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What makes a washroom more than a washroom? Looking beyond the simple function of toilet, shower and changing facilities and approaching design with user experience in mind can create an enhanced experience that inspires a talking point. Whether your design and build project is an office building, a luxury spa or a commercial premises, the opportunity exists to create quite the stir when designing private facilities – giving users the same quality experience of space and aesthetics here that they enjoy throughout the rest of the building.

How do we achieve this premium look? There are many factors which can contribute to an enhanced look and feel and at Petal, we’re always pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved. Here are our top design tips to create a premium washroom experience.

Full Height Privacy

Privacy is a pertinent consideration in the race to a premium finish. For the ultimate user experience, a full height approach will not only achieve maximum privacy, but will present a glorious floor to ceiling look giving maximum first impressions for a user. Petal has a range of options to achieve this full height privacy, with Esteem adopting pole position. With a focus on creating an individual look, Esteem delivers the ambience of a hand-built finish with bespoke fixings, hardwood edgings, quality fittings and substantial 44mm doors which contribute substantially to the privacy factor.

For a full height finish without the luxury price tag, Petal also offers a full height Line Ultra option – another flush fronted, finely detailed cubicle system with hardwood edges and set back pilaster feet which achieves a strong aesthetic. This range is full of features normally associated with the highest end products, meaning Premium can be achieved on a mid-range price option also.

As well as full door height to achieve privacy, it is also advisable to use full height internal partitions. Where discretion can be achieved between a toilet cubicle user and those waiting outside via full height doors, full height partitions ensure privacy between neighbouring cubicles, enhancing overall user experience further.

Materials

First impressions in washroom environments can often be achieved through material choice. Whilst cheaper vinyls can often provide a very robust and hard-wearing option, when it comes to exclusive venues, careful consideration must be given to material specification to achieve a WOW factor.

At cubicle level, this high-end look is often achieved using glass. The unique rebated glass feature and concealed fixings of Petal’s Elan range, for example, can provide a flawless look glass toilet cubicle with dramatic effect in a washroom environment. In keeping with the full height privacy theme, the choice of Elan Ultra combines the finesse of a glass application with a privacy experience.

Rich wood veneers present another popular option in premium cubicle design. Bonded to moisture resistant core boards, they achieve a natural wood effect and depending on panel thickness, can also be edged in hardwood, such as in the case of Esteem, for a full rich wood finish. Bear in mind, the use of veneers is only suitable for dry environments so in applications where an abundance of moisture is present, such as in a luxury spa environment, opt for a glass finish to create your premium effect.

Vanity in Vanities

A vanity system is arguably the area in which a user will enjoy the most pleasant experience and, particularly in female environments, could spend the most time. Herein lies the most potential for a truly luxurious experience, so paying particular attention to vanity design can pay dividends.

Choice of materials and features for vanities are numerous when seeking to achieve a luxurious look. Natural stone, glass and solid surface options will give a user a premier experience and will continue to perform even in high traffic environments. Solid surface troughs with fountain style taps and individual countertop bowls combined with chrome or brass taps are just some of the options available to lift a vanity beyond standard.

For a truly impressive and immersive user experience, Petal’s mirror housing unit achieves the optimum in fuss free, convenient hand washing and drying. Combining mirror, vanity unit and upstand all into one unit, Petal’s mirror housing unit caters for hand washing and drying in a mess-free way. The inclusion of soap dispensers and a choice of hand towels or driers (or both) encapsulated within the unit eliminates the need to travel to another area of the bathroom to avail of drying facilities, removing the hazard often associated with wet floors.

A further trend in vanity terms is the addition of grooming stations, which allows for make-up application and/or hair styling in an area separate to the washing and drying facilities. Consider this for areas where high traffic can be an issue, thus avoiding queuing for taps and allowing users extra breathing space for their grooming needs. Luxury spas, staff facilities for premium office environments and high-end retail venues are just some of the examples where these could be successfully implemented. Check out the staff facilities at this Deansgate office building for inspiration.

Finishing Touches

Our last word of advice is not to ignore hardware when thinking premium. Whilst Petal’s ‘standard’ range of fixtures and fittings ranks highly against competitors, choosing bespoke alternatives which complement the décor and colour range throughout a setting can clinch the deal in creating a memorable washroom design. Think chrome, brass or even powder coated options for hinges, handles and indicators, ensuring at every level, the best possible aesthetic has been created. The inclusion of black PVD and powder-coated ironmongery in this Broadgate project, for example, achieved a stunning contrast to the American Crown oak real wood veneer doors and creates a lasting impression for users to these premium facilities.

Inspired to create your next premium washroom project? Talk to us today about how Petal can help you achieve a beautifully bespoke design: Contact Us.