7/21/2023 0 Comments Modern tadelakt bathroom“I often feel cold when I go into a heavily tiled bathroom. The products are circular too they’re 100 per cent recycled – made using anything from white goods to cosmetic bottles and Christmas decorations – and recyclable. “Bathrooms are arguably the best environment for them,” Rosalie says. “But it has amazing properties and there’s so much of it around – eight billion tonnes have been produced in the world today.” Smile Plastics’ materials, for instance, are waterproof, mould- and rot-resistant. “Plastics have been given a really bad reputation,” she explains over Zoom from their new micro-factory in Swansea. “At Smile Plastics, we reimagine waste plastics into beautiful decorative sheet materials,” says Rosalie McMillan, who co-founded the business with Adam Fairweather in 2015. It’s minimal and modern.”Īnother option is plastic – but not as you know it. “Tadelakt results in a homogeneous surface. “Sometimes it can get very busy in bathrooms if you’re not careful with tiling,” Simon adds. The process of applying it is like painting on the wall.” As well as using less carbon, it’s aesthetically pleasing too, as the charcoal-hued bathroom of this one-bedroom apartment proves. He suggests considering it as a brilliant substitute for tiles, which are made using a very carbon-intensive process called vitrification, whereas “tadelakt is a combination of powder and water. In this home in Camberwell, for instance, Simon used it in a pretty green colour for the walls, ceiling and sink. “It’s non-toxic, natural, breathable – and very practical,” he explains. Simon is also an advocate for tadelakt, a natural lime-based plaster from Morocco that dates back to the 11th century and shares similarities with clay. “We finished the walls and ceilings in smoked oak timber for the first section,” which also features a sink with reclaimed brass taps, he explains, “while stone surrounds the bath.” As well as resulting in a soothing environment, natural materials are kinder to the planet than manmade alternatives. The Japanese-inspired space is divided into two zones: one for personal hygiene and undressing, the other for bathing. When it comes to bathrooms, Simon says he’s often tasked to create “an area of escapism where you can guiltlessly linger” – and he ticked this box when designing his own in his former home, which he sold through The Modern House. As his Instagram bio reads, he’s dedicated to: “Design to make you and the planet feel good”. In many cultures it’s a very ritualistic one too,” says architect Simon Astridge. Thankfully, there is a whole host of ways we can better our bathrooms for people and the planet – not least when it comes to their design. And what about the products we’re using in our washing and wellness routines? From shampoo stored in single-use plastic bottles to toilet rolls (which account for 15 per cent of deforestation around the world) we’re throwing a whole lot away – and, surprisingly, people recycle 40 per cent less in the bathroom than they do in the kitchen. In fact, a recent study revealed that bathrooms make up more than two-thirds of household water usage. Large amounts of water are consumed every day when we run the tap or flush the toilet. Of all the rooms in our homes, the bathroom arguably gets used the most – and it uses a lot of resources too. Whether you’re partial to a long hot soak in the tub – proven to minimise stress levels and maximise sleep quality – or an invigorating cold shower, this corner of the home has really come into its own in the age of self-care. Is there a space in your home that works harder than the bathroom? It’s primarily a place to cleanse, but it can also double as a sanctuary of sorts, a spot to pamper and unwind.
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