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A look at the latest in basins and vanities in bathrooms

trendy: Bathroom designs and accessories reflect the individual owner's taste and style Photo: Thinkstock
trendy: Bathroom designs and accessories reflect the individual owner's taste and style Photo: Thinkstock

BATHROOMS have become trendy spaces and, to achieve a stylish look and feel, much thought is needed when selecting your sanitary ware and storage facilities.

Purely functional bathrooms are becoming a thing of the past in favour of modern bathrooms which boast harmonious, holistic concepts based on individual needs.

The use of materials is important, for example combining real wood counter tops with white ceramics to create a desired atmosphere. This is a great way to individualise one's bathroom - which is what design is all about these days - and to allow each element of the design to meet specific demands and needs.

Basins

Talking about basins, straight, square, high-polished units with slim lines in basin designs are very popular at the moment, as are wall-hung basins and the French baroque style. And don't forget the his-and-hers basins! We are seeing a sleeker and more minimalist look and feel in bathrooms, where they are more compact but don't compromise on the special quality of the bathroom.

Wall-mounting your basin, for example, allows for more space, while storage facilities can be located in more strategic positions.

Vanities

More than a decade ago, trend watchers started noticing the first stirrings of the inclusion of furniture in the bathroom. Many homeowners in the past took great care to convert valuable pieces of furniture into bathroom vanities.

This was quite a high risk considering the steamy, moisture-drenched environment of the bathroom, which is not ideal for untreated wooden furniture; not to mention the structural damage caused by actually installing the basin, faucets and necessary pipes.

Materials have evolved since then, and vanities are now available in a variety of options from glass to wood veneers, laminates and thermo-foil. Wood and bamboo have grown in popularity, being very much nature-inspired; often wood is combined with steel and ceramics to create a modern, sleek and sophisticated look in the bathroom.

The trends have also advanced in the production of free-floating vanities. These are very practical, as they are set off the ground, making the bathroom easier to clean.

When considering redesigning your bathroom, keep in mind the way in which you would like to use your space so that it works for you. Little things like a lack of storage can frustrate you in the long term.

 

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