There is no doubt that UK home owners are getting more and more adventurous with metallic finishes. We’ve seen rose gold taps, corten steel worktops, platinum décor strips, and gun-metal sconces all adorning interior magazines of late, but one metal in particular is coaxing the cognoscenti of daring décor right now: copper.
And where copper is really making its mark is in the bathroom. You may have to wait a couple of months or more, and it will set you back north of £2,000, but if you want to make a truly dramatic statement in your bathroom, look no further than the Trent Copper Bath.
Pictured is a standard size 1,700mm copper bath in the Trent finish, with Verdigris exterior and antique copper interior. This bateau tub is exquisite, edgy, and exciting; with the brushed copper interior offering an almost industrial feel.
Available from London Encaustic; the Trent bath - available in 1,500, 1,700, and 1,900mm sizes - is hand-made using high gauge copper. Every bath is hand beaten, polished, and then sealed. The result is a one-of-a-kind hand-finished look. However, these copper baths are also practical as they are sealed after manufacturing with a hard-wearing protective compound, making them protected and easy to clean.
But once you’ve made the decision to invest in such a sumptuous tub, what tiles going to maximise the bath’s impact? On the floor it has to be a dark and dramatic wood-effect porcelain: one with just enough pattern and movement to provide the perfect level of contrast. Two Porcelain Superstore options spring to mind. The first is a timeless classic: our 70 by 280mm Herringbone Brown. Offering excellent value at under £50 per sq. metre, these bijou planks are made in Italy in two complementary warm colourways that pair perfectly with the patina of verdigris.
Another great option is Madison Cherry, also around the £50 per sq. metre mark. This 20 by 120 cm statement plank really set the scene for a luxury home with warm, rich tones, and a unique ‘oiled’ finish: exactly the kind of flooring you’d expect to find beneath a hyper-luxurious copper bath. One of the finest wood-effect tiles money can buy, the timeless style is enhanced by an elegant surface that combines a gorgeous sheen with a practical R9 slip finish.
And for the walls, you really need to think dark and dramatic. Then use well directed lighting to let the tub sing. We think you’ll love the mysterious backdrop provided by Brooklyn Black: an elegant glazed tiled that delivers attention-grabbing looks.
Made in Spain, Brooklyn Black provide a striking fusion of the industrial and the contemporary. The gloss and matt glaze combo delivers a timeworn finish that really emphasises the bath’s industrial chic. And, at 75 by 300mm, Brooklyn Black comes in a versatile format that will work in any bathroom.
So take the plunge and bathe yourself in copper-clad beauty!