Looking to the past is entirely on trend for bathrooms of the future.
COMPILED BY Martin Jacobs PHOTOS Lance Gerber, Anthony Barcelo, Alecia Neo/Neon Studio, Dustin Halleck, Ben Pentreath, Elsa Young, Courtesy of Victorian Bathrooms, Decobella
Pay homage to Art Deco’s sophisticated patterns and materials, reclaim ubiquitous coloured sanitaryware of the 1960s and ’70s, or revisit the glass bricks so popular in the ’80s – then embrace the heyday of Hollywood, traditional English decorating, retro safari style and more.
Los Angeles homes of the 1930s and ’40s were the inspiration behind Leah Ring’s daring guest bathroom (above). Sanitaryware and fixtures in vintage colours are a growing trend, so she’s housed a reclaimed tub in a retro niche – but it’s her inclusion of “underwater” wallpaper that makes the look entirely contemporary. Consult Cara Saven Wall Design for waterproof wallpapers. anotherhuman.la | carasaven.com
Wallpaper from the Fornasetti collection by Cole & Son does the heavy lift ing to introduce romance to this bath alcove by interior designer Ryan Saghian. Do as he does with this Saturnus chandelier, and opt for circular vintage-inspired pendant lighting that mimics the wallpaper’s plate-like shapes. Source Cole & Son wallpapers from St Leger & Viney. cole-and-son.com | ryansaghian.com | stleger.co.za
If bathrooms inspired by Hollywood’s Golden Age are all the rage, it’s definitely time to revisit shelving alcoves. They’re a retro-inspired way to display collectibles, as interior designer Elizabeth Hay does here. Her use of five different tiles – floor, walls, trim and alcove – in similar shades of blue and white adds to the luxurious design. Fit concealed or strip lighting to the shelving for nighttime drama. elizabethhaydesign.com
Bathrooms that nod to the heyday and glamour of Tinseltown are rising in the popularity ranks. In this one, designed by SuzAnn Kletzien, the overall mood is of elegance, and results as much from architectural choices – archways, split levels – as from her sophisticated palette. Tilted mirrors, a chandelier and floor tiles in a graphic pattern complement the look. suzannkletzien.com
In English architect and interior designer Ben Pentreath’s London home, his aesthetic nod to traditional English decorating is layered. Atop Zoffany’s Richmond Park wallpaper – an archival design in itself – he has hung a gallery of heritage prints. The look is intentionally busy, but is quietened by the use of prints and frames in the same colours as the wallpaper. Source similar sanitaryware from Duravit. benpentreath.com | zoffany.sandersondesigngroup.com | duravit.com
Separating a bath within a bathroom – be it by elevating a freestanding tub or by setting a bath into an alcove – is an increasingly popular way of amplify the bathing experience. Here, a spacious nook built into a wall is home to a Roman tub. Source similar towel rails and customisable coloured baths from Victorian Bathrooms. victorianbathrooms.co.za
Personalised or customised touches go a long way to creating a convincing sense of place in a bathroom. Not only has a slight recess – more aesthetic than functional – been created in this bathroom to give it a North African look, but playful tiling also reinforces the mood. Source decorative tiles, like these Sintra tiles, from Decobella. decobella.co.za
Creatively used, wood panelling in a bathroom can evoke a multitude of eras and places. In this safari lodge guest toilet, Michele Throssell lines the walls with pine panelling. Coupled with a Victorian high-level toilet, the look references alpine ski resorts – but she keeps it relevant to its safari setting by painting the timber olive to match the landscape beyond. michelethrossell.com
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