Top Eight Bathroom Trends

Selina Denman , August 8th, 2010

1) Colour me happy
Bathrooms used to be characterised by their distinct lack of colour, but the tide has turned. Bold, bright hues are making their mark, replacing the muted, understated tones of old. In keeping with this trend, Roca has introduced Khroma, a collection of bathroom accessories available in passion red, street and silver grey, and oxygen blue.

“Roca has brought colour back into the bathroom,” said Victor Schoone, country manager, Middle East, Roca. “We give people the opportunity to keep the sanitaryware white but to bring colour in, in the form of colourful toilet seats and covers and furniture.”

No longer confined to just tiles and accessories, colour is also making a break for the sanitaryware. Villeroy & Boch recently extended its Loop & Friends washbasin line to include the trendy new shades of Espresso, a strong brown, and Cassis, a striking violet.

When it comes to colour, black is experiencing a particular surge in popularity. Laufen identified this trend early on and responded by launching its Ilbagnoalessi Dot range in matte black ceramic. Created by Dutch architect
Wiel Arets, the Ilbagnoalessi Dot bathroom is characterised by its clear, architectonic traits.

Duravit also recently relaunched one of its most successful collections, Vero, in an eye-catching, high-gloss black. With its classically angular design, the collection is a pioneer of purist form.
Also picking up on the monochromatic trend is Cosmic, which recently launched black and white gloss finishes for its Flow faucet collection.

2) Material gains
Bathroom manufacturers are also experimenting with a growing range of materials and textures. New Italian bathroom furnishings brand, Zaninelli Bagni, has launched a collection carved from natural stone.

The CNC Collection was designed by Mr Smith Studio in Milan and includes single and double washbasins, countertops, built-in or floor standing basins, shower receptors and bathtubs.

Meanwhile, Ceramica Cielo has extended its Jungle collection of decorated bathroom fittings with new iguana, pony and crocodile inspired products.

Additions to the ten-strong collection include iguana in white, the black and piebald pony, Cocò Blanc, or white crocodile, and Cocò Retro, a vintage grey crocodile effect.

Ceramico Cielo also recently launched the X-Tech finish, which is highly resistant to corrosion and abrasion. The finish can be used to coat the Jungle fittings, making them suitable for any kind of commercial setting.

3) High-profile partnerships
A key trend currently sweeping through the bathroom sector are tie-ups between bathroom manufacturers and high-profile designers. This includes collaborations with leaders in architecture, interior and product design, but also with globally-renowned fashion designers. Roca, for example, recently announced that it was teaming up with Giorgio Armani to create a new bathroom concept.

The Armani Roca bathroom will consist of an entire interior design solution, including not only furniture but lighting, wallcoverings and ceiling treatments. It will be available in exclusive stores as early as 2011. “This is a unique thing in the bathroom business, and a very exciting thing for Roca,” commented Schoone.

Hansgrohe is another company that has always been happy to form strategic partnerships with design leaders, having worked with Patricia Urquiola, the Bouroullec Brothers and Antonio Citterio, among others.

Meanwhile, Duravit recently partnered with Philippe Starck to create the Sensowash shower toilet. The discrete shower-toilet seat boasts an unusually slimline design, while technical components have been miniaturised so that the entire shower technology fits between the ceramic body and the seat.

A stainless steel spray wand extends out from the seat when the bidet function is activated. Water temperature, water volume and spray wand position can all be individually adjusted, via a hand-held remote.

4) Sustainably sound
Arguably the most important trend to impact bathroom design is sustainability. Bathroom companies are placing sustainability at the forefront of their agendas and investing in developing products that are long lasting, efficient and environmentally friendly.

Intelligent companies are taking a multi-pronged approach that involves lowering their footprint as a business, with more intelligent manufacturing processes and facilities; creating new and innovative products that contribute in lowering energy and water consumption; and using their global positioning to educate consumers on the importance of sustainability.

Kohler recently launched its sustainable Vas ceramic faucet in the Middle East. The sculpted faucet uses nearly half the water of traditional faucets, and offers a return on investment in less than four years. It consumes just 5.68L of water per minute, compared to traditional faucets that consume an average 8.32L/min, reducing water consumption by approximately 45%.

The base solid-colour model has a pitcher-like vitreous china spout that provides graceful water flow, and a sculpted, curved handle that resembles a drooping flower stem. The Vas is also available in three painted, high-design pieces, Cerana, Imperial Blue and Silkweave.

“Kohler’s aim is to help its customers to act responsibly on behalf of the planet by offering efficient products designed to help consume only what is necessary – without sacrificing comfort, design or performance. Kohler’s dedication to the environment is comprehensive,” said Mohamed Nada, regional marketing manager for Kohler in the Middle East.

5) Extreme comfort
Much has been written about the bathroom’s transformation into a personal haven. Distancing itself from its purely functional roots, the bathroom has blossomed into a personalised wellness retreat. This is particularly notable when it comes to the showering experience.

Kohler recently launched Katalyst, a shower that simulates the large, heavy drops of a summer downpour. Constructed from solid brass, Katalyst spray technology utilises a unique air induction ball joint designed to generate large water droplets that provide users with an intense hydrotherapy experience.

Also designed to offer a varied and indulgent showering experience is Kohler’s Flipside hand shower. Featuring Kohler’s innovative Flipstream technology, the Flipside sprayface rotates on an axis, with each of the four sides of the sprayface being dedicated to a different kind of spray.

This allows for four totally unique experiences: Koverage, for a traditional, everyday shower with maximum water coverage; Kotton, a dense, enveloping downpour; Komotion, a drenching spray delivered in a circular pattern; and Kurrent, which provides a focused and invigorating massage spray.

As the personal wellbeing trend becomes more and more prevalent, companies are coming up with increasingly creative ways to transform the bathroom into a private retreat. No matter what the space available, Effegibi can design and furnish a personal wellbeing area to meet individual needs. With a fully customised Turkish bath option now available, users can enjoy extreme relaxation in the comfort of their own home.

Installable in any shower or Turkish bath, Effegibi’s latest creation is the Touch&Steam digital touch display, which lights the glass and lets the user choose from a variety of functions for steam, colourtherapy and hot air circulation. A more traditional option is the Finish-designed Sky Line sauna, which has a glass ceiling and front-decorated panel for a sleek, modern look. The home sauna can be fitted with custom-made decorative laser-cut wood panels.

6) Technologically advanced
Another factor shaping bathroom design is technology. “We are seeing a move towards greater functionality as hi-tech conveniences which form part of daily life are emulated in the design and function of sanitary fixtures and fittings,” said Guy Wilson, head of the Gulf, Geberit international sales.

As such, Roca will soon launch a hi-tech version of its Khroma collection, Khroma Robot. With electronics incorporated into the vitreous china of the sanitaryware, users can control the shower and bidet function, and open, close and even heat up the seat and cover.

7) Unashamed elegance
As the bathroom has moved away from a purely functional role, the aesthetic quality of fittings has increased radically. Manufacturers are focusing on creating finely-crafted, sculptural elements that introduce a touch of glamour.
Zucchetti’s Bellagio series, available from Bagno Design, is inspired by an aristocratic, dolce vita style, crafted from chrome-plated brass with Satin, Tuscan and Platinum finishes.

Traditional elegance is also at the heart of Bagno Design’s exclusive Sophia range of bathroom products. With soft flowing lines, this range comes with an option of lever or cross handles, and a full range of accessories to match.

Tiles also create a dramatic addition to the bathroom setting. Glamour tiles by Kronos add a rich flavour to any space. Opulent tiles can be set against simply-designed bathrooms, such as the new KS collection by Italian company Karol. This bathroom furniture collection brings back retro simplicity and is available in a range of fresh colours.

8) Versatility
As customers become more design-orientated, they are demanding greater flexibility and adaptability in the products they select. Increasingly challenging space plans are also putting pressure on bathroom manufacturers to create products that are flexible and easy to install.

Geberit has responded with the Monolith. “The elegantly designed Geberit Monolith is a perfect alternative to toilets with visible cisterns. It is compact and flexible, opening up a nearly unlimited application range,” said Geberit’s Guy Wilson.
“It can be combined with floor-standing or wall-hung toilets. It fits into any bathroom construction situation. Installation of the entire system is completed in a single operation, with the new installation ready for use within just a few hours.”

Promoting a brushed aluminium and glass finish, Monolith is characterised by clear, simple lines. “With its slim profile, the Monolith can be fitted into almost any bathroom without impinging on space. It is ideal for the retro-fit market as it conceals marks from previous floor-standing pans and there is no need for any complex plumbing alterations.”

Meanwhile, Laufen has extended its Living City series to include new basins, WCs and bidets. The collection, which is synonymous with geometric, minimalist lines, now includes a 60cm washbasin, with an additional 90cm easy-to-clean shelf to keep bottles, creams and soaps within easy reach.

The ceramic shelf is available either on the right or the left hand side of the basin and can be cut to size at the factory, making it perfect for demanding layouts and niches. The collection also now includes, for the first time, a square WC and bidet.