What Kind of Bathroom is Right for You?
Will your bathroom be a zen retreat, a family hub or a minimalist designer en suite oasis?
The purpose of your bathroom (think usability), available space and budget will determine the design direction and which products you choose.
Once you have a clear idea of all the things you want to achieve with your reno you need to start working on your floorplan. Ensure you position your vanity with enough walk around space and avoid tight gaps which are tough to clean.
Consider plumbing
If you’re undertaking a bathroom ‘mini makeover’ and keeping the layout the same - check that supply and waste pipes do not need to be extended… also note, as mentioned above, that a floorstanding vanity may be needed if you have existing floor plumbing. If you’re working with a new layout, it makes sense to consult with a plumber first to ensure water supply and waste pipes can be located where you’re planning to position them, relative to the existing home. Even if you’re building from scratch, it’s important to plan ahead with plumbing set outs.
Don’t forget about functionality
A key consideration should be storage, at CIBO we give our bathroom vanities the ‘beautifully sorted’ test. Think about everyone in your home who will be using the bathroom and the different kinds of uses… what each person will realistically need from it. Nothing ruins the look of a dream bathroom faster than the vanity top being obscured by a myriad of hairdryers, make up, straighteners, hairspray, brushes, etc. Whilst your vanity should ideally provide you with maximum storage, a Mirror Cabinet is a great spot for eye height, user-friendly storage as well.
Choosing your vanity design
Decide on a ‘design direction’ for your bathroom, one that seamlessly fits with the interior of your home. Once you have that in mind, create a quick mood board for your new bathroom – this can easily be done digitally on Pinterest
A vanity can tie together the whole look and feel of your bathroom. Knowing your design direction or style and what you’re trying to achieve can really help. A sleek minimalist look or a more traditional Hamptons style with shaker profile cabinets, or maybe a more Scandi inspired oak-look timber veneer with a Solid Surface (stone-look) benchtop.
Here’s a few mood boards we prepared earlier… 😊
With so many hard tiled surfaces, bathrooms can look and feel very clinical. One way to soften a bathroom is through the use of a timber veneer which adds visual texture and warmth, as well as injecting a natural feel. CIBO’s Mornington vanity in Oak veneer finish with half round handles is a great choice to visually balance a bathroom.