Luxury bathroom brand Axor has announced the winner of its Student Design Competition, which was launched last year to showcase incredible young interior design talent.
As part of the competition, young interior designers were invited to create planning concepts for a bathroom space inspired by their own personal interpretations of “the future of luxury”, using Axor Signature products.
After deliberation from the judges, graduate interior designer Martin Nealon was named as the winner, for his bathroom concept inspired by a place where users “could feel like themselves”.
He explained: “My inspiration for the bathroom design came from the idea of creating a space that enclosed and protected the client from the outside world. I wanted to develop an inner space that wrapped around them in a warm embrace and where they could relax.
“My materials concept was built around the idea of using warm tones to create a relaxing atmosphere. The Axor MyEdition polished red gold colourway added a warm metallic element together with combinations of taupe scuba textiles, bronze and IsoTeck inspired by the luxury marine sector. Together they create a harmonious palette of earth tones for the bathroom space.”
Nealon, who now teaches interior design, says winning the competition was a great opportunity to show his students how the application of good design can be effective even in small spaces. He added: “I am so pleased that the judges unanimously voted for my design. This has given me the boost I need to develop my skillset further and I hope my students can take inspiration from this.”
As the winner, Nealon won a one-night stay at London’s Broadwick Soho Hotel, which was actually designed using Axor Signature products.
Although Nealon came in first place, the judges were so impressed with the standard of entries that they also selected two runners up: Alice Molinari and Hayley Allsop. Axor says that they both received a commemorative goody bag from the company.
Competition judges included George McPherson, furniture and FFE designer at the Martin Brudnizki Design Studio; Anke Sohn, head of global brand marketing for Axor; and Alys Bryan, managing director of Design Insider.
Sohn congratulated all three of the frontrunners for their memorable entries, adding: “As a set of judges we were all impressed with Martin’s vision and his ability to develop an outstanding response to the brief we set. The combination of fabric, colourways, and AXOR range choices perfectly complemented the marine led concept to deliver the perfect luxury bathroom space.
“It’s so important that we continue to support and celebrate the next generation of interior designers. There are many talented and creative designers among us, and we look forward to seeing how they shape the future of luxury interior design in the years to come.”
