The new bathroom furniture collection from St Michel is the perfect balance of classic and contemporary design

New Zealand family-owned bathroom furniture business, St Michel, are proud to share the launch of their new collection, Savoy — a collaboration with bathroom designer Micaela Wynne. After many years helping Kiwis with their bathroom furniture requirements, they saw how challenging it could be to pull together a dream bathroom with so many options to consider. To solve this problem, St Michel head designer Lucan Donovan joined forces with Micaela Wynne to develop a collection that makes it easy for homeowners to create a bathroom that is both beautiful and functional.

“There’s no doubt decorative panels in kitchens and bathrooms are a popular choice at the moment. We wanted to build on this with Savoy by reinterpreting a very traditional tongue and groove aesthetic in a modern way. Vertical panel styling from the past meets the clean functionality of modern design for a look that’s both simple and sophisticated. This allows the Savoy design to work in a contemporary space, or a timeless setting like a villa,” Donovan says.

The collaboration with Micaela Wynne was born out of the intention to connect the worlds of industrial and interior design. “The synergy between industrial design and interior design is essential in creating great spaces that not only look amazing but also function well. In this case, the St Michel design team has produced a great product that Micaela has then created beautiful spaces for. It’s always a pleasure to work collaboratively with talented individuals like Micaela. We inspire and push each other, and the result is always better for it.”

The crux of the Savoy collection is the delicate balance between classic design and contemporary aesthetics. The vertical panelling, an ode to the past, has made a recent resurgence as interior design embraces texture. Combined with clean lines and a sophisticated material palette, the collection carries a timeless air that is sure to suit any bathroom style.

“The Savoy range covers most preferences in regards to finishes and basins. We offer the Savoy in a benchtop version with over 30 basin options, as well as a full moulded basin top version to satisfy the more practical leaning customers. We always encourage homeowners to think about what they intend to store inside their Savoy vanity. With that in mind, they can then choose to keep their drawers simple, or add concealed drawers and storage trays either on the left side, right side, or both sides,” Donovan explains.

Donovan also notes that there is often a pressure to match tapware colours with basin elements, such as overflow rings, waste covers, and handles. Savoy comes with a range of handle colours to suit most taps, but, Donovan says, when it comes to basins, the best option is to neutralise colour components near the tapware by making the overflow ring and waste cover blend into the basin. For example, if you have a white basin, select a white overflow ring and white waste, which are all available in the Savoy range.

A key consideration for St Michel when designing the collection was ensuring that all materials would be safe in the high moisture environment of a bathroom. 

“Materials must be fit for purpose and specifically designed for the bathroom,” Donovan explains. “The material choice, and the way the furniture is manufactured will determine how well the product performs, and how durable it is in the long term. If you choose furniture makers that have a history and track record of quality manufacturing, you don’t have to sweat the small stuff, as you know that furniture makers have already considered material safety for you. We’ve made sure that the manufacturing build quality, and technologies we use at St Michel, are focused on protecting furniture from moisture.”

With the emerging awareness of the dangers around silica in engineered stone benchtops, and its association with silicosis lung disease, homeowners and manufacturers are seeking safe alternatives. St Michel’s own Cherry Pie Solid Surface, and high pressure laminates are safe, silica-free options that are available in the Savoy range.

To help customers build out their dream bathroom, St Michel has created the Savoy collection brochure, featuring all the bathroom scenes designed by Micaela Wynne. 

“To create the Savoy bathroom scenes on display in our brochure, you can simply use the QR code links that take you to the ‘get the look’ pages on our website. From there you can find all the locally sourced products used in each bathroom setting. In collaboration with Micaela Wynne, we have created a great mix of styles that can help you when trying to match floor and wall tiles with furniture colours.”

“The full Savoy collection can also be viewed at the St Michel selection centre from Monday to Saturday at our West Auckland showroom, and can be ordered throughout New Zealand in all plumbing merchant stores. Many now have displays, too.” 

Learn more about St Michel and explore the Savoy collection.