I am capable of doing more than just bathrooms, though I
seem to be a magnet regarding building them. This one is a little different.
For starters, the client is French, not the usual English crowd inhabiting the
local area.
From a build and design point of view, again this project was
different due to the French culture, which surfaced during the build and
dictated the materials chosen, which effected the form.
My brief before starting was that the house was going to be completely
renovated for holiday rentals. As such the rooms are to be themed, bedroom one –
traditional boat theme, bedroom two – 70’s theme (Laval laps, bright colours
etc.). Different themes to be continue throughout, the bathroom being no
exception.
My understanding of the client theming the house is a
simple; furnishings costs and providing the holidaymaker with a fun experience
when on vacation.
When shopping for home furnishings, the bargain items are
usually bright, garish, and usually only chosen for small areas within any
given room to create a feel, without being overwhelmed. IE Wallpapering just
one wall, having a heavy print, is acceptable. Having it throughout the whole
room though maybe a little OTT.
My client has taken advantage of the price reductions of
these materials and utilised this to his own benefit. If a wall needs 10m2 of
tiles, if it’s the same price for the bargain basement plan white or mock
bamboo, I like the adventurous option.
So, back to the bathroom – an Oriental inspired bathroom,
dictated by the mock straw and bamboo tiles, which there wasn’t enough to cover
the whole wall. As this is a price driven project the only readily available
tiles left were pebble. And still there wasn't enough of those either.
(Pebble's, Mock Straw & Red Tiles)
The cultural difference in mentality only surfaced when it came
to the shower installation. Now I'm cautious about talking about the comparisons
between two cultures, though this is the 21st century and I've been living in
a foreign county for many years, you do become aware of the differences and it’s
enlightening when the root decisions become apparent and effect the finished design.
Back to the shower area, I have a saying, KISS - “keep it
simple, stupid”. No matter what shape or
style of the bathroom, I like to get the first fix out the way, and then do the
ceiling, walls and then floors in that order not unless it’s a wet room design;
floor and then wall as I like the wall tile to sit on the floor tile.
Once the room has taken shape, then the bathroom furniture is
fitted and you are finished. If a shower is to be installed, I would use shower
glass, never would I build a box in the corner of a room and then add a glass
door. What would be the point, it cost more and you lose the clean lines of the
room.
Example -
(Clean Lines)
When asked to box the oriental themed bathroom, I was
curious to know the reason why?
The Client explained that as it’s for holiday rentals, he
wanted something sturdy and unbreakable. The shower head had to be attached to
the ceiling, so it couldn’t be touched, the taps set into the wall so it
impossible to fiddle with connections, nor having a bar to pull off the wall. I
like some of these features, from a design point of view – giving nice clean
lines, but building a wall to surround the shower area so no glass could be
broken seem to me to be a little excessive. It costs more in materials – Gypsum
Block, more tiles and also the hours of work involved. Whereas installing a piece
of glass cost very little, take no time at all to install and easy to replace
if needed.
(Gypsum Block - Shower Area)
I’m pleased with the finished product; it is not my usual
bathroom installation but I am starting to understand that interior design can
be dictated by people preconceptions as well a price. Also this is another
bathroom which I have completed within 15 days, starting from scratch. (This
room wasn’t a bathroom to start off with.)
