The new Root collection offers a wide range of product sizes and styles in mix and match colour and wood unit combinations with complementing handle styles. Root also includes brassware and the choice of three washbasins.
Highly versatile, customers can select from three distinct styles (Flat, Groove and Classic), seventeen choices of colour and three vanity basins.
Root brassware and furniture combine to create a flexible and customisable bathroom collection. Flat is a simple style for those with a minimalist taste, Groove is a contemporary option with a panelled style and Classic is a modern take on shaker design. The furniture joins the recently launched brassware collections Root Round and Root Square, available in five colours (chrome, brushed nickel, copper, matt black and gold) across the array of basin, bath, and shower mixers.
“We believe that Root will be an enormous success in the UK market. Created to respond to consumer needs specifically, Root enables consumers to customise any bathroom space easily,” says VitrA’s Marketing Manager for the UK and Europe, Margaret Talbot. “The vast colour and size options provide consumers with the choice and flexibility they need.”
A handy A5 brochure is available online and in print to support the Root launch.
The brand new Saniflush from Saniflo is a complete ceramic toilet that features an integrated macerator and provides a stylish solution for installing a WC into spaces where gravity drainage isn’t an option. Whether it is a bathroom in a basement or loft, or a cloakroom under the stairs, the installation of a Saniflush is possible with just a water supply and electrical connection. Thanks to its two outlets, a basin or a shower can also be connected.
The modern rimless design and traditional bowl base is as practical as it is attractive. And because the macerator is contained within the ceramic it’s a compact, space-saving option that perfectly conceals the macerator unit from sight. Standard macerators are often visible behind the WC unit; the Saniflush eliminates that issue for customers that prefer a neater solution.
The design is also flange-free for easy cleaning and the classic white design will suit any style of bathroom; it looks just like any contemporary WC. And it features all the benefits of a modern loo too. A water saving push button flush system, 3.6 litre tank and soft close seat with the added bonus of making a previously redundant space useful. The powerful 400-watt motor in the macerator enables waste to be pumped up to a height of 5m and up to 100m horizontally. A non-return valve is supplied as standard.
Access to the macerator is cleverly provided by a sliding ceramic that exposes the pump for maintenance and servicing.
For more information and technical details, please visit www.saniflo.co.uk
Located in the heart of the city, the full-service lifestyle property will mark the first Hyatt hotel in Scotland and the second Hyatt Centric hotel in the United Kingdom.
Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced today that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a franchise agreement with Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) for Hyatt Centric Edinburgh Haymarket. Slated to open in mid-2025, the 349-room property will mark the first Hyatt hotel in Scotland, signifying a key milestone for Hyatt’s strategic brand growth in the U.K.
Located less than 1,000 feet (300 meters) from the EICC, Hyatt Centric Edinburgh Haymarket will be a part of the Haymarket Edinburgh development, which will encompass office blocks and retail units.
In collaboration with Edinburgh College, the EICC development will also include a world-class hospitality training academy for students and trainees focused on a career path in Scotland’s leisure, hospitality, and tourism industry.
The hotel will be situated near some of Edinburgh’s most famous landmarks, including the iconic Edinburgh Castle, the National Museum of Scotland, and the Old Town. Those looking to experience the city like a local will be drawn to the St James’ Quarter, New Town, and George Street shopping and cultural districts, all of which will be within walking distance from the hotel. The property will also be conveniently located just six miles (10 kilometres) away from Edinburgh International Airport, which connects travellers directly to more than 150 destinations worldwide.
The new Hyatt Centric hotel will be a highly attractive option for national and international leisure and business travellers, and hospitality training academy students, and will serve as a launchpad for discovering the city’s rich history and culture.
“We are thrilled to be collaborating with the Edinburgh International Conference Center on Hyatt Centric Haymarket Edinburgh, which will mark the Hyatt Centric brand’s entry into one of the world’s most celebrated capital cities,” said Felicity Black-Roberts, Hyatt’s vice president development for Europe and North Africa. “This new-build development demonstrates Hyatt’s commitment to growing its portfolio of lifestyle brands across the U.K, in locations that matter most to our guests, members, customers, and owners.”
The full-service lifestyle hotel will offer 349 guestrooms, a gym, and four meeting rooms, as well as creative dining experiences that will appeal to guests and locals alike. Visitors will enjoy six different rotating street food brands through its fresh and exciting dining concept, changing regularly to reflect the spirit of Edinburgh’s thriving local culinary scene.
The hotel is being designed as a sustainable and upscale property by Foster + Partners, a world-famous architectural firm founded by Norman Foster, renowned for its holistic approach to sustainability and responsible design. Interiors are being designed by international architecture and design firm Ica, one of the world’s leading, expert-led hotel interior design consultancies, headquartered in Glasgow.
“The Haymarket Edinburgh development is central to the EICC’s future as Scotland’s leading conference venue, and aligns with our mission to create an environment to inspire ideas that change the world,” said Marshall Dallas, Chief Executive of EICC. “Hyatt Centric Edinburgh Haymarket will be a cornerstone to attracting local and international travelers and notable luminaries to our venue each year. We are thrilled to work with Hyatt on what will be the first Hyatt hotel in Scotland, and look forward to the meaningful opportunities this property will bring to the city of Edinburgh.”
Hyatt Centric Edinburgh Haymarket will join 16 Hyatt-branded properties across the U.K. and will mark the second Hyatt Centric hotel in the country, joining Hyatt Centric Cambridge.
As the cost of living continues to increase and energy prices soar, a leading global bathroom and kitchen brand, GROHE, has shared its top tips on reducing energy consumption in the home.
Ebru Bircan,Leader, Marketing Activation UK, LIXIL EMENA, comments: “Sustainability is incredibly important to us and it’s something we consider in everything from designing products to how they’re packaged. We pride ourselves on creating innovations which help people live and buy more consciously; easily sustainable homes continue to be a priority for many of us after the pandemic (1) and with the added increase in energy bills, we hope to help people see how they can live more resourcefully while helping the environment and without compromising on product design or features.”
Start with the basics – if you’re constantly leaving appliances or other equipment plugged in or on standby, you could be draining nearly £70 worth of unused electricity per year. Learn to switch off and unplug once you’ve finished using things such as kettles, air fryers, hair dryers and more.
Consider when you really need to use warm or hot water; often cold water (which uses less energy) will suffice and we waste hot water and therefore the energy in heating it up. Small changes can add up to making a big impact, if you need a helping hand, consider GROHE’s SilkMove ES (energy saving) cold-start technology. Integrated into a number of our bathroom and kitchen product lines, the feature means only cold water is provided when the lever is in the middle position, making warm water a conscious decision. Plus, partnered with a flow restrictor to reduce water consumption by 50%, you’ll find it easier than ever to save water.
We all know we should only be boiling the water we need when we’re using kettles, but often it’s harder to put into practice. Whether you tend to over-estimate or someone always asks for a cup of tea shortly after declining, a kettle-hot tap may help keep you in check. The GROHE Red water system delivers kettle-hot water direct from the tap helping to save time, energy, and space.
Showering is often a sense of calm for many of us. Whether it’s the time needed to wake up in the morning or wind down in the evening; it’s one of life’s daily luxuries. However, an unnecessarily high-water flow can mean we’re wasting litres of water. Users can save up to 50% on water without compromising on the shower quality with the GROHE EcoButton which is available across a range of GROHE shower thermostats. With the simple push of a button, users can increase the water volume if they wish, providing them with the easy option to shower in an eco-friendlier manner at first.
GROHE Grohtherm 1000 thermostat and GROHE Tempesta 100 hand shower with GROHE EcoJoy for reduced water-flow showering
One of the easiest ways to save on water bills is to reduce your water consumption. You might think that’s easier said than done, but there are industry innovations which enable you to continue enjoying using water as needed. EcoJoy technology by GROHE helps reduce water consumption by up to 50%, by using a flow restrictor to cut down from 10 litres per minute to just over 5 litres, while an aerator provides the same voluminous experience as that offered by a regular tap, meaning the experience isn’t compromised.
Houzz Inc., a leading platform for home renovation and design, today introduced new features for the Timeline tool in Houzz Pro, the all-in-one business management and marketing software for residential construction and design professionals.
The Houzz Pro Timeline tool enables pros to quickly map out a project schedule, track progress and visually communicate their plan to everyone involved. With easy to create Gantt charts, pros can organise their project and ensure they have the right equipment, materials and personnel on-site.
Now, pros can add activities and related sub-activities for each stage of a project to their timeline. The new dependency feature enables pros to indicate when the start of one item relies on the completion of another, so that moving one activity on the schedule will also move the dependent activities. Timeline activities can also be assigned to different team members, who are notified immediately. The timeline can be shared with the project team, including staff, trade contractors and clients, keeping everyone informed of due dates, to-do’s and schedule changes.
“The Houzz Pro Timeline tool makes it easy to organise, track and communicate all elements of a construction or design project,” said Alon Cohen, Houzz co-founder and president.
“Scheduling is one of the biggest challenges for our pro customers and they need a dynamic way to make schedule changes and quickly and easily inform all project stakeholders – from staff members to trade contractors to clients. The new dependency and assignable activity features make it easier for teams to stay on top of how changes affect the entire project schedule.”
Assigned timeline items can be accessed from the Houzz Pro Task Manager, which tracks progress across multiple projects. Team members can see all of their assigned timeline items and tasks in one place, making it easier to work through to-do lists. This is one of the many ways that Houzz Pro software supports all aspects of the business – from the first conversation through the punch list. With lead management, estimates, invoicing and more, Houzz Pro helps residential construction and design professionals run an efficient, profitable business and make it easy for them to reach new customers, all while delivering a standout client experience.
Houzz Pro is available in more than 10 countries across North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Subscription packages are priced to fit any budget or team. Pros can learn more and get started at houzz.com/pro. The Houzz Pro app is available on iOS and Android devices.
Download screenshots of the upgraded Houzz Pro Timeline tool here and watch a video of the tool in action here.
‘We are in unprecedented times’ – if only I had a pound for every time that was said… Much of the noise in the national discourse is currently focused on economic predictions of dire and desperate times ahead. With the Chancellor’s recent windfall tax to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, and the World Bank saying a global recession will be difficult to avoid, we are all too aware of an undercurrent of fear.
Yet, in the bathroom sector we are telling a different story.
Having experienced a strong year in 2021 with record-breaking sales, 2022 is continuing to bring positive news, with steady increases in total sales of BMA members in the first quarter.
Builders’ merchants are also positive, about the prospects for 2022 with MRA Research’s Pulse survey showing nearly one in two merchants expect sales to grow by 46%, with 36% expecting sales to increase by up to 9%. A further two in three expect sales to grow by more than that.
Doom and gloom is not my style and, while of course we need to consider the economic headwinds, the negative Nancies will not bring me down.
In the months and years ahead, I see opportunity and scope for more growth.
If the government boosts the economy and properly protects those most vulnerable, there is no reason why we cannot improve productivity and enjoy more record-breaking years of bathroom sales ahead.
This sentiment is shared by our members at BMA, who are remaining upbeat, having overcome so many crises recently, affecting supply, costs and operations.
They can see the property market has remained reasonably buoyant, and many people are continuing to work from home, driving demand for big-ticket buys like kitchens and bathrooms.
The UK media is excellent at talking ourselves into a recession and it is critical that we don’t just accept that commentary.
The last couple of years in business have been challenging and frustrating at times, with no sense of what to expect next.
But in reality, that has created fresh perspectives, new ideas and innovation. This mentality will hopefully serve us well, as we all tackle whatever unprecedented scenarios lie ahead.
Maybe predictions of doom and gloom are unfounded, and maybe too the wish for thing to settle down. In the world of business, we would do well to throw out the predefined response plan, and instead foster the right attitudes to look ahead with growth and opportunity at the forefront of our minds.
Features by Diane Larner founder and editor of Bathroom Review & Kitchens Review. Diane Larner launched both titles over 12 years ago and has been writing about the bathroom and kitchen interior design industry ever since, publishing regular features across the two sectors.
The smallest room in the house needs to pack a punch when it comes to fulfilling its duties. It is estimated that the average person spends 813.3 days in the bathroom, which equates to over two years of their life. From taking care of daily cleansing routines to time-out activities such as reading the news or watching Netflix in the bath, the bathroom is the place we go to first invigorate and then wind down. Can small bathroom spaces offer us the same luxury? Diane Larner takes a look at the challenges of small space design and considers four solutions.
Cleverly compact
Saneux
According to a report by Zoopla new-build homes in the UK have shrunk in size by20%during the past 40 years, and our bathrooms are paying the price.
“Bathrooms are getting smaller and smaller” says Iain Cooper, founder of Saneux, “Designers and architects creating new builds are increasingly challenged trying to get the same number of items to fit in a much smaller space. Saving even 20mm where they can is so important, so it is more essential than ever to create space-saving products.”
The latest space-saving options from Saneux include bathroom furniture units and ceramics that help maximise the bathroom area whilst providing clever storage solutions. Sanuex’s HYDE collection has been designed to open up the bathroom and includes short projection units; AIR is similar to HYDE but goes one step further in that it features short-projection toilets alongside space-saving furniture. The basins & furniture are available in 40cm, 60cm, and 80cm sizes, with only 35cm projections.
Small but suite
RAK-Petit
Coupled with limited bathroom space and the 18-inch building code (specifying the minimum distance from the centre of the toilet to the shower or bath), architects and designers are more reliant than ever on short projection ceramics.
Ben Bryden, sales and marketing director at RAK Ceramics UK, agrees and tells us that selecting a range designed for compact bathrooms will help ease the planning process. “In the small bathroom or cloakroom, avoid sanitaryware and furniture that has a long profile, as this is more likely to encroach on the space and make the room appear small and cramped. Instead, opt for slim-line fixtures and sanitaryware that has been specifically designed with compact spaces in mind.”
With the size of the average UK bathroom measuring around 4.4m2, the latest designer collection from RAK Ceramics solves the problem of creating luxury results in compact spaces. In fact, RAK-Petit is designed specifically with small bathrooms in mind.
Ben Bryden continues, “Opting for a wall-hung WC will also go a long way to increasing the floor space in the room and again makes small spaces appear bigger by keeping the floor visible, not to mention that it makes cleaning so much easier too.”
The theory of modularity
i.life
A space-saving collection that encompasses shower trays and baths, as well as basins and WCs, helps to create a cohesive design that is perfect for all bathrooms, including en-suites and shower rooms. Complete collections that can be scaled for the user, with no loss of impact or amenity are key if the end result must align with increasingly demanding consumer expectations.
Yiota Toumba, senior designer at Ideal Standard, agrees, “Many space-saving products also include the same innovative features and technology as their larger alternatives. This means customers can create stylish, on-trend bathrooms that feel more spacious, while still delivering on quality and performance.”
Modular furniture has a beautiful simplicity, not only freeing up floor space but also delivering compact storage options, Yiota Toumba continues. “Modular furniture can work really well in smaller spaces too. These pair well with space-saving solutions and we’ve seen this combination grow in popularity recently. When paired with space-saving products, modular furniture can create clean, customisable spaces with plenty of storage for users.”
Ideal Standard’s i.life is a total bathroom solution for the everyday and has been designed to work with bathrooms large or small. i.life S has been designed to complement smaller spaces and has a contemporary, soft-square design, featuring a variety of ceramics and furniture – including basins, WCs, shower trays and vanity units.
SmALL-rounder
Vitra Sento
Creating a curvy wall gives a room a cosy, sociable feel, and gently rounded furniture works in the same way. However, it might not be the obvious choice for a compact space as it would be for a larger bathroom.
The VitrA Sento range offers a delightfully compact alternative for small spaces and can be mounted with or without legs. Sento features delicately rounded profiles, with Oak accents in sizes and furniture combinations that can be tailored for small bathrooms and scaled up to suit the largest.
Margaret Talbot, marketing manager for VitrA UK and Europe, concludes, “Smaller bathroom spaces can be stunning and practical with products that make the best use of available space. The smaller sizes offered by many manufacturers of ceramic ware, furniture and brassware are designed to make bijou bathrooms and WCs look and perform beautifully.”
For the latest kitchen design features – visit Kitchens Review
Cosentino Group, a global leader in the surfaces sector, has announced it has achieved record growth in its financial figures last year, even while recovering from the consequences of the pandemic at an international level.
Consentino attributes the growth to a significant investment in innovation and sustainability, human capital. The company said creating more jobs, helped it to reach an all-time high in its number of employees (14% increase), both globally and in Spain.
As a result, turnover grew by 30% to €1,401 million (€1,078 million in 2020), and the EBITDA was €275 million, including the application of IFRS 16, 29% higher as compared to the previous year. The company’s net profit increased by 59% to €104 million.
Cosentino has had an ambitious investment plan in place, investing a total of €105 million in 2021, as well as strengthening its main asset, human capital, with the creation of 685 new jobs to reach a total workforce of 5,425 employees by the end of last year.
R&D and innovation, robotisation, industrial extensions and, especially, the circular economy and the commitment to a new energy model have been the key areas where investments were made.
On the industrial side, the full implementation of the new production lines for Silestone® was completed in 2021. As for its carbon-neutral surface Dekton®, significant increases in productivity were achieved on its two current production lines, in addition to the construction of new buildings for line 3, scheduled to start operations in the middle of this year, and line 4. Simultaneously, the company improved the automation of production plants and implemented new R&D developments, which have resulted in major milestones such as the exclusive HybriQ® technology for Silestone®.
A new transversal Strategic Sustainability Plan was approved in 2021 and consolidated some of the company’s major current projects. These totalled an overall investment of more than €15 million in environmental and safety assets last year.
Consentino also started construction of what it says will be the largest industrial photovoltaic facility for self-consumption in Spain, with 35 MW peak power and an energy production capacity of approximately 58.2 GWh/year.The facility includes almost 37,000 solar panels, in addition to the installation of solar panels on the roofs of the factories. This project alone will involve a total combined investment of €24 million upon completion.
Ideal Standard has launched i.life, a total bathroom solution for the everyday. Designed to bring beauty into any home, whatever the shape or size, i.life offers simplicity with pure lines to create the perfect bathroom retreat.
Ideal Standard’s chief design officer, Roberto Palomba, said: “The i.life bathroom collection is a true example of design that creates a backdrop to good living; design that fosters a safe space for life and love to happen, no matter what size or shape your bathroom may be. It’s a smart, versatile collection where design, comfort and hygiene come together beautifully and we can’t wait for our customers to experience it in their homes.”
i.life S has a contemporary, space-saving, soft-square design, featuring a variety of ceramics and furniture – including basins, WCs, shower trays and vanity units. i.life S complements smaller spaces, and is perfect for ensuites and under-the-stairs bathrooms, with washbasins available from 45cm and vanity basins from 50cm.
The vanity units and washbasin units offer further space-saving options, helping keep rooms neat and tidy while complementing the aesthetic look. A number of storage sizes, colours and handle options are available too, with one and two drawer vanity units available between 50cm and 80cm, making it simple to create the ideal bathroom for each individual project.
i.life S is also complemented by i.life’s bathing, enclosure and shower tray options which can enhance smaller bathroom spaces. The design-led baths feature a contemporary, curved style to match the wider range and are made of Idealform and Idealform plus ceramics, to ensure durability and heat retention. Multiple sizes of single and double-ended baths are available, with the water-saving options on offer restricting water use to just 139 litres, without affecting the internal size of the bath. This makes the bathing products in i.life a truly versatile choice.
Due to the increase in residential apartment complexes across the UK, we are seeing a reduction in bathroom space as our homes become considerably smaller. Saneux has some standout furniture ranges that help maximise the bathroom area whilst providing great storage solutions. These latest space-saving options are simply executed thanks to Saneux’s innovative design.
HYDE The name already hints toward space-saving, and the HYDE collection of ceramics and furniture provides exactly that. The basin & vanity units encompass a very short projection which by default opens up the bathroom area so it doesn’t feel cramped.
The basins & units are available in 50x28cm, 55x37cm and 70x37cm in 1 & 2 drawer wall-mounted options which give the illusion of more space and floor-standing furniture is also available in the smaller size. In addition an additional recessed electric mirror cabinet fits snugly into the wall, and when it is opened, has plenty of shelving to store a vast amount of toiletries.
Saneux HYDE
AIR Similar to HYDE, the AIR range goes one step further in that it features short-projection toilets alongside space-saving furniture. The rimless close coupled WC has a compact 630mm projection, typically shorter than the average close coupled toilet, and the rimless back to wall WC boasts a minimal 500mm projection. Both of these toilets help to save floor space and are perfectly suited to cloakroom bathrooms. The basins & furniture also work in small bathrooms as the 40cm, 60cm, and 80cm sizes are all 35cm projections in Saneux’s wall-mounted and floor-standing configurations.
Saneux AIR
Both the HYDE and AIR basins have been designed to include plenty of ledge space to allow users to display soaps and lotions. And, despite its compact dimension, Saneux has built in the added bonus of deep bowls to prevent splashing.
