Overview

Welcome to The Project Study, our new series exploring the technical aspects of our work at Maison Anna B. From a dreamt vision to a finished space, we’ll take you behind the scenes to showcase some of our most beautiful projects—and hopefully, inspire yours.

Starting off with the stunning microcement bathroom at @iaorana_house a new build in Cork.

Our goal for this project was simple: to create a contemporary, elegant, and highly durable bathroom that would integrate seamlessly with the modern, minimalist design chosen by Anna for her new home.

Let’s dive in!

Project Scope

Iaorana House is a newly built home with a design focused on clean lines, big open spaces, natural materials, and lots of natural light.

The bathroom was an integral part of this modern vision, and Anna and Conor, the homeowners, sought a seamless, timeless finish that would complement the entire house’s aesthetic.

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Client Requirements

• Modern, Minimalist and Fresh Design: The bathroom needed to reflect the home's sleek, contemporary aesthetic, without sacrificing warmth or comfort. One of Anna and Conor's main goals was to create a bright space to enjoy as much natural light as possible throughout the day.
• Durability and Low Maintenance: Being a bathroom, the surface had to be water-resistant, easy to clean, and able to withstand the rigors of daily use.
• Seamless, Continuous Finish: Anna and Conor requested a fluid, seamless look, with no grout lines or visible joints, to create a minimalist and sophisticated ambiance.
• Integration with Overall Aesthetic: The colour choice had to work in harmony with the rest of the home's design, which featured a mix of light woods, neutral tones, and natural textures.

Product Selection

Given the high demands of a bathroom in terms of moisture and wear, microcement was an ideal choice for its versatility, durability, and aesthetic appeal.  

After reviewing samples of Mercadier's microcement products—renowned for their exceptional quality and exclusively distributed in Ireland by Maison Anna B.—Anna and Conor chose Cocomilk, a luminous white with a hint of yellow, for its elegance and simplicity.

This warm, soft off-white hue reflects natural light thanks to its high quality natural pigments, creating a sense of serenity and spaciousness in the bathroom. It also goes beautifully with the natural materials and brass accents Anna chose for the space, as well as with the rest of the home. 

Preparation and Application Process

• Initial Surface Preparation: As a new build, the bathroom surfaces were in pristine condition, but it was crucial to prepare them properly for microcement application. The walls and floor were primed to ensure adhesion and ensure that the microcement layers would bond securely to the surfaces. Since the floor was concrete, it was prepared with the necessary base coats to ensure proper adhesion.
• Application of Microcement: Over the course of four days, we applied two coats of microcement (3 to 4 mm) on the walls and three coats on the floor, excluding the shower tray area. The Cocomilk colour was mixed with precision to ensure consistency across all surfaces. A team of three expert applicators applied the microcement using traditional techniques, ensuring a smooth and even spread, working in sections to maintain the seamless finish.
• Sanding and Smoothing: Once the microcement had cured, the surface was lightly sanded to eliminate any rough patches and ensure a perfectly smooth finish. This step also helped to create a uniform texture across all surfaces, enhancing the fluidity of the design.
• Sealing and Protection: To further enhance the durability of the microcement, a protective sealant was applied. This coating provided waterproofing and made cleaning easier. The sealer also helped bring out the depth and richness of the Cocomilk colour, ensuring it maintained its soft, elegant appearance over time.
• Final Inspection and Curing: After the final coat of sealer had been applied, the surface was allowed to fully cure. This crucial step ensured that the microcement was set, solid, and ready for everyday use, guaranteeing both longevity and ease of maintenance. It takes 28 days for the microcement to fully harden. Anna's beautiful Lusso bathtub had to wait until then to be installed.

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Challenges Encountered

• Humidity and Curing: While the bathroom was part of a new build, managing the humidity levels during the curing process remained essential. With the wet environment of a bathroom, the application team had to ensure that the microcement cured evenly without any potential issues related to moisture or temperature fluctuations.
• Seamlessness: The requirement for a seamless, grout-free finish required a high level of skill in applying and smoothing the microcement. Maintaining a consistent texture and finish across large surfaces was challenging, but our expert team ensured a flawless result.
• Surface Preparation: As microcement is still relatively new to Ireland, asking the construction team for a preparation on something they were not familiar with was also a challenge. They were, however, very interested and eager to learn, and they did an amazing job throughout the entire process.

Outcome and Impact

The bathroom was transformed into a stunning, modern sanctuary. The microcement finish, with its seamless, continuous appearance, gave the bathroom a fresh, clean look while highlighting the beauty of the Cocomilk colour. The space feels open and airy, thanks to the neutral tones, which complement the natural light that poured in from the large window and skylights. The warmth of Cocomilk brings a sense of comfort and tranquility to the space, making it a perfect place for relaxation.

• Aesthetic Harmony: The seamless microcement finish enhanced the minimalist, modern design of the bathroom. The Cocomilk colour beautifully reflected the home’s earthy palette, tying the bathroom into the larger design of the house while maintaining a refined, elegant feel.

• Durability and Functionality: The microcement’s durability proved invaluable in the bathroom, providing a surface that was resistant to water, stains, and daily wear and tear. The waterproof finish also made it incredibly easy to clean and maintain.

• Low Maintenance: Thanks to the sealing process and the inherent properties of microcement, the bathroom requires minimal maintenance. Watermarks and dirt are easily wiped away, keeping the space looking pristine, even after two and a half years of daily use.

Client Testimonial

"We are thrilled with how our bathroom turned out. It’s literally a dream come true for me. The Cocomilk finish is stunning – it’s the perfect balance of modern and cozy, and it looks even better than we imagined. The seamless look gives the space such a clean, spacious feel, and we love how low-maintenance it is. It makes me feel like I have my own space to unwind, a serene and quiet cocoon that I will never get tired of." Anna 

Conclusion

Using Maison Anna B.’s high-quality microcement products, our team created a bathroom that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also practical and durable. The seamless, modern finish perfectly integrates with the overall design of the new build, providing the homeowners with a timeless and functional space that will last for years to come.