Often we designers are so busy creating wonderful spaces for our clients that we fail to give our own spaces some love. This was the case for our office bathroom in Winnipeg. There had been a few small improvements/maintenance over the years but the overall space was looking tired and forlorn. Not only did the space need new life, there were also a few pet peeves that needed addressing. One of those pet peeves were the inevitable water spots and finger prints on the flat faucet lever - first world problems, we know!! In order to prevent this in the new space, a hands-free faucet was a priority.
Boffi, Sabbai, Freestanding Washbasin
The search for the perfect fixtures and finishes was on. At one point we came across a stunning freestanding washbasin from Boffi. Unfortunately, the price tag was also stunning and so the search continued. Countless faucets, sinks and mirrors were considered and then discarded for not quite meeting our design criteria. Finally, a hands free wall mount faucet from Dornbracht and a Blu-Stone solid surface free standing washbasin were selected.
The existing powder room never had a properly installed mirror as the window behind the sink made things a little tricky. Also, with the dark colour scheme we had in mind, we wanted to increase light levels. Solution: source a suspended mirror with LED lighting. Most of the mirrors we found had a very cool colour temperature but finally we succeeded in sourcing a 3000K lit mirror from Duravit. Of course, it did not come with the option to suspend, so a custom stainless steel bracket was designed to run power to the mirror and suspend from the ceiling without blocking too much of the window.
The process for selecting finishes was similar and I think the reps grew tired of bringing us samples and offering suggestions, only for us to reject them. However, we did finally succeed in confirming the finishes. One hazard of the trade is that we are constantly seeing new and improved products. Fortunately, we have not yet uttered the words “I wish we had used product____ instead…”
BEFORE
DURING CONSTRUCTION
We did definitely challenge our contractor and trades with some of the products and design, but they were on top of it and resolved the challenges before they became an issue. As with any renovation, there were unexpected delays and some days if felt like it would never be complete. However, we need to be reminded of what our clients go through every once in a while, even if it is only on a small scale. Overall, we are very pleased with the results and the process. The only problem is that now the rest of the office needs sprucing up! Our next project will be to replace the flooring (this will be quite the task with the volume of samples and shelving, anyone want to help!?!?!?) and fresh paint. Check back in spring/summer for updates!