Diane, Author at Bathroom Review

At HIX 2024, Villeroy & Boch showcased its offerings alongside Ideal Standard, cementing the Villeroy & Boch Group’s reputation as a comprehensive solution provider for the hospitality industry. Villeroy & Boch’s stand showed the brand’s signature craftsmanship, timeless design, and forward-thinking technology.

Popular collections such as Antao, Finion, Artis, ViClean 200, Subway 3.0, and ViConnect took centre stage, complemented by a selection of premium taps. Visitors also had a chance to see first-hand the new Architectura range, which integrates minimalist design with practical storage solutions.

One of the highlights of the showcase was the TwistFlush technology, a cutting-edge water-saving system that impressed attendees with its efficiency and sustainability credentials.

Beyond the product displays, Villeroy & Boch’s interactive crafting workshops were a hit with all. The sessions invited attendees to unleash their creativity by painting a brand plate to take home as a keepsake. These workshops added a personal touch to the event and granted visitors a chance to chat with the Villeroy & Boch team.

As a main sponsor of the AHEAD Awards, Villeroy & Boch cemented its dedication to celebrating excellence in hospitality design.

Fabrizia D’Autilia, marketing manager at Villeroy & Boch, commented on the event, “HIX 2024 was a remarkable platform for connecting with the best and brightest minds in hotel design. We are thrilled with the positive reception to our products and workshops. It’s always inspiring to share our vision and innovations with an audience that appreciates the intersection of timeless design and cutting-edge technology.”

For those who missed HIX 2024, Villeroy & Boch’s permanent showroom in Suites 312, 313, and 314 remains a must-visit destination for exploring the brand’s latest offerings.

New spa-inspired bathtubs from Adamsez promote wellness and serenity

Irish luxury bathroom specialist Adamsez continues to expand its bath collection with the introduction of two new designs that promote the feeling of wellness and serenity in the home.

These new acrylic bathtubs are part of a wider product launch and perfectly reflect the trend for creating a spa-like bathroom. Sonata is set to redefine relaxation with texture, while Onsen brings the popularity of plunge pool bathing indoors.

With its seamless blend of artful design and functional excellence, Sonata offers sophistication in every detail. Blending design and functionality, Sonata pairs elegant double-ended curves with a sleek, linear silhouette. Its fluted design delivers texture that captures the essence of a spa-inspired retreat, creating a serene sanctuary to escape the demands of daily life.

Available in two versatile styles, catering to different tastes and bathroom layouts, Sonata comes in an ultra-contemporary freestanding design, or in a back-to-wall format which offers a more traditional yet equally stylish look. Spaciously sized, the freestanding model measures 1700 x 800mm, while the back-to-wall version comes in two sizes: 1700 x 750mm and a slightly more compact 1500 x 750mm size. The Sonata range also extends to a 360 x 150mm basin for those who like a coordinated, seamless scheme.

“Sonata reflects the growing trend for textured sanitaryware, as more people seek to create a personal retreat within their homes where they can immerse themselves in total relaxation”, says Ruth Black, managing director at Adamsez. “This bathtub is more than a functional piece, it’s an invitation to slow down, unwind and indulge.”

Neolith celebrates UK success with 2024 prestigious award wins & shortlists

Neolith, a sintered stone brand, has outlined its outstanding achievements in 2024, marked by industry accolades. In a triumph for its sustainability credentials, Neolith Ignea was Highly Commended in the Best Sustainable Innovation category of the Country & Town House Future Icons Awards as part of the B Corp publication’s Journey to Zero initiative.

Neolith was also named a winner of Designerati’s Kitchen Product of the Year for Neolith Calacatta Romaand Archiproducts’ Sustainability category for Neolith Ignea. In addition, Neolith has also been shortlisted in the Surface Design Awards, FX Awards, SBID and KBB Focus Awards. As a result, Neolith celebrates an exemplary year that underscores its innovation, sustainability, and design excellence.

Each result reflects Neolith’s dedication to brilliance and innovation in creating stunning, functional surfaces that appeal to both designers and homeowners. Neolith continues to set industry standards through its innovative product offerings, making a significant impact in both residential and commercial spaces. The recognition from these awards reinforces Neolith’s mission to deliver premium products that meet the evolving needs of the market.

“We are thrilled to receive such esteemed recognitions, particularly for our dedication to sustainability,” said Ross Stewart, UK Senior Sales Manager for Neolith UK. “These accolades are a testament to our team’s relentless pioneering spirit of offering eco-conscious and sustainable solutions without compromising on design. We look forward to hearing further results of our remaining award nominations in 2025”.

The major standout qualities of Neolith sintered stone are the combination of design and functionality with high heat resistance, high scratch resistance and near zero porosity of its surfaces, meaning Neolith is very easy to clean and highly resistant to staining. It’s also highly resistant to UV, frost and thaw, which means it can be used in outdoor kitchens, which are becoming increasingly popular in the UK market and being adopted into the offering of a lot of kitchen designers and studios.

A Commitment to Sustainable Design

As the first materials industry company to achieve carbon neutrality in 2019, Neolith remains at the forefront of sustainable innovation. Its Ignea surface, awarded for its exceptional 98% recycled content, exemplifies the brand’s dedication to minimising environmental impact while delivering high-performance materials. Ignea’s composition, inspired by Earth’s volcanic cycles, highlights Neolith’s vision for driving a circular economy without compromising on quality or design. In addition, Neolith’s achievement of the Cradle to Cradle Certified® Bronze certification for a wide range of products—the only brand in its category to do so—sets a new standard for safe and sustainable design in 2025 and beyond.

Neolith’s products combine state-of-the-art technology with sustainable practices, offering a range of surfaces suitable for indoor and outdoor use. The company’s commitment to minimise waste has been certified through the Zero Waste certification, that proofs the company recycles or reuses more than the 96% of the industrial waste generated. 100% of the electrical energy usedduring production comes from renewable sources and the totality of the industrial water is recycled, further cementing Neolith’s role as a pioneer in offering eco-conscious and sustainable solutions.

2024 UK Awards: Neolith’s wins and Highly Commended honours

Designerati Awards 2024
- Category: Kitchen Product of the Year
- Product: Calacatta Roma
Country & Town House Awards – Future Icons Award 2024
- Category: Best Sustainable Innovation
- Product: Ignea
Archiproducts Awards 2024
- Category: Sustainability
- Product: Ignea

2024 UK Award Shortlists:

Surface Design Awards 2025 –(winners to be announced February 2025)
- Category: Light & Surface (Exterior)
- Product/Installation: Neolith – A Reflection of Who We Are
- Judges: Esteemed industry leaders, including James Dixon (Benoy Architects), Jorge Méndez-Cáceres (For Everyday Life), and Amrit Seera (Vabel).
SBID Awards 2024
- Category: Surfaces and Finishes
- Product: Calacatta Roma
FX Awards 2024
- Category: Products: Surfaces
- Product: Calacatta Roma
KBBFocus 2024
- Category: Best Surface of the Year
- Product: WhiteSands

You can follow Neolith’s latest news at www.neolith.com

Designer Recruitment joins the BMA as an affiliate member

The Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA) welcomes Designer Recruitment, a leading recruitment specialist in the KBB and Merchant industries, as an affiliate member.

With a proven track record of sourcing and placing the best KBB candidates across the UK, Designer Recruitment aims to support the KBB sector by addressing the challenges of attracting and retaining top talent in a competitive marketplace.

Tom Reynolds, chief executive of the BMA, highlighted the benefits of this new partnership: “Recruiting skilled and passionate professionals is one of our industry’s biggest challenges. The bathroom sector, with its complex value chain and technical demands, offers rich opportunities for career growth and learning, yet it can be overlooked by job seekers. By welcoming Designer Recruitment into the BMA family, we gain invaluable expertise to help our members attract the talent needed to drive innovation and growth.”

Ben Paine, managing director and Founder of Designer Recruitment, shared his enthusiasm for the collaboration:
“As a recruiter dedicated to the KBB sector, I see the bathroom industry as a dynamic and thriving field with endless potential for career development. Joining the BMA allows us to contribute to the wider growth of this exciting sector by connecting businesses with exceptional talent. We’re committed to showcasing the incredible opportunities the bathroom sector offers, from design to manufacturing, and ensuring companies can build teams that deliver outstanding results.”

Designer Recruitment brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the BMA. The company has established itself as a trusted partner for businesses and candidates alike, and this partnership underscores the association’s commitment to tackling recruitment challenges and enhancing the visibility of the bathroom sector as a career destination.

The BMA and Designer Recruitment look forward to working together to promote the bathroom sector’s unique opportunities for growth and development and ensure its continued success in the years to come.

Tissino launches new sustainability initiative to cut carbon emissions

Bathroom manufacturer Tissino has launched a new sustainability initiative to reduce its carbon emissions. The new initiative focuses on Tissino’s delivery service, which will move to allocated delivery days – on average between two and three per retailer per week – expected to reduce carbon emissions by 25% and save an estimated 42.5 tonnes annually.

Tissino will still offer next-day delivery to retailers for a nominal fee of £10, which will be used to plant a tree through the company’s new partnership with Treeapp.

Since the initiative launched at the start of the month, Tissino has already planted enough trees to absorb 16.35 tonnes of CO2 in their lifetime and reforest 240m2 of land.

As well as launching the new delivery initiative, the company has also undertaken further changes to improve its sustainability. This includes moving to LED lighting in their warehouse, which is expected to save 113 tonnes of CO2 over 15 years, the purchase of electric forklift trucks with all domestic and warehouse waste being fully recycled, resulting in generating 12 tonnes of RDF (refuse-derived fuel) – enough to drive 29,020 miles in an electric car during a 12-month period.

Alan Carter, transport manager at Tissino, comments: “As a company, we are fully committed to our responsibility in helping to reduce emissions and move towards Net Zero. It continues to be an on-going journey, but we are constantly evaluating and looking at ways we can improve our sustainability.

“We’ve had great feedback from retailers about a move to dedicated delivery dates, as they understand the bigger picture, though we do offer next day delivery still for any very urgent jobs which are offset by our tree planting scheme.”

For more information on Tissino, visit www.tissino.co.uk

PJH AR investment bring Bathrooms to Love to Life!

PJH is expanding its Augmented Reality (AR) feature, designed to transform how consumers and retailers interact with its Bathrooms to Love (BTL) collection. With AR technology, creating a dream bathroom has never been easier, allowing users to visualise how Bathrooms to Love products will look and fit in their own spaces.

Sally Hough, multi-channel marketing manager, PJH, commented: “With Augmented Reality, imagination becomes reality. Customers can now visualise their dream bathrooms with greater confidence and ease. AR is not only an innovative design tool for consumers but also an additional sales driver for our stockists allowing them to showcase products they may not have space to display. This feature embodies our commitment to enhancing the buying journey while supporting our valued retail partners with cutting-edge technology.”

The popularity of AR as a design tool has driven PJH to invest significantly in this technology. Almost all products in the NEW Autumn/Winter Bathrooms to Love Collection are equipped with QR codes, enabling users to “bring their ideas to life” through detailed product videos or immersive AR visualisation.

Seamlessly integrated into the PJH Partners Portal™, in-store Point of Sale (POS) materials, and the Bathrooms to Love website, the AR experience ensures customers can engage with it wherever they are, whether browsing online or exploring a showroom. In-store, customers can scan QR codes on POS displays to visualise how a product might look in their bathroom before making a purchase, enhancing customer engagement and ultimately driving sales. This allows customers to directly access information on only the products they are interested in, offering a more tailored approach to individual needs while also supporting environmental sustainability by minimising printed materials.

The process is straightforward: customers look for the AR icon next to a product, scan the QR code with a smartphone, or click the button if browsing online. The product will then overlay onto the existing room, accurately representing its size, colour, and fit. Users can explore every product detail, zoom in, rotate it, and even switch between different colour options, ensuring it complements their space perfectly.

PJH’s investment in AR reflects its dedication to staying ahead of industry trends and supporting its retail network with innovative tools that attract and engage customers.

For further information about Bathrooms to Love or its Collection through Augmented Reality visit www.bathroomstolove.uk website, contact your PJH rep, visit , www.partners.pjh.uk, or call, T: 0800 8 77 88 99.

HEWI launches new PVD finishes at HIX 2024

HEWI has introduced environmentally friendly PVD finishes to the UK market. Delivering more glamour to the bathroom, the new finishes include brass, copper, nickel, bronze, gloss black, and more.

HEWI’s latest finishes help transform contemporary sanitary rooms into personalised oases of well-being—be it in hotels, representative public buildings, elective surgery areas in hospitals, or the bathroom at home. Altogether, the manufacturer offers four new standard and eight new special colours for its accessible sanitaryware and accessories, all manufactured in the PVD process. This allows for even more diversity and scope for bathroom planning. With its sanitary systems and accessories, HEWI transforms sanitary areas and private bathrooms into feel-good spaces with that certain something extra.

Colours and surfaces are particularly suitable elements in planning to design sanitary rooms that are in tune with the atmosphere of the surrounding architecture. Be it cool, calming, warm, or revitalising, HEWI offers new, inspiring colours and surfaces for selected ranges and systems to suit every customised design.

Decorative and durable
Brass, bronze, gold, or black chrome, with brushed or glossy finish options – the new metallic designer surfaces offer a wide range of choices. They are highly decorative and emotionally appealing. But behind the fine, shimmering surfaces lie extremely robust and resistant properties. The PVD surfaces are corrosion-resistant and ideal for sanitary rooms or rooms with high humidity. They also have durable properties such as hardness and scratch resistance. HEWI offers a total of 4 new standard and eight new special colours.

Creative planning scope
To enable consistent bathroom design in the planning phase, HEWI has also adapted the high-quality design surfaces to the standard surfaces of leading fitting manufacturers. In our assortment, the metallic surfaces are available for selected products from the S900, S 900 Q and S 162 ranges and systems.

Flawless craftsmanship and precision
“HEWI products combine functionality and excellent design with the aspects of durability and sustainability, thus creating added value”, emphasises HEWI product manager Florian Haude.

The “Made in Germany” aspect is particularly important to HEWI. The company, based in Bad Arolsen, Hesse, has its own PVD system and continuously invests in state-of-the-art production facilities to ensure the highest quality and precision. HEWI’s aim is flawless craftsmanship and high-quality aesthetics.

Owain Harrison appointed as MD of KBBG From 2025

From 1^st January 2025, Owain Harrison, currently global business and brand development director at Novy (part of Middleby Residential), will take on the role of managing director at the KBBG (part of DER KREIS), the UK’s leading independent buying group for the KBB industry.

This announcement comes as Bill Miller prepares to step down from the role at the end of the year after more than a decade of dedicated service. Having launched KBBG as the UK’s first independent buying group for the kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom industry, Bill has played a pivotal role in growing the organisation into a thriving community for retailers, manufacturers, and service providers.

This marks an exciting new chapter for the organisation as Owain brings over 20 years of global experience in brand development, strategic growth, and operational leadership in the premium kitchen sector. Owain has been an integral part of the Novy team for over seven years, transforming the brand from a market entry to a recognised luxury leader in the UK and Ireland before expanding its global footprint. His experience includes senior roles with Hoover Candy Group and Indesit Company and serving as Corporate Chair at the Kbsa.

Ahead of his appointment, Owain comments: “I am delighted to be joining DER KREIS as Managing Director in the UK. With the KBBG’s commitment to empowering independent retailers and delivering exceptional quality, the organisation aligns perfectly with my passion for innovation in the kitchen and bathroom industry. I look forward to continuing the excellent work carried out by Bill Miller, together with Russell Sharpe, Neil Whitaker and Louisa Cole, leveraging our experience to strengthen the members’ market positions, drive growth, and enhance the customer experience. The need for independent retailers to maximise their margins and business relationships is more urgent than ever, and we will continue Bill’s work to drive excellence throughout the KBB industry.”

Reflecting on his tenure, Bill says: “It has been an absolute honour and pleasure supporting independent kitchen and bathroom retailers, it truly is a wonderful, resilient sector. Thank you to DER KREIS for giving me the opportunity to build the KBBG brand, it was a pivotal moment in my career, and I’m proud to say that we exceeded all expectations. Championing independent retailers and watching their businesses grow has been a real privilege.”

Bill also expresses confidence in his successor: “My position at the KBBG is being handed over to the most capable hands in Owain Harrison. Known for his strategic insight, Owain has consistently delivered exceptional results through brand building, market analysis, and executive relationship management. I wish him every success at KBBG and know that he will be an excellent addition to the team.”

Bill’s legacy includes building a strong and ever-growing membership, fostering collaboration within the KBB sector, and securing a robust portfolio of suppliers, all of which have made the KBBG an invaluable resource for independent retailers. Owain’s leadership promises to build on this foundation, ensuring continued support for independent KBB retailers while driving innovation and growth in the sector.

For more information on the KBBG, call 023 8202 1347 or email info@derkreis.co.uk. You can also visit the website at www.kbbg.co.uk.

BiKBBI Installation Awards Finalists announced

Daniel Farmer, Global Doors & Interiors

The British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation (BiKBBI) has today announced the finalists for the BiKBBI Installation Awards 2025 – the only awards programme dedicated to recognising and rewarding excellence in the KBB installation sector.

This year, there were a record number of nominations across twelve categories. An independent panel of judges representing businesses from across the KBB industry scored all entries, ultimately producing our shortlist of 48 finalists.

The BiKBBI Awards 2025 finalists are:

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR sponsored by Blum UK

Amber Holder Wickes

Ashton Clifford The Adroit Services Partnership

Charlie Catton Elle & R Home Improvements Ltd

Tommy Mercer McKay Kitchens

COMMUNITY CHAMPION OF THE YEAR

Premium Kitchens & Bedrooms Ltd

Howdens

Graham Parnell, The K & B Installer

Kevin Choat, Bathroom Innovations

Abode

CUSTOMER SERVICE CHAMPION OF THE YEAR sponsored by Senstec

Ashling Street Lima Kitchens

Karen Chapman JLC Interiors Ltd

Isla Harpur HARNCE

ArtiCAD

Alexander

Hollands Heating Ltd

INDEPENDENT RETAILER OF THE YEAR sponsored by MHK UK

Lima Kitchens

JLC Interiors Ltd

Harrison James (Shropshire) Ltd

Urban Myth

INSTALLATION BUSINESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by Häfele

Interior Motive (Yorks) Ltd

Premium Kitchens & Bedrooms Ltd

The Adroit Services Partnership

Alexander

T&N Developments Ltd

Elle & R Home Improvements Ltd

INSTALLATION MANAGER OF THE YEAR sponsored by Sonas Bathrooms

Alex Smith Lima Kitchens

Ian Cloggie Christian Andrews Interiors

Harry Weaver Harrison James (Shropshire) Ltd

Harriett Grice Wren Contracts

Gurpreet Singh Sudan Easy Bathrooms

Warwick Hockley Alexander

INSTALLER OF THE YEAR sponsored by CT1

James Johnson Johnson Design & Installation

Ian Cloggie Christian Andrews Interiors

Brett Cattlin Solihull Bathrooms

Ian Moore JTL Interiors

Mark Tugwell Alexander

Nathan Hardy Hardy Homes

NATIONAL RETAILER OF THE YEAR sponsored by Anthill

Wren Kitchens

Easy Bathrooms

Wickes

Magnet Kitchens

YOUNG INSTALLER OF THE YEAR sponsored by Schlüter Systems

Olivia Weaver Harrison James (Shropshire) Ltd

Aidan Parish Lima Kitchens

Jack Drury JCD Kitchens

Sophie Maguire Pink Plumbing

ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPION OF THE YEAR

JLC Interiors Ltd

Rehome

HIPPO

Rotpunkt

INDUSTRY NEWCOMER 2025 sponsored by Lecico

Olivia Weaver Harrison James (Shropshire) Ltd

Easy Bathrooms

Elle & R Home Improvements Ltd

A Special Recognition Award will also be presented on the evening.

BiKBBI CEO Damian Walters commented, ‘ The BiKBBI Awards is an important platform to recognise and reward excellence in installation – a vital and often overlooked area of the KBB industry, and we are delighted to see continued year-on growth both in terms of the number of entries but also in the number of businesses getting involved. This year has been a tough one for many businesses, with lots of uncertainty and distraction. Therefore, the support and involvement from all areas of the industry means more than ever before. This year’s finalists should be in no doubt that being a finalist is a cause for celebration in itself. We look forward to celebrating with them in February at the BiKBBI Awards presentation. It is so important that the installation sector is recognised for the role that it plays in the industry, and special thanks goes to those businesses that are sponsoring the 2025 Awards – their commitment and support is what makes both the Awards programme and the presentation event possible.’

The winners of all eleven categories, along with the winner of the BiKBBI Special Recognition Award, will be announced at an Awards ceremony at the prestigious QEII Centre in London’s Westminster on the evening of Tuesday, 4 February 2025.

Tickets for the 2025 BiKBBI Awards are now on sale and can be purchased here. More information on the event and the awards programme can be found at bikbbi.org.uk.

If you want to learn more about the remaining sponsorship opportunities for the BiKBBI Awards 2025, please email Michelle Daniels at michelle.daniels@bikbbi.org.uk or call 01375 213 199.

Laminam’s top five bathroom surface trends for 2025

From nature-inspired design to spa-like luxury, Laminam rounds up the top five bathroom surface trends for 2025.

1. Cladded Basins and Vanity Units

Inspired by five-star hotel luxury, cladded vanity units have become increasingly popular in recent years, especially in en-suite bathrooms. This trend will become even more prominent in 2025 as homeowners look to recreate the spa-style sanctuary of a favourite holiday or luxury break at home.

Twin basins also make a stunning statement within a bathroom scheme, especially when clad in a stone surface such as porcelain. Durable and hardwearing, it also creates a sleek and seamless look that flows effortlessly when paired with the same surface for countertops, splashbacks, showers, wall cladding and flooring. Porcelain is an ideal material for bathrooms, as it is non-porous, so it doesn’t require sealing. It is also water resistant; it is stain, scratch, moisture, and humidity resistant. The stunning marble effect of seamless porcelain surfaces will also bring a luxe look to any bathroom or en-suite, and for 2025, let the material take centre stage with fresh or warm whites with delicate veining or grounding earthy tones to bring a sense of the outside in.

Pictured top Laminam Surface – Slate Series – Ankara

2. Bookmatched Surfaces

Laminam’s porcelain is perfect for making a statement in the bathroom. The large-format slabs can be laid horizontally or vertically for walls and floors, and 2025 will see a rise in the use of bookmatched patterns for large areas such as behind a freestanding bath, as a basin splashback or in a large walk-in shower area. Bookmatching allows for seamless continuity with no visible joins, which has the added benefit of being impervious to germs and bacteria while making cleaning easier thanks to fewer grout lines. The distinctive and eye-catching look is created by adjoining two or more slabs of stone cut from the same block right next to each other for a striking mirror-image effect. Laminam has over 20 designs that can be bookmatched.

Laminam Surface – I Naturali Series – Calacatta Oro Venato

3. Nature Inspired Spaces

With over 291,000 #biophilicdesign posts on Instagram, the trend for bringing the outside in looks set to stay for 2025. There are so many benefits to creating a natural and organic look and feel within the home – it helps to create a sense of calm and mindfulness, connecting us to nature and providing a welcome retreat from the hectic world outside. Adding plenty of potted and hanging plants also improves air purification, absorbing excess moisture and balancing humidity, which is particularly important for bathrooms and wet rooms.

Laminam Surface – IN-SIDE Series – Pietra Piasentina Taupe

4. Open-Plan Bathrooms

A bathroom with a tub and sinkDescription automatically generated

One of the biggest trends for 2025 will be opening up the bathroom, removing shower doors and creating a seamless and open wet room on its own or within a bathroom or en-suite, achieving a spacious and airy feel. Sleek and modern in aesthetics, the effect is also incredibly functional, especially when Laminam’s porcelain slabs are used for walls and flooring. With no visible joins, the room is easy to clean and ultra-hygienic, with no grout lines for germs and bacteria to hide in.

Pictured above – Laminam Surfaces – IN-SIDE Series – Terra di Matera {back wall and flooring}
and Terra di Saturnia {bath and shower wall}

5. Minimal Luxury

Creating a calming and spa-like experience at home with minimal luxury means paring back to the essentials and ensuring these essentials are of the highest quality. Think bathrooms with a freestanding sculptural-shaped bath, concealed shower fixings, wall-mounted basin taps that leave the countertop clear and plenty of storage to hide everything from view. This bathroom style also lets the surfaces sing, with porcelain’s marble effects and authentic Italian look taking centre stage.

Laminam Surface – I Naturali Series – Pietra di Savoia