Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM JULY 2022 32 LUXURY DEFINED Luxury can mean many different things to designers and their clients: intentional, inspired, beautiful, personalized, art, craftsmanship. Luxury is a feeling. It's an experience. It's a process. Luxury adds the extraordinary to everyday life. "Everyone has their own idea of what defines luxury – it's not 'One Size Fits All.' I don't believe luxury happens by accident, especially within a luxury space," said Shea Pumarejo, CMKBD, owner and principal designer, Younique Designs. "For me, it's about tailoring the space to the needs of the individual who uses the space." LUXURY BATHROOMS A bathroom is more than just a room where you go to get clean. It's a place to relax, unwind and pamper ourselves. We want to be in a luxurious environment in order to feel pampered. Ornate bathrooms use beautiful natural materials on floors and walls. Granite, marble, precious timbers and rare veneers like classic walnuts, rosewood and oaks are all lavish and derived from nature. If you're renovating, invest in quality natural materials. Not only are they elegant, their quality lasts forever and will never go out of style. In a bathroom, more than any other room in the home, one must define the functional needs of the homeowner. What does luxury look like to them? For luxury bathrooms, there's a place for everything, and everything has its place. The bathroom has gone from a place of basic functionality and quick stops to a haven where homeowners can spend time in a soothing environment feeling relaxed and reinvigorated at any time of the day. "We created a sculpture / chandelier / mirror to serve as the welcoming piece. It appears to float weightless over the island in the middle of the space, acting as a sculptural and functional piece," said Sandra Diaz, Design + Industry Award winner for Contemporary Bath. The center vanity serves a double purpose as a sink cabinet and dresser. Diaz separated the suite's wet area with a subtle LED floor strip light that organizes usage flow and function. The adjacent shower area includes a light, sound and aromatherapy steam system for that spa-like feeling of calm and relaxation. LUXURY BATH TRENDS If the kitchen is the heart of the home, the luxury bathroom is clearly the soul. Today's luxury bathroom has evolved to become a serene spa-like space that offers a quiet sanctuary and a sense of well-being where life can be put on pause. The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) 2022 Design Trends study took a deep dive into all aspects of both kitchen and primary bathroom designs, forecasting the styles, features, materials and innovations expected to be most popular over the next two to three years. Homeowners are showcasing a different vision for what they feel their home should bring to their life. Emerging bathroom designs are being influenced by hotel experiences, technology and nature. High-end clients want their bathrooms to directly resemble five-star hotel spas. A S S O C I A T I O N N E W S NKBA LUXURY BATH SUMMIT Luxury designers and market experts joined the NKBA for its second Luxury Summit June 22-23, 2022

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