Give the hardest working room in the house an easy update thanks to inspiration from 2018’s bathroom trends
Words: Tara Corristine
1. Strong accent
Much maligned thanks to their overuse in makeover shows, accent walls are enjoying a modern revival. The Tresco collection is a collaboration between artist Hugo Dalton and Paper & Paint Library and is inspired by his time on the titular island. Chart was created using an antique map found in the home of the Dorrien-Smith family and the nautical fathoms remain true to the original. Around €311 per roll, paintandpaperlibrary.com.
2. Lighting the way
Reflecting our changing tastes, the Astro Chios cube from National Lighting Showrooms is an exercise in simplicity and a contemporary alternative to bland globes. Costing €46, it’s available in two colours, textured black or white. Nationallighting.ie.
3. Law and order
Packed with clever cubbyholes and neat nooks, the organiser system in the Luv by Duravit floor standing vanity unit from Tubs & Tiles will put manners on your beauty and grooming products. Made from solid walnut or maple, with the console top available in three quartz finishes or American walnut, beautiful functional materials are at the heart of this range. €3,400, Tubstiles.ie.
4. Hot stuff
“Radiators and towel rails are a necessity but that doesn’t mean they have to be boring, it’s these details which inject a sense of personality and add interest,” says Ellie Sawdy, Marketing Executive at Bisque Radiators. Driven by the masses' love for this warm metal, its new rose copper radiator, around €800, looks set to be a popular choice. Bisque.co.uk.
5. Back to black
Nothing spoils an interior aesthetic like white plastic so look to Triton's Amore electric shower in black gloss, 2018's hottest bathroom hue. With touch screen controls, three power settings – max, eco and cold – and an anti-twist hose, it's as smart as it looks. Priced from €240, it's available at Earthridge.ie.
6. The Panel
If you thought wood wall paneling was consigned to the past, it's time to get on board. Generous width boards in on-trend tones will ensure an individual look. Here, the upper wall is painted in Aquamarine Mid 284 while below it is Three Farm Green 306 and the punchy skirting is in Lamp Black 228, all Little Greene. From around €49 for 2.5L Absolute Matt Emulsion, Littlegreene.com.
7. Window dressing
A window treatment is a quick and easy way to tap into your chosen trend without undertaking a complete bathroom overhaul. The Artists' Collection of fabrics from Vanessa Arbuthnott came about when she broke both of her arms and relied on her husband and daughter to translate her sketches into designs. By the Sea in saffron is a cheery print that will update a neutral palette. Price approx. €59, Vanessaarbuthnott.co.uk.
8. Flexible friend
Often overlooked in favour of tiles, Patricia Wakley, Fleetwood Colour Consultant, urges us to consider the versatility of a paint. “Paint is a very inexpensive and fun medium and can be used in more unusual ways, such as stripes or outlining areas as a focal point, rather than for the purposes of matching up to a particular tile or surface.” Pictured is Monet Lily and China White fromThe Vogue collection, priced €41.49 for 2.5L washable matt and €44.99 for 2.5L premium paint. Fleetwood.ie.
9. Bath time
Bathing little ones is somewhat easier with the floor mounted Origins bath shower mixer with shower kit (€922): hair rinsing is a doddle – no more one-handed reaching for overhead shower heads – while the angled grab rail (€85) offers extra comfort for parent and child. Both from Vado at Earthridge.ie.
10. In bloom
“Patterned tiles were a leading trend at the recent Salone del Mobile fair in Milan, and the Kasai Oriental Masterpiece tile collection offers it in a more arbitrary, bespoke way,” says Catherine Treacy of Versatile Bathrooms, Tiles & Stone. “We’ve also noticed a trend towards colour in bathroom décor and the Blossom pattern provides a soft pop of blues and yellows.” The collection has a tactile element too with a ‘burnt wood’ motif. Prices start from €115, Tilesbyversatile.ie.
11. On the rack
Bathroom storage can be over-sized and underwhelming, so think beyond the tallboy cabinet and look to bookshelves, console tables or drinks trollies as price-savvy alternatives, and add baskets or lacquered boxes to store bits and bobs. Find a similar wall rack, €185, from Interiosity is ideal for small bathrooms – yet will hold a multitude.
12. Something sweet
The minimalist leanings of the Calidris Collection by Dansani ensures there’s nothing sickly about this vanity unit. This marshmallow hue is new for 2018 and we recommend styling it with strong tones to avoid sugar overload – charcoal grey or midnight blue would offer a striking contrast, or if you can bear it, school uniform green as pictured. Washbasin, €529; vanity unit, €3,718, Tilestyle.ie
13. The big blue
If au courant black is a bridge too far, sidestep it in favour of inky blue, another hue proving popular this year. The new Bayswater curved door basin cabinet with granite top and basin, €3,216 from Barretts of Maynooth comes in three Farrow & Ball colours: Plummett Grey and Pointing White as well as Stiffkey Blue, pictured here, and three sizes. Barrettsofmaynooth.com
