Accessories for the Bathroom

Mirrors, mirrors on the wall

Mirrors come in all shapes and sizes: full-wall, floor-length for dressing areas, oval-shaped vanity mirrors that tilt up and down, or free-standing magnifying mirrors. Mirrors placed around large tubs will seemingly increase the size of the room and add ambiance at the same time. Decorative mirror framing is a great way to add to the charm of the bathroom and is one more way to pull a room’s theme together. Moen offers a product called Mirrorscapes that transforms a plain, plate-glass mirror into an absolute vision with an innovative framing system which gives the appearance of a custom-made frame. Mirrorscapes is available in a variety of metallic and wood finishes coordinating with faucets and cabinetry.

The Kohler Co. and Roburn offer unique mirror/medicine cabinet combinations. These cabinets can be ganged or stacked to create customized sizes. Side reflection lighting is available, as well as integrated night lighting which casts a subtle blue light from the bottom of the cabinet. For that bath retreat, how about adding their cold-storage mirrored cabinet? The M Series offers discreet sophistication along with the ability to keep items chilled. Those organic-natural cosmetics, special medications which need refrigeration or that special bottle of champagne for those relaxing moments can be stored at different temperatures to meet a product’s recommended storage temperatures.

Tub, shower space

Adding additional shower space to a standard tub/shower or the nostalgic claw-foot tub is as simple as using a curved shower curtain rod. This product adds that sometimes very needed elbow room.

One product not typically thought of as an accessory is a hand-held shower. Hansgrohe offers a unique ensemble called Axor Starck X. It is a shower faucet that includes a waterfall showerhead and a hand wand system with clean lines and a flat appearance that make it almost blend into the wall. The effect is reinforced with shower controls and shelves that are tucked neatly into the side of the panel away from view. With the complementary accessories and superb functionality, it allows one to create a bathroom in the true sense of contemporary.

Regardless of the design theme, consistency and simplicity are the keys to beautiful results. Adding too many items will take away from the beauty of the products and the room design itself. A simple corner unit with a soothing portable water fall and some coordinating candles around a tub deck may be just the key to the smaller bathroom retreat, while on a larger scale, many of these items will find their place within a well-planned-out design. Accessories should enhance the design, not take away from what should be a private oasis.