# BATHROOM

The Place of Rest

The bathroom today is no longer just a place for washing up; it's primarily a place for relaxation. Perhaps that's the reason why we always try to remove anything from the bathroom that doesn't quite fit with the concept of relaxation.

Let's start with a question that many people grapple with: "Is it better to have the toilet separate from the bathroom?" The simple answer to that question is, "Definitely." The toilet is a place that deserves maximum privacy and shouldn't have to compete for space with the bathroom.

The toilet is one of those examples that doesn't really go well with the concept of relaxation. It's simply a completely different space that deserves maximum privacy. So, if possible, it should be separated from the bathroom. This may only be tolerable in a children's or guest bathroom, or in a small space, but if possible, it should always be separate.

And since we're on the topic of washing, what about a washing machine? Does it belong in the bathroom? That's a question of layout. If you have a generously designed apartment or house, it's always better to place the washing machine and dryer in a utility room or closet. Otherwise, it's good for them to be hidden in a cupboard.

But now back to the bathroom. It's a place where you relax, whether it's morning or evening, in the bathtub or the shower. Everyone has different preferences. Some people enjoy lounging in the bathtub, while others prefer a long shower. Everything should have its own space.

You must feel good in the bathroom.

For the shower, a walk-in solution is ideal, and it's even better if it's large enough that it doesn't require doors. This eliminates the cumbersome maintenance of door hinge corners, yellowing seals, and other specialties. With such a large shower, it's good to think about the placement of towel holders. A sufficiently large shower can handle holders even inside the shower on the opposite side, where water doesn't splash. This way, you can reach for a towel without stepping onto the floor. In one of our projects, we even devised a narrow opening next to the fixed glass so you could reach for a warmed towel on the radiator. Another important part of the shower area is storage for soaps and shampoos. Forget about small niches or wire programs. Small niches have ugly details, and wire programs, meaning wire shelves from which every shampoo bottle falls, can be replaced today with more cultured accessories. The ideal niche runs the full length of the shower. And the ideal shelf is one that has a high edge and can hide even your favorite but unsightly shampoo.

There are many sink solutions to choose from, from double sinks and custom-made ones from artificial stone to classic countertop sinks. It all comes down to each individual's preferences. More important than the shape itself is the choice of color. Sinks are used quite heavily, so it's good if you don't have to polish them every morning. Definitely avoid black gloss, as it is the least practical in terms of water stain marks (just one drop is enough), and that's just talking about water. Matte surfaces are very practical, and sinks made from natural stone have proven to be the most practical; you simply don't see anything on them!

Bathtubs also offer multiple design options. A built-in bathtub is practical for storage purposes. However, embedding it into tiles is somewhat challenging because most bathtubs have slightly rounded edges that are difficult to align perfectly. The ideal solution appears to be a bathtub made from a single piece of artificial stone, like the one we implemented in Paris. Hidden lighting can even be added to the base. This solution is clean and seamless. A freestanding bathtub is simply luxurious. We love it. Besides looking great in the space, it complicates the task of balancing twenty shampoo bottles on the edge of the tub, which is exactly the point. We'll complement the freestanding tub with just a small table, where you can place a candle, soap, and a glass of wine. It's all about relaxation, don't forget.

Even more important than the sink is the choice of faucet. We most commonly opt for wall-mounted faucets—this way, you avoid the endless cleaning around the faucet on the countertop in a small space. A wall-mounted faucet is a very clean solution. Just like the placement, the shape is also important. Never opt for chrome, and especially not for a flat design. The same rule applies here as with a glossy black sink. You can see absolutely everything on it! Recently, besides brushed stainless steel, we're also seeing colored metals or colored faucets with a sprayed finish becoming quite common. And you can't go wrong with those. Then it's up to you whether you choose a lever or knob faucet.

What concerns us the most is, of course, storage space. And I don't mean that little cabinet under the sink, which is absolutely unusable due to the fact that it houses the drainpipe, taking up most of the drawer space. The ideal solution is smart storage around the sink, where all those little bottles can be stowed away so that they are at hand but not visible. We always complement these shelves with drawers so that toothbrushes and razors can be hidden away as well. For other larger items, a full-height built-in cabinet is ideal. It only needs to be narrow and ideally built into a niche.

Our favorite material for bathrooms is microcement for several reasons. It doesn't have grout lines, so it's easier to clean. And it beautifully creates a gradient in the shower. We don't have to draw grout lines; we really don't enjoy dealing with the continuity of all walls, floors, and gradients, it's never done ideally. If we use tiles, it's only as decoration in the sense of accentuating one of the walls. We can then afford a more expensive material when we don't have it everywhere.

An overview of all our realized bathrooms across projects can be found using the #bathroom filter on our website.

Our Tips:

• Microcement in the shower – absolutely the best solution. We get rid of grout lines, can create a gradient, it is water-resistant, and we have less work with labor-intensive grout.
• Shower shelves with a high edge – colorful packaging of cosmetics doesn't disturb the overall look, especially if you haven't fallen for Aesop yet.
• A tall storage cabinet for towels, with a built-in laundry basket.
• A heating mat under the mirror – prevents fogging!
• Heating – only go for electric underfloor heating so you can warm up the bathroom even in the summer, outside the heating season.

by Radka - 10. 8. 2023