Bathrooms used to be the smallest and the most functional rooms in the house. Today bathrooms are getting bigger, and increasingly treated as sanctuaries from the rigors of modern life.
"Bathrooms are not just about being clean," says Lachlan Macfarlane, managing director of bathware supplier Argent Australia. "It's a whole-of-life concept."
Housing Industry Association bathroom designer of the year, Mimmi Freebody, says today's upmarket bathroom mimics the dayspa experience, as people seek pampering amid their hectic schedules."We are taking better care of ourselves, but we are not going out to the salons – we are looking for, in a bathroom, what a day spa gives you," she says.The growing importance of the bathroom is reflected in the entry of renowned designers into this field, says Simon Duggan, retail marketing manager of retailer Reece.
International architect/designers Philippe Starck and Norman Foster are among those to have produced bathroom ranges, while Australian-born designer Marc Newson is to launch his collection later this year.
The big unwind
The development of the bathroom as a relaxation centre has meant a move towards deep, luxurious soaker baths; multi-jet showerheads in ever-larger shower spaces; vanities that resemble lounge or bedroom furniture; and the inclusion of accessories such as bar fridges and coffee makers in ensuites, as well as entertainment such as TV and piped music.
Tricia Williams, marketing manager for bathware group Kohler, says that as well as relaxation, people are looking for rejuvenation. "At the other end of the scale you've got people using the bathroom as a wellness centre, but wellness in terms of renewal – they want to work the body. So you've got hydrotherapy happening in the bath using jets, you have massage showers – you have quite full-on bodywork happening in the bathroom."
In baths, Reece's new Mizu soaker bath and Kohler's sök ‘overflowing' bath illustrate the relaxation theme.
The Mizu is an adaptation of a traditional Japanese bath and is aimed at bathrooms with less space because while it is deep, it is not very long.
The sök is not a whirlpool or spa bath, but an immersion bath with jets that produce tiny, gentle, effervescent bubbles. Water continuously overflows on all sides into a second tub, before being recirculated.
"We've discovered that water flowing out is relaxing, and water being pumped in is rejuvenating," says Williams.
By way of contrast, the ‘river bath' - which Kohler is looking at bringing into Australia from the US later this year - is akin to sitting in a river rapid. "The water runs down the bath, flowing over your body," says Williams. "You can control it, from being a gentle flow to quite a violent rush." Kohler is also looking at overseas developments such as chromatherapy, which uses lights to colour the water with the aim of altering mood, and aromatherapy, where baths are equipped with dispensers for aromatics such as lavender.
