver by Ceramica Flaminia is a freestanding washbasin console with a matt black varnished metal structure. The top and drawers are made of polyester-coated MDF with a matt lacquered surface. Denver is compatible with various washbasin models and is pictured here with the model Spire.

 

The second driver of this trend is sustainability, an issue that is becoming increasingly important not only to clients and end users but also to the manufacturers themselves, who are constantly upgrading their production processes in order to reduce their consumption levels and environmental impact while pursuing research projects focused on sustainability.

Expanding the potential field of use of a furnishing item theoretically extends its lifetime, because the same piece of furniture can be used in different ways over the years, adapting to lifestyle changes, relocations, new homes and new spaces that need to be furnished.

 

The Strip collection from Progetto Group was designed by Bruna Rapisarda and consists of a series of accessories arranged along a “line of light”, an illuminated aluminium bar that can be customised with mirrors, shelves, hangers and everyday objects. The various components can be positioned and moved around freely.

 

Colavene presents a modular system that combines practicality and design. It consists of furniture and structures that can accommodate a washbasin with scrubbing board, a washing machine and dryer, as well as benches, wall units, shelves and clothes rails. The units are available in matt white, pale oak, primitive oak and lava finishes. The contrasting doors come in the four glossy colours white, light blue, aubergine and anthracite.

The photo shows the Rail composition from Arcom. The vertical storage units (170×38 cm) are placed side by side in an alternation of closed and open modules. In the full-height version, they create a highly functional and spacious storage solution. The finish is Riga Rovere Sbiancato (bleached oak).

Rok by Fiora is a versatile vanity unit designed by Fiora Design Studio with a geometric block design characterised by straight lines and a minimalist style. It has a customisable handle and is available with or without legs and in a wide range of finishes.

 

In practice, these trends translate into designs with pure volumes and clean lines, finishes that are often found in other areas of the home – such as fluted cupboard doors and material textures – and neutral or pastel colours that are easy to coordinate.

Examples of this trend will be on display at Cersaie in Bologna from 25 to 29 September 2023 and can be viewed online throughout the year on ceramica.info.

 

March 2023