VitrA has expanded both its Designer Collection and the recently launched Signature Collection with a new range of Origin brassware, showers and accessories.
The subtle, elegant design is the key theme of the outstanding new Origin brassware and accessories range from VitrA. Origin presents retailers, designers and consumers with a complete and versatile collection that is the perfect partner for contemporary sanitaryware.
There are over 150 pieces in the collection including monobloc taps in four heights, wall and deck mounted mixers, and both concealed and exposed thermostatic and manual showers with a choice of handheld or fixed overhead showers. A comprehensive range of accessories complements taps and showers. All pieces are available in chrome, brushed nickel, copper and matt black finishes.
“This is a beautiful, comprehensive collection,” comments Marketing Manager Margaret Talbot. “The design-for-all ethos can be seen throughout with the choice of finishes, sizes and product types. Top-quality materials have been used with cartridges that allow light fingertip control and deliver an efficient flow rate. There are products to satisfy the most demanding specification with basin mixers, baths, showers, wet rooms, WCs and complementary accessories.
VitrA Origin also includes colour-matched bottle traps and waste covers. The exposed and concealed shower systems can be installed using VitrA’s innovative Minibox and V-Box systems.” Origin taps require an operating pressure of 0.3 bar.
Yvonne Orgill, Managing Director at the Unified Water Label was a guest speaker at the Worshipful Company of Plumbers Autumn Lecture, Water Efficiency into the Future, which took place on 28 October.
Hosted by CIPHE, the event was hailed a great success with more than 400 registering to attend and half of those joining the live session.
Yvonne said, “This was a great example of how to make technology work and deliver a worthwhile CPD event. The engagement was fantastic with lots of questions and a number of polls that took a snapshot of views on key questions.
“For me it was an opportunity to highlight that there is mixed messaging on the importance of not wasting water, especially during the Covid pandemic, but there is a real urgency for the plumbing industry to grasp this issue. If we do not all work together then there is the danger that a solution could be imposed by those outside the industry.”
Tim Sainty, Membership Director of the CIPHE, added “Hosting this event was a highlight of my year. The response by those who attended showed the value of bringing together knowledgeable and respected speakers on this topic. Low-carbon may continue to generate most of the headlines but how the industry responds to the pressing need for water efficiency measures will have the biggest impact on customer experience for years to come.”
GROHE has announced it is a founding sponsor of the World Architecture Festival (WAF), for the twelfth year in a row. Due to the unprecedented Covid-19 situation, this year’s edition will take place as a virtual event with completely new and exciting formats, all focussing on the main topic of “Living with Pandemics”.
From 30th November to 4th December live content, talks, panel discussions and networking opportunities will foster the professional exchange between architects and designers from all around the world. The virtual attendees can expect renowned keynote speakers such as Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang, Sir David Adjaye of Adjaye Associates, Ben Van Berkel of UNStudio and Sir Peter Cook.
GROHE will not only award this year’s winner of the Water Research Prize on 2nd December, a prize which honours initiatives that investigate the architectural implications of water in respect of buildings or the built environment, but will also contribute to the live sessions throughout WAFVirtual, including sessions on prefabricated housing, touchless product solutions and 3D technology.
“Being the founding member of the World Architecture Festival and supporting it for the last twelve years, we are delighted to see that WAF has developed into a must-attend event for the global architecture community” says Stefan Schmied, Vice President Global Projects Grohe AG.
“We look forward to participating in the virtual transformation of the festival and discussing the challenge for hotel designers to ensure safe distancing in hospitality and also how designers and manufacturers can realise the possibilities of digital design and construction to create buildings focused on health and wellbeing.”
Paul Flowers, Leader, LIXIL Global Design adds: “It is more important than ever for designers and architects to share ideas and collaborate. GROHE is immensely proud to support WAF for the twelfth year and its first virtual festival to engage in these discussions and foster professional exchange. Only together can we make impactful change on the holistic experiences we create.”
Free registrations are now open to all journalists, architects and designers.
The Covid-19 pandemic has forced us to take a new look at the way we live and will have a direct impact on how we design our homes in the future. For the bathroom, this will mean a greater emphasis on adaptable bathroom spaces that can cater for periods of increased use in busy or multi-generational households.
The shower room has always been an ideal way to create a spacious, luxurious yet durable bathroom space. Whether you are working to transform a small bathroom or refresh an existing shower space, we have some ideas to help you on your way.
Flush to floor shower areas
Flush to floor shower areas help to create a level shower area, making them perfect for all generations and abilities, they are also easier to clean.
Bette’s Head of Marketing, Sven Rensinghoff tells us “Flush-to-floor shower trays are growing in popularity because they look so stylish and contemporary, while also increasing accessibility in the bathroom. There is a trend towards larger shower areas, with the largest 1800 x 1000mm being selected more often, as they are great to use and help to create an extremely luxurious look. We are also seeing more shower trays chosen in colours to coordinate with various forms of flooring. In particular, with matt finishes in colours inspired by nature. There is also more interest in anti-slip, now that almost invisible options are available, and in other finishing touches that provide a benefit for the customer, such as upturns, so silicone is not required where the shower tray meets the wall.”
The BetteFloor shower area, pictured here, can be fitted flush with the floor and is strong, easy to clean, sustainable and 100% recyclable. Like all Bette shower trays, it comes with a 30-year warranty. Bette easy-to-fit shower trays are available in 400 colours. Keep Reading…
The BetteFloor glazed titanium steel shower floor
Shower enclosures &slip-resistant shower floors
UK manufacturer Kudos tell us they have benefited from increased sales in showering enclosure products and from a reinvigorated interest in British Made products.
Nick Graville, Sales & Marketing Director Kudos Shower Products explains “In terms of style trends there are two key themes we are seeing. The first is possibly the result of an ageing population and they are certainly the ones with the disposable income at present, that’s slip-resistant features on designer products.
“The second trend is in coloured fixtures. Those old enough to remember the coloured bathroom suites of the past will understand that the market has been white and chrome fittings for many years since. However, as different metallic and matt finishes grow in popularity in brassware, this is now making its way into shower panel profiles to coordinate, whether that be matt black, brushed gold or brushed nickel stainless steel effect.”
The most recent launch from Kudos is a new 300mm glass Deflector to suit all Kudos Ultimate Showering Panel, this new fold-away glass ‘Deflector Panel’ is a stylish and practical solution designed to suit the Ultimate collection of showering panels from Kudos. Keep Reading…
A new 300mm glass Deflector to suit all Kudos Ultimate Showering Panels
Multi-generational spaces
The rise in multi-generational living has not only created a need to re-configure our living space to cater for all ages, we also need a space to relax and unwind. If you are not a fan of the bathtub, it makes sense to install a shower room, without compromising on aesthetics.
Lakes Sales & Marketing Director Mike Tattam agrees “Showering is an essential part of everyday life – it can set us up for the day or help us to wind down at night. A rise in multi-generational living, busier households and shrinking bathrooms means showers suit modern living. However, the importance of a daily shower as a slice of ‘me time’ means homeowners are looking for a spa-like experience where relaxation is almost as important as getting clean.
“Bathrooms need to be beautiful to look at, but also suit the space and lifestyles of the people using them – with of course the reassurance of durability and low maintenance too.”
Lakes premium Island Collection now includes Antigua and Aruba. The new ‘showroom exclusive’ products are designed with Lakes Definitions for an exclusive finishing touch.
Lakes Antigua showering space with a chrome handle and profile caps as standard
Finishing touches
For a coordinated design, shower components and bathroom accessories are key to creating the right aesthetic, at the same same time, they must deliver functionality and durability. Planning in accessories early helps designers establish a bathroom theme at the outset, many manufacturers offer complete collections to help simplify the process.
Margaret Talbot, Marketing Manager at VitrA tells us “A shower that looks fantastic and feels fantastic is both a luxury and for many an absolute necessity. Safe thermostatic water temperature control is critical for all bathrooms, and water efficiency is increasingly important for consumers who are keen to save resources and money on utility bills. Colour and texture allow for a stylish statement in modern bathrooms – blacks and copper look impressive against whites and muted tones. But it is the high-quality, brass components, behind the scenes that will provide the user with the ultimate showering experience for many years to come.”
VitrA’s Origin and brassware accessories range has over 150 pieces in the collection, including monobloc taps in four heights, wall and deck mounted mixers and both concealed and exposed thermostatic and manual showers with a choice of handheld or fixed overhead showers. A comprehensive range of accessories complements taps and showers. All pieces are available in chrome, brushed nickel, copper and matt black finishes.
VitrA new Origin collection shower heads shown in all new colours
Origina Pure shower – handheld copper
VitrA Origin showerhead handshower water on matt black
“This is a beautiful, comprehensive collection,” continues Marketing Manager Margaret Talbot. “The design-for-all ethos can be seen throughout with the choice of finishes, sizes and product types. Top-quality materials have been used with cartridges that allow light fingertip control and deliver an efficient flow rate. There are products to satisfy the most demanding specification with basin mixers, baths, showers, wet rooms, WCs and complementary accessories.”
Utopia has refreshed its Halo range of contemporary wall mounted bathroom furniture with the addition of a beautiful new oak finish, an extended choice of basins and a number of co-ordinating ancillary items.
The introduction of Washed Oak, a warm, natural finish with a beautiful woodgrain effect, brings the number of Halo finishes to six, while a new slimline ceramic basin offers an alternative to the existing Gloss and Matt Coralux solid surface washbasin options.
Also new to the range are co-ordinating bath plinths to accompany bath side and end panels, co-ordinating worktops for toilet units and filler panels to allow for a corner installation.
Helen Clark, Head of Marketing at Utopia Bathrooms, comments “The appeal of Halo lies in its modern minimalist design which makes it the perfect choice for a contemporary bathroom. Our new Washed Oak finish complements the simple linear styling of the furniture offering a natural, spa-like feel and will undoubtedly broaden the appeal of the range still further.”
The Kbsa has welcomed the news that Wren and Magnet are to close their stores in accordance with the latest government guidelines.
Kbsa national chair Richard Hibbert said, “We have been relentless in our pursuit of Trading Standards to clarify the position of Wren and Magnet, since the guidelines were changed on Monday, with kitchen and bathroom showrooms being included in a list of retail stores required to close”.
“It was disadvantageous to our members and all independent showrooms that Wren and Magnet had chosen to keep their showrooms open, despite clear guidance that they should close”.
“We understand from our discussions with Trading Standards that the Primary Authority responsible for Wren nationally has withdrawn their previous advice that Wren could stay open.”
“The current lockdown is challenging for all retailers, as an association we do not wish to see any business in difficulty but we must protect our member’s interests, and have worked hard to ensure that level playing field is maintained in terms of closures”.
“The remaining weeks of the year will no doubt present new challenges for independent retailers. Our support networks remain in place for members to discuss any issues and our HR and legal partners will continue their relevant updates and webinars to help members negotiate their way through this lockdown and beyond.”
A new collection of premium shower trays is about to be launched by British shower product manufacturer Kudos. Featuring a new surface material which is Slip, Scratch and Stain resistant, these new trays will be known as the Kudos SR Collection.
The slip-resistant properties are embedded in the material, rather than a coating on the surface, which means it cannot be removed and, unlike many other anti-slip surfaces is comfortable underfoot. The easy to clean textured material also provides a high level of scratch and stain resistance ensuring that the trays maintain a pristine condition throughout the lifetime of the product.
The Premium SR option will intially be available in all current Kstone sizes with the revolutionary Connect2SR range, which will be manufactured at the newly commisioned £650,000 tray production facility in Cumbria, becoming available early in the new year.
Kudos Shower Products Ltd has been designing and manufacturing shower products since 1999. Their portfolio includes shower enclosures, shower trays, over-bath screens and wet-room solutions sold via KBB showrooms and merchants across the UK.
Lakes, best known as a manufacturer of innovative showering spaces, has enhanced its premium Island Collection with the addition of Antigua and Aruba. The exciting new ‘showroom exclusive’ products are designed with Lakes Definitions for an exclusive finishing touch.
The Antigua is an elegant 2-metre high slider with high specification design. It includes an easy-glide, softly closing door; concealed wheels for a cooler look; a low threshold for easy and safe access; and a solid cast handle in chrome complete with smooth, rounded edges for supreme elegance. An ultra-slim gap between the fixed panel and sliding door, and a discreet Quick Release mechanism adds to the practical and aesthetic appeal of this impressive showering space.
The Aruba has all the performance and design benefits of the Antigua and with the addition of a side panel, making this showering space ideal for corner areas. Both products benefit from Lakes Glass – PureVueHD low-iron glass for superior clarity and AllClear® advanced glass coating for long-life looks. Glass thickness is 8mm.
Lakes Aruba showering space shown with a gold handle and profile caps from Lakes Definitions
Define the showering space with Lakes Definitions
Lakes Definitions is a new contemporary suite of shower door handles and accessories, designed exclusively for the Antigua and Aruba. The high-quality cast handles and stylish profile caps are available in four on-trend colour options: gold, rose gold, nickel and matt black. This latest innovation meets the growing demand from homeowners to personalise their complete showering space to suit their bathroom style. The handles and caps can be fitted retrospectively too, making Lakes Definitions a flexible choice for bathroom renovations.
All of Lakes products are backed by a unique ‘no quibble’ lifetime guarantee.
Leading shower manufacturer Aqualisa has been ‘Highly Commended’ in the Best in Tech category at this year’s Brit List Awards.
Now in its fourth year, The Brit List Awards is Hotel Designs’ nationwide search to find the most influential designers, architects, hoteliers and suppliers operating in Britain. This year’s meticulous process began months ago when Hotel Designs opened up nominations and applications to its readers.
The finalists were invited to attend The Brit List Awards’ annual award ceremony – that took place virtually on November 12. At the event, which was broadcast live from London, The Brit List 2020 – a publication that profiles the top 25 designers, architects and hoteliers – as well as the individual winners – were announced.
“Now more than ever, we should recognise and celebrate the leading individuals who are consistently and meaningfully at the forefront of British design, architecture and hospitality,” said editor Hamish Kilburn. “Although, on record, 2020 has been one of the most challenging periods for the industry, I have faith that the individuals and businesses we shortlisted, have the skills and experience to create meaningful solutions for hospitality and hotel design in the post-pandemic world”. Hamish also pointed out how well Aqualisa had done to get its new smart shower ranges launched during the first period of national lockdown earlier this year.
Aqualisa, an Award Partner for the second year running, was ‘Highly Commended’ in the Best in Tech award for its Aqualisa Quartz Touch smart shower. The app controlled shower and bath fill product was identified by the international panel of judges as a significant development for bathroom technology and for pushing the boundaries of the hotel in-room experience in terms of convenience and control.
Aqualisa CEO Colin Sykes said: “It’s always nice to be recognised for the quality of the products we make and we are delighted to have done so well in these acclaimed design awards. We believe our latest smart showers, which are operated by Alexa and Google voice activation and a first-to-market shower app, will achieve prominence in bathroom design and technology over the next few years. We’re delighted Quartz Touch has been acknowledged as the leading edge product it is and for the opportunities smart showers offer a Hotel industry that’s having to adjust to new post-Covid parameters.”
Acquabella has launched three new products for 2021. Delivering the perfect mix of tradition, innovation and design, the new products promise a sanctuary of wellbeing.
Arabba Texture (pictured top) is Acquabella’s new textile-finish textured shower tray, with this tray Acquabella pay homage to traditional craftsmanship.
Tradition and design
Arabba is a new high definition texture that simulates the look and feel of a handcrafted fabric made with natural fibres that blend with the stone finish.
The Arabba texture perfectly embodies the bespoke irregularities we might see in a work of true craftsmanship. The tactile, non-conformist finish has a ‘textile-look’ texture that is perfectly suited to the Tempo design.
Unlike other shower trays, the Tempo Arabba encourages water to flow to the sides of the tray, gently running around its perimeter until it reaches a delicate and subtle grate that receives the flow with great elegance.
The Arabba texture complements other Acquabella products, such as panels and countertops, helping designers by delivering a complete collection that is both traditional and sophisticated.
Tomorrow’s innovation
Aquabella has also launched the Flow Zero high-flow shower tray and the Mini countertop, both designed to deliver minimalist and contemporary styling,
The Flow Zero shower tray is silhouetted by soft lines that direct the water towards an almost invisible grate under which the water slides, creating a minimalist flow that immerses users in a universe of calm and relaxation. Flow Zero lives up to its name, as its subtle grate easily collects the large amount of water flowing over its surface.
The Flow Zero shower tray was created with a countertop that represents the pinnacle of practicality. Acquabella’s new Mini bathroom countertop is compact yet features a deep, wide soft-touch basin. The exterior is coated with the Slate texture, an elegant finish that faithfully reproduces the appearance of slate, while a modern and subtle towel rail completes the design of the Mini countertop, making it the ideal addition to any bathroom.
Aquabella has been internationally recognised in a variety of design awards.
