Cleancleanclean’s Natalie Bradburn caught our imagination a couple of years back with a range of powder-coated toothbrush holders intended to bring fun to the bathroom. Now, she’s expanded to equally colourful sinks and towel-rails. “I love watching black-and-white films,” she says, “but I prefer to live in technicolor.”
Here: This is quite a step up from your previous work – what’s going on?
Natalie Bradburn: I’ve been working on a handful of custom bathroom fittings for clients over the past couple of years, working with local manufacturers in Whanganui and Wellington. I’ve done a range of things from toilet roll holders to basins with vanity units to custom towel rails.
H: Tell us about the new pieces.
NB: I’ve designed two basins that I am offering on a pre-order basis. They are made from aluminium and can be coated in any colour. There’s also the option of a custom towel rail, which we design to suit each space. I’m experimenting with the pre-order model because I like the flexibility it gives. Each piece is made here in New Zealand, 15 minutes down the road from my house and we are only making them as they are needed. I like the agility of being able to tweak something to suit the space perfectly, and it also means there’s no wastage.
H: Why should we have colour in bathrooms?
NB: I like how it can set the mood and be really ambitious in setting a scene – I’ve always found it charming. A pink dress makes me feel so much more playful than a black one, in the same way that an orange basin is more likely to start my day off better than a white one. I’m not against neutrals – I just think every space needs to respond to those who use it.
H: What comes next for you?
NB: I’m working on some bathroom renovations and new builds and I’m enjoying creating really immersive experiences. I can design everything from how the light enters, to what the vibe, materials and colour are – right down to the tiny details of making a custom toilet roll holder. It’s a very intimate process – often we’re having a meeting in the bathroom, going through their daily routine. I’m asking questions like: Do you shave your legs in the sink or in the shower? Do you light candles and read a book in the bath or are you there bathing the kids? Details like that really fascinate me because bathrooms are very personal: we are more vulnerable in that room than any other and I want the space to be perfectly suited for the bodies using it.
Cleancleanclean
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