The luxury bath and basin design trends ramping up bathrooms
Written by
29 August 2023
•
4 min read
Sustainability
One company leading the way in bath and basin innovation, customisation and variety is Stonebaths. Having built a strong reputation and relationship among the architecture, design and building industry in Australia for its ability to deliver bespoke finishes. Baths, basins, vanities and, more recently, commercial solid surface fittings are made-to-order in styles from traditional through to contemporary.
Jim Bedwell, Founder and Director of Stonebaths, has been at the forefront of bathroom product design for over two decades. Jim reveals the current Australian innovations and trends in bathroom fixtures, noting sustainable materials as significantly gaining traction.
"Architects, interior designers, and homeowners are rediscovering the quality, beauty, and sustainability of installing stone and marble products extensively in bathrooms," says Jim.
He explains the resurgence of natural solid materials, such as stone, for their sustainable qualities is a movement that is gaining traction with individuals seeking a more environmentally conscious home.
"We are witnessing an increase of interest in natural and sustainable materials, such as stone, but with a contemporary twist,” says Jim.
Stone composites
"Currently, we are seeing clients wanting something that's a bit more solid and stands out as a quality centrepiece in the bathroom," says Jim. "While you can achieve this with solid stone, it has added challenges, like the sheer weight."
Solving the hefty weight issue of stone is the development of stone composites. The most popular is polymarble and solid surface composits; a clever innovation that ensures the final product has a stone look and feel without the encumbrance of weight.
"In addition to having the look, feel and texture of a traditional stone bath, the composition of the polymarble or solid surface reduces the weight while maintaining that attractive stone appearance," says Jim. "Instead of having a 200kg bath, you've now got a 130kg bath – making a considerable difference to installation logistics and building specifications," adds Bedwell.
Outdoor baths
The versatility of Polymarble shows in its outdoor bath applications thanks to its exceptional UV resistance. Jim also predicts that concrete baths will continue in popularity for the foreseeable future, particularly with outdoor baths being favoured in many new builds.
"Our product line-up features an equitable blend of polymarble and solid surface options, with a recent addition showcasing the elegance of concrete," says Jim.
“Also, solid surface products, when enriched with synthetic polymers, make a great canvas for colour customisation.”
Earthy and blue tones
Australia is seeing a return of the warm, earthy tones, especially in bathrooms, including cream, mustard, khaki, brown and concrete greys.
"For those seeking vibrant hues, a solid surface is the way to go, as pigments permeate the entire core, leading to an incredible finish," says Jim.
Moving away from trusted white porcelain fixtures towards coloured stone composite and concrete is a bold decision. Yet, the desire to combine these trending tones with solid forms is understandable when standing before a breathtaking peacock blue Stonebaths' Sol' round concrete basin.
Slimline baths
"Right now, I'm seeing a movement towards thin-rimmed baths," says Jim. "About five years ago, it was the opposite – it was all about oversized baths with large rims, which could go up to 100mm. For context, standard rims are about 25mm."
"Our new range of baths have rims as thin as 15mm, drastically changing the entire bathroom's look and feel. Forming an almost delicacy to the room – it's very European and becoming more popular," Bedwell adds.
Ramp basins
Traditionally associated with industrial aesthetics and often found in commercial bathrooms, ramp basins are now making waves in the homes of high-end residential projects. This trend's versatility and ability to seamlessly integrate into commercial and residential spaces showcases its enduring appeal.
"Ramp basins are a real trend now," says Jim. "Traditionally, you would see them more in commercial bathrooms, where the industrial look is more common. We often get architects and interior designers specifying them for their residential projects, especially for large bathrooms in high-end and urban residential properties."
And while stone baths and basins exist in many people's minds as more of a luxury item, Jim says they're similar in value to higher-end porcelain or acrylic products.
"The prices have stabilised, and in many cases, the difference is narrowing," remarks Jim. "So, it's a great time to consider bringing in a stone composite bathroom fixture to create a stunning feature piece or level-up a bathroom's aesthetic."
View the Stonebaths range on ArchiPro.
