Showroom of the month: JJ Bathrooms, Cornwall
Colour is key at this Wadebridge showroom, which uses local suppliers to tap into a real sense of Cornish pride.
Despite occupying a building that’s over a hundred years old, JJ Bathrooms embodies a trend having a modern moment: the colourful bathroom.
As Jaye Davidson-Hall, its owner, explains: “I really wanted to show customers that you can use colour and different textures. You don’t have to just use the same kind of displays, which is definitely more common here in Cornwall”.
Walking into the space, visitors are greeted by a wide, bright pink vanity unit, which Davidson-Hall says was supplied by a local independent brand. She explains: “As much as possible, I’ve tried to use Cornish suppliers. My friends own a kitchen and vanity company, and all of the door fronts are named after local villages. The locals are proud to be Cornish, and they love that it’s all Cornish-made.”
Speaking of design, JJ Bathrooms’ owner says that the desire to create truly bespoke designs for customers is arguably the business’ central ethos. “I wanted to create more of a boutique feel,” she explains. “I go out personally and complete the projects from start to finish, working closely with my customers, to give a really bespoke service. I like to mix and match objects from different suppliers.”
The products themselves are clearly the stars of the show at JJ Bathrooms. The displays are refreshingly absent of any point-of-sale materials, which Davidson-Hall says helps when they mix so many suppliers. Davidson-Hall also says this is to help her clients forget they’re in a shop, and help them focus on gathering design inspiration.
There’s also a display area at the back of the showroom tailor made for client meetings, which features a stately marble table – also Cornish-made.
Aside from just the statement pink vanity, the showroom has a total of nine displays. Among which are an eye-grabbing pastel green bathtub which serves as a window display, as well as a shelf of tile samples grouped meticulously by shade. The showroom’s own store WC doubles as another display, which makes use of dark stone contrasted with bright brassware and a green basin.
Davidson-Hall is hard-pressed to pick a favourite display, but she does draw specific attention to the Cosentino basin atop the pink vanity. “I think it’s just beautiful,” she says, confessing: “That’s something I’ve always dreamed of having”.
