A Secret Bathroom: Raspel's Hidden Suite

Whilst browsing the Fast Company's website for inspiration and new bathroom products on the market, we came across this hidden gem. Rapsel, an Italian furniture design company, have presented a collection of toilet fixtures that magically disappear. "Rapsel's One line includes a sink, shower, and toilet disguised behind sleek wooden slats. Step into the bathroom, and the slats resemble shelves and benches in a swanky little sauna. It's only when you lift them up that their true function is revealed. "The new 'invisible' bathroom, designed by Matteo Thun for Rapsel, impresses with few lines and innovative forms," the press release effuses. "[They] become geometric modules that function as sculptural shelves."
As odd as this seems (and looks!) it is quite a unique way of transforming a bathroom space into a 'designed' space.
The wooden slats are contemporary and the multitude of parallel lines elongate the room quite dramatically.
The only way in which a bathroom like this might not work is if you have guests who require use of your hidden facilities.

2012 Bathroom Trends: Radiator Art

NUMBER FOUR: Radiator Art.

This unique radiator from Aston Matthews will add a focal point to your bathroom and is a functional way of hanging wet towels.
It provides ample heat, as would any 'normal' looking radiator, either by electric of central heating. We think that this would complement a bathroom style which is simple and elegant and requires a large amount of wall space coverage.
Its bold design would achieve a wow-factor and contrast beautifully with a roll-top bath.

Scandanavian Style Bathrooms

We recently across a lovely blog called My Scandinavian Home run by Niki. She sources and posts an array of inspiring images of the home. What attracted our attention initially was the unique way in which accessories pull a bathroom design together. For instance the image to the right is a very neutral space; white suite, grey floor and pale walls. The individual details are what personalise this room. The mirror is quite large, possibly intended to create the illusion of more space and the art can be said to contrast with the simplicity with its surroundings [source via Plante Deco]

We like the minimal oval shape bath which and basin on a pedestal... the mixing of modern and old is a look that we feel works quite well.

The image to the left presents a very different look. It appears that the bath is constructed entirely out of stone which recaptures the beauty of sculpting out of natural materials... just like the marble sculptors of Greece used to. To us, this design is quite rustic but we love the contrast of the chrome taps against the weathered stone bath. This is another instance of mixing old with new; the juxtaposition of the two creates a look which is both on trend and quite unique. To the right is the basin from the same bathroom. [source]

Two rooms, one house: Formby Gallery

Some of our most recent work fitted in a house in Formby. 

Tiles, suite and fittings supplied by Fired Earth. 

Family Bathroom:

 

Ensuite shower room:

Before and After:

Tumbled Egyptian Limestone in Cheshire

Last night (13th September 2012) we attended an exclusive preview of the new showroom at Brownlow Furniture. The floor, fitted by us, Roman Elements, is  tumbled Egyptian limestone. It is dense and hardwearing with a mix of grey and caramel tones (pictured below).

Along with viewing their new space for exhibiting their beautiful, bespoke kitchen, we had the opportunity to meet a number of very interesting people and view demonstrations of new products on the market. They included the Quooker boiling water tap and the new AGA cooker. The Quooker has been featured on BBC's Great British Bake Off and Masterchef. 

We also tried a Chocolate Experience held by Cocoa Solid, which as you can imagine was mouth watering and entertaining in equal amounts, and we met Davinder Lotay of MJLighting who presented a heated mirror.

Elegance and Class: Etched Glass Motif Basin

This is quite stunning in our opinion. We first saw this on the Chictip blog but it can be found on the Omnivo website.
Add a subtle amount of sophistication to your bathroom with this motif basin. The patterns are hand-etched into glass that is fitted into a solid surface and polished. The basin is fitted with a chrome plug and spacer. The reflection of the design appears on the  counter, creating an elegant pattern.
Available in three patterns, Pebble, Kaleidoscope and Forest, the basin is constructed with finished timber and hand-etched glass. 

There is something quite naturalistic about this product. It conjures images of sunlight shining through leaves and tress, casting shadows on the ground. It is simply beautiful and this one in particular is our favourite of the the designs. 

This would complement a simple bathroom suite and neutral colour scheme. To ensure it's rightful place as the centre piece of your bathroom, clean lines and simple accessories should surround it. 

Bathroom Beauties: Inspiration from Chictip.com

Chictip has a very impressive collection of inspiring images and blog posts to browse through. We are overwhelmed by the sheer amount of beautiful bathrooms to be seen all in once place. In many cases, photographs of individual bathrooms are shown along side the other rooms in the same house. Lets just say that we are experiencing major design-envy right now.

The purpose of this post is just to prove to you that bathrooms need not be the room that gets left until last in your home renovation. It deserves just as much attention as your kitchen or your living room and has just as much potential to be a space to be proud of. 

We at Roman Elements offer a design service that can help get the best out of your bathroom or shower room. Whether you'd like a simple design, with clean lines and a contemporary colour scheme or a more decadent look with dark tiles and contrasting furniture and suite. We work with you to achieve the look you crave. 

What we particularly like about this design is the clean straight lines and the contrast created between the dark wall and floor tiles and the bright white bathtub. The unusual shape of the bath is very contemporary and we encourage our clients to be forward thinking in their design. This ensures that the space remains up-to-date and adds value to their property.