This Image: Add in wooden accessories such as this solid wood Ladder Towel Store, £45, from Next (www.next.co.uk)
The look of natural woods, stone and earthy materials seems perfectly suited to a room that is used for pampering and bathing. An organic look can be achieved by simply adding in natural-look accessories. Source rough-hewn storage baskets from BHS (www.bhs.co.uk), wooden ladder towel rails from Next (www.next.co.uk) and burnt‑orange towels and black laundry baskets at Sainsbury’s (www.sainsburys.co.uk). Marks and Spencer’s (www.marksandspencer.com) new tactile Silk Route lanterns, baskets and copper lighting are perfectly suited to the trend.
Meanwhile, at Cambridgeshire’s independent tile emporium, St Ives Tile and Stone (01480 467800, www.stivestileandstone.co.uk), owners Emma Pratt and husband Jon have over 30 years experience in shaping stylish bathrooms. “Trends come and go, but there’s definitely a rise in popularity for natural surfaces,” says Emma. “Options such as limestone, travertine and terracotta can look stunning, but they can also take a lot of upkeep, and may not represent the most practical choice for meeting the modern-day demands of family life. “We pride ourselves on finding what the customer wants in terms of style but we also meet customers’ expectations in terms of practicality, too,” she continues. “There are some fantastic alternatives in ceramic and porcelain, that offer a similar ‘natural’ look but without the need for time‑consuming treating and careful cleaning. Wood-look tiles, for instance, have become very popular of late: extraordinarily realistic, they give all the look and charm of a real wooden floor, but with all the benefits of the most hard-wearing surface, that’s easy to clean.”
Those who are looking for a cohesive and natural look should check out the range of natural stone, wood and marble bathroom furniture made by craftsmen at Stonearth (0115 714 8030, www.stonearth.co.uk). The brand sources raw materials, such as American oak, Italian travertine and Egyptian marble, in order to create high‑end furniture with that wow‑factor: think of oak vanity units, walnut washstands and stone basins.
Based in Cambridgeshire and offering bespoke designs for bathrooms, David Hall Kitchen and Furniture Makers (01763 261010, www.davidhallfurniture.co.uk) has also witnessed the rise in the natural look for cabinets.
Commercial director Frances Hall comments: “It is the love of wood and fine craftsmanship that makes our cabinets so beautiful. We are noticing a trend towards introducing the colours, patterns and textures of wood, and increasingly successful wood-effect flooring materials are being developed which have none of the maintenance and shrinkage issues of the natural material but bring the warm, natural tones into the bathroom.”
Above Image: David Hall Kitchen and Furniture Makers are a local source for beautiful wooden cabinetry, POA ( 01763 261010, www.davidhallfurniture.co.uk )
