Diane, Author at Bathroom Review

SANIPEX GROUP brings refined living to St. Regis The Residences, Downtown Dubai

October 30, 2025

Encapsulating the very essence of luxury urban living, SANIPEX GROUP was chosen to supply premium bathroom and kitchen solutions throughout St. Regis The Residences, Downtown Dubai – one of the city’s most prestigious branded residential developments by Emaar.

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Situated in the heart of the Opera District along the renowned Emaar Boulevard, the twin Art Deco-inspired towers rise an impressive 110 floors, offering residents uninterrupted views of the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Fountain, and the wider Downtown skyline. The development features a curated mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, alongside exclusive penthouses, all designed to exacting standards.#

Bathrooms are fitted with contemporary BAGNODESIGN chrome brassware, including basin and shower mixers, overhead and hand showers, and coordinated accessories. Each vanity is complemented by a hotel-style mirror with a x3 magnification function, while freestanding bathtubs in the three-bedroom apartments and penthouses elevate the sense of indulgence.

In the kitchens, BAGNODESIGN pull-out mixers are paired with BYSTRO stainless steel sinks to create stylish yet highly functional workspaces designed for modern living.

Through its collaboration on this landmark project, SANIPEX GROUP continues to deliver solutions that balance modern design with timeless elegance, setting a new benchmark for refined living in the heart of Dubai.

For more details, visit www.sanipexgroup.com

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Frontline Bathrooms launches live stock portal to support its customers

October 29, 2025

Frontline Bathrooms has unveiled a new trade-focused portal that gives customers instant visibility of stock levels across its full product portfolio. The platform provides real-time updates, enabling retailers and specifiers to see exactly what is available before placing an order.

The tool has been designed to remove uncertainty from the ordering process. Whether a retailer is planning a specification weeks ahead or responding to a last-minute request, having live stock information at their fingertips means they can make faster decisions, provide accurate lead times to customers, and avoid costly delays.

This launch forms part of Frontline’s wider programme of investment back into the business, with a clear focus on customer service and support for its nationwide network of partners. Alongside one of the UK’s largest stocked bathroom portfolios and industry-leading delivery options, the new portal demonstrates the company’s commitment to making it easier than ever for customers to do business with them.

Darren Allison, managing director at Frontline Bathrooms, comments: “Customer service has always been at the heart of what we do, and this new portal is the latest step in making sure our retailers and merchants have everything they need to succeed. By giving our partners access to live stock levels across our entire range, we are helping them specify with confidence, manage projects more smoothly and give their own customers a better experience.

“We continue to invest heavily in our systems, our logistics and our people because we know that retailers rely on us every day. This isn’t just about launching a tool, it’s about reinforcing our promise that Frontline will always look for ways to add value and make our customers’ lives easier.”

Frontline believes that empowering its partners with real-time data will help retailers and merchants remain competitive in a demanding marketplace. The portal is now live and available to all trade customers.

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Brits reveal what they really think of the return of the avocado bathroom

October 29, 2025

A new survey of 2,000 UK adults by bathroom manufacturer, nuielux, reveals nearly half (47 per cent) of Brits are disgusted by the return of the avocado bathroom suite. The same number admit to hating the grandma-core design style, which sees deliberately “ugly”, chintzy styles take the spotlight.

Last year, the avocado suite made a comeback with homeowners, with striking green baths and sinks dominating the renovation scene. But its revival was short-lived, with many Brits now saying they’re not a fan of the 70s-inspired look.

Boomers are the biggest avocado-suite haters with over half (57 per cent) admitting the design makes them feel green – perhaps they’re put off by memories of the trend in its original incarnation, paired with outdated bathroom carpets. With that said, they’re the generation hardest to please and are resistant to modern trends too, with over a third (37 per cent) expressing a dislike for matte black fixtures and 28 per cent stating they are against freestanding baths.

Gen Z, on the other hand, are much more put off by the rise of “earthy bathrooms” with 54 per cent criticising the trend, and 46 per cent not taking well to wall hanging furniture. Instead, they see fitted storage as a marker of a premium bathroom experience, while 38 per cent point to countertop sinks and brushed brass finishes as the epitome of luxury.

Millennials are the easiest to please, with 14 per cent saying they don’t dislike any particular bathroom trend.

When it comes to the features and styles all generations can agree on, the rainfall shower is a true crowd pleaser – with over a third (37 per cent) agreeing it’s the true hallmark of bathroom luxury.

Most Brits’ bathroom design choices are motivated by practicality first, followed by appearance – ease of cleaning and maintenance was chosen by 65 per cent, the overall look by 34 per cent, and ease of use by 32 per cent.

The nation’s most hated bathroom design choices

The return of the avocado suite – 47%
‘Ugly décor’ and grandma-core – 47%
Bright colours – 26%
Fully tiled walls – 23%
Open shelving – 18%

“At nuielux, we love hearing Brits’ real opinions about bathrooms. While social media is full of people telling us what’s on-trend, that doesn’t necessarily reflect what real British homeowners want for their own bathroom space,” said Marcus Pearson, Head of Design at nuielux.

“Trends are a great place to look for inspiration, but we always advise choosing products that are timeless and future-proof.”

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Lakes partners with Podfather to boost sustainability efforts

October 29, 2025

Leading shower enclosure brand Lakes has implemented fleet management software from cloud-based logistics company, Podfather, in a bid to increase sustainability efforts by optimising delivery routes and improving customer service.

Sustainability has been a long-standing factor at the core of Lakes’ ethos and the business has achieved a 24% reduction in carbon emissions, with Podfather contributing to this success.

Based in Edinburgh, Podfather is a cloud-based logistics and fleet management software that helps businesses digitise and optimise their operations. Lakes has been using its services to streamline delivery routes – reducing miles travelled, optimising delivery to improve van fill rate and implementing electronic proof of delivery (ePOD) to remove paper from the delivery workflow.

Kevin Hart, Warehouse & Distribution Manager at Lakes, said, “Sustainability is at the heart of our business and we are always striving to improve our current operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness, so we decided to use Podfather’s software to help us achieve this.

“We’re now benefitting from efficient and effective delivery tracking, customer updates, planning, and route optimisation.”

Lakes is also utilising Podfather’s configurable customer notifications, live tracking and ePOD capture tools for a more streamlined and efficient delivery process.

Kevin said: “This improves the customer journey with advanced notifications of when a delivery is due and any updates, like delays, during the process.

“Customers also get a notification, including date, time and location stamped photos and signatures of proof of a secure, completed delivery.

“This combination of live tracking and notifications gives us complete visibility, enabling us to support our drivers in real time while they are on the road should they need support if a problem arises.”

Lakes prides itself on its already outstanding level of customer service – reflected in its consistently high Trustpilot ratings – and is working with Podfather to develop additional applications to improve service levels even further.

Employing a dedicated team of specially trained technicians, Lakes offers an impressive after-sales service including on-site visits for installation issues and supporting its renowned lifetime guarantee.

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Houzz Pro expands AutoMate AI to streamline admin work

October 28, 2025

Houzz has announced a major expansion of AutoMate AI, its suite of artificial-intelligence tools built into Houzz Pro, the leading all-in-one project management and design software.

With the new AutoMate AI features, construction and design professionals can now handle admin work more efficiently – generating financial documents, logging expenses and managing tasks with unprecedented speed and accuracy, whether on-site or at the office.

With AutoMate AI, pros can:

Instantly create and edit detailed estimates, proposals, change orders and invoices, complete with line items and local pricing
Automatically generate tasks from daily logs and notes to stay organised and keep teams aligned
Snap a photo of a receipt and have AutoMate AI instantly log and categorise the expense under the right project

As interest in practical applications of AI continues to grow, AutoMate AI shows how technology can reduce manual work and empower pros to run more profitable, professional businesses, from anywhere.

You can read the full press release below and find images of AutoMate AI in action here.

Please let me know if you’d like to connect with the Houzz Pro team for a full demo or additional commentary.

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Schlüter stars in stunning bathroom

October 28, 2025

Schlüter Systems has been involved in a renovation and extension project, which included the refurbishment of a 4.8m x 2.7m master en-suite. Quell Bathrooms and the client came up with the design which included a bath, a shower, and a double basin with storage. The resulting wetroom featured a range of Schlüter-Systems products.

Vincent Pope, Quell’s MD, helped with the final design that included an integrated linear drain wetroom kit. Schlüter-KERDI-LINE-WRKL was used to provide guaranteed waterproofing and drainage for the bathroom; it comprised a waterproofing and sealing kit, shower boards, drainage channel and support with a tile support grate.

The waterproofing and sealing kit contained Schlüter-KERDI waterproofing membrane, plus Schlüter-KERDI-KEBA sealing band, Schlüter-KERDI-KERECK pre-formed corner pieces and Schlüter-KERDI-COLL sealing adhesive. The KERDI membrane from the kit was used to waterproof the back wall and around the shower wall. The rest of the room utilised Schlüter-KERDI-BOARD waterproof backerboard in 10mm thickness. All joints and junctions were sealed with the aforementioned set of sealing products. The 800mm linear drainage channel was installed in an intermediate location, sloped to from both sides using the Schlüter-KERDI-SHOWER-L and Schlüter-KERDI-SHOWER-LS pre-sloped shower boards. The drain was designed to be tiled to in-line with the rest of the floor – in this case with wood-effect tiles – resulting in a discreet solution.

‘Since we started using Schlüter’s wetroom kits three years’ ago, we’ve had none of the problems we would get previously”, says Vincent, “We wouldn’t deviate from Schlüter as the company offers a comprehensive and trustworthy solution to prepping a wetroom”.

The timber floors of the project had already been insulated, so Vincent installed the original Schlüter-DITRA-HEAT-E electric underfloor heating system.

“It’s great that you can use this system throughout the whole of a room, including the shower area. Often this isn’t an option,” adds Vincent who continues, “In refurbishment work, it’s always a struggle to keep floor build-ups low; with the Schlüter-DITRA-HEAT-E system, all build-up is contained within the height of the membrane so there are no unexpected surprises”.

Vincent used chrome-plated brass finishing profiles, Schlüter-QUADEC-MC, to provide finishing against the wood-effect wall tiles. He also used the matching Schlüter-QUADEC-MC/EV corner pieces to finish the corners of the one-metre high shower wall. “Schlüter trims give a great finish for tile edges and neatly cover the edge of tile. In addition, the corner pieces provide a good-looking finish that avoids sharp edges which is important as we were finishing a low wall that could be a source of injury if finished with mitring” concludes Vincent.

Schlüter-JOLLY-AC in a Matte Brilliant White (MBW) finish was used to finish edges in wall areas where 1000mm x 330mm ceramic tiles were installed, including around window reveals. Three quarters of the edges of Quell’s custom-built niches for the project were also edged with the MBW trims, with QUADEC-MC to the inside edge of each as part of a wood-effect feature shower wall.

For further information, call 01530 813396 or visit https://www.schluter.co.uk/

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Steigenberger hotel – Europäischer Hof Baden-Baden reopens with Duravit

October 28, 2025

The Hotel Europäischer Hof opened in 1930 and became an instrumental part of Baden-Baden society, bringing with it politics, culture, and international guests. Following a decade-long closure and a comprehensive renovation, Hotel Steigenberger Icon Europäischer Hof Baden-Baden reopened in August 2025.

Materiality with Soul

Luv countertop basins from Duravit were installed in the bathrooms of 126 rooms and suites – delivering a clear, minimalist accent. The quiet design language balances polished natural stone finishes with shower niches adorned with artistic mosaics.

The interior was designed under the direction of Karin Huber and Bachhuber Contract, combining the historical building structure with modern additions. Premium dark woods contrast beautifully with lighter materials and polished natural stone. Warm mood lighting, textured wall finishes, and refined metal details create an atmosphere of grandeur and contemporary comfort, enhanced by Duravit fittings.

DK Architekten was responsible for the architectural transformation, preserving its listed status and integrating the existing building with modern structures, linking them into an ensemble with a gross area of approximately 66,500 m².

A Cosmos under One Roof

The social life of the hotel is shaped by Café de l’Europe, with its modern reinterpretation of classical arches; Auerhuhn Lounge Bar, with its fireside ambience; and LUIZA Rooftop Terrace & Bar. THE VAULT Spa & Suites draws
inspiration from the historical arches and combines these with contemporary wellness architecture. The Porsche Studio brings an immersive showroom for design and brand culture into the hotel complex.

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Utopia Wears It Pink in support of Breast Cancer Now

October 28, 2025

Staff at Utopia entered into the spirit of Wear It Pink Day with customary enthusiasm on Friday 24 October. As usual, many employees responded to this annual challenge in aid of Breast Cancer Now by sporting pink garments to work last Friday, raising almost £100 for the charity.

The company supports a number of local and national causes and, as Helen Clark, head of marketing at Utopia, explains “Cancer charities are particularly dear to our heart at Utopia as a number of employees have been affected, including our own Liz Green, so we’re especially keen to support them.”

www.utopiagroup.com

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Atlanta Bathrooms launches the Signature Collection

October 27, 2025

Atlanta Bathrooms’ design-led Signature Collection is exclusive to displaying retailers and features the Herrington series of traditionally styled painted vanity units. Complemented by coordinating sanitaryware, countertops, and brassware, the collection is showcased in a dedicated Signature brochure.

The Herrington range boasts a refined selection of vanity units that balance enduring style with contemporary quality. Available in Baltic Blue, Kielder Green, and Dove Stone, each piece is accented with elegant hardware and classic profiles.

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Vanity unit options include curved designs, door or drawer options, and an open shelf design. For maximum personalisation, customers can select from solid surface countertops with ceramic undermount basins, ceramic sit-on basins, or vessel basins. Finishing touches include handles in chrome, black, or brass, complemented by matching taps, overflow rings, and wastes, creating a perfectly coordinated aesthetic.

Julian Pearson, commercial director, comments: “The Signature Collection is designed to combine timeless elegance with everyday functionality. It’s bathroom furniture with character, crafted to last.”

Atlanta promises to deliver high quality, ease of assembly, and fast delivery (3–5 days), and is proactively dedicated to supporting UK retailers who care about design and quality as much as they do. The company says this is why it is offering Signature by Atlanta, exclusively to displaying retailers.

The Atlanta show van will soon be touring the UK, showcasing the collection. To make an appointment to view or to speak to one of our team about becoming an exclusive Signature retailer, contact your Atlanta area sales manager or call 0191 428 3104.

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Grant Westfield launches Installer Elite loyalty programme

October 27, 2025

Grant Westfield, the company behind leading wall panel brands Multipanel and Naturepanel, has officially launched its new Installer Elite loyalty programme, designed specifically for bathroom installers, plumbers, and trade professionals across the UK.

Installer Elite is a purpose-built rewards platform that recognises and incentivises installers for choosing Grant Westfield products. The programme allows registered installers to earn points every time they purchase Multipanel or Naturepanel products, with those points redeemable for a wide range of rewards. From trade tools and tech gadgets to exclusive promotions and early product access, the rewards are tailored to provide real value to the professional installer.

Elliott Fairlie, product and marketing director at Grant Westfield commented: “We know that installers play a critical role in product selection on-site. Installer Elite is our way of recognising their loyalty, making it easier to benefit from the work they’re already doing, and offering them something extra for choosing our brands. It’s about building a stronger relationship and giving something back.”

Camille Broatch, loyalty & CRM executive at Grant Westfield, added: “As a company we value and recognise loyalty from installers and we wanted to reward and build on the strength of our installer community by rewarding them for trusting in us and our products.”

The registration process is quick and straightforward. Installers can sign up through the official Grant Westfield website by providing basic business and contact details, along with some insights into their installation work. Once registered, they’ll be prompted to download the Installer Elite app, which allows them to track their points, access their personalised rewards dashboard, and redeem rewards directly through their mobile device.

Installer Elite is available for all purchases made from October 27, 2025. From this date, every pound spent on Grant Westfield panels qualifies for points, with £1 equating to 100 points. The app provides an easy way to monitor points, explore reward options, and view FAQs. Once an installer reaches 500 points or more, they can begin redeeming rewards.

Registered installers will also have access to new innovations, be invited to share feedback directly with the Grant Westfield team, and may even take part in product testing, giving them a voice in future developments.

This launch marks a continued investment by Grant Westfield in the professional trade community. By rewarding loyalty, simplifying the purchasing experience, and creating a stronger installer network, the company is reinforcing its position as a trusted, installer-first brand in the bathroom panel industry.

For more details visit www.installer-elite.grantwestfield.co.uk

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