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ELEMENTA from Ritmonio is the new series of accessories that allows you to create unique and customised bathroom solutions.

Delivering design flexibility, ELEMENTA accessories offer a “made-to-measure” approach to creating bespoke bathroom and washroom spaces.

Ritmonio Elementa

Available in 19 finishes and a variety of materials, including stainless steel and acrylic stone, the clean design means individual elements can be combined with each other to create unique compositions and countless types of accessories. For example, the hangers for the bathrobe can be combined with the rods to create practical towel holders. These elements can be combined with the shelves in acrylic stone (full or perforated) and are available in different sizes.

From the classic shelf for objects to specific elements such as soap dispensers and toothbrush holders, any bathroom ‘personality can be catered for.

All elements can be combined with Ritmonio’s series of taps, both for finish and design, ELEMENTA gives life to countless possible scenarios and configurations.

Thanks to the innovative and functional elements of ELEMENTA, the “Made in Ritmonio” bathroom is based on a clean and original design.

A revolutionary concept that allows you to completely re-interpret the place of well-being par excellence: taps and accessories are no longer just details, but become the real protagonists of the projects, providing the user with a user experience where the emotional component is essential.

www.ritmonio.it

Bette will present its new products and innovations for 2021 on April 20 and 21 in its new digital show: Bette Future Days. The company will also premier its shower tile.

Retailers, interior designers, architects and installers are invited to have the new products shown and explained on these two days. A half-hour news show in English will take place several times a day, the show will include the launch of the BetteAir shower tile.

Registration to attend Bette Future Days is via the website www.bettefuturedays.com.

“This year’s focus is on exciting innovations for high-quality bathrooms, that can be installed easily,” announced Sven Rensinghoff, head of marketing at Bette. “With the BetteAir shower tile, we are also celebrating a real-world premiere for flush-to-floor showering on glazed titanium steel – perhaps the biggest innovation since the launch of the BetteFloor.”

In the Bette Future Days, the product presentations will be followed by question and answer sessions, in which individual questions can be answered live by experts from Bette. There is also the opportunity to register for one of the accompanying online seminars, these will deal with the details of the new products in about 20 minutes. Individual appointments can also be booked with a member of the Bette UK team.

Register for Bette Future Days at www.bettefuturedays.com.

About Bette

Bette is a specialist in bathroom products that are made of a special metal in a unique manufacturing process: titanium steel sheets are shaped under high pressure and then finished with a thin coating that is related to glass – hence the name “glazed titanium steel”. This composite material is perfect for the bathroom (it is skin-friendly, hygienic, durable and robust), and Bette uses it to make its baths, shower areas, shower trays and washbasins.

The Bette family company was founded in Delbrück in North-Rhine Westphalia in 1952 and specialises exclusively in this manufacturing process because it allows the products to be shaped smoothly with the maximum skilled precision. The manufacturing and administrative headquarters employs around 385 people. The CEO, Thilo C. Pahl, is a member of the owner family.

The range includes baths, shower areas, shower trays, washbasins and bathroom furniture “Made in Germany”. Unique items that can be made in various colours and dimensions and open up inspiring spaces in interior design for the bathroom. Bette’s assembly processes combine high-tech industrial production techniques with tailor-made manufacturing where it benefits the customer. More than half its products are customised to customer preferences. The company offers over 600 different baths, shower trays and washbasin models in a tremendous range of colours.

The natural raw materials glass, water and steel are used to manufacture high-quality products that are completely recyclable. They are verified to the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) as per ISO 14025 and to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).

The new BetteFlat is a shower area made of glazed titanium steel, especially for bathrooms that need to provide barrier-free access, conforming to the standard, DIN 18040-2.

It can be installed flush to floor, and 50 percent of its surface can be used to provide space for access to other bathroom items, such as the basin, so it can be particularly useful in bathrooms with small floor plans. In addition, it protects the user with slip resistance to rating group B, is easy to maintain, robust and comes equipped with a sound insulation set. BetteFlat is ideally suited for use in commercial and private residential projects.

In order for the shower area to be considered as accessible according to the DIN 18040-2 standard, it must be at least 120 x 120 cm in size and be of the same floor level. In addition, stability and slip resistance to evaluation group B and a high-contrast design are required. All requirements of the barrier-free standard are met by the new BetteFlat shower area in full, tested and confirmed by DIN CERTCO.

Makes small bathrooms accessible

The BetteFlat can be installed in bathrooms in which the user’s movement areas for the shower, washbasin and WC are overlapping. With a gradient of less than two percent, half of its total area can be counted as a movement area. This allows a bathroom of high aesthetic quality to be realised, even with a compact floor plan of only four square metres.

BetteFlat shower tray

Safety for all generations

Due to the frequency and severity of falls in the bathroom, DIN 18040-2 requires slip-resistant floor coverings with slip class B (GUV-I 8527 “Floor coverings for wet-loaded barefoot areas”, rating group B) in the shower area. With its proven Anti-slip Pro surface, the BetteFlat offers standard-compliant safety for people with movement restrictions, but also for families with young children or those future-proofing their bathroom – in fact for anyone who wants to enjoy a carefree shower.

A welcome side effect of the integrated slip resistance is that aids, such as anti-slip mats or pads, which with their uneven and difficult to clean surfaces offer the ideal breeding ground for dirt and germs, become superfluous. On the hygienic and non-porous surface of the glazed titanium steel BetteFlat, dirt and bacteria find it difficult to adhere.

Colours also mean safety

The BetteFlat is available in white, in exclusive matt colours and in Pergamon, Manhattan, Bahamas, Edelweiss, Jasmine and matt black. As a result, the shower area can be used in any bathroom interior design and, as required by the Standard, the BetteFlat can form a visual contrast to the surrounding bathroom floor. For people with reduced vision, this means that they can orient themselves more safely, even in poor light conditions.

The anti-slip surface does not diminish the elegant look of the glazed titanium steel. However, the difference between the shower area and the surrounding floor, usually tiles, is also noticeable under-foot, so that two senses signal entering the shower area.

Ease of care and sound insulation included

In addition, the BetteFlat offers a high level of hygiene, ease of care and durability. The glazed titanium steel is impact-resistant, scratch-resistant, chemical-resistant and UV-resistant – Bette provides a 30-year guarantee on the material. With the BetteInstallation System Universal, the shower area is also sealed according to DIN 18534 and can be inspected at any time, because the shower area can be easily removed.

At the factory, the shower area is also equipped with a basic sound insulation set. If a higher level of sound insulation, in accordance with DIN 4109, is required, the set can be extended with further sound insulation measures.

For further information see my-bette.com/en or telephone 0844 800 0547.

LIXIL’s launch of the new digital experience hub GROHE X, for its GROHE brand across EMENA, has so far attracted more than 68,000 visits from 140 countries across the globe.

The comprehensive brand platform offers informative multimedia content to GROHE’s professional business partners and consumers. Tailored to visitors’ different needs and interests, a customised programme of content is offered to respective target groups. During the launch week, more than 8 events, ranging from a premiere keynote for media and a panel talk on consumer insights, to a deep-dive session on installer services, were hosted. Meanwhile, architects, designers and business partners sought out discussions on topics such as ‘Strategies for Future Living’ and ‘Green Buildings’. Videos and live sessions have already been viewed almost 70,000 times and are now available as on-demand content on the hub.

A highlight and further proof of the global brand’s position as a sustainability pioneer in the sanitary industry, was the reveal moment of its four best-selling products as Cradle to Cradle Certified® variants. In contrast to the linear take-make-waste model, Cradle to Cradle stands for continuous material cycles: a product is manufactured in such a way that, at the end of its life, the components can be used to create new products. This is a new milestone in the GROHE brand’s sustainability journey.

GROHE X offers a vast selection of how-to videos, inspirational articles and 360° virtual rooms that allow visitors to immerse themselves in the new product highlights and innovations. In addition, there are exciting video formats such as ‘A Glass of Water with…’, in which various GROHE experts offer behind-the-scenes glimpses of the global brand, or ‘Wow of the Week’, in which a particularly inspiring project or topic is presented each week. 2 While visitors to the brand hub can explore the world of GROHE on their own, GROHE X also opens up new ways of interaction. Business partners can use the platform to schedule appointments with their sales contact and thus exchange information directly about upcoming innovations. The visionary idea of driving customer engagement via the hub has so far resulted in more than 4,000 customer meetings.

“We were blown away by the positive feedback from our customers, suppliers, and various other stakeholders as well as colleagues from LIXIL around the globe,“ says Jonas Brennwald, Leader LIXIL EMENA and Co-CEO Grohe AG. “GROHE X is a true milestone in our brand history. It opens up unprecedented opportunities to experience GROHE and to discover our products and the topics that drive us. The digital journey we have embarked on with GROHE X has only just begun.”

Online bathroom retailer Victoria Plum has announced that its sales rose by a record 46 per cent to £103m for the year ended 28 February 2021. The company has also put in place a permanent remote working strategy.

In addition its EBITDA increase by 115 per cent to £4.5m. Over the same period, the company grew its headcount from 349 to 398.

18 months ago the Doncaster based company was acquired by Leeds-based private equity fund Endless, this year also marks its twentieth year in business.

During that time, Victoria Plum has continued its successful management-led turnaround and transformation strategy under the leadership of chief executive, Paul McClenaghan.

This included launching a bathroom design and installation service in 2020, a move that has clearly differentiated the company, creating higher value transactions and enhanced customer relationships.

Victoria Plum also took the decision last year for all its people to permanently work remotely. The only exceptions to this are the teams working in the company’s 275,000 sq ft distribution facility in Doncaster and across its nationwide delivery network.

Victoria Plum’s Doncaster facility and one of its offices in Hessle, East Yorkshire, have now become hubs where people can work and meet according to their requirements.

Commenting on the business’s performance, chief executive Paul McClenaghan said: “We have an ambitious growth strategy, highly capable people throughout the company and a collective determination to further accelerate our rate of expansion. These latest record results validate our approach and provide us with the platform to progress our plans at pace.

“Elements of our results have benefitted from the speeding up of the structural shift to online retail throughout 2020. However, we were constantly evolving Victoria Plum as a pure-play online retailer long before last year’s events happened and will continue to do so.”

Compared to the previous financial year, Victoria Plum’s website users increased by 165 per cent to 23.2 million whilst its sessions rose 194 per cent to more than 51 million.

Paul continued: “We are confident that we will continue to grow at speed. Our market fundamentals are strong, we have the necessary scalable infrastructure in place and a clearly differentiated design and installation service that is experiencing rapidly increasing demand.

“In addition, the constant stream of valuable data and consumer insights we access and interpret enables us to quickly adapt our product offer to meet customers’ needs, keeping us ahead of the game.

“All this means we are ideally positioned to make Victoria Plum the most differentiated, most trusted and most respected bathroom provider.”

For further information visit www.victoriaplum.com.

Bathroom Brands Group is sponsoring DESIGN POD; the contemporary podcast from Hotel Designs aimed at interior designers and architects working across the globe.

This innovative new series reflects on the key issues faced by many modern design professionals with an aim to amplify voices and to invite healthy discussion. As leaders in bathroom design, the group is extremely proud to be part of the thought-provoking series whilst showing their full support for the hospitality industry.

Hosted by Hotel Designs editor, Hamish Kilburn and his co-host interior designer Harriet Forde – the pair have a wealth of knowledge across both the hospitality and design industry. To listen to the podcast, visit:
www.hoteldesigns.net/design-pod/

VitrA Bathrooms exhibited several of their designer collaboration range at ISH this year as well as two new ranges due to be launched in the UK later this year – ArchiPlan and Root. 

ArchiPlan offers compact design solutions for small spaces in domestic and commercial bathroom settings.  Root is an extensive new range of bathroom furniture units and brassware that complement VitrA’s Integra and Zentrum basin shapes.

Alongside ArchiPlan and Root, VitrA exhibited Voyage designed with Arik Levy, Plural, created in partnership with Terri Pecora, and Equal, created with Claudio Bellini.   VitrA’s tap, shower and accessory range Origin were also displayed in matt black, copper, chrome and brushed nickel.  Touch-free multifunction showering WCs from VitrA’s V-Care range were also available to view including the most recent addition V-Care Prime, developed with Arik Levy.

VitrA has also used ISH to formally launch VitrA NExT – the design journey for the next experience. VitrA NExT seeks to design the next bathroom experience by continually evaluating familiar experiences from different perspectives and envisioning what’s beyond the horizon.  As part of this, VitrA has created stunning exhibition space at its Innovation Centre in Bozuyuk, just outside of Istanbul, Turkey and turned this into a 360 virtual exhibition, available on the NExT platform.  Having a permanent exhibition space means VitrA can constantly update displays, and by using the NExT digital platform, customers and partners can digitally interact with the products at any time, not just during the ISH exhibition.

VitrA Bathrooms exhibit#ed several of their designer collaboration ranges at ISH this year as well as two new ranges due to be launched in the UK later this year - ArchiPlan and Root.

Visit VitrA At ISH here

About VitrA

VitrA is part of the Eczacıbaşı Group, one of Turkey’s most prominent industrial groups. Founded in 1958, VitrA is a leading bathroom manufacturer, which has expanded into international markets in recent years, with over 70 per cent of VitrA’s total output now being sold outside of Turkey. From 13 production facilities in Turkey, Germany, France, and Russia, VitrA produces a full range of bathroom products, including over 5.6 million pieces of sanitaryware a year and complementary bathroom furniture, brassware, and accessories ranges, which are distributed to over 75 countries on five continents.

VitrA UK, based in Oxfordshire, has been supplying the UK bathroom market for over 25 years and is an active member of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA) and the British Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installation (BiKBBI).  April 12th, VitrA will open a flagship showroom in Clerkenwell, London – a creative hub for architects, designers, and thinkers with dedicated areas for product specification, events, and workshops.

www.vitranext.com/en

                                                                            March 21

Laufen has launched six new bath design lines to add to its existing wellness collection, offering a luxurious bathing experience across fifty two individually designed bathtubs.

Joining Laufen’s range of iconic bath designs from existing ranges, the new bath collection includes:

•             BROOK – pictured below has a stylish rectangular design and sizing, Brook creates the luxury feel of a freestanding bath in modern bathroom settings, especially where space may be limited.

•             ELGIN – Elgin’s Neo Classical oval design and size is compatible with both modern and classic themes to create an individual bathroom look.

•             LINDEN – pictured top has a simple, modern and minimalistic design, Linden is available in freestanding, back to wall and corner installation options, offering a solution for any bathroom configuration.

•             IMMERSE – offers two installation choices, the elegantly curved, freestanding option, gives a sumptuous up-to date design feel whilst the corner back to wall option, gives the same look but offers optimum use of space.

•             PEBBLE – has a minimalist organic design and is of a size that this freestanding bath can become the focus of most bathroom creations.

•             VERBANA – featuring a gently curving oval shape, this freestanding bath will make a statement in any modern bathroom.

Elgin

Laufen offers three different and innovative materials for its baths, each of which has distinctive characteristics that define its shape, design, function and finish.

SENTEC is a cast mineral material made of different natural minerals, which are combined together to create a smooth surface that is pleasant to touch. Bathing in a bathtub made of solid surface material Sentec feels like being in a natural basin. Due to a high percentage of mineral particles, the surface feels smooth. The innovative material also allows freedom of design: almost every shape is feasible – from very organic curved shapes, to straight architectural lines. The surface is non-porous, making it hygienic, durable, UV-resistant, highly resistant to scratches and can be effortlessly cleaned.

MARBOND is an innovative composite material consisting of two layers, which are firmly bonded to one another: the basis is provided by a high-quality mineral cast material whose surface is coated with an ultra thin layer of gel coat. The surface harmonises perfectly with the ceramic in the bathroom and it is hygienic, easy to clean, antibacterial, slip resistant, temperature resistant to EN 263 and resistant to UV light and chemicals.

Brook

ACRYLIC Bathtubs made from sanitary acrylic benefit from the insulating properties of the material and its warm surface. Together with an underlay made from hard foam, the material helps the bathwater retain its temperature for a long time. Laufen’s sanitary acrylic is integrally coloured, is light and colourfast and easy to clean.

Laufen’s new baths deliver a masterpiece in bathtub design and innovation, and showcase the above materials to full effect. Both Linden and Immerse are made from Marbond, offering a distinctive gloss finish. Whilst Elgin, Brook, Verbana and Pebble are made from solid surface Sentec in a matt finish, to create a full range of solutions for all bathroom environments.

For more information visit www.laufen.co.uk

For over 100 years Kaldewei has been using raw materials, to craft long-lasting and recyclable bathroom products from steel enamel.  In a bathroom Kaldewei goes further, providing not only sustainable products but one that is totally on-trend in terms of design and colour.

The most recent introduction is the range of modern colour variants for the Classic Duo Oval bathtub; the colour spectrum immerses the luxurious steel enamel in warm grey tones, soft beige and elegant black. One of the most eye-catching products in the series is the bi-colour variant, a must-have in the modern bathroom. 

The purism and simple elegance that characterise the Classic Duo Oval (pictured top) are now available in individually designed optics. Thanks to the colour combination options, modern design can be experienced in the bathroom. The strong enamel colours create either a harmonious overall picture or an exciting contrast to the bath panelling, available in alpine white, alpine white matt, black gloss and lava black matt. The wide range of colours enables a multitude of combinations and sets new standards in terms of colour harmony and value. In addition to the Centro Duo Oval, the free-standing Conoduo and Ellipso Duo Oval models are also available with coloured panelling.

Kaldewei introduces washbasins to its Cayona range
Kaldewei Cayono

The popular Cayono product family completes the series with the introduction of high-quality washbasins – whether as a trendsetting washbowl, countertop or under-counter solution. The perfectly coordinated design of the bathtub, shower surface and washbasin brings effective harmony to the bathroom in a charming way.   Developed for the design of modern bathrooms, the models stand out with clear lines, which are rounded off by softly curved contours combined with the generous interior depth of the individual washbasins. 

The Cayono Duo bathtub with central waste, the floor-level Cayonoplan shower surface and the spacious Cayono washbasin ensure the perfect match. Everything made from sustainable Kaldewei steel enamel, particularly easy to care for and 100 percent recyclable.

Kaldewie Cayona Family
Cayono Family

For more information on all Kaldewei products visit www.kaldewei.co.uk

At ISH this week TOTO is presenting its corporate message of “Life Anew,” The theme reflects new lifestyle habits across the globe, triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic and resulting in a new awareness about hygiene in the home and in hospitality venues.

Cleanovation

TOTO offer a “clean, hygienic, and comfortable lifestyle” that is realised through innovation in clean technologies known as “TOTO CLEANOVATION”. This is the main exhibition concept, TOTO promises to deliver “comfort, cleanliness, and safety” not only with its toilets but also with many other bathroom products. “WASHLET,” “CLEAN SYNERGY,” and “TOUCHLESS” are the keywords behind TOTO’s proposal.

Let’s wash with WASHLET™️

A ‘Hygienic and Comfortable Lifestyle’ is explored with the message ‘Let’s Wash’, the meaning of the word WASHLET™️. The message is that users can wash with warm water rather than wiping to provide a feeling of well-being to everyday lives.

CLEAN SYNERGY Technology & Design

TOTO’s technology for toilets is not only about individual function but the combination of each technology. ‘CLEAN SYNERGY’ is all about the collaboration of technologies that keeps your toilet clean every time you use it.

The security of TOUCHLESS

TOUCHLESS technology allows you to take action around the bathroom area without touching fixtures. TOTO is producing TOUCHLESS bathroom spaces, delivering a sense of security for all users.

The TOTO website also features a full range of digital content including presentation movies and virtual spaces.