Diane, Author at Bathroom Review

Toolstation has seen a surge in demand over the past months for bathroom products, especially digital showers.

Toolstation has reported huge rises in the sales of digital showers (up by 182%), shower doors (up by 181%) and shower trays (153%) compared to the same period last year. Brits have also been snapping up smaller products to give the bathroom a makeover, including bath filler taps (75%) and basin mixer taps (55%).

Out of the many people that have been renovating their homes in the last three months, research from Toolstation in its Renovation Nation report reveals that 11% had a new bathrooms fitted as they plan to create a bathroom sanctuary. The report also reveals that 50% had carried out some form of general home maintenance in the last three months, while 52% said they carried out more work than during the lockdown.

Greg Richardson, Head of Marketing at Toolstation, comments: “As we head into the summer, we’ve seen demand surge for all types of bathroom products from digital showers to taps as customers look to create their ultimate bathroom. Research from our report also suggests that it’s a trend that will continue to grow as the nation looks to invest more disposable income on creating a perfect bathroom space.”

UNION Mixage by Crosswater includes new colours

After the successful launch of UNION in 2018, Crosswater has developed the collection to include a variety of new colour combinations. Not only do these new colour combinations create a striking visual contrast, but they allow consumers and designers alike to mix-and-match finishes to add instant wow-factor to any space.

This unique range offers an alternative to traditional chrome and provides the opportunity to experiment with Brushed Nickel, Brushed Black Chrome, Union Brass and Brushed Nickel. With a variety of options available for the basin, shower and bath – homeowners can easily create an on-trend, cohesive and contemporary bathroom suite.

To create a bold statement, style the new UNION Mixage alongside textured surfaces including, marble, exposed brick and concrete as this will further accentuate the raw, industrial-inspired feel of the space. To keep the space clutter-free, carefully select decorative pieces to curate an aesthetic yet minimalist space.

UNION Mixage allows consumers to experiment more freely with their design. With a continued commitment to offering more choice, these four striking new colour options from Crosswater are sure to guarantee a bold design statement.

www.crosswater.co.uk
Tel: 0345 873 8840

Ideal Standard’s Joy & Conca win design awards

Ideal Standard has announced that Joy and Conca, two products from its Atelier Collections, have been recognised by internationally renowned design awards. Joy, a clean and modern tap fitting, has won an iF DESIGN AWARD, while the Conca washbasin has received both an iF DESIGN AWARD and a Red Dot Design Award.

The Atelier Collections are the result of Ideal Standard’s exclusive partnership with Italian design studio Palomba Serafini Associati. Co-founder of PS+A Roberto Palomba, who has been re-appointed as chief design officer of Ideal Standard, took inspiration from the manufacturer’s rich heritage when developing the collections, including the Joy tap fitting and Conca ceramic basin, aiming to bring together innovation and beauty for a timeless result.

Aesthetically, Joy draws from botanical grafts, with a single cast design ensuring a clean and modern piece that is easy to clean and available in four finishes: chrome, silver storm, brushed gold and magnetic grey. The simplicity of Joy makes it extremely versatile, complementing both square and round ceramics and suiting a variety of bathroom styles. A sustainable option, it also reduces water consumption to 5L/min, while Ideal Standard’s pioneering FirmaFlow ceramic disc cartridge enables the finest temperature adjustments for a more comfortable user experience.

The Conca Ceramics range is part of the wider Conca collection, which includes brassware, furniture and bathtubs.

Organic curves and sensual details are central to Conca, with advanced technologies enabling not only new levels of purity in design due to the basin’s thin lines but also an optimised and environmentally conscious use of raw materials. Despite being designed for contemporary living, Conca is also rooted in Ideal Standard’s rich design history, having taken inspiration from the brand’s classic collection of the same name, designed by Paolo Tilche in 1972.

It was the two products’ unique and innovative design approaches that saw the independent panel of judges at the iF DESIGN AWARD bestow Joy and Conca with the sought-after accolade. The stunning, minimalistic design of Conca also impressed the Red Dot Design Award judges, who presented it with the revered seal of design quality.

Roberto Palomba, co-founder of PS+A and chief design officer at Ideal Standard, said: “We are delighted to have won these very important awards, which recognise the hard work and dedication that has gone into cementing Ideal Standard’s position as a leader in design. These awards encourage us to continue along this path.”

New GROHE Plus supports energy and water-saving initiatives

The new digitally advanced GROHE Plus basin taps offer users the possibility to accurately control the water temperature and includes a visual colour marker to encourage users to avoid wasting energy.

Using the principle of “nudging”, a concept from behavioural economics, users are made aware when hot water is flowing unnecessarily which in turn encourages users to avoid wasting energy. This design approach promotes responsible use of the valuable resource of water and saves energy at the same time.

The eco-friendly functionality of GROHE Plus is reinforced by its accessible Eco Spray setting. To switch from the standard spray to the more refined Eco Spray of just four litres per minute users can simply swipe their hand over the lit icon on top of the spout to activate the sensor-controlled system which will change the water flow. The GROHE Plus collection also skillfully combines round and square elements, this makes the range a real statement for every modern bathroom, both in terms of sustainability and design.

Progressive design for elegant features in the bathroom
The dynamic design language of GROHE Plus is inspired by the arc, which symbolises both strength and lightness. Combining circular shapes with the crisp, clean lines of a cube, GROHE Plus creates an exciting architectural silhouette. At the same time, the design supports ergonomic comfort and invites interaction. The 90-degree swivel spout also increases the user-friendliness and caters for a variety of different interactions and uses.

The combination of cubic and organic shapes not only distinguishes GROHE Plus aesthetically but also makes the tap collection the perfect counterpart to both square and round ceramic lines such as GROHE Essence or GROHE Cube – all according to personal interior design style. To complete the harmonious overall look of the bathroom, the two-tone surface of GROHE Plus’ LED display made of chrome and high-quality acrylic glass in MoonWhite can also be found in several of GROHE’s shower collections too, such as the GROHE SmartControl thermostat and GROHE Rainshower SmartActive head showers.

In addition to the new digitally-enhanced models, the GROHE Plus collection includes a wide range of classic single-lever mixers in different sizes and with additional functions such as a pull-out spout, wall-mounted 2-hole basin mixers, taps for shower and bathtub, and a visually striking freestanding bathtub option. For even greater design freedom that meets the growing demand for personalised style in the bathroom, GROHE Plus is available in Chrome, SuperSteel and Brushed Hard Graphite finishes, the latter of which is accompanied by a black LED display.

RRP from £699.00

Learn more about GROHE’s sustainable technologies by visiting GROHE X.

2020 Global Inspiration contest winners announced

June 17, 2021

2020 recently announced the winners of this year’s 2020 Global Inspiration Contest for kitchen, bathroom and office designers. Interior designers across North America, the United Kingdom, and France submitted their designs using 2020 applications that allow users to create visualizations using real materials and finishes from the widest selection of manufacturer catalogues available.

This year’s contest was sponsored by Allied USA, Fotile America, and Armony Cucine. There were nine categories that designers were encouraged to submit to, and over 445 submissions were received this year. The winners of each category were selected by an expert panel of judges, with the top three designs eligible for the Voters’ Choice prize.

The winners of the 2020 Global Inspiration Contest for 2021 are:

Contemporary kitchen – Laura-Lou Fortin from Christian Marcoux Cuisine et Mobilier Design, Canada –
2020 Design Live
Traditional kitchen – Marie-Pier Durand from Cuisine MT, Canada – 2020 Design Live
Contemporary bathroom – Aurore Guy from QUADRILLAGE, France – 2020 Fusion
Traditional bathroom – Chelsea Butler from Cabinets.com, U.S.A – 2020 Design Live
Any space – Alex Légaré Grondin from Dkor.A, Canada – 2020 Design Live
360° panorama – David Fitton from Mill Town Kitchens & Interiors, U.K – 2020 Fusion Live
Reconfigured office space – Isabel Dunklin from McDowell-Craig, U.S.A – 2020 Visual Impression
Flexible office space – Kristen M. Selner from Tech Valley Office Interiors, U.S.A – 2020 Visual Impression
Educational space – Marianne Box from Hertz Furniture, U.S.A – 2020 Visual Impression
Voters’ Choice – Brittany Hutt from Cabinets.com, U.S.A – 2020 Design Live

2020 Marketing Director Karen Curtis is thrilled with all the submissions received this year. “Our designers are extremely talented, and our contests really showcase how their creativity and expertise combined with our software make beautiful things happen,” says Curtis. “We strive to continually improve our products so that designers can rest assured they are using the best solution on the market.”

To learn more about the 2020 Global Inspiration Contest winners, please visit the contest webpage.

Back to Black Inspiration for PJH Italian Brassware

PJH has extended its Bathrooms to Love brassware collection by adding two new families, MAIRA and LYS, to its luxury Italian brassware brand, VEMA, which is exclusive to PJH in the UK.

Widely known in Europe, the Italian-designed Vema range was added to the PJH bathroom portfolio two years ago to complement the Bathrooms to Love brassware category, sitting at the premium end of the choice of taps and showers. Having proved popular with its national network of retailers, PJH has added some new designs to the exclusive collection including this flawless, matt black range to the new Maira brassware family.

With a beautiful matt finish, the MAIRA MATT BLACK range boasts an effortlessly stylish design featuring a minimalist tubular shape, soft round curves and a slim spout. Simplistic in its form, the matt black range includes a thermostatic shower column, concealed shower valves, deck and wall-mounted basin mixer taps, bath shower mixer taps, a floor-standing bath filler and push-button basin wastes.

Designer-inspired, the range of taps and showers are made to a high specification using premium ceramic disc cartridges for super smooth, consistent operation and long-lasting performance.

Richard Eaton, Bathroom Product Manager, PJH comments “Vema is a premium brassware brand that broadens yet further the appeal of the Bathrooms to Love brassware collection. New styles, Maira and Lys present our retail partners and their customers with some new bathroom inspiration at a very competitive price point for a truly luxurious brand.”

The new Maira Matt Black wall-mounted basin mixers and floor-standing bath filler are pictured above with the wall hung ‘Perla Marble’ twin basin unit, ‘Luxey’ matt grey washbowls, ‘Belmont’ free-standing bath, ‘Rio’ black framed LED mirror and ‘Bertini’ matt black towel ring – all from the 2021 Bathrooms to Love collection.

Complete with a 10-year guarantee, the new Maira Matt Black Brassware range is now available from PJH’s Bathrooms to Love Collection and can be ordered via the PJH Partners Portal for next day delivery.

For further information, contact PJH on: T: 0800 8 77 88 99; or visit www.partners.pjh.uk (for ordering & account management); and www.bathroomstolove.uk

The BMA urges action on water consumption

This month, Chief Executive of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association, Tom Reynolds considers the latest Government update on water and environment protection plans.

Three years on from the launch of the Government’s 25-year Environment Plan, there are changes to be made to realise the ambition of ‘clean and plentiful water and a cleaner, greener country for all.

At the Bathroom Manufacturers Association, we are calling on the public, merchants and Government to take action to drive down water consumption, before water shortages become the norm.

The recently released progress report on the Environment Plan, shows we are heading in the right direction.
Per capita water consumption in England, 2000 – 2020 reduced from 152 litres per person per day to 141 litres per person per day in terms of domestic water use, but there’s still a long way to go if we’re to avoid routine water shortages in the years to come.

The report recognises climate change and population growth will put increasing pressure on our water supplies and that ‘ambitious reductions’ in water consumption and leakage have a significant role in maintaining secure supplies and protecting the environment.

Reducing the energy and water demand of our 27 million homes is crucial to achieving our national environmental goals. Firstly, BMA is highlighting how consumers can reduce water waste by checking their toilets for leaks, it is a simple way to make a big difference. Our dedicated webpage www.getlavvysavvy.co.uk gives clear guidance on what to look for. You may have water leaking from your toilet and you don’t realise it. Limescale, cleaning products and grime can build up and stop the parts from working properly, causing water to constantly trickle into the toilet bowl. This can waste hundreds of litres of water a day.

Secondly, retailers and merchants can do their bit by displaying information on the Unified Water Label in a prominent place, to give consumers the information on the best water-efficient products to buy.

Thirdly, Government has a big role to play in addressing water efficiency in the country’s 27 million homes. To do this, schemes to incentivise the installation of the most water-efficient products should be created and the National Retrofit Strategy produced by the Construction Leadership Council should be adopted.

UWLA calls industry to make water matter as G7 summit tackles climate change

The Unified Water Label Association, (UWLA) has urged the bathroom industry to support its Water Matters message as world leaders committed to tackle climate change at the G7 summit in Carbis Bay last weekend.

UWLA MD Yvonne Orgill says, “It was great to see that climate change was a major focus at the summit. The world leaders present committed to cut emissions and pledged to meet net zero emissions no later than 2050.

“The bathroom industry can play its part in reducing CO2 by helping people understand the link between using water wisely, and know that when we heat water in our homes, it has an impact on energy efficiency and our carbon footprint. Bathroom products are at the heart of water use in the home as over 60% of water used in the domestic environment is used in the bathroom, and 25% of energy used in the home is associated with heating hot water, with 18% of the UK carbon emissions emanating from the home.

“If as an industry we promote the use of products that carry the Unified Water Label consumers can then make an informed choice about the bathroom products they select for their homes. With many manufacturers offering smart technology products that deliver good performance but use less water and energy, there is plenty of choice and no need to experience any loss in performance.

“Our #dontforgettheplug marketing campaign is also addressing this message. Together the industry can help consumers make the link between water, energy and carbon issues, understand more about how much water they use, and promote the benefits of reducing water wastage.”

You can find a directory of products and more about the Unified Water Label here

Ideal Standard’s Together World Tour explores Berlin

Ideal Standard’s Together World Tour has touched down in Berlin, the second of a unique series of digital events merging design, art and architecture. The event in Berlin on 16 June uncovered the innate links between architecture, design and modern living while introducing Extra, Ideal Standard’s new range of basins from its Atelier Collections.

Each of the six inspiring and diverse destinations on the Together World Tour is being showcased in an encapsulating theatrical format that combines cultural and lifestyle trends with architecture and design, while providing the setting for the launch of a new product collection from Ideal Standard.

Ideal Standard’s co-chief executive officer Jan Peter Tewes said: “Following the success of our first stop in Milan, we were extremely excited to bring the Together World Tour to Berlin, and were fortunate to be joined by leading figures in the world of architecture to create a unique and special event worthy of the city’s rich design heritage. Through a cinematic digital experience, we were able to shine a spotlight on this magnificent city’s multifaceted identity, while demonstrating our own legacy in bathroom design and commitment to shaping the future of modern living.

“Germany, and at one point Berlin, was also home to the world-famous Bauhaus School, originally founded by Walter Gropius in Weimar over 100 years ago. The Bauhaus held similar beliefs to us: that design should be timeless and useable by many people. The Bauhaus has heavily impacted the modern world and continues to do so, with the combination of design and functionality at its core. Our new Extra range is closely aligned with these values, which have lost none of their importance to this day.”

The event in Berlin saw Jan Peter joined by renowned architect and journalist Joern Kengelbach as they visited some of the city’s most exciting architectural locations – from historic sites like the Humboldt Forum and Brandenburg Gate, to modern masterpieces such as Futurium and Cube Berlin.

Several special appearances were also featured as part of the event, including famous British architect David Chipperfield, leaders in design and urban planning Studio Graft, general director and chief executive officer of the Stiftung Humboldt Forum Prof. Dr. Hartmut Dorgerloh, and Ideal Standard’s chief design officer Roberto Palomba.

Roberto provided an exclusive look at Ideal Standard’s new Extra range, which has been designed in partnership between his renowned Italian design studio Palomba Serafini Associati and the manufacturer, and is the latest addition to their award-winning Atelier Collections. Extra is influenced by the Bauhaus, championing the values that an object can be developed to be beautiful, accessible and functional. The Extra collection features pure, square basins with defined edges to allow users to appreciate the expressive geometry that has inspired the design. Combining an architectural and timeless vision with this sculptured geometry, the Extra range delivers a clutter-free feeling – perfect for spaces of all shapes and sizes.

Roberto Palomba, co-founder of PS+A and chief design officer at Ideal Standard, said: “The Extra collection embodies the perfection of minimalist modernity down to the nearest millimetre. Demonstrating the sophisticated exchange between space, form and functionality in the bathroom, Extra is rooted in the careful control of shapes and sizes, and its pure square design ensures that nothing goes to waste, with the perfect product delivered, free of untidy excess.”

Extra has been carefully crafted from ceramics to create a light yet strong washbasin. Available in both glossy and silk white finishings, it offers multiple configurations, ranging from a 45cm guest basin to a 120cm double basin option and is also available in silk white finish.

Four new vanity basins have also joined the Extra collection, complemented by dedicated furniture units from the Conca collection, which come in a range of Atelier finishes including Matt White, Matt Anthracite and Matt Sunset, as well as Light Oak, Smoked Oak and Dark Walnut.

The next event on the Together World Tour will take place in London on 23 September 2021, followed by Paris, Dubai and Shanghai. To register for future events, catch up on previous ones and access exclusive additional content, visit www.togetherworldtour.com.

Stunning brushed brass Solas mirror launched by HiB

HiB has launched a brushed brass finish to the Solas mirror range, offering customers an eye-catching alternative for their bathroom design.

The Solas mirror, which is also available in black and chrome finishes, now has a brushed brass option for the 50cm and 60cm mirrors. Offering a subtle but luxurious look, the decadent styling of the brushed brass Solas mirror is the perfect addition to the bathroom.

Solas can be hung portrait or landscape to suit the room and features a circle of LED light, which is offset from the surface of the mirror and provides optimal facial illumination. Integrated colour temperature changing technology allows user to find the perfect ambience for precision tasks such as shaving or applying makeup, making the mirror both practical and stylish. The Solas mirror also benefits from internal heated pads which reduce condensation on the mirror’s surface, for a flawless and functional bathroom centrepiece.

Ash Chilver, Sales Director at HiB said: “Solas is a real statement mirror that looks fantastic in the bathroom. Launching the brushed brass finish now means that we are able to offer customers a complete range of complementing products including brassware, to create a consistent design.”

For more information about the new brushed brass Solas mirrors visit hib.co.uk where you can also download the latest HiB brochure.

More news from HiB

About HiB

HiB is a major supplier to UK and Irish Bathroom Retailers and is a market leader in innovative bathroom products such as mirrors, cabinets, lighting and furniture. With more than 30 years of experience in the industry, the company is renowned for providing innovative, creative solutions which make bathrooms beautiful and substantially improves the lives of retailers, partners and the wider community.

Since HiB was established in the 1990s, the company has grown significantly. From humble roots as a fledgling business founded by Chairman Warren Ginsberg, to a 100 plus-strong operation with centres both in New Southgate, North London and a 85,000 Sq.ft national distribution site near Tamworth in the Midlands, the company has been responsible for many bathroom industry ‘firsts’.

HiB has pioneered numerous product innovations including colour changing technology, steam-free mirrors, LED lighting in mirrors and cabinets featuring Bluetooth and USB integration. All new concepts are designed by the company’s product development team, who ensure that each range adheres to the company philosophy of only bringing to market products which answer a genuine need. Managing Director, Robert Ginsberg along with the entire HiB workforce, are committed to driving growth and success through future product innovations and developments. The company has a long-term strategy to increase