Taunton and South Somerset Living Feb - Mar 2022

Tiles: RAK Ceramics Fashion Stone in Ivory;
Bath: RAK Cloud Freestanding Bath
BATHROOM
BLISS
What were some of the obstacles you faced
with this project?
Firstly, the room is really small for a family
bathroom! It measures 2.2m long by 1.65m wide.
Previously, I guess because of the small width, the
bath was against the longer wall with the door -
but it meant you basically walked into it as soon
as you entered the room. By opting for a shorter
bath, we were able to flip the orientation and
create a space that feels much larger.
What made you choose this design?
I love the look of micro cement and Venetian
plaster, but it was coming out at £130 per square
metre. So when I found the Fashion Stone range
at RAK Ceramics, I was thrilled - it’s exactly the
warm stoney beige colour I was looking for and
had a beautiful graduation of pattern through
it that mimics the micro-cement. I also had
the mosaic tiles installed in the shower niche -
cement doesn’t allow for pattern, so I think it was
the perfect option.
I’ve wanted black taps since about 2016 when I
saw them on an Australian design show - I was
so thrilled to find RAK also stock them. Most of
the bathroom is kitted out with the Amalfi range,
which has the most amazing textured finish - it
looks and feels so luxurious.
The basin tap feels so amazing - I read once
that you should invest in the objects you touch
everyday and this tap is honestly dreamy. The
motion to turn it on is really slick - it’s the little
things that add up to making a space feel
luxurious.
Is the shower over a freestanding bath?
Yes - this design decision did cause some head
scratching for the builder! I wanted the look of a
free standing bath, especially because we knew
we’d have to get a smaller one, so I thought why
not emphasise it. The way we counteracted the
water issue is to have a small wet room former
tray in each corner behind the bath, and also to
run the underfloor heating in this area to help dry
out the splashes. So far, so good!
The bath is an absolute beauty - it’s the RAK
Cloud design and at a petite 1.4m, it was the
perfect size. It is very heavy though, as it’s resin
- so just bear that in mind when planning! The
shape of it is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before
- it really has a beautiful form and gorgeous
curves. I love that it sits on a base.
How rethinking a layout and some
luxury finishes can transform a dated
family space. We caught up with
homeowner Kate to find out how she
made this little sanctuary
Did you have any tech installed?
Yes - was a must for my partner. We’ve got
the most beautiful shaver socket and dimmer
switches from Corston Architectural Detailthe
black bronze finish is so modern but also
timeless. The switch outside controls the
spotlights and then the LED strip lighting in the
recess by the bath separately. The recess it
sits in offers a handy space to put products for
showering and was created by adding a shallow
stud wall.
Then there’s the Lithe Audio waterproof speaker in
the ceiling - it looks amazing set against the inset
circular RAK shower head too. It allows you to
connect your phone or tablet wirelessly - amazing
for watching movies in the bath or listening to the
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