Modern bathroom design renovation

Kim Williams is a top interior designer in Cape Town and has carved a niche for herself as a creative behaviour strategist focused on designing interior spaces. In this edition, she shares the outcome of a recent bathroom renovation that she did and also some tips for homeowners.

Kim Williams and Pinterest Kim Williams

"After a bad leak, this family finally had an excuse for a modern bathroom renovation. We was asked to redo the simple bathroom and create an extension of the main bedroom style to seamlessly fit in with the new-age Claremont home and its endless mountain and garden views.

"The bathroom design took on a modern organic style with pops of bling and greenery to represent the personality and individuality of this family.

The bathroom is a place where you spend a lot of your time, getting refreshed for the tasks ahead and unwinding from a busy day. We made use of a unique free-standing bathtub and sleek vanities to add to the modern style of the home. Natural elements like stone tiles add a warm natural edge and base notes to a lustrous and modern bathroom, while the black framework and faucets cut through the bright white to add interest.

"I played with scale and shape by adding one large round mirror that extends over both the basins. This, paired with subtle notes of gold, add to the luxe modern effect. The floor was kept looking spacious by opting for a wall mounted vanity and towel storage combo."

How to do it?

For readers who are keen to get moving on a bathroom refurbishment or a new project, Gareth Griffiths, our Editor, asked Kim some questions to help you on your way.

What is an organic design and what other elements can you recommend the renovator use?

Organic design uses principles of nature as a basis for the design. It is about soft curves; this is the essence of organic design in my opinion; natural materials, bringing the outside in and creating a natural living space. Elements would include stone, wood, sustainable materials, plants, and hand-made and repurposed items.

What are good examples of natural elements that are available for a new bathroom or a retrofit?

Wood, stone, concrete, natural paint effects, recycled flooring such as various vinyls and tiles that add a natural look or movement, ambient lighting to create mood, plants and more plants, hand-made basins, repurposed cupboards for vanities, and candles and bath salts.

What are the bathroom colours of 2022?

In South Africa, we have a tendency to be more conservative in our colour and material selections, particularly when it comes to bathrooms and kitchens as these are expensive areas to renovate. The ‘New Elite’ have brought a freshness to renovation in encouraging more bold design in spaces.

1. Bathrooms will continue to be an oasis in our home, a space to retreat to, refresh and recharge. Bring nature into your space with wood, stone, brick and hues of green and blue. 2. Bathrooms will continue to be more open and integrated into our spaces, encouraging minimalism and integration through natural tones of sand, cream, off-whites, stone, wood and marbles. 3. Bolder bathrooms that encourage expression and experimentation are an expression of luxury, incorporating blacks, blues, charcoal, pops of colour such as pink and yellow, metallics and contrast.

Is it better to design for a long life or is funky and contemporary the way to go?

It depends on who you are designing for and what your objectives are. It is very important to determine exactly what you want out of a space before deciding how you will achieve that. Everyone thought the white Johnson tile would never go out of fashion, but it did.

Everything has a life cycle and there is no wrong way to go, just what is right for the space, the client and the budget. I don’t like to stick to a specific philosophy but rather understand the outcomes we want.

Colour! What is your absolute favourite for the bathroom of all time?

I dream of a teal marble bathroom in colours of the ocean, with champagne gold taps layered with texture, pops of off-white and a crystal chandelier. I like a large space with a free-standing bathroom integrated into the bedroom with a double shower and gold pill box mirrors that reflect a touch of nostalgia.

This is the vision for our main bathroom which doesn’t yet exist. The concept is about luxurious materials that integrate with your bedroom, a spa-like sanctuary that makes you feel like you are in the ocean. This is my happy place with spacious functionality and pops of gold to accentuate the materials.

Employing contractors or sub-contractors ... a word of advice?

Check their references, a few, not just one, and use suppliers that are busy as it is the good people who have work. Rather wait and get it done right. Keep checking progress and if you are unhappy, change it on site before you can’t change it.