Island blog
From the latest bathroom trends, to expert advice & tips on how to look after your bathroom
Ca' Pietra at Island Bathrooms
Introducing Ca' Pietra at Island Bathrooms
We're delighted to showcase this stunning Ca' Pietra area in our Salisbury Showroom! If you are planning a renovation then you must pay us a visit! We caught up with Hamish Smith, Creative Director at Ca’ Pietra, to find out everything we need to know about the trend-setting family business, Ca’ Pietra:'We are Ca’ Pietra, a family business celebrating 30 years of being at the forefront of tile and stone design. From statement on-trend tiling to classic stone, we’ve got it all. Inspired by the beauty of nature, we are committed to craftsmanship, quality, design and manufacturing. We adore the beauty of natural stone, interesting patterns and always making a statement. Our wide range of tile and stone will transform any space into a warm, welcoming home bursting with wow factor.At Ca’ Pietra we are firm believers in having fun with products – your home is your sanctuary; a place for relaxing with family and friends. We know that creating the perfect interior is as much about the feel and quality of a product as it is the finished look. That’s why we set the trends and are constantly updating our collections to ensure you get the very best.We love colour; we love pattern and we love making a statement. Our wide range of tile and stone collections will transform any space into a warm, welcoming home bursting with wow factor. Our talented team are passionate about tiles and are on hand ready to help. So whether you’re after an on-trend decorative floor tile for the kitchen or a luxurious marble for the main bathroom, we’ve got it covered.'Ca' Pietra are the experts in innovative stone and tile design and offer an extensive range of beautiful natural stones, porcelains and decorative tiles in an array of patterns and colours. Ourselves and Ca’ Pietra are committed to craftmanship, quality, design and manufacturing. So rest assured you will receive nothing but the best. If it’s a new bathroom or kitchen you’re after, we can help to transform your space. Choose from a vast selection of floor and wall tiles – whether it’s a classic limestone or a low maintenance porcelain or perhaps you want a pop of colour, our team can advise you on the right material for your home and lifestyle. What ever you choose the range of tile and stone collections will transform any space into a warm, welcoming home bursting with wow factor. If you’re after an on-trend decorative floor tile for the kitchen or a luxurious marble for the main bathroom, we’ve got it covered.Take a look at the images below to see our beautiful Ca' Pietra area, bursting with colour it is bound to get your creative juices flowing!*please select the images to view in full size*[ngg src="galleries" ids="2" display="basic_thumbnail" thumbnail_crop="0"]
How to: Add a Splash of Colour to Your Bathroom
Bathrooms may commonly be filled with lots of white sanitary ware, but the overall feel of your bathroom shouldn’t have to feel sanitised and cold. Bathroom brands and designers are including more and more colour in their designs with colourful vanity units, bold brassware and bright baths to bring a unique and fresh feel to that cold white bathroom scheme. Adding colour to your bathroom may seem scary and you’re probably unsure to add it because the colour might go off trend (just like the avocado bathroom suite craze), but adding colour to your bathroom doesn’t mean going overboard. Don’t think about bright and garish reds, neon greens and vibrant oranges, or complicated and overwhelming colour schemes. Think less is more and don't focus on trends, or colours of the year, unless you love them.Most of the time just a splash of colour combined with a few neutral colours will do the trick. Colour works wonders to bring your bathroom away from the cold feeling that sanitaryware gives and into that long awaited feeling of rejuvenation and warmth. Colour can be added to your bathroom in a variety of ways and it’s also the perfect way to stamp your bathroom with your own personal style. 
COLOUR THEORY
Colour is a key element in interior design. It offers spatial perception and can balance different elements of any room. If you want to make sure that you’re picking the right colours for your home, to enjoy for years to come, then take some time to collect and play with colour samples, or simply create a mood board on Pinterest for an easy way to gather colours options and interior design inspiration. Also, take a look at seasonal colour palettes and see which direction you want to go in setting a mood for your room. For example, does your bathroom often feel cold and uninviting because it’s so large? Or, does it feel dark and gloomy because there’s a lack of natural sunlight?Some colour palettes will always remain classical, and some will always be associated to certain symbols or feelings. Colour symbolism in art refers to the use of colour as a symbol in various cultures. For example, red is used to communicate danger on sign posts, but it’s used to communicate the language of love. Often the best colour palettes use timeless colours and normally involve one main colour and then a mixture, shades and tones. 
COLOUR PSYCHOLOGY
Colour is often used to create feelings of coziness or spaciousness within interior design, but it can also be used to influence our mood and even our hunger levels. Similar to how different rooms in the home can influence our moods, which will ultimately change our state-of-mind, colours and rooms are often paired together to enhance certain feelings or perceptions. An extreme example of how rooms and colours, when paired together, can influence behaviour is how the colour pink (specifically Baker-Miller pink) is used in prisons to calm down aggressive inmates. Project ‘Cool Down Pink’, implemented in Swedish prisons, uses the same design implementation in an attempt to calm down their inmates.A fun example of how colour positively affects our mood is how the colour red can cause hunger levels to rise. It’s often used in restaurants to stir customer apetities. Orange can also activate hunger sensations, as well as yellow, which activates our happy endorphins such as dopamine; high levels of dopamine = an increase to eat more. 
So which colours work best in a bathroom? Forget the prison Baker-Miller pink for now, unless you really like it...
- Lilac is soothing and can create a stress-free sanctuary, which is perfect if you enjoy winding down in a bubble bath.
- Blue is calming and soothing, it can open the mind to promote intellectual thought and can also make you feel protected. It’s great if you want ideas to flow when you’re taking a shower, or if you want to feel calm after a long and stressful day.
- Pink, though often avoided because it’s too ‘girlie’, is also a good choice because it can be used to promote feelings of peace, leaving you feeling rested and rejuvenated. It doesn’t need to be a hot pink or baby pink. Think muted pastel pink tiles, even the slightest hint of pink will do the trick.
- Yellow orange!, as mentioned above, activate our happy endorphins. Not the biggest morning person? Then yellow and orange could be the colours for you. They also look great in modern bathroom designs.
COLOUR IN THE BATHROOM
Bold Brassware Accents: Let the brassware do the talkingFor those of you with love for bold design, Crosswater’s Union range offers a striking red lever in the ranges exquisite knurled surface. This confident pop of colour complements all brassware finishes in the industrial looking collection and will add a touch of sophistication to any bathroom. The red lever is available with all of the Union collection so it’s entirely possible to match all your bathroom’s brassware with this confident pop of red!If you're looking for something more colourful check out Tres tapware for bathrooms where basin taps, shower heads, shower valves and shower handsets are available in the following Loft colour finishes: violet, amber, orange, red, fuchsia, green and black. Even their kitchen mixer taps are available in the same colours! 
Colour Match: Let your whole bathroom do the talkingUtopia bathrooms have some amazing co-ordinating furniture, fitted, wall mounted and freestanding, in a variety of sophisticated, classic and on trend, colours and shades. The Lustre range offers wall mounted units in sea green, powder grey, indigo and copper. The Star Range offers dramatic bursts of colour highlights. The Opula range offers sweeping lines and straight curves in three colour finishes; grey, sea green and indigo. The Symmetry range offers more colour with beautiful vibrant teal. The Roseberry range offers a more traditional style with a peacock blue or London grey finish. The Halo range offers a more contemporary feel with a wide choice of co-ordinating colours, such a denim blue and concrete grey.Bisque have a passion for colour and exciting finishes. They believe that customers should have the optimum variety of choice when it comes to their choice of radiator. In addition to their colour range some Bisque radiators are also available to be painted in international colour ranges such as RAL or NCS colours. Fancy a pastel lilac radiator? Bisque can do that! Bisque also offer iridescence finishes for their iconic ranges, such as the classic radiator, the classic towel radiator and their hot spring radiator. The 5 striking iridescence colour finishes have a two-tone effect when viewed in different light or seen from different angles.Doccia shower trays are also available in colours from the RAL color chart! Some you could match your shower tray to your Bisque radiator! 
Powderey Pinks & Pastels: Let pastels do the talkingIn modern homes and 2018 interior trends it’s becoming increasingly popular to see pastel colours. This visually calming, chromatic range balances the surrounding space to bring inner peace. The most popular pastel in 2018 is pink, a powdery pastel pink. It’s soft yet vibrant personality works really well in interior design as it can increase the light capacity in each space it’s used. It’s also highly versatile because it pairs well with various colours and finishes, such as black and gold, and even natural finishes to add a touch of warmth and emotional wellness.Bathroom Brands such as; Fiora, Villeroy & Boch, Dansani, Bisque, Vitra, Britton, Crosswater, GSI and catalano all feature pastels within their bathroom designs, some even offer furniture and sanitaryware in various pastel finishes.
Not as creative as you think? We don’t judge! There’s actually a lot to think about when you start to involve colour schemes in your home. Why not let us have a go for you? Visit an Island Bathrooms showroom when you're next free, or book a free 30 min consultation with one of our bathroom experts and let them know you want to add a splash of colour to your bathroom!
Top Bathroom Trends of 2020
Is your bathroom crying out for a refresh? We have found some of the best trends in 2020 that we believe will totally transform your bathroom. From subtle accessories to dramatic cloakrooms we've got you covered. Continue reading to discover the trends that you will love for years to come.
Brass Taps and Accessories.
Brass is a great way to bring a subtle accent of luxury into your bathroom. Not only does brass provide a refined finish but it is also very durable, making it long lasting which is a great choice for a bathroom of today. Click HERE to discover one of our favourite brushed brassware accessories from UNION, Crosswater.
Statement Showers.
Making a statement in your shower is a new trend for 2020 however it is definitely here to stay. How beautiful is this iridescent feature tile from Original Style's Mosaics collection featured below. With its popular scallop format, these tiles are perfect for creating a striking visual. With its popular scallop format, these tiles are perfect for creating a striking visual. If you like the look of this feature get in touch with us today and we can bring your bathroom designs to life!
Dark Accents.
Rich dark walls have been around for a while in the bedroom and living rooms however now it's the bathrooms turn to walk on the dark side. Scared to take the plunge? How about adding some luxurious navy tiles into your shower or if you are feeling braver you can fill the whole room with deep greens and blues. Dark colours also pair perfectly with our top trend of 2020 and that is brushed brass accessories. The image below demonstrates this perfectly.
Extra Large Tiles.
We're going big in 2020. These extra large tiles offer a striking and beautiful design that is guaranteed to turn heads. RAK have a wide and varied range of collections inspired by the elegance of marble to offer hundreds of designs. The marble and granite patterns displaying elegant veins create a sophisticated ambiance. RAK combines timeless beauty and the finest materials to create durable and beautiful tiles. If you like the look of RAK wall tiles get in touch with us today and we can design you new bathroom space.
Floating Vanity Unit.
Floating Vanity Units have become a firm favourite in 2020. Not only are they practical and provide you with great storage space, they also have an elegant and modern feel to them. A Floating Vanity Unit is also great for a smaller bathroom. By seeing the floor underneath it makes the area feel slightly more open. In a very small space such as a cloakroom under the stairs, having more room to put your feet can make a real big difference. Click HERE to find out how you can make your small bathroom feel and look bigger. This beautiful unit is from the Roper Rhodes Collection, available to purchase through our showrooms today!
Free Standing Bath Tubs.
Freestanding bath tubs elevate your space by giving your bathroom a more modern and luxurious feel. This freestanding tub is from Burlington. For a perfect traditional bathroom, combine soft tones of cream with elegant monochrome prints and our Burlington tub to create a luxury bathroom space.
Dramatic Cloakroom.
The cloakroom may be the smallest room in the house, however that means you can really use it to make a bold statement. Whether that's in your choice of pattern, colour or textures the choice is endless. So go wild with the wallpaper or embrace a decorative tile and bright paints. Original Style offer a huge collection of opulent tiles to suit any space.
Marble Wallpaper.
I know what your thinking, marble wallpaper? Why not marble tiles? Well marble tiles can become quite costly and although marble wallpaper may not have that gloss finish it does look great and keeps your costs down if you are on a budget.
We hope we have inspired you for your new bathroom design. If you want to bring your ideas to life you can click HERE to visit our online remote design service or make your appointment and come and visit our showroom today!
On Trend: Black Bathroom Ideas
Incorporating black in your bathroom is a great way to give your bathroom an infusion of style, especially if you have a flat white scheme or a colour palette which needs a pick me up. It’s always hard to pull-off an all black colour scheme because black will often make a room seem claustrophobic and gloomy, but when black is used sparingly it works wonders to highlight certain aspects of any room, regardless of the rooms style. Black is as versatile as white and will act as a balancing colour to unite any chosen colour scheme. It’s a great colour choice if you’re looking to rejuvenate an existing colour scheme or if you’re trying to unite a palette of colours.
You may see a lot of modern black products on the market but this latest trend isn’t only focused on modern design, traditional properties will also benefit from an infusion of black too. From black trellis shower frames to elegant black handle bath mixers, there’s plenty of classical products which will add a touch of elegant sophistication to your bathroom. 
There are a number of ways to add this versatile colour into your existing bathroom design or remodel, but the trick is to choose where you’d like to feature this colour, so it doesn’t overwhelm your space. To help get you started we've added a few ideas below on how you can incorporate black in your bathroom. We've also included a handful of black bathroom products which are available in-store, so if you see anything you like just give us a call!
BLACK FEATURES TO FOCUS ON
Black bathroom accessories: If you’re not planning on remodeling your bathroom then why not buy a new set of black bathroom accessories? Adding black bathroom accessories and decorative touches is an easy way to highlight certain aspects of your room, plus they'll also add depth to your existing colour scheme.Black and white tile combos: black and white hexagon floor tiles are available in modern or classical designs, or you can keep it simple with white rectangular subway tiles and black grout which look smart in any home, no matter what style. Black brassware: Whether you have a traditional or modern home there’s beautiful black brassware to match either style. Try combing a black basin tap with a black shower head or bath tap.Black shower frames: Black shower frames are a great way to make a contemporary or classical statement. Plus there are a number of options to choose from, from traditional trellis frames to contemporary black tinted shower panels and doors.Black statement pieces: From shower trays, baths and vanity units, adding a black statement piece will give your room a wow factor focal point. You can then go on to add accessories and decorative touches to match.
PROS & CONS OF BLACK BATHROOMS
Pros:
- Black detail will instantly standout in any room
- Fingerprints won’t show up so easily on matt black fittings
- Watermarks don’t show as much on black tiles or shower panels
- Depending on the type of black finish or material, a good quality black tap will have a durable finish that’s resistant to scrapes and scratches
Cons:
- Dust, Soap scum, toothpaste and limescale can become more visible
- Depending on the type of black finish or material, cheap black taps with cheap black coatings can be more susceptible to scraps and scratches
COLOUR SCHEMES (TO THINK ABOUT)
Black & white: colour schemes are iconic, they offer timeless appeal to both contemporary and classical homes. It’s a very easy and versatile colour scheme to work because it contains just 2 colours; so you can choose to be very creative or you can just keep it simple! Black and white tile combinations are a great way to set a monochrome mood in your bathroom, plus there are a variety of black and white tile options to choose from.Black with wood: combos offer a down to earth and cosy feeling, especially if you add some greenery into the mix. Any wooden finish will match with black so it’s really easy to combine any style of wooden vanity unit.Black & grey: work best together when one is used to highlight, while the other is used as the main feature. This combo looks fantastic in modern homes offering a cool, calm, and collected feel.Black with colours: because black is neutral it matches with most colour schemes and styles. It looks particularly good with pastel pinks and muted blues, but if you’re looking for something more dramatic, it really makes deep greens, indigo blues, vibrant purples, and mustard yellows pop!
BLACK BATHROOM PRODUCTS (AVAILABLE IN-STORE)
How to: Incorporate Tiles in Your Bathroom
Tiles are an ideal way to finish your bathroom or kitchen. As well as completing the overall design of your bathroom or kitchen they’re also very practical because they protect your walls and floors from water damage or dirt. Tiles are easy to wipe clean so any mess created in the kitchen or any dirt left in the bathroom can be easily removed. But tiles don’t have to be limited to kitchens and bathrooms, they can be used to create a unique look in any room of your home. They’re also an easy way to update any room in your home without completely renovating the whole space. 
Tiles are often placed around or behind areas in the home which are prone to dirt or splashes. For example, around the bath, shower or sink areas to protect the walls from water damage, or in the kitchen on the walls behind the hob, sink and worktops. But if you can afford to incorporate more tiles into your design you’ll notice how much of a difference they make to the design and durability of any room. 
Deciding on what tiles to choose can be tricky because there’s so much choice out there! Often you’ll see a tile you like before you’ve decided on what design you want to achieve. Or You’ll see a design you like and then have to find the tiles to go with that design. However you start you should always take a look at interior design images online to gain inspiration from other homes. This way you’ll get a feel for the designs you’d like to achieve in your home and making decisions will become a lot easier. 
Looking to incorporate tiles in your home? Whether you’re looking to update the look of your bathroom or renovating your home consider these 6 tile factors:
1. Which room will the tiles go in: Bathroom, wet room, kitchen, living room, hallway, study?
2.Where will you tile in this room: Floor, walls, wall and floors, entire room, sections, borders, feature areas?
3.What type of style are you looking for: contemporary, traditional, feature, glamourous etc?
4.How many types of tiles do you want: only 1 type of tiles, 2 different types of tiles, a 3 tile combo (Will you be using the same tiles throughout, or 2 different contrasting tile designs etc)?
5.What tile material should you choose: Marble, stone, wood effect, concrete, glass, splashback, porcelain, ceramic?
6.What finishes & designs do you want: large, small, matt, gloss, pastel, vivid colours, single colour, multicolored, patterned, mosaic, neutrals, shapes?
Need some more inspiration? Take a look at the following tile design ideas:
2 tile combos (2 types of tile designs or finishes)
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3 tile combos (3 types of tile designs or finishes)
[gallery columns="6" link="file" ids="9801,9802,9800,9798,9799,9796,9797,9794,9795,9793"]
All in one rooms (1 type of tile throughout the whole room)
[gallery columns="6" link="file" ids="9809,9808,9807,9806,9805,9804,9803"]
Creative tiles (create your own design using however many types of tiles & finishes)
[gallery columns="6" link="file" ids="9810,9811,9812,9813,9814,9815,9816,9817,9818,9819,9820,9821"]
Feature walls & floors (one wall or section that’s tiled just the way you want it)
[gallery link="file" columns="6" ids="9822,9823,9824,9825,9826,9827,9828,9829,9830,9831,9832,9833,9834,9835,9836,9837,9838,9839,9840,9841,9842,9843,9844,9845" orderby="rand"]
Mix & match shapes (mix and match rectangular tiles with square tiles or hexagon tiles)
[gallery columns="6" link="file" ids="9846,9847,9848,9849,9850,9851,9852,9853,9854,9855,9856" orderby="rand"]
Need more inspiration? View our tile board on Pinterest or our tile ideabook on Houzz!