From textured glamour to cool and clinical, we’ve got the lowdown on what’s new in bathroom design…The style

This contemporary bathroom is all about playing with texture and materials. Mixing sleek glass and chrome with polished stone surfaces and fluffy rugs gives a feeling of modern opulence. The raised bath and shower area adds another level to the room creating a sense of space. And the mosaic tiled splashback wall adds an element of interest and focal point while still conforming to the room’s restricted colour palette.

The details
Brushed chrome fittings, such as the tub above immediately give bathrooms a contemporary feel. And the unique  shape of the taps means they’re a feature in themselves. The rectangular stone sink, left, exemplifies the modern trend for industrial chic. And the retro steel taps embody deconstructed elegance in their raw functionality.

The style
The mirrors do the talking in this bathroom – bringing a real sense of space to an otherwise fairly small room. The suspended worktop further adds to the illusion as the tiled floor is able to extend right to the wall. And the sheet glass shower door is another space-creating device, allowing the eye to be drawn, without obstruction, to the mint-green back wall, a feature which stands out against the room’s white and charcoal decor.

The details
Mirrors in bathrooms are more than purely functional. They create a sense of space and light, and can be beautiful design elements in themselves. The large, frameless circular mirror, above, echoes the rounded bath beneath it and softens the edges of the room. The round mirrors, right, are a playful design feature that pick out the light and create a unique focal point.

The style
The his and hers raised glass sinks are the indispu ted focal points of this bathroom, while the classic, dark hardwood surface they are set in adds an element of warmth to the almost clinical decor of the bathroom. This cool ambience is achieved by design features such as the metal flooring, mint-green tiled walls and large dual-sided mirror, suspended from the ceiling on chrome rods and bolts.

The details
Glass can be used to create unique, attractive and functional focal points in modern bathrooms. The glass brick wall, above, lets in light while creating an airy atmosphere and greater sense of space. The twin shallow-bowled glass basins, left, show how even the humble bathroom sink can be made into a thing of true beauty, and they’re durable, too.

The style
The exposed brick wall is the star of this bathroom, and all of the fixtures and fittings are designed to complement it. The clean lines of the cement bathtub and sink pedestal highlight the organic feel of the brickwork by their contrast – but their raw, unfinished quality echoes that of the feature wall. The colour scheme is restricted to various shades of white and stone that tie in with the natural theme of the whole room.

The details
A back-to-basics bathroom, with a muted colour palette and pared-down design, can be even more chic than a sleek and glamorous affair. The brushed stone and ceramic bathtub, above, encapsulates the look – conveying a sense of calm with its soft colours and matt finish. And the stripped wooden floor and shelf, left, and austere stone basin also typify the style.

Pictures: getty images