Meet Martina Panzer, a creative entrepreneur responsible for some of the most beautiful bathrooms in South Africa.
Martina, the bathrooms you design are always on trend. Would you define your work as fashionable?
No, as the fashionable aspect of design comes and goes. A space, your home and especially your bathroom should be designed to fit your personality. On average, we use our bathroom at least twice a day. On the one hand, for obvious reasons and on the other, for subtle aspects defined by our lifestyle and personality.
Like brushing our teeth and showering?
I’m sure this is something most of us have in common, but for example, many people like to plan their day while they are in their bathroom. They have a comfortable chair or a space to groom themselves, and more recently, a place to reply to emails on their iPad, or play music. It enhances the process of waking up in the morning or shutting down at night.
How do you plan a bathroom for your clients?
Most people think there is an incredibly intricate process involved, but really all I do is try to get to know each person and their lifestyle, from a single businesswoman who loves cycling or running, to a family with four kids who fight for a space in front of the mirror when getting ready in the morning. The look of it is a matter of preference. We focus on the details and intimacies of our clients and what they really need to nourish themselves every day.
Do you collaborate with architects and interior designers?
Yes, we do. Often, the interior designers will work on the overall look and feel and will send the client to us for detailed lifestyle planning.
Do you see yourself as a designer?
Not really, to be honest. I’m interested in the more practical aspects. My passion for good design is an added bonus. Together, they allow us to create quality projects.
When is something practical for you?
As a mother of two and an entrepreneur, my time is limited, so firstly, something is practical when it enhances the limited time I have. Or even better, when it makes my life easier. For my bathroom this means I need to have all of my products at arm’s length without the area becoming cluttered. In addition to that, I want a space where I can go off the radar, take a rose and sea salt bath and gather my thoughts every day.
You seem to have a pretty close connection to your bathroom.
I think many people have. I love creating a sense of tangibility for that connection through design and curation.
Do you dream of a particular bathroom?
A bathroom should be environmentally responsible and have a level of consciousness that is uniquely fitted to nourish the owner’s individuality.
– Martina Panzer interviewed at branding agency Unisoul
Visit pinterest.com/stilllifestyles for more bathroom inspiration.
