Promotion: interior designer Sarah Poniatowski has drawn on her connection to the French seaside to create a tranquil bathroom concept for Axor combining teal tiles, teak wood and bronze fittings.

Poniatowski, the founder of Maison Sarah Lavoine, designed the concept as part of Axor's Distinctive project, which presents personalised bathroom ideas from leading architects and designers.

The Paris-based designer answered the brief with a coastal indoor-outdoor bathroom, referencing the place where she feels most connected with nature.

"I have a deep connection with the south-west region of France," Poniatowski said. "It's so authentic, and nature is everywhere. It's the most relaxing place in the world for me."

"The goal was to emphasise the surroundings with an indoor-outdoor bathroom and create a relaxing space with a summer holiday feeling."

Poniatowski's concept includes an outdoor shower area that flows on from the main bathroom, where multiple doorways, large mirrors and louvre windows allow in plentiful light and enhance the feeling of being immersed in nature.

Wood floorboards and panelling along the walls and ceiling give the space a cabin-like feel, but one enlivened by Poniatowski's material and colour combinations.

Along with raw pine wood panelling and teak frames, the interior features a travertine bathtub and washbasin, teak tiling and, in the indoor shower, a feature section of multicoloured Zellige tiles that introduce blocks of deep purple and pale pink.

Poniatowski describes it as "a place where you can daydream yet relax, be creative yet stand still, enjoy the outside while being in your very own bubble".

"It's all about balance," she said. "Hence the choice to play with contrasts."

Poniatowski completed her bathroom concept with Axor's Starck fittings, designed by Philippe Starck, in the brushed bronze FinishPlus surface finish.

The fittings include the Axor Starck Nature Shower outdoors, another slender shower column indoors, two faucets on the washbasin and a floorstanding faucet at the tub.

Poniatowski sees the tapware as creating another opportunity to bring balance through contrast, with the Starck designs having linear, contemporary forms and smooth finishes that punctuate the organic-looking bathroom surfaces.

"The design of the Axor Starck collection is very distinctive," she said. "It was important to create a setting in line with it: emphasise it but don't overwhelm it, and vice versa."

Poniatowski created her concept bathroom to suit an imagined personality who loves to travel and appreciates a fast-paced life while also knowing when to stand still and contemplate.

She designed it as part of Axor's Distinctive project, which explores the rise of individualisation in personal living spaces via concept designs and discussions with experts and partners.

The brand sees the trend as a response to decades of globalisation and standardisation, with people now seeking more personal expressions of luxury and style.

"No one is the same, and this is what I love about my job — meeting people and creating something like nothing before," said Poniatowski.

To view more of Axor's products, visit its website.

Partnership content

This article was written by Dezeen for Axor as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.