EKBB - Article - Learning curve

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Bathrooms are embracing soft silhouettes and rounded corners for a calm and harmonious vibe

Published: 9th February 2017

There's a subtle style shift going on in our bathrooms and it’s all down to our need for solace, respite and a sense of calm amid today’s hectic lifestyles. For while the sharp lines and slick angular shapes of the super-minimalist bathroom were once our go-to design choice, these are being gently rubbed down in favour of softer curves, organic lines and an altogether more Zen-like spa ambience where we can escape for an hour or two.

Lead image With soft, organic lines, the EauZone Plus curved shower enclosure from Matki offers generous showering space with a sliding door and 10mm solid safety glass. Priced at £2,354

Below The interior, circular shape of the Kaldewei Centro washbasin is based on the brand’s bath of the same name, for harmonious design. In steel enamel with a bespoke wood top, it costs from £857

‘The word harmony is currently being used as a catalyst for the top trends in 2017,’ explains Nancy Straughan, interior designer at London-based luxury bathroom emporium, Hugo Oliver. ‘Many people are now looking to create bathrooms that provide a peaceful sanctuary away from the stresses of everyday life. So, to create this ‘harmonious’ look try seeking out basins and bathtubs that all feature beautiful curved design elements.’

Below This classic, curvaceous London bath is made from Lucite with a painted PVC surround in Sand. It costs £1,999, from Burlington Bathrooms.

Design experts agree that curvaceous freestanding baths, cylindrical taps and curved cabinets all play their part in creating an effortless, laid-back bathroom space that suits our demand now for a softer, more relaxed silhouette. To sum up, curves are back. ‘A bathroom with fewer hard edges is less clinical and can be much easier on the eye,’ says Giulia Montagnani, designer at Day True, exclusive UK supplier of the Rexa brand. ‘Clients have much more freedom to play with the design given that the basins, bathtubs and toilets don’t strictly need to fit into corners or align with windows or doors.’ However, adds Montagnani, curved bathrooms are often made up of freestanding pieces and can’t be installed flush with each other, so generally need larger spaces to work.

Below Exuding a Zen-like calm, the Neutra Spa bath, £30,154, is carved from a block of Basaltina, a grey lava stone with a granular texture. Shown here with the shallow Nest basin in Bianco Carrara stone, £1,373, all from C.P. Hart.

Craig Senel of The Furniture Union has also witnessed a renaissance in rounded edges which bring with them many benefits for the bathroom designer and homeowner alike: ‘Curves work with curves just as well as straight lines while curved cabinets can be fitted into tight spaces without looking too cramped and forced into place.’ It’s a versatile look, it appears, with the new generation of curves suiting all styles and sizes and mixing with straighter, squarer lines if you don’t want to go all out on the trend.

Below The gently rounded Curvo bathroom furniture by Dansani comes in Matt Graphite, Grey Rubber lacquer for an extra tactile finish. Basin unit costs from £1,762, and wall unit from £1,099, all The Bathroom Shop.

‘If you’re not looking to completely change your bathroom, go for a freestanding bath designed with softness in mind,’ adds Straughan. ‘If you don’t have the space for a tub, why not install a shower screen that features a curved door design. And if you love your current bathroom but you’d like to bring in this ‘harmony’ trend, simply look out for curved accessories, like storage and mirrors, with rounded shapes and soft lines.’

Article by: Lara Sargent