What is Soho House style? If we were going to be reductive, you might say it is the interior style associated with Soho House clubs- the exclusive, members-only collection of over 25 hotels, restaurants and event spaces dotted around the globe.
More broadly speaking though, this British style represents a unique and aspirational aesthetic that has graced the pages of British interiors magazines for over two decades. A strong contender to be the breakout interior trend for 2022, this signature interior style is slowly making its way into our living rooms, bedrooms and now bathrooms - and the results are stunning.
Difficult as it is to put a pin in what really constitutes Soho House, we have attempted to give you the lowdown on how to enjoy the charm this eclectic trend can bring to your bathroom.
Perhaps the most obvious feature of a Soho House design is the significance of historical architecture in each room. Mid Century and art deco interior styles strongly influence Soho bathroom design, where 1920s washstands and turn of the century marshmallow freestanding tubs abound.
Taking inspiration from these trends, our designer Zoe combined our industrial style washstand with a porcelain inlay basin tap, offset by mid century modern sconce lights to give a touch of whimsy to the room.
Taking inspiration from the Soho House aesthetic, our designer Zoe combined our industrial style washstand with a porcelain inlay basin tap, offset by mid century modern sconce lights.
While it might represent a bastion of British interior design, it's equally true that each Soho House location has imbibed a certain sense of the place and culture around it. Whether it’s the Gaudi-esque pastel bathrooms of Soho House Barcelona, the Cuban colour of Soho House Miami or the shiplap bathroom walls of Babington House, each bathroom design includes regionally inspired touches that make the occupant feel immersed in the location.
Look to the region you live in to recreate this look. For instance, a rural home might incorporate elements of British decor, such as an antique pastoral painting, while a London bathroom could feature more industrial accessories and details.
This bathroom design blends Mexican influences with regional South Western culture to create a bathroom that exudes warmth and lived-in charm.
One of the six common elements that almost every Soho House bathroom shares is a masterful layering of textures and materials. Achieving this luxurious look is easy in a living room or dining room, but creating depth and interest in a bathroom is not without its challenges.
Fortunately, Soho House Design Director Linda Boronkay is quick to remedy this design dilemma,
'I love geometric patterned tiles on the floor or walls and textured handmade tiles on walls.'
If you dare, mixing tiles of different patterns and textures is key to recreating Soho House interior design. For our Soho House bathroom shoot, our designer Zoe opted to use flat fronted art deco inspired floor tiles, alongside variated, lustrous zellige wall tiles. Adding a period style skirting board in Farrow & Ball ‘Downpipe’ helped to marry these two otherwise clashing styles and created an elegant, layered look. Likewise, using a dark caulk along the half-height tile wall mirrored the moulding to complete the look. You can even layer your brassware- why not mix metallics and combine brass and chrome taps and bath fillers for a unique, eclectic look.
Embracing the Soho House bathroom trend means embracing colour in all it’s rich intensity. While not known to utilise a full rainbow of colour, the Soho House palette is very much one of saturated, moody hues mixed with muted, 1920s interiors tones like calamine pink. These heritage colours are perfect for balancing lofty rooms and creating intimate spaces.
Specifically, Soho House bathrooms adopt a distinctly 20th century art deco style approach to colour. We recreated this theme by keeping the look monochromatic, mixing shades of warm white and estate grey with bold, intense off-black in the bathroom woodwork and on the windows.
A simple layout is brought to life by intense blues in this singular bathroom design.
Central to the Soho House ethos is to restore rather than build. When sourcing pieces for your Soho House bathroom, try if you can to reclaim old tiles or flooring rather than buy new. Not only will these features give character to your space, but they will likely last longer and age better.
Visit a reclamation yard and take time to root around and enquire about materials, very often you can find used marble slabs, parquet bricks and aged tiles for your build, sometimes at discounted prices.
Last but certainly not least, comfort is a key element in any Soho House design. According to Soho House CEO Nick Jones,
‘Comfort is always key so don’t be afraid to test before you buy. We’ve abandoned everything from some elegant French station benches to a set of beautiful but very upright chairs, all because they weren't comfortable enough. Never settle for style over substance- it’s completely possible to have both’.
Making your bathroom comfortable might include investing in a beautiful yet functional radiator to keep your space warm and inviting. On a smaller scale, simply spending a little extra on plush, luxurious towels and soft-underfoot bath mats might well be enough to recreate your very own Soho House bathroom at home.