So here we are again! It’s February 29th – Leap Day! This special day only happens once every four years so it feels only right and proper to commemorate it in some small way. Leap Day was introduced by Julius Caesar to realign the Julian calendar, because the Earth does not orbit around the sun in precisely 365 days. So in the Gregorian calendar that we now use today every year that is divisible by four has the extra day, on February 29th.
What a gift it is to have an extra day! Sadly for many of us it will be a working day just like any other day, but there are a lot of customs surrounding Leap Day that we should be aware of. The one that most people are aware of is that it is the day that women are allowed to propose to men rather than the other way around as is more traditionally the custom. So seize your chance ladies or face another four year wait! But don’t plan your wedding for this day! In some countries such as Greece, Leap Year as a whole is seen as unlucky, particularly Leap Day. In Scotland you would be seen as unlucky if you were born on Leap Day …. but of course for those who were indeed born on that day – “leaplings” – then today is one of the few occasions when you can celebrate your actual birthday!
So how will you celebrate Leap Day this year? It seems a shame just to let it pass. How about treating it as a catch up day when you make a start on doing some of those things that you’ve been putting off for so long? This time of year is ideal to start planning your home improvements for the rest of the year. Spring is in the air and with the imminent changing of the season comes a sense of anticipation. If a new bathroom is on your agenda for this year then why not use some of your extra day to start planning what you want? Here are some of our suggestions for five of the top bathroom trends this Leap Year:
Feature Tiling
Whilst tiling should never be viewed as an afterthought, this year it is moving into centre stage! The trend is for natural products and simple, timeless designs You may wish to experiment with different layouts to get the effect you want: something that is minimalistically chic yet adds depth and interest to the room. We love the tiling on this shower enclosure which give it an almost igloo like appearance.
Metallics
Good quality metallic bathroom fixtures and fittings can add light and style to a bathroom in an elegantly subtle way. The current trend is for metals with matte or satin finishes such as brushed stainless steel and brass to be the favourite finishes for items such as taps, towel rails and shower heads. If you want something a bit bolder then how about this stunning nickel finish Albermarle bath from our Arcade range!
Travertine stone
This has always been one of our favourite materials and we are delighted to see a growing trend for natural stone. Such materials are now popular not just for walls and floors and walls, but also basins and bathtubs either carved out of stone or housed in stone, such as the example featured here.
Ambient Furnishings
There is a growing realisation that the bathroom is one of the most used rooms in the home, so why not make it more than functional? Whether you choose to do this by adding a designer mirror, wall art, or some well- designed furniture – as pictured left – is up to you. But do add something that will not only look good and personalise your bathroom but will enable you to enjoy your bathroom even more!
Creative Storage Solutions
No matter how large or small your bathroom, ensure that you incorporate some creative and stylish storage solutions to keep it looking its best. Places that you can store all your clutter and leave your bathroom looking neat and clean and a place where you can relax in peace and quiet.
At Stone and Chrome we love to be clever with storage and often combine recessed storage with our trademark LED lighting for a subtly artistic effect.
However you spend your Leap Day, we hope that it is a special one for you. We would love to welcome you to our Camberley showroom sometime soon to show you some of the above features in person and help you to plan your special Leap Year bathroom!