Trends New Zealand Trends Volume 33 No 1 New Zealand | Page 12

Above : The copper-clad , wall-hung vanities were custom designed , with the metal sheeting moulded around the carcasses . The copper was given several layers of lacquer – sufficient to protect it from oxidising and staining due to moisture but not so many that would downplay the rich allure of the copper . can expect to achieve from a man-made product . They come in three different designs that can be book-matched or used randomly .
“ With these bathrooms , we had to plan which sheet went where in advance , so that there were no double-ups , to make the pattern look as natural as possible ,” says the designer .
The copper , wall-hung vanities provided the second distinctive element in the rooms . Ireland knew what he wanted to achieve for the look , but there was nothing suitable on the market .
“ They had to be from scratch . We took thin sheets of copper and moulded them around the cabinet carcasses and drawer fronts ,” he says . “ To prevent the copper from oxidising and staining , we then coated it in several layers of protective lacquer .”
Because Ireland had never worked with this finish before , it took several attempts to get the right balance between retaining the natural look of the copper and providing a sufficient barrier between it and potentially damaging moisture .
“ The minimalist fixtures chosen for the three rooms avoid distracting from the hero elements . Even the mirrors and glass showers are frameless , helping them recede visually ,” Ireland says . search | save | share at