Bathroom guide

Bathrooms, Kitchens and Laundry areas are some of the spaces in the house that are refurbished a number of times within the life cycle of the home. These are wet areas which over a period of time become damaged by water and need a remodel. Back in the 1950s, the convention way of constructing bathrooms (well at least here in Kenya) was by separating the bathroom and the toilet. The reasoning then was homes were generally small and could afford 1 bathroom and toilet per home. This then would make it easier for the whole family (which was also large) to use these facilities at all times. Bathrooms were also expensive to construct due to the amount of sanitary ware that would be used which was also expensive. As we moved towards the 21st Century, designers came up with a proposal where a standard cloakroom would be constructed in an area where guests can also access and bathrooms were included in the bedrooms (Commonly referred to as en-suite); either shared or one for each bedroom. The standard practice now is to have a cloakroom, a minimum of 1 medium bathroom which is shared by the kids and a master bathroom. The master bathroom can be quite elaborate. All elements in this room are based on the clients likes.

When designing bathrooms, there are four generalized sizes one can adopt:

a.Compact

b.Medium

c.Large

d.Expansive

COMPACT

A compact bathroom is the smallest of them all. This ideally is a cloakroom which sometimes is also referred to as a powder room. This room is approximately between 1.1 sqm -1.6 sqm. Sometime people design it as a universal bathroom but that is not always necessary. As this room is small, one needs to make use of natural light. The size of the window can be as large as 750mmx1200mm. With a frosted glass on it, one will not need to worry about  privacy. Bright colours also help make the room look and feel bigger. Light sanitary ware would be preferred and in cases where the client would like a concealed cistern, wall hang WC works well and is easy to clean underneath. A storage cabinet is necessary as one can store spare toiletries to be used in that bathroom. With modern design, one has an option of using either a built in vanity top or a wall hang cabinet vanity.

MEDIUM

A medium bathroom is the most common one mostly used when one intends to design all bedrooms ensuite. This bathroom has a  WC (Water closet), shower and a WHB (Wash hand basin). The size for these sanitaryware can be small or medium depending on the size of the bathroom. A medium bathroom is approximately 2.8 sqm - 3.4 sqm. The shower cubicle in this bathroom layout needs to be glass. Glass is a good material when used in bathrooms because it is thin; one can make use of the space well. Most bathrooms always have one window and therefore with glass, light is able to filter through the entire bathroom . Towel rail /shelf, rob hooks and shower baskets are necessary accessories to make the bathroom more comfortable to use.

LARGE

This type of bathroom is mainy used for  master bathrooms. A large bathroom has all sanitary elements inclusive i.e separate shower and bathtub,  WHB, WC and  bidet and/or Urinal (this is not necessary though). It is approximately 4.5 – 6.0 sqm.  Other additional items can be bathroom furniture, dressing table , relaxation bench etc.  Separate his and hers shower and WHB can also be used to make it elaborate. With a larger bathroom, one cane use more than one type of tile. Hexagon type, Italian design and patterned tiles can be used without making it look overdesigned. This type of bathroom generally is expensive and therefore most of the time, only one is done in a home.

EXPANSIVE

This is a luxury bathroom. It is mostly found in luxury homes as it does not consider space and cost. This type of bathroom quite elaborate with more additional features such as steam bath, Sauna, fireplace, jacuzzi, massage room etc. Some even have a relaxation lounge within the bathroom with a music and TV system installed. Sanitary ware used is top of the notch with automated shower systems.Bagnodesign, Kohler, Keramag and even Duravit have come up with sanitary ranges that satisfy this client. This bathroom gives an effect of  a healthclub within the home.

Inspiration pour le Journee

Want to update your bathroom without commiting to a complete redesign? Reiko Caron shares quick and easy ways to add style and functionality to your space. Watch the House and Home video below for Inspiration.

Understanding styles 04) Modern

Modern style of design most of the times confused with contemporary design. These are two diverse styles.  Modern style was derived from the Modern art movement which became very popular in 1920. The Impressionists began adopting abstraction in the art hence influencing interior elements. They also used a variety of materials making art different. Modern style has its roots in German and Scandinavian architecture and design with elements being simple and unembellished.  It is in fact connected to the age of machination where patterns and prints generated were those that machines could easily bring out.

Characteristics

Shapes: One of the most important elements in modern interior design is form. Modern design uses geometric shapes, including rigid squares and rectangles along with smooth curves.  Perfect circles and ovals are also common. Modern interior design is also generally very simple and even minimal with few ornamental flourishes to interrupt the even unbroken lines and flat surfaces.

Materials: Modern interior design makes use of many materials. Wood and plastic are common, though designers often paint over wood with an opaque finish to cover the natural wood grain. Some designers do use natural wood as an organic contrast to more artificial shapes and materials. Glossy metals, such as stainless steel, are among the signature materials in modern interior spaces. The metal may be used for anything from the legs of a chair to the body of a lamp. Modern interior designers also make use of glass and plastic for their smooth, even surfaces.

Modern vs Contemporary

There are quite a few differences between these two design styles. A modern space tends to follow a strict style format while contemporary has many variations in its interiors. Contemporary style keeps changing bases on new upcoming styles therefore, what is contemporary now will not be in the next 10 years.

1. Modern in its true form is rarely viewed as stark or cold, while some contemporary interiors, including those that follow minimalist trends, celebrate a bold starkness.

2. Modern pieces of decor tend to have a function, whereas contemporary pieces may concentrate more on the form itself.

3. The color palette of modern design leans toward naturals or neutrals that have a warm, inviting feel. Contemporary often enjoys stark contrast with plenty of blacks and whites, though it has no problems swinging from one extreme to the other on the color scale.

Modern design favors strong lines, while the contemporary style loves curves.

Since the contemporary design style is forever adapting to the latest trends, it picks up many elements that may not be found in modern design. This includes things like expansive windows and morphing the natural world into the interior space.

Additionally, both modern and contemporary styles do enjoy geometric elements, but they tend to go about it in different ways. It may be a geometric light fixture in brilliant gold hanging from the ceiling in a modern room. Whereas in a contemporary one, it would be more large-scale sculptural features, such as a series of showstopping exposed beams against a stark white ceiling.

Inspiration pour le Journee

Modern design in a way is minimalistic. Minimalism is an adaptation less items and fewer details to create more functional space. Architect Darcie Watson transforms a former Bed and Breakfast into a striking modern home in the video below by House and Home. Check out video for inspiration.