Back in February 2010 - seems like ages ago - Surfaces organized an insider's tour in Las Vegas of the Encore, hipper, younger sister to the Wynn, led by the Encore design team. The experience - because it captured intense Las Vegas style inspiration - was unforgettable. Luckily, I had my camera handy and kept it busy thereby allowing me to share with you several bathrooms.
It shouldn't come as a surprise that opulence is a dominant theme throughout the Wynn and Encore in terms of unique materials and themes and fascinating juxtapositions of products.
We started out at the Wynn Las Vegas. This first bathroom is located in the shopper section - definitely not your average shopping mall public restroom! Notice the beautiful materials and the combinations of colors, shapes and textures. I love the contrast between the bold floor pattern and the more soothing solids of the other surfaces.
Restrooms in the Wynn shopping mall
As you transition from the Wynn to the Encore you notice butterflies. The effect is subtle because the color scheme works together. The Encore theme is the butterfly which symbolizes metamorphosis; it's considered good luck across all cultures. I took many photos of all of the instances of butterflies: in store windows, on the walls, in sconces.
Carpet transitioning from the Wynn to Encore
This bold butterfly carpet pattern was repeated in tile patterns. Truly marvelous!
Moving on to another bathroom.
We visited the XS Club, inspired by the human body, and were told that this was a place that got pretty wild at night. Luckily, we were there early in the day and had it all to ourselves. Check out the women's room....
The Women's Room: What's That in the Mirror?
Understated, utilitarian flash
Functional with glitz
Consider yourself warned!
As you exited the bar to make your way to the foyer, these marvelous torsos lined the wall.
This image I took along our walk. I just had to include it. You are right in concluding that it has nothing to do with the club we just left. I consider it timelessly elegant, possibly even reminiscent of the 60s?.
Lucky Peacock: Gorgeous ostentation
Finally, this bathroom was in one of the special ritzy suites. I couldn't get over the soothing green color scheme and the rich, sparkly insets and details. Luckily, the mirror frames were simple shapes. Isn't that fabric scrumptious?
Surfaces, the annual exposition for the flooring industry, occurs once a year in Las Vegas. For Bathroom Blogfest 2010 - taking place this week - I thought I would share with you what I consider a clever way of showcasing flooring products.
These pictures below are ones I took on the last day of Surfaces having just finished using the women's bathroom on the ground level of the Sands Convention Center. I couldn't get over how cool the effect was.
The product manufacturer, Armstrong, had vinyl product samples displayed in the women's room. I wish I had checked whether the men's room had also been decked out. Next time. In any case, the product does a great job jazzing up, warming up and improving the acoustics of an otherwise uninspired and rather sterile space.
Sands Convention Center Women's Room
Look Down! Armstrong flooring sample
Look down again! Another Armstrong sample
Now, imagine Bethany's bathroom mats on there... Nice, don't you think?
Are you passionate about Home Design & Improvement [and how carpet fits into the overall picture]? If yes, you might be interested in a HousetoHomeLive Web Chat taking place this Friday, October 15, 2010 with George Clark, UK architect, writer and lecturer, hugely successful property TV presenters on UK television and newest addition to Fun on the Floor's panel of experts.
"Many of your UK readers will know George from The Home Show [launched in 2008] and Restoration Man [launched in 2009] programmes that he appears on at Channel 4. After three successful series of Build A New Life for Five from 2003 to 2006, George became the face of architecture at Channel 4.
George will be on hand via this Live Design Web Chat to answer questions on home renovation and design projects so I feel sure that this will be of interest to your audience. May I request that you let your readers know about this unique opportunity to quiz him about anything from carpet tips to basement conversions."
As I mention above, George recently joined the Fun on the Floor panel of carpet experts and now has a home design blog at Fun on the Floor where he adds more useful help and advice on all sorts of home improvement projects there.
Do register for Friday's event to participate in the Live UK Design Chat with George Clarke. I bet you will be inspired!
