“A designer has a duty to create timeless design.” So said that most famous of modernist designers, Philippe Starck. Whilst Mr Starck is rightly feted for the contemporary curves of his interior pieces, his words certainly resonate with Swadling Brassware.
All Swadling Brassware designs echo the timeless lines of the world’s best-loved classic bathrooms. Whether it’s an elegant basin mixer tap, shapely deluge showerhead or Art Deco inspired bathroom accessory, each is craftsman-made using time-honoured skills to reflect and interpret the sublime styling of bygone eras.
Better yet, the entire collection comes with all the built-in functionality you would expect from any modern bathroom. With one important difference: Just like those ground-breaking classic designs that inspire each collection, Swadling Brassware is crafted from solid brass and built to last for generations to come.
Traditional bathrooms add a splash of glamour
But why do classically designed bathrooms seem to have such long-lasting appeal? It may well be a feeling of nostalgia for a bygone era. A time that was associated with glamour and sophistication.
This is certainly the case with some of the Edwardian, Georgian and Victorian fittings and fixtures. Whether it’s an elegant clawfoot bath or ornate mirror, the classic hallmark looks and stylings that depict an era certainly lend a flourish of refinement to any bathroom.
Perhaps it’s this air of elegance that we see in movies such as Death on the Nile and The Great Gatsby that instil such a strong attraction and subconsciously make us feel part of a more glamorous time.
A bathroom is certainly a great space to showcase some of the signature elements from classic design eras. Take our Invincible collection for example. Authentic materials and craftsmanship ensure that any item from the ensemble will create an ambience and feel faithful to eras gone by.
Craftmanship comes as standard
In a world of flat-pack storage and self-assembly furniture, old-fashioned craftsmanship seems to have taken a back seat. With a traditional bathroom, however, it needs carefully honed specialist skills to make things look good and work right. That means craftspeople who have dedicated their careers to learning all the techniques and processes necessary to create something that looks beautiful and stands the test of time.
For those of us who prefer sustainable to throwaway, this makes traditional bathrooms a source of endless pleasure and delight. Which is why at Swadling Brassware, we respect our heritage by sticking to the highest standards of design and manufacture.
Every element of our range of showerheads, tap mixers and bathroom accessories is designed, assembled, hand-polished and tested by us before it leaves our factory. And once it does, we only trust carefully selected retail partners who share our values and vision. That way, you enjoy every step of the journey on your way to your perfect traditional bathroom.
Traditional with a modern twist
Whilst traditional bathrooms come with all the charm and panache associated with classic design, a contemporary twist can often add an extra element of interest. Whilst staying faithful to the original shape and form of the underlying style, a different finish or patina gives a distinctly modern accent.
Our Engineer collection is a great example of how this can be done.The perfect marriage of industrial chic with modern styling, machine-turned detailing blends with clean lines and bevelled edges. It’s a look that harks back to the aesthetic of the industrial age whilst adding a dash of sophistication which makes it a modern masterpiece.
A room with personality
Contrary to some opinion, you don’t need a huge Edwardian home to have an Edwardian style bathroom. Likewise Georgian and Victorian. You can create your own portal to the past in your bathroom at home, whatever type of property you have. That’s the beauty of today’s traditional style bathrooms. They are super-versatile and can be designed to fit just about any space. The moment you close the door, you’re in your own little time machine – with relaxing shower jets and steamy mixers on hand.
Our Absolute collection offers the perfect solution to anyone looking to give their bathroom that authentic look and feel. A simple elegance exudes tradition and its sculptural profile provides the perfect framework for you to create a bathroom that embodies the best of bygone styles.
Vintage is the new modern
As Coco Chanel elegantly put it: “fashion goes out of fashion, style never does.” At Swadling Brassware, we like to think that’s just as applicable to traditional bathrooms as it is to a little black dress. And it’s another reason people love the timeless styles that were born in the eras of great design. From architecture to furniture and interiors, the Edwardians, Victorians and Georgians left us with an amazing design legacy that simply never goes out of fashion. Add to that specific trends such as Art Deco and Art Nouveau and you have a rich design palette that provides a constant source of inspiration.
We like to think our own modern classic Illustrious, with its signature geometric design, offers a fitting take on the Art Deco style. In keeping with what many experts hold up as the most celebrated and revered design movement, Illustrious offers clean and unfussy lines that effortlessly enhance your bathroom setting.
A constant in an ever-changing world
When design trends come and go, it’s good to know you can invest in something that offers sustainable pleasure, practical use and uplifting beauty on a daily basis. With a traditionally styled bathroom in your home, you’ll always have a retreat away from the hustle and bustle that seems to be an unavoidable part-and-parcel of modern-day life. Somewhere you can go that’s a personal haven, where you’re surrounded by the calming reassurance of classical and timeless design.
Whether you’re preparing for the day ahead or bathing away its stresses and strains, it’s comforting to know that you are doing so in a style that’s served generations before. And it’s also good to know you’re part of that great design scheme that keeps going, albeit with the occasional modern twist and contemporary tweak.
