BATHROOMS FOR LIFE
January 2009

Bathrooms are often the smallest yet most used room in the house, with many home owners wishing they could have more space.
 
When space is limited and there isn’t the option to knock down walls or extend, the most effective solution is to create ‘an illusion of space’.  One way to successfully maximise and flaunt the floor space is to opt for wall-hung furniture.

Wall-hung furniture is becoming increasingly desirable among consumers, as it is the ideal solution for making smaller bathrooms, such as en-suites and cloakrooms, look larger, offering increased storage and a spacious floor area.  This instantly makes a bathroom look larger because a clutter free room combined with a large floor area creates an immediate illusion of more space.

Kohler recognises the demand for increased space in the bathroom and offers a large selection of wall-hung furniture to choose from.  Darker wood finishes are extremely popular, such as the Kohler Escale Collection in Wenge, Stillness and Ove ranges, as they complement the light sanitaryware, creating a sharp colour contrast.

For those who want the ‘real thing’ solid wood is an option over veneers or laminates.  The benefit of bringing real wood furniture in to the home is that each piece of furniture will be unique due to the grain variance and will age beautifully, giving any bathroom a bespoke feel.

Gloss White is always a safe option, as it presents a clean look and matches the majority of sanitaryware available on the market.  Gloss white finishes are extremely useful in smaller UK bathrooms as white reflects the light and creates the illusion of more space. 

Cabinetry offers the opportunity for additional features.  This can include built in vanity units, such as the Escale Collection in Wenge, which includes a tilt up mirror when the drawer is opened.  This approach in cabinetry is blurring the boundaries between the bedroom and allows you to take the washing area beyond ‘just a bathroom’.

Mirrored cabinets are more popular than ever before and are becoming a necessity regardless of bathroom shape or style.  They make small bathrooms look bigger for two reasons.  Firstly, they reflect the light, again making a small space appear larger, and secondly they provide additional storage - allowing day-to-day items to be kept out of sight but still to hand, ensuring a clutter free look.

The M Series mirror cabinets from Kohler can be recessed into walls to help create the illusion of space by offering a modern streamlined and un-cluttered look whilst reflecting all light sources, to further enhance the feeling of space.  Recessed cabinets need to be thought about at the start of the new bathroom design and planning process to ensure the necessary building work can be done.  Aluminium storage cabinets are also becoming increasingly popular as they are very modern and clean looking. 

A bathroom that looks clean and tidy is always going to look more spacious.  When choosing a new bathroom suite or furniture, opt for something that looks fresh and is easy to keep clean and provides ample storage.

For more information about Kohler products contact Kohler on 0844 571 0048 or log on to www.kohler.co.uk.

For further information please contact Murray Weir Willats on +44 (0) 20 7245 1066 or email kohler@murrayweirwillats.com or lauren@murrayweirwillats.com.