The growing popularity of spa-like and cocooning bathrooms shows no sign of abating, and the look has evolved into a sophisticated aesthetic.
COMPILED BY Martin Jacobs PHOTOS Elton Rocha, Elsa Young, Utkan Gunerkan, Michael Allen, Atelier Photography, Courtesy of Jeeves
Comforting tactile surfaces – marble, plaster, natural stone, textured paint, glazed tiles and raw timber – are key to today’s sanctuary bathroom, while natural and biscuit tones lend an authentic touch.
In a Barcelona warehouse conversion (pictured above), interior designer Noé Prades extends brick paving used on the adjacent patio into the bathroom, connecting the open shower to the outdoors. Exposed brick walls pair with untreated woods for an earthy look, while matt black fixtures nod to the apartment’s industrial beams. Source similar fixtures from Meir. noeprades.com | meirsa.co.za
Ballito-based interior designer Michele Throssell off sets the sleek surface of a freestanding tub with textured whitewashed rock walls in this KwaZulu-Natal project. Other tactile surfaces in the bathroom drive home the look. Source similar bathtubs at Duravit. michelethrossell.com | duravit.com
A fluted stone vanity and hammered sconce add the luxe factor to an already textured bathroom by South Africa’s Gregory Mellor Design. Tactile extremes are exaggerated by off setting these surfaces with a woven grasscloth, cork ceiling and bamboo blind. gregorymellor.com
“We layered raw stone, handcraft ed tiles and natural wood to create a tactile experience that’s both organic and refined,” says Kelsey Boyce of Durban-based Fyfe Boyce Interior Design about this bathroom. “The artwork adds softness, balancing the materiality with a sense of warmth and depth.” For a handcraft ed look, consider tiles from Wolkberg Casting Studio. fyfeboyce.co.za | wolkbergcs.com
Natural stone – like this Persian tumbled red travertine used by architect Utkan Gunerkan in a Milan apartment – applied from floor to ceiling on as many walls as possible will introduce a spa-like element to a bathroom. He paired it with micro-cement flooring. “To keep the look clean, I didn’t want shutters or curtains,” he says, “so the windows are smart glass, frosting at a click.” utkangunerkan.com
In this striking marble bathroom, interior designer Ryan Saghian drives home the cocooning and luxurious drama that using a single material can bring. Natural-stone specialists, including WOMAG, can offer invaluable advice when considering a stone bathtub. ryansaghian.com | womag.co.za
Black fixtures, including a Spartan F heated towel rail by Jeeves, pair well with concrete for a Zen-like industrial look. The material used for the flooring is sculpted into a bath, its curved lines introducing softness to an otherwise austere space. For a similar effect, contact Cemcrete about the brand’s RenoCrete. jeeves.co.za | cemcrete.co.za
The grey colour of this freestanding bathtub makes it a point of focus in Australian interior stylist Tim Neve’s tone- on-tone bathroom. “It’s the textures that really enliven this space, introducing a comforting and earthy ambience,” he explains. “Adding matt bronze tapware makes it even more luxurious.” timneve.com
An oversized wooden tub is a statement-making addition to this rustic bathroom by Gregory Mellor Design. Placing it in the centre of the room not only draws attention to its uniqueness, but also connects it with views of the outdoors. The tub is half of a large oak wine barrel, procured by the client on a whim. It had to be sanded very smooth to remove all splinters, and then thoroughly sealed with a waterproof product. Unlacquered brass tapware elevates the look. gregorymellor.com
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