Happy Holidays

Frost Camouflage hook, black

Vola Hv1 basin mixer, brass

Menu Norm toothbrush holder

Villeroy & Boch Loop vanity basin

Duravit Darling New wall hung pan

Grohe Power & Soul handshower

KOS freestanding bath

Pantone's Colour of 2014... Radiant Orchid!

'Since 2000, the Pantone Colour Institute™ has been designating a Colour of the Year to express in colour what is taking place in the global zeitgeist. A colour that will resonate around the world, the PANTONE Colour of the Year is a reflection of what people are looking for, what they feel they need that colour can help to answer. Not necessarily the hot fashion colour of the moment, but a colour crossing all areas of design which is an expression of a mood, an attitude, on the part of the consumers.

The colour for 2014?  The captivating, magical and enchanting Radiant Orchid. An invitation to innovation, modern and versatile Radiant Orchid encourages creativity and originality. Imbued with a harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid inspires confidence and its rosy undertones emanate great joy, love and health.' 

via Pantone

Radiant Orchid is probably one of the harder colours to translate into the bathroom, we've put together some of our favourite Orchid-hued images as inspiration to tackle this tricky trend. 

Pairing this tone with brass tapware is a winning combination, its the type of colour that works well with both traditional and contemporary fixtures and definitely not for the faint-hearted!

Brass & Copper Tapware

                                                                                                                                                                   

Not long ago we posted about the metal finish trend happening in the bathroom industry. 

We've had a great response to this trend and are specifying more and more of our tapware in finishes other than polished chrome.

So we thought it would be fitting to share some more inspiring pics of this metal-fever! 

Astra Walker Icon, Ultra

Vola 111 & A83, Brass

Vola 871, Brass

Melbourne home via The Design Files

Duravit Vero basin, similar taps by Brodware

Vola 111, Brass

Vola HV1, T12 & A83, Brass

Vola 500T1-590, Brass

Vola HV1, Copper

Norm Architects

'NORM.ARCHITECTS was founded in 2008 and represents the vision of Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen and Kasper Rønn. Situated in the heart of Copenhagen, NORM works with residential architecture, commercial interiors, industrial design, photography, graphics and art direction. 

Both Jonas and Kasper are trained architects, but even though they share the same taste in aesthetics, their different approach to design and architecture is what makes NORM stand out. 

In spirit with the tradition for Scandinavian simplicity NORM strives to cut to the bone in their designs. To find the simplest shape for a given task without forgetting the beauty of the shape and the details, in order to reach a point where there is nothing to add and nothing to take away that can make the product better. Like true Scandinavians they pride themselves in their culture and history, and hope and aspire to create new norms for Nordic design.'

NORM's aesthetic translates beautifully in their bathroom design. The rooms are chic and sophisticated, a perfect example of how to do minimal bathrooms well.

NORM have also designed a myriad of products for well known brands including stools, tables, kitchenware and lighting. We are very excited to announce that we will be stocking their bathroom accessories very soon, so watch this space!

via norm.architects

Top 10... Basin mixers

Basin tapware is considered the 'jewellery' of basins, so choosing something fabulous is always important.

We've put together our current top 10 based on design, quality and overall greatness. 

Zucchetti Isystick, Axor Citterio

Astra Walker Metropolis, Paco Jaanson Only One

Paco Jaanson Batlo, Zucchetti Bellagio

Vola HV1, Brodware City Que

Sussex Voda, Gessi iSpa  

Inspiration: Design Through Time... Part 4

For our final instalment of the Design Through Time series, we've decided to focus on the 1990's.

This was an exciting time for bathrooms as it was the first time celebrity designers collaborated with bathroom manufacturers.

Philippe Starck collaborated with brands such as Duravit, Rapsel and Axor Hansgrohe to create bathroom collections that introduced the 'furnished' bathroom to the world.

  Bathroom fittings were now being seen as designer pieces and the style of the time was minimal, simple and tranquil so that we could focus on the basics: the enjoyment of water.

We've put together a 90's inspired colour scheme of black, white and a lot of chrome.

The 90's were all about city living and an urban lifestyle so the fittings should be contemporary and sleek. Many designers followed in the footsteps of Starck and even now a decade later Starck is still designing great ranges for bathrooms, allowing the general public to have their very own designer pieces.

Duravit Starck 1 back to wall toilet suite

Devon & Devon Prisma tiles

Hansgrohe AXOR Starck accessories

Rapsel X-Treme wall basin

Hansgrohe AXOR Citterio basin set

Inspiration: Design through time... Part 3

This weeks post focuses on the bold and graphic 1970's.
The general look of this time was bright, sunshiny and Mod. 
The Jetsons were on television and their influence was felt in 1970's home decor. 
The most modern homes looked more like space capsules. 
But even the more modest homes saw the 1970's influence with pops of bright colour and plastic and vinyl furnishings.

You can be inspired by this time period without having to include a shag rug in the bathroom!
We've used curved sanitary ware which is reminiscent of the shapes of the 70's. 
Popular colour choices of this time were orange's and yellows, we've hinted at this with the Vola orange mixer and encaustic tiles, keeping the bathroom modern with a 70's twist.

Jatana tiles
Parisi Bohemian wall hung pan

Kartell Fly light
Parisi Fonte freestanding basin

Vola HV1 basin mixer, orange

Inspiration: Design through time... Part 2

This week we are focusing on the wonderfully kitsch 1950's.

Although there were some great and timeless design trends to come out of the 50's (Arne Jacobsen, Eames etc) we can't help but think that bathrooms were not the most appealing at this time.

Think apricot toilet suites, matching baths and pedestal basins and a whole lot of Formica.

For our interpretation of the 1950's bathroom, we've taken the pastel hues from the era and updated them with glass mosaics and claw-foot baths.

The basin is reminiscent of mid-century design and perfectly reflects the blending of old and new to create a modern space with 50's influence.

Ex.t Ray basin and console
Ex.t Dots hooks
Sicis Watermelon 107 mosaics
Clawfoot bath, similar here
Brodware Michelangelo basin set

Inspiration: Design through time... Part 1

We have the pleasure of dealing with a great variety of homes built in many different time periods here at Candana. From luxurious Art Deco apartments in Bellevue Hill to the grand Victorian terraces of Paddington, we constantly face the challenge of modernising these spaces while paying homage to the time period they were built in.

Luckily nowadays there are many products that have been inspired by these era's and the trick to getting the balance right is mixing enough of the old with the new.

We've chosen some of our favourite bathroom time periods and used them as inspiration for a more updated look. You won't find any salmon or turquoise suites here, just some contemporary bathrooms with a nod to their respective time periods.

________________________________________________________________________


First up we have the roaring 20's!
Design at this time was glamorous and sophisticated, geometric and angular.

We were inspired by the lines of the Art Deco movement and the simple, yet effective monochrome colour schemes of the time. The focus on cars, cruise liners and skyscrapers influenced the heavy use of chrome and metal finishes. 

Devon & Devon Elite tiles

Zucchetti Bellagio bath set

Devon & Devon Blues console

Duravit 1930's bathtub

Devon & Devon Vogue mirror

Flaster Tiles by IVANKA

Flaster is a concrete floor and wall covering fostered from a traditional motive. 

Made from fiber reinforced high performance IVANKA concrete, these tiles are available both for exterior and interior usage. 

Flaster comes in three different thicknesses, therefore it can be applied for floors, walls or for heavy traffic. The contemporary use of the material, the custom colour of the product and the variation of small and large modules give endless possibilities for the user to create a unique surface.

Puzzle the colours and invent your own design, master your surfaces from floor to ceiling. 

You can choose between the basic and special colour choices - mix and match as you like. 

With flaster tiles – due to their versatility and shades – and as an overall innovator in the field of tile design, IVANKA Concrete Works received ’Flooring of the Year 2010’ nomination from Elle Decoration International Design Awards and won 2nd prize on HG Design Award in 2011 in product category.

Available at Candana.

New Product: Morphing by KOS

We are very excited to announce that Candana will be the exclusive Australian suppliers of the stunning Italian bathroom brand, KOS.

The Morphing range is currently on display at our Woollahra showroom and it is one of the most popular pieces we've had so far!

The range includes everything from freestanding baths (in many configurations) to accessories like freestanding towel holders and mirrors. They've very cleverly incorporated beautiful finishes such as Cristalplant and steel into the designs and feature some of the most detailed joinery we've come across.

 Designed by world renowned designers Ludovica + Roberto Palomba, the range is sculptural and sophisticated. 

Morphing embodies a blend of tradition and contemporary aesthetics, new materials and echoes of classic styles.

Visit our website for more information on the range.

5 mins with... Marylou Sobel

Marylou Sobel is a Sydney-based interior designer with a huge portfolio and an even bigger passion for design. Over the past 25 years, Marylou has made her mark on design for creating timeless spaces with a bit of edge, and a lot of love. 

We've had the pleasure of dealing with Marylou for many years and find her design aesthetic and professionalism a reflection of her hard work and immense talent.
Make sure to visit Marylou's new website and blog for further inspiration.

Describe your design aesthetic in 5 words…

Unique, detailed, eclectic, textures, functional

Which bathroom brand are you most likely to specify for your clients?

Boyd Alternatives, Brodware, Marblo Mojo, Philippe Starck

What inspires you to create beautiful spaces?

A huge passion for design, a keen eye, a love for textiles and all things beautiful. A desire to make peoples homes and workplaces a special, functional and aesthetic place to be in, timeless and comfortable and a place they can be proud of

Who are some international designers/architects that you admire?

Axel Vervoordt, Christian Liaigre, Kit Kemp, Piet Boon, Berni De La Cuona 

If you could design anyone’s bathroom (past or present), whose would it be? And what would you do with it?

 Mariano Fortuny (1871-1949) a very avant-garde designer of fabrics as well as being a painter, engraver, sculptor, photographer, set designer, lamp designer and more.

I could use his fabulous fabrics, silk or cotton, to upholster and line the walls. A Fortuny chandelier, Venetian mirrors, high ceilings and large windows with views of the Rialto bridge in Venice. It would be sumptuous and luxurious and a very special place to bathe in. I may even just design it for me...

What is your favourite bathroom product? Why?

I love Boyd Alternatives because the designs are so organic and have such presence, they really do make a statement in a bathroom.

We would like to thank Marylou for sharing her beautiful work and design insight with us.

For more info please visit www.marylousobel.com.au