The avocado bathroom suites of the Seventies didn't do much for the credentials of coloured bathrooms. So much so that many of us now live with bathrooms that are kitted out with white baths, sinks and loos, and painted in neutral shades. But bright bathrooms are making a resurgence thanks to The Water Monopoly's 'Rockwell' range of stylish coloured fixtures and fittings.

 

'People are now wanting to do something different in their bathrooms and colour is being embraced so much more,' explains Justin Homewood, founder of The Water Monopoly. The colourful 'Rockwell' collection is just the ticket and includes everything from basins and baths to smaller elements, such as crosshead taps, shower roses and accessories. There are a variety of colours to choose from, including Liquorice, Ink, Seattle, Powder, Bonbon, Sherbet, Squash, Willow and Snowdrop. If you can't quite decide on one of The Water Monopoly's shades, the company also offers a colour-matching service and can produce the crosshead taps and accessories in any colour you wish. 'We wanted to give clients and interior designers as much choice as possible,' says Justin.

 

'You can play with colour as much or as little as you wish with the 'Rockwell' range,' says Justin. 'It takes a leap of faith to choose an entire coloured bathroom suite, but coloured taps are a good way to start and they completely transform your bathroom.' One of the best things about the taps is that they can be easily swapped, so if you have a change of heart and fancy the vibrant orange Squash colour, you can easily and relatively inexpensively change them, for example Sherbet for spring.

 

PEOPLE WANT TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN THEIR BATHROOMS AND COLOUR IS BEING EMBRACED

The Water Monopoly has recently joined forces with paint company Farrow & Ball to show how you can really make the most of colour in your bathroom. Patrick O'Donnell, Farrow & Ball's International Colour Consultancy Manager, has picked some of Farrow & Ball's paints to coordinate with colours in the Rockwell range. It provides a nifty palette for those who may want to add colour, but aren't quite sure how to incorporate it into a coherent bathroom scheme. 'For each of the 'Rockwell' colours, I've selected some soft complementary shades, as well as some more experimental, bold accents,' says Patrick.

 

His key piece of advice for those wanting a colourful bathroom? 'Avoid following colour trends, and consider the natural light.' North-facing bathrooms won't get much light, so either use warmer tones, such as yellow and reds, or embrace it with cosseting, moody tones, such as a dark green.'

 

Some colours really are perfect for the bathroom and Patrick and Justin guide us on how to use four of the most popular ones.

 

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1. BLUE

 

1. Stone Blue 2. Blue Gray 3. Inchyra Blue 4. Pink Ground 5. Tanner's Brown 6. Parma Gray 7. Chappell Green 8. White Tie

 

'Blue is a wonderful colour for bathrooms,' says Patrick. 'It is probably because of its obvious link to water: it's very soothing.' The pale blue Powder colour in the 'Rockwell' range is one of the most popular, and it can be applied to baths and basins, as well as the crosshead taps, shower roses and other accessories.

 

Pair a Powder bath or basin with walls that are painted in 'Pink Ground', a soft pink, for a particularly romantic bathroom, or choose 'Inchyra Blue', a moody teal, for the walls for a smart scheme. If you truly want to embrace blue, use Powder taps with 'Stone Blue' walls. 'The Powder colour also looks lovely when combined with brass fittings,' says Justin.

 

You could also choose to add blue to the walls and woodwork, but keep the sanitaryware white by choosing the Snowdrop colour in the 'Rockwell' range. 'I recently painted my rather bland bathroom in Farrow & Ball's 'Stone Blue' and it looks great alongside the white bath and basin,' says Patrick.

 

2. ORANGE

 

1. Gervase Yellow 2. Mahogany 3. Minster Green 4. Hague Blue 5. Picture Gallery Red 6. Dauphin 7. Matchstick 8. London Clay

 

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'People were a bit scared by orange to start with, but more and more of our customers are starting to use it in their bathrooms,' says Justin. The bold Squash colour in the 'Rockwell' range is available on taps, showers and bath feet. 'It's quite a punchy shade, so it's better to have it in nuggets around the bathroom,' says Patrick. It works brilliantly on the feet of this bath, adding a fun element to the space without being too overwhelming. 'It's a bit unexpected and makes you smile,' says Justin.

 

It also looks fantastic when paired with other strong colours on the walls or woodwork. It is elegant alongside Farrow & Ball's 'Hague Blue', but rather more daring with 'Picture Gallery Red'. 'I particularly love combining splashes of Squash with Farrow & Ball's 'Mahogany' shade,' adds Justin.

 

3. YELLOW

 

1. Dix Blue 2. Off-White 3. Stiffkey Blue 4. Mouse's Back 5. Brinjal 6. Lancaster Yellow 7. Pitch Black 8. Hardwick White

 

Yellow may seem like a brave choice for a bathroom, but it can give the space real zing and freshness. The Sherbet colour in the 'Rockwell' range can be applied to the bath and loo, as well as taps and shower roses. If you're worried about it all looking a bit much, choose a Sherbet-coloured loo and basin, but opt for white walls. Patrick suggests Farrow & Ball's 'Off-White'.

 

If you do want to add colour elsewhere, Patrick suggests choosing blues, browns and greys - 'Stiffkey Blue' and 'Mouse's Back' are both excellent options that hold their own alongside the pastel Sherbet.

4. GREY

 

1. Sugar Bag Light 2. Teresa's Green 3. Salon Drab 4. James White 5. Blue Gray 6. Cromarty 7. Railings 8. Pavilion Blue

 

'Sober colours such as grey are still really popular in the bathroom, especially in master bathrooms where we tend to be a bit more reserved' says Justin. The key to using grey in a bathroom is to layer it with other colours. Use Rockwell's 'Seattle' with Farrow & Ball's ''Railings' or 'Salon Drab' for example.

 

If you're feeling inspired, head to The Water Monopoly website to check out their Rockwell range or visit their showroom.

Showroom address: The Water Monopoly, 10/14 Lonsdale Road, London, NW6 6RD

Telephone Number: 020-7624 2636

 

Patrick O’Donnell manages Farrow & Ball’s In-Home Colour Consultancy service. For more information, please contact 01202 876141 or visit http://www.farrow-ball.com