Diane, Author at Bathroom Review

Minimalism is still king in the bathroom. Monochromatic colour schemes, thin edges and clean lines – both straight and elegantly curved – continue to dominate the shower space. These design features are proving even more popular in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, with consumers looking for bathroom products that are hygienic and easy to keep clean.

Seamless spaces

Choosing a minimalist shower doesn’t mean forgoing colour and innovative design. Bette’s revolutionary BetteAir is the world’s first shower tile made of glazed titanium steel, available in more than 30 colours and eight sizes.

Its floor-level installation means it blends seamlessly into the bathroom floor, and can be glued directly to the screed like a standard tile. Bette has ensured that the shower tile will sit flush by reducing its thickness to 10mm—the typical thickness of a large-format tile.

Designer Dominik Tesseraux says: “BetteAir has all the advantages of a tile without its disadvantages. With the shower tile, the floor of the shower is immaculately beautiful, free of joints and thus absolutely hygienic and easy to clean.”

Discreet solutions

Even with more standard shower surface design, manufacturers are ensuring products remain sleek without sacrificing style. Kaldewei’s KA 90 and KA 120 waste systems for enamelled shower surfaces – including its floor-level Cayonoplan shower surface – include the option for an enamelled waste cover in the same colour as the shower surface, making it even more discreet.

The KA 90 now features a flatter design, allowing it to be integrated almost flush, while the KA 120 waste system is available in round and square options. Both include a hair catcher as standard and a new plug-in connection for the waste cover, allowing the waste to be cleaned easily and safely.

Kaldewei – a flatter design & variety of waste options

Straight & narrow

The new Kinedo Brooklyn shower cubicle range by Saniflo highlights the popularity of showers with clean, straight lines. Bringing industrial style to the forefront, it is available in black with black silk screen printed lines, as well as a modern take on the traditional grey and chrome with transparent glass.

The Brooklyn cubicle comes with a pivot or sliding door, a white Biocryl shower tray with chrome waste, and metal handles. It has been designed for quick and easy assembly without silicone and predominantly without screws.

Spacious curves

The new 700m curved showering panel in Kudos’s Ultimate range provides additional showering space in an elegant solution. Designed to sit neatly on a 1200mm bow-fronted shower tray, this new walk-in enclosure with 8mm curved glass has been created specifically for British bathrooms and is available in three sizes.

Also available as flat glass shower panels, Kudos’s Ultimate range comes in chrome, brushed or bright nickel, brushed or bright gold, and black. They can be installed on both shower trays and tiled wet-floors, making them a perfect option for the minimalist bathroom.

Style & substance

Inclusive design is not being left behind when it comes to the minimalist shower trend. HEWI is a key player when it comes to accessible, functional shower products that are hygienic and compliant with current British or International standards. Its range of products – including the HEWI S900 range and Doc M shower pack – allows customers to create fully compliant showering spaces without compromising on design.

The COVID-19 pandemic has also been prompting clients to consider the hygiene standards of their current bathroom spaces. HEWI’s active plus range has been developed with an antimicrobial effect using microsilver, which is effective against bacteria and fungi by inhibiting the growth of bacteria through the discharge of silver ions. This allows customers to future-proof their bathroom spaces as we emerge from the pandemic.

Feature Contributors: Diane Larner & Ellie Clow

Brits spend more time on the loo than exercising

Brits spend 3.5 hours a week on the toilet, but only 2.7 hours exercising, according to a new study by the UK tile specialists, Topps Tiles.

According to a survey of 1,000 Brits on bathroom habits, the average person spends 5 minutes on the loo in one sitting and will visit the bathroom between 4-7 times a day – equating to 1.5 years on the throne over a lifetime.

The NHS recommends that we do 2.5 to 3 hours of exercise per week. The Office for National Statistics recently showed that even through lockdown, the average Brit was spending just 23.1 minutes per day exercising – meaning we spend more time on the toilet than we do keeping fit!

With Brits sitting on the toilet for 8 days a year, the type of bathroom entertainment people use to fill the time has also been exposed. It has become quite clear that mobile phones and relieving yourself on the loo go hand in hand for many – with 36% claiming that Facebook is their platform of choice in the bathroom.

Mobile phones aren’t the only company Brits have in the bathroom. 25% said that they were quite comfortable letting their household pet roam into the toilet with them, while 45% would happily leave the door open to friends or partners while using the loo.

Harriet Goodacre, Brand Communications Manager at Topps Tiles said:

“Bathrooms are an important part of any household. From providing a sanctuary for pampering to a place of bonding with babies or simply just getting a bit of alone time. But it’s a place we don’t talk about much – and we believe it deserves some celebration!

“As this study shows, the way we spend time in our bathrooms is different from person to person but one thing’s for sure; we’re spending more time in there than we might have realised. That’s why we’re encouraging people to ignore any embarrassment, and simply enjoy their bathrooms!”

With 3.5 hours a week spent peacefully on the loo, Topps Tiles are encouraging us all to take the taboo out of bathroom talk – for our bathrooms are more than just a toilet and a sink.

The study also shows that Brits are using toilets as a space to escape to, away from the pressures of everyday life. 52% of women and 33% of men admit that the bathroom offers a welcome relief from social anxieties and uncomfortable situations in public – something that will be increasingly prominent as lockdown regulations continue to relax.

It is also clear that Brits will quite happily put more time into their bathroom activity compared to their physical activity – with the average person exercising for just 23.1 minutes a day, versus 37 minutes exercising the loo.

Other activities that would be achievable with all this time Brits spend on the loo include sailing round the world a total of 15 times, which is slightly more heroic than getting stuck in a Facebook loophole.

You could even read all those books that you just “haven’t had time” to, infact, there would be enough time to read 570 of them. Or if cooking is more your forte, then you’ll miss out on cheffing up 7,729 roast dinner opportunities; perfecting that crispy roast potato – what a shame!

You can find the full research here: https://www.toppstiles.co.uk/blog/news/behind-closed-doors-british-bathroom-habits-revealed

GROHE supports the “Make a Splash!” partnership

Going to the toilet, washing our hands are daily routines that we easily take for granted. For most of us, sanitary facilities with clean water are a matter of course, but many across the globe are facing a different situation. Two billion people lack basic sanitation, 673 million practice open defecation regularly and 40% of the world’s population do not have access to handwashing facilities and soap at home.

In 2018, UNICEF and LIXIL created a bold, new partnership called “Make A Splash!” – UNICEF’s first global shared-value cooperation in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). It combines UNICEF’s WASH sector leadership with LIXIL’s global expertise in toilet design and innovation to tackle the sanitation and hygiene crisis.

As part of LIXIL’s brand portfolio, GROHE is launching its “Energy for Life” campaign as part of “Make a Splash!“, which will take place from May to August 2021 in 13 countries across EMENA to raise awareness and support partnership activities. GROHE will donate 1€/£1 for every participating GROHE shower system or thermostat purchased to help provide a child with access to a toilet at home, or a school with bars of soap. GROHE UK is also launching several other initiatives to support the “Make A Splash!” partnership including a creative colouring activity that is fun for all the family to get involved in.

To raise awareness of the campaign and its fundraising activities, GROHE UK is investing in a promotional
partnership with audio streaming platform, Spotify, in order to reach as many people as possible. For anyone wishing to offer further support to LIXIL and UNICEF’s “Make a Splash!“ partnership, a digital donation page is also available for ad-hoc donations Improving access to sanitation.

UWLA launches new website

The Unified Water Label Association has launched a new website designed to highlight the advantages of the Unified Water Label to bathroom professionals and consumers, in a clear, informative and easy-to-navigate format.

The website is also a resource for those wanting to source products that carry the Unified Water Label, with a searchable database of more than 13,000 products, and quick links for companies to become members and register products.

There is a wealth of information for those wanting to understand how the choices they make will impact on water, energy and carbon efficiency. There are two new calculators to join the popular water calculator, for energy and carbon. The water calculator is used extensively by over 10,000 architects and has played a role within the water calculations for over 150,000 projects. The carbon calculator helps identify how much carbon is used per litre of water coming into the property and the energy calculator helps identify how much energy is used to heat water to the desired temperature.

The consumer information includes advice and tips on how to use water wisely in the bathroom, with fact sheets and videos that are easy to understand.

UWLA CEO Yvonne Orgill said, “The Unified Water Label scheme is growing, with 70% of the market now supporting this voluntary labelling scheme. It is currently supported by 160 manufacturers, and 40 additional supporters from environmentalist, related trade bodies and installer organisations, all under-pinned with a database of 13,000 products.

The new site provides all of these parties with a valuable tool to help us showcase UWL products and communicate the importance of using water wisely.”

You can find the new website at www.uwla.eu

PJH Next Day Delivery Service expanded with three new sites

PJH has invested in three new sites to expand its Next Day Delivery Service. The new Enfield, Thirsk and Bristol PJH sites offer 22,000 sq. ft, 3,000 sq. ft and 27,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space respectively, with further plans to expand the Thirsk site to 10,000 sq. ft., later this year.

The new capacity will enable PJH to expand its Next Day Delivery Service, which has grown considerably in recent months, as well as logistical benefits such as reducing the number of deliveries out of its Cannock central hub, relieving site congestion, and improving efficiency.

Speaking about the investment, Brett Jenkinson, Head of Retail Customer Experience PJH said: “The investment in these three new sites will support further growth in distribution as well as facilitate the expansion of PJH’s Next Day delivery service, for in-stock items, to 91% coverage of UK postcodes. Through the expanded capacity of our warehouses and our more regionally deployed own fleet of vehicles, benefitting northern, southern and Wales regions, we will be able to reach our customers faster.”

With PJH committed to delivering a ‘first-choice’ service, the investment in the three new sites will help better manage bigger volumes and improve vehicle ‘on-time’ departures. It also reduces the number of miles travelled by the company’s fleet with local deliveries benefiting the customer further by reducing the potential impact of traffic or bad weather.

In addition to the Cannock distribution centre and the new Enfield, Thirsk, and Bristol sites, PJH also operates from Bolton, Worcester and Glasgow regional locations.

Further Information: contact PJH on T: 0800 8 77 88 99; www.pjh.uk or its Partners Portal www.partners.pjh.uk

HEWI accessible & hygienic shower spaces

HEWI creates aspirational accessible shower spaces with built-in anti-bacterial protection and works with clients to overcome any design challenges they may have. Plans will ensure the final space is functional and compliant with current British or International standards.

During the COVID lockdown HEWI worked with an increasing number of clients keen to future proof shower spaces with the HEWI active plus range. These products have been developed to have an antimicrobial effect, microsilver is used, which has broad effectiveness against bacteria and fungi. The Microsilver discharges silver ions, which inhibit the growth of bacteria and other unwanted germs and therefore minimises the risk of infection for humans. Within 24 hours unwanted germs on the surface of the products are reduced continuously so that during this period 99.9 % of the germs are reduced.

In addition to the obvious hygiene implications of COVID, HEWI also helps clients look at the overall compliance of their accessible shower space. For some, this might be the first time that they had a need or opportunity to consider compliance and many are surprised to find areas in which they are lacking. In these instances, HEWI is hand to help adapt and create spaces that are attractive while adhering to all legal requirements. HEWI’s S900 range is the perfect selection of products to best achieve those aims. From the high quality and diverse finishes to the fixed and removable functionality, HEW’s clients are able to fulfil their design briefs which reflected their brand identity.

HEWI is constantly developing new lines of products that challenge the traditional ideas of inclusive accessible design. Whether the building is a hotel, a student accommodation project, a serviced apartment, a health care facility, or retirement home, HEWI helps design solutions to create contemporary inclusive environments.

Shower surface & wetroom design from Kaldewei

When looking for bathroom and more specifically wetroom and shower surface designs, Kaldewei prides itself on going further in terms of environmental stability, hygienic solutions and price.

Delivering greater choice for design professionals, Kaldewei’s KA 90 and KA 120 waste systems for enamelled shower surfaces – including its floor-level Cayonoplan shower surface – include the option for an enamelled waste cover in the same colour as the shower surface, making it even more discreet.

The Kaldewei waste set KA 90 now includes a practical hair catcher and a chrome waste cover as standard. The waste cover now has a flatter design; this enables it to be integrated almost flush with the surface of the enamelled shower. Colour is a key element in bathroom design and if customers require an enamelled waste cover in the same colour as the shower surface, this can be ordered upon request.

The hair catcher is also standard on the KA 120 waste fitting; however, the waste cover is available as a separate accessory. This is available as either a round or a square option depending on the model and can also be selected in the same colour as the shower tray.

The Kaldewei waste systems are all equipped with a factory-sealed creep water connection, this ensures compatibility with all Kaldewei’s enamelled shower surface installation systems. They have also incorporated a brand new, intelligent plug-in connection for the waste cover, which enables the waste to be cleaned easily and safely.

Kaldewei has also recently introduced three new high-quality washbasins to its popular Cayono product range. A new trendsetting washbowl, countertop and under-counter solution join the perfectly coordinated floor-level Cayonoplan shower surface and Cayono Duo bathtub, enabling Kaldewei to provide reasonably priced bathroom design solutions for both the private and corporate sector.

www.kaldewei.co.uk

Bathroom Origins launches its first virtual showroom

Luxury bathroom mirrors, storage and accessories specialist Bathroom Origins has launched its first virtual showroom in an ultra-realistic setting in the heart of Whitechapel, London. The showroom can be accessed from anywhere at any time as digital technology has become more important than ever to help stay connected throughout the pandemic.

Co-director Sofia Charalambous explains: “At Bathroom Origins, we’re renowned for our innovation in designing and creating luxury products for the bathroom. As many of our customers have turned to digital technology this past year, it makes perfect sense to showcase all our latest collections online in true-to-life bathroom displays. This way, you can enjoy a new, immersive experience as you virtually browse our carefully curated collections of design-led bathroom mirrors, superior storage solutions and must-have accessories.”

If you take your own tour, you can expect to see a collection of industrial-style bathroom displays with a contemporary East-London vibe. Each room-set features Bathroom Origins’ luxurious products coupled with designer sanitary ware, fixtures and fittings for a more realistic finish.

Sofia continues: “In partnership with Virtual Worlds, we have produced a sensory journey in a cutting-edge designer space for those who are ready to explore our new digital reality. As a result, we can now easily reach a far wider audience online, both nationally and internationally.”

Navigating this virtual showroom has been designed to be quick and easy – all you need to do is click here to access our home page. You can then scroll down, sit back and relax while you embark on your own tour in the Watch the video section or visit Take a look around where you can hover over handy links to see the name of every luxury product on display. Simply click on the link for more in-depth product information, pricing and where to buy.

If you would like to view any products, which appear in the new virtual showroom, more closely, please get in touch on 020 8599 8080 or email sofia@bathroomorigins.co.uk.

PJH welcomes Graphite, Slate & Concrete to Alba Range

May 20, 2021

PJH has enhanced ALBA, one of its best-selling fitted furniture ranges in the Bathrooms to Love Collection, with the addition of a new furniture finish, Matt Graphite Grey, as well as a new range of High-Pressure Laminate Worktops in a range of slate and concrete-effect finishes.

The contemporary finishes now available on the Alba Fitted Furniture range, add yet more versatility to the Alba family, responding to consumer demand for more interesting colours and textures to add to bathroom schemes. The new Matt Graphite Grey option joins three other on-trend shades, Light Grey Gloss, White Gloss and Nebraska Oak.

As a fitted furniture range, the wide choice of Alba units allows bathroom designers to create a flush, streamlined run of furniture, with optimum storage space to keep bathrooms, en-suites and cloakrooms, tidy and organised. The usual types of unit are available – WC, basin, three-drawer, base, wall and mirrored – as well as a handy 200mm Toilet Roll Unit (including toilet roll holder), and a practical 300mm Tall Unit with internal mirror and shelving.

Adding to the choice of bathroom worktops required for all Alba base units, PJH has also introduced a beautiful new collection of High-Pressure Laminates which are extremely durable, strong and water-resistant, so perfect for bathroom spaces. The stylish range is ultra-slim, at 12mm thick, has a square edge and comes in four tactile finishes – Italian Slate, Black Slate, White Slate and Grey Concrete. Very competitively priced, this luxurious new worktop range is the perfect partner for the new Alba fitted cabinets.

Made in the UK, with a high-quality specification, each of the new Alba Matt Graphite Grey units comes delivered fully assembled – in one box for ease of installation, and includes soft-close doors and drawers, sleek chrome handles and colour coordinated interiors. There is also an Alba Space-Saving range – with short projection base and wall units (218/168mm respectively), and a good selection of complementing ceramics, such as semi-recessed basins and back-to-wall WC’s.

Now available from PJH’s Bathrooms to Love Collection, the new Alba Matt Graphite Grey Fitted Furniture range and High Pressure Laminate Worktops can be ordered via the PJH Partners Portal for next day delivery.

PJH Laminate worktop — BTL-Alba-New Italian Slate High Pressure Laminate Worktop

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

Kinedo launches two new shower tray ranges

May 20, 2021

Shower brand Kinedo from Saniflo kicks off Spring with the launch of two new shower tray ranges and a new shower tray brochure, all available to retailers now.

The spa-like, textured Kinerock Evo shower tray is made from Biolex, which is a robust and damage-resistant mineral composite containing 80% mineral with an acrylic resin and gel coat surface. Available square, rectangle and quadrant and in five colours – white, black, grey, anthracite and sable –the Kinerock Evo is 30mm thick and comes with an extra-flat waste and a metal waste cover to match the chosen tray colour. Sizes range from 700x700mm up to 2000x1000mm.

Equally impressive is the new designer tray Kineline, which features a linear tray and a granite look and feel. Also made from Biolex and available in the same five colours as Kinerock Evo, the Kineline is 26mm thick and available square and rectangle with side and linear waste. Sizes from 800x800mm up to 1800×900.

Both models can be cut to size on site if required.

Saniflo Head of Marketing and Product Management, Ann Boardman, says: “The two new Kinedo shower tray ranges offer a quality, versatile, designer product at an attractive price point. The Kinedo Kinerock Evo and Kineline bring a touch of elegance to any bathroom or wet room. They’re low maintenance and safe, delivering a consistently superior showering experience.”