Spotlight

DRIFTWOOD

19th May 2016

I must admit, super-contemporary bathroom designs are not really my thing. I admire them on Pinterest and Instagram, and I see some beautifully designed contemporary bathrooms in the flesh – bathrooms that make me look at my own tired version and long for a redesign.

But fundamentally, I’m always drawn to a mix of elements and to natural materials, whatever the space, and the same is true in bathroom design. I like traditional tongue-and-groove wall panelling and painted walls rather than full-height tiling. I like minimal freestanding baths but I also like traditional high-level cisterns. And as for materials, one of my favourite bathrooms of late was an iroko-clad space in a house in Haddington.

So you can understand why this new Driftwood finish from the bathroom specialist Bauhaus caught my eye. This is exactly what I’d choose: a streamlined contemporary design that offers that touch of rustic patina in the finish.

Driftwood finish by Bauhaus

The Driftwood finish has been added to the Glide II collection from Bauhaus, which includes three existing finishes: White Gloss, Wenge or American Walnut. As these photos from Bauhaus show, the Driftwood wood veneer has a warm grey tone with a deeply grained and hardwearing surface. Pair with classic white and soft grey as seen above, and this look is timeless while giving a nod to Scandi-style interiors, but I’d be tempted to partner this finish with a darker wall colour as shown below, which brings out the richer tones in the timber. Farrow & Ball’s Mahogany could look gorgeous against this collection.

Driftwood finish by Bauhaus

These pieces also offer something I’m sorely missing in my own bathroom: great storage solutions to create a clutter free space. The Glide II Wall Hung Tower Unit, shown above and below, includes a concealed laundry drawer, while the vanity units have the option of either a ceramic or a cast mineral marble basin, with soft-closing drawers on the cabinetry. Beautiful, right?

Driftwood finish by BauhausDriftwood finish by Bauhaus

Prices start from £659 for the Glide II Wall Hung Tower Unit, with vanity units starting from £730 for the Glide II 50 Unit in Driftwood. See the full collection from Bauhaus Bathrooms.