Wannabe Hotel Washrooms
A tongue -in- cheek look at how homeowners idolise hotel washrooms and want the ones at home to reflect the ambience seamlessly.
A report in a popular lifestyle magazine had an interesting aside to make. While commenting on influences that determine consumer preferences, it mentioned that the rising aspirational classes (or sections, to be politically safe) love to copy the luxury they come across in the better-class hotels at times. The article went on to say that most guests tend to take a peek into washrooms as much as they judge a hotel by the design or standard of its rooms.
The implication was that constant exposure to better washrooms in hotels nudges homeowners to upgrade, modify or in many cases, totally redesign the ones at home. The washroom is now the playground for one-upmanship, luxury, convenience and lifestyle statements. Snobbishly labelled as the ‘powder room’, the almost Victorian sentiment is now the prime arsenal in underlining how one can be better than the Jones’ next door.
Interior designers often tackle requests (if not outright instructions) to create a washroom that goes beyond fine interior aesthetics. In fact, the flag post of new money has shifted from the usual ‘gaddi’ in the garage (or gali) to the gizmo-ridden washroom in the innermost entrails of the home. Even at the expense of comfort, snazzy and in-your-face appears to be dominating not only private living spaces but especially in hotels, the entire property and hospitality areas.
In urban India, land prices are rising nonstop. Be it residential or hospitality, a building-space crunch is not only about a physical lack of available land but also about costs which again, is driven by the lack of land availability in urban areas.This vicious snake feeding on its tail is creating a voracious appetite for experiencing luxury in whatever restricted space and also within whatever restricted budgets.
Unfortunately, in the mad race, not everyone can ever be a respectable runner-up. Designers are well known for their patience and skill while dealing with clients but quite a few do wring their hands in exasperation when they would really like to do the same to some portions above the shoulders.
“The washroom is now the playground for one-upmanship, luxury, convenience and lifestyle statements. Snobbishly labelled as the ‘powder room’, the almost Victorian sentiment is now the prime arsenal in underlining how one can be better than the Jones’ next door. “
Voila! The wise amongst the fraternity now have initiated propagating the virtues of minimalism to their ambitious clients. Minimalism, their theory expounds, is not about any boring Gandhian simplicity.
On the contrary, it is about giving the Jones’ the cold shoulder and actually raising one’s nose at their kitsch and planting it firmly in the sands of high art. Overcoming consumption and promoting minimalism in life are strategies that are being propagated as essential and beneficial. Now, this simplicity doesn’t come cheap. Not everyone can afford it.
Yet, this quality with sustainable tags is rising in preference over the blatantly expensive and indulgent. The new word to rise above the rest is ‘sustainability’. The budget washroom makeover and the maha-expensive remodelling or new layout can both incorporate these factors. This serves two apparent goals.
The creative designer revels in individual achievement and the satisfaction of not succumbing to the crass adventurism of pushy clients, for one. It also negates the barriers of budgets and creates an open field where every player can have their wannabe-hotel washroom at home.