Since the launch of the Allibert mirror cabinet in the 1970s, mirrors and mirror cabinets have become a familiar sight in the bathroom. Even in the most functional of bathrooms, a mirror or mirror cabinet is a standard feature nowadays. But that hasn’t always been the case. Not until the 1960s did apartments and houses gradually start to get their own bathrooms, which were still pretty small in most cases. Before that, bathrooms for the average citizen were primarily spaces for using the toilet – usually small, sparsely furnished and poorly lit. But ultimately, even “the Allibert” was first and foremost a very useful piece of functional furniture that combined lighting with storage space and was originally made of plastic.
But a lot has happened since then: new materials and production processes have established themselves, and huge progress has been made with regard to lights and lighting technology as well. In turn, these developments go hand in hand with the changed and changing demands of end users. The first question that arises is what kind of mirror is required. Is it needed as storage space or is it to be staged as a purist disc? Is it meant to provide practical illumination or be a source of atmospheric light? Should it be an eye-catcher or recede into the wall? Does simply flicking a switch meet users’ needs or do they want to run an entire lighting scenario? And which shape is the best fit with the space, its users and the bathroom furniture?
Today there’s a great deal more to consider than just having light and enough storage space in the bathroom. It’s all about quality, aesthetics and the feel-good factor – and all three of those things are mutually dependent. Besides the architecture, the ceramic sanitaryware and the bathroom furnishings, mirrors play a major role in creating the overall effect. That’s why it’s so important to find the right mirror or mirror cabinet for every bathroom – and why burgbad offers a large selection of (illuminated) mirrors, including round and rectangular shapes with horizontal or vertical lighting (or both), as well as special shapes and formats such as made-to-measure mirrors with a slanted edge for bathrooms with sloping ceilings. In addition, the bathroom furniture specialist also offers a wide range of mirror cabinets with one to four doors, available in different versions, a wide range of finishes and with a choice of interior fittings.
The straightforward design of burgbad’s rl30 mirror cabinet, for instance, blends in with any modern bathroom setting. It opens to reveal generous storage space and a conveniently organised interior. But that’s not all it has to offer – thanks to an extremely clever lighting concept: even the two-door mirror cabinet is equipped not just with doors mirrored on both sides (with integrated diffusers on their inner surface) but also with a third, interior mirrored door that is concealed when the two outer doors are closed. Besides permitting convenient usage of the cabinet when the other two doors are open, this central mirrored door comes with the added benefit of indirect lighting, allowing users to perform their grooming routines in front of a mirror while accessing the interior of the cabinet at the same time.
The rest is virtually standard for burgbad’s mirror cabinets: in addition to interior lighting, all the rl30 models are conveniently equipped with a switch/socket combination, a door switch and elegant shelves made of low-iron, ultra-clear glass. The back panel of the cabinet is finished in white to reflect the light, while the inside of the carcass is finished in anthracite grey to create a smart contrast with the rear wall.
Besides the wide range of measurements and special sizes that mirrors and mirror cabinets are available in, as well as their design, materials and surfaces, the lighting they provide also plays an important role in the bathroom. With integrated lighting that illuminates the mirror, the basin or even the entire room perfectly (and is individually adjustable), burgbad provides the right light for any time of day – with the mirror cabinets from the rl40 Room Light series, for instance, which respond to the different lighting needs people have in the bathroom. The LED mirror cabinet is equipped with ultramodern lighting controls that can be used to programme all sorts of different lighting moods.
As a result, rl40 has a positive impact on body and soul. It also provides indirect uplighting that can be used to illuminate medium-sized rooms completely, and can also be equipped with optional washbasin lighting. In addition to its elegant design, it’s this dual function that makes rl40 so interesting. The latest development is a smart home enabled voice-controlled variant. And even the very first version of the mirror cabinet, the rl40 Room Light 2018, won the German Design Award for its innovative concept.
Those who can manage without the storage space and want to use a mirror as a statement piece can opt for an illuminated mirror that provides even more potential for design and expressiveness as compared to a mirror cabinet. A rectangular mirror like the Essento, for instance, with LED lighting cleverly integrated into the surface of the mirror, can look like a modern artwork and bring a special aesthetic to the bathroom. With ambient lighting around the perimeter, which not only shines upwards but down towards the basin as well, illuminated mirrors can provide a subtle source of pleasant light.
And perfectly round mirrors, such as those from the Diva 2.0 or Mya collections, serve as stunning eye-catchers. They are often available with an LED-illuminated frame around the circumference. Their circular shape softens the severity of the angular forms that tend to dominate in bathrooms because of their tiled floors and walls. That makes the circular mirror a well-rounded option for the bathroom in terms of both aesthetics and function; it can either be used to create an attractive contrast with the rest of the bathroom interior or, as in the case of the illuminated mirror from the Lavo 2.0 collection, which is equipped with LED lighting around the perimeter and a sensor switch, to echo the collection’s recurring oval motif.
In the bathroom too, accessories are playing an increasingly important role as fashionable additions. After all, they’re a great way to create carefully staged highlights. Mirrors can either be used as decorative objects in their own right or combined with accessories, as demonstrated by the wall shelf with mirror and towel holder from burgbad’s Lavo 2.0 collection. The Fiumo collection, on the other hand, includes the option of creating a decorative look by integrating a pleat-effect board under the illuminated mirror; the holders for a metal railing can be clicked into the panel to provide a simple solution for arranging storage containers.
The full-length mirror from the Mya capsule collection is made of rounded solid wood and is equipped with an integrated leather storage pouch. And it doesn’t just make you want to stare at your own reflection: thanks to its subtly coordinated colour nuances and material combinations, it exudes a sense of warm elegance and serenity. Its aesthetic is based on a combination of craftsmanship, natural materials and an appreciation of simplicity. Whether they’re used on their own or as the front of a cabinet, mirrors with integrated lighting don’t just ensure the bathroom is bathed in pleasant light. As a design item or decorative object, they enhance any bathroom and can either be used to amplify the overall style or to create a suspenseful contrast
