There were some key prerequisites for the Gilbert bathroom to ensure it would be future-proofed for many years to come. It needed to be a luxury bathroom with storage, have a harmonious marble look and incorporate a freestanding bath. Finally, the clients requested an alternative to tiles to reduce the maintenance involved in the bathroom as they grew older. Therefore, a luxurious walk-in shower wetroom with an integrated seat was installed for multiple purposes. Not only does this future-proof the bathroom as the owners become older, it also creates a luxurious steam room option to relax in.
The designer behind the bathroom, Peter Langley – Senior Designer at Langley Interiors – worked with mixed materials including stone resin, modern bathroom ceramics and a rustic, country floor to create a variety of textures and an interesting overall look.
Meticulous materials
The Gilbert bathroom is among the many examples of residential bathroom projects that have specified Versital – a unique, British-made material which can be used as a luxurious alternative to marble without compromising the overall look.
“The shower tray, vanity and panels were all made by Versital. We specified one manufacturer to guarantee a completely seamless and connected feeling. The cabinet was handcrafted by myself to a custom design,” says Peter Langley, Senior Designer at Langley Interiors, a family-run business that has been working on bespoke interior design in the North for over 45 years.
Versital – a Bolton-based, British manufacturer – provided the key pieces of solid surfaces and equipment, including a bespoke shower tray, multiple shower panels and a vanity top. “The bespoke shower tray was one of the key pieces in the bathroom,” says Langley. “It’s so often overlooked but in many domestic bathrooms it can become a real statement, tying the overall design of the room together.
“We specified Versital because, as a designer, I feel the surviving British manufacturers of KBB furniture are of an exceptional quality.” The stone resin shower tray was manufactured in one piece from a bespoke template in the colour ‘Coco Loco’ with a sparkle finish for a touch of unique glamour.
Seamless panels were specified in the Gilbert bathroom to create a sleek look, enhancing the illusion of space. “Creating harmony within a room’s design is very important. By using made-to-measure surfaces you can achieve a stylish, coordinated design throughout – from vanity tops to shower trays and panels,” says Langley. “The colours in this bathroom were picked to thoughtfully complement each other.”
Versital stone resin products are available in 90 marble and granite finish options. The client in this instance opted for ‘Coffee Cream’ for the panels and vanity unit. The panels and vanity unit were ‘hand marbled’ in Versital’s Bolton factory by skilled craftsmen. “This is a painstaking and delicate job carried out by experts with years of practice,” says Gemma Stockberger, Head of Marketing and Sales at Versital. “The panels and vanity were made using our unique stone resin formula in a process that still fascinates me now. First, the mixture is spread within the bespoke template. Then, our skilled team create a ‘vein’ that replicates real marble. The process can take up to 40 hours to make sure it’s absolutely perfect for the client. Every detail is customisable – right down to the exact shape and size. At the moment, we are working on some new veining options including a gorgeous, on-trend copper/rose gold veining that will hit the market mid to late 2017.”
For the Gilbert bathroom, nine large wall panels were created and supplied to custom sizes for a perfect fit. In addition, skirting strips at three metres long and 50mm wide were prepared to be cut on-site for extra detailing around the shower. The stunning focal point vanity top with integral upstand and shower seat were all supplied to order – ready to install. “The panels help to create the illusion of space,” comments Langley.
The Versital shower tray used in the Gilbert bathroom is completely bespoke and was hand-designed to make use of all available space when a standard-sized tray would not fit. The tray itself is 1100 x 840mm with a shape to suit the shower area and allow a built-in seat. “Bespoke shower trays can fit all types of specifications and can be made with straight and curved edges depending on the overall look and requirements,” says Gemma. “Design details, such as a heritage-style trim, can also be incorporated for a personalised look.”
Versital shower trays are used in both residential and commercial projects globally – including hotels such as Hyatt’s Andaz Hotel in London, corporate clients such as accounting firm Ernst & Young and in new-builds such as the Greenwich Peninsula project, London.
Fabulously flush
A beautiful, large, freestanding bath makes excellent use of the space underneath a sloped ceiling. “The bath itself was positioned in the only logical location given the sloping roof. The shower then needed a bespoke shower tray in order to get the most out of the space and enable a built-in seat to be fitted,” says Langley.
The freestanding bath – which sits on rustic, country-inspired floorboards – was the only piece kept from the previous bathroom design.
Other products specified include a stunning yet practical Keuco lit cabinet, Keuco towel hoop, a Hansgrohe Radiance shower head and custom-fitted furniture by Langley Interiors in a high-gloss, bespoke colour mixed to the clients’ requirements. Push-open draws complete the overall ‘flush’ look.
The overall installation of this bathroom project was incredibly smooth and ran to schedule thanks to locally-sourced products and short lead times provided by Versital’s Bolton-based factory.
Golden glamour
Peter Langley has over 45 years’ experience in bathroom design and, as such, tends to lean towards classic and timeless designs and styles that will stand the test of time. His love of marble is born out of its luxurious and timeless appeal and years of travelling for work, staying in hotels all over the world and experiencing many different bathrooms from different cultures. After many years of travelling, he noticed that the marble in many of the hotels he stayed in showed signs of damage and wear – one of the problems synonymous with this metamorphic rock. This is why he chooses to specify Versital stone resin as it avoids these drawbacks and is 100% waterproof thanks to its hygienic, non-porous, stain-resistant surface.
The client for this particular bathroom wanted to inject some glamour with the use of the sparkle finishes from the ‘Reflect’ range by Versital. This is how a ‘Coco Loco’ copper sparkle finish became a feature for the shower area and accent for the skirting. Inspired by the copper and gold trend resurgence this year, Langley specified the Citerio tap by Axor. This became an integral feature piece thanks to its luxurious brushed gold finish.
“More and more people are using their bathrooms to make a style statement about their home,” says Langley. “It is often one of the most visited rooms in the home and consumers are seeking new ways to add colour and luxurious finishes into their bathrooms.
“By working with our client, we were able to meet their brief for luxury but still work practical elements in. We would expect this bathroom to last 30 years plus, if well-maintained.”