When it comes to bathroom design, function is no longer the sole focus. Homeowners view the bathroom as an opportunity to add personality to the home, and choosing the right furniture is instrumental in achieving that while keeping the space functional and tidy.
Bathrooms house more clutter than ever, and it can be difficult to find a place for everything. The last thing you want is a cluttered and crowded environment when you’re getting ready in the morning or winding down in the evening. Making the most of the bathroom furniture can’t be overlooked in the design process and it’s key to creating a space that suits your needs without it feeling too cramped.
The i.life Collection from Ideal Standard provides an elegant and practical solution. The range includes a variety of furniture options available in seven stylish finishes such as sand beige matt, carbon grey matt and natural oak, as well as handles in chrome and silk black to match your brassware. Doors and drawers feature a soft close action to add that feeling of subtle luxury, ensuring a cohesive design.
Smaller bathrooms don’t need to feel unloved, and by making the best use of your space, you can look stylish and feel spacious whilst being perfectly practical. The i.life S range can help with this, i.life S furniture specifically designed to fit into smaller spaces with the goal of taking up as little floor space as possible but still providing reasonable levels of functionality.
With Ideal Standard’s Singular™ philosophy, the vast majority of its products are completely compatible, allowing you to mix and match pieces from many of the manufacturer’s collections.
Thomas Crapper has strategically created this new range of products around its best-selling Bentham basin. Hand-crafted from fireclay ceramics in Lancashire, the Bentham basin is available in Indigo Blue and Forest Green and Gloss White. Perfect for your cloakroom, or ensuite, the blue and green basins are finished in a satin glaze which look great with the company’s polished and new brushed brass taps.
Following on from the success of the Bentham, a range of bathroom furniture was launched giving you the ability to perfect coordinate your basin, brassware, furniture and bathroom surface. The furniture was designed to be available in the same colours as the Bentham – Indigo Blue, Forest Green and Natural Oak – with the countertops being available in a beautiful white or black quartz; the perfect contrast!
The design team at Thomas Crapper carefully curated this range to offer the complete bathroom look. Don’t stop at just your sink area – you can also choose one of the classic 814 cisterns in the same colours for the ultimate Thomas Crapper look!
The furniture range comprises a selection of double and single units, together with a useful cloakroom unit. The cabinet doors can be specified with an antique mirror-effect to create a special focal point or in a plain shaker style for a simpler look. The cloakroom unit is available with shaker doors only.
The white or black quartz countertops are available with cut-outs to suit undermount basins or ‘sit on’ basins as pictured below.
As more consumers are choosing to introduce the allure of deeper tones into their homes, the emphasis is on creating a rich and immersive experience that goes beyond the utilitarian nature of a bathroom.
Within the colour palette of this trend is charcoal, navy and forest green, as well as brushed and matte brassware to add depth and interest to surfaces. These hues evoke a sense of opulence and tranquillity, transforming bathrooms into luxurious retreats. Dive into dark décor with JTP and its superior range of bathroom brassware and fixtures.
Collections such as JTP’s striking EVO Brushed Black range bring another level of intrigue to bathrooms. The dramatic tones of the fixtures, such as the basins, mixers and soap dispensers sit harmoniously against forest green backdrops. The interplay of shades and highlights offset from the brassware add visual interest and elegance to spaces.
A similar look can be attained with the VOS range which not only elevates the overall design but it infuses a sense of indulgence, resulting in a space that transcends functionality to become a sanctuary of relaxation.
Homeowners can create an interesting juxtaposition by pairing the radiant Brushed Brass or Bronze brassware against deep moody tones such as charcoal or navy. The reflective quality of the fixtures adds a nod of glamour, bringing the whole look together with subtle contrast. Enhance this look further by incorporating complementary elements such as JTP’s VOS Round mirrors, Toilet Roll Holders and Towel Rails in the same finish.
Pictured– JTP products
1 JTP EVO 3 Hole Wall Mounted Basin Mixer in Brushed Bronze £420, VOS Mirror with Light in Matt Black £345, VOS Grade 316 Stainless Steel Counter Top Basin in Matt Black £795 2 VOS Brushed Black Stainless Steel Counter Top Basin £795, EVO Brushed Black Basin Mixer £290, VOS Brushed Black Metal Pneumatic Flush Plate £305, VOS Matt Black Mirror Without Light £165, VOS Brushed Black Toilet Brush Wall Mounted £119 3. 3 Hole Deck Mounted Basin Mixer in Brushed Black £420 4. VOS Matt Black Grade 316 Stainless Steel Counter Top Basin £795 5. VOS Soap Dispenser in Brushed Black £150 6. EVO Hole Deck Mounted Basin Mixer in Brushed Black £420 & EVO Single Lever Basin Mixer with Lever in Brushed Black £290 7. EVO Tall Lever Basin Mixer in Matt Black £340 & EVO Single Lever Basin Mixer with Lever in Matt Black £290 8. EVO Tall Lever Basin Mixer in Brushed Brass £340 & EVO Single Lever Basin Mixer with Lever in Brushed Brass £290 9. EVO Brushed Bronze Concealed 2 Outlet Shower Valve £690 10. VOS Single Lever Wall Mounted Basin Mixer and Spout in Brushed Bronze £365 & VOS Mirror with Light in Matt Black £345
LAUFEN says it doesn’t just look to the future once a year – it’s the job of any manufacturer to always anticipate what’s around the corner. But the new year is a good excuse to think about the upcoming trends for the next 12 months. From making a statement to focusing on sustainability, here are the six trends that LAUFEN predicts will define 2024.
1. A hero piece
LAUFEN is predicting the rise and rise of the hero piece in the bathroom. Whether it be an eye-catching vanity or an oversized mirror, making a statement is crucial in bringing the entire room together. For those with enough space, a freestanding bath remains unbeatable as a centrepiece. An excellent example is the ILBAGNOALESSI bathtub (pictured above), which combines visual impact with comfort. Constructed from composite Sentec, it has a velvety texture and a slim border that expands at one end to provide a relaxing headrest and a practical surface area for objects. The shape of the ILBAGNOALESSI bath also chimes well with the current trend for curves in the bathroom. Its sleek and curvaceous design not only adds a touch of elegance to the bathroom but also helps to create a serene atmosphere for some well-deserved R&R.
2. Multigenerational bathrooms
Extended families living together in one household are becoming more common, in part due to our ageing population. As a result, there is an increasing demand for homes, especially bathrooms, that accommodate multiple generations. These family bathrooms should be accessible, safe, and adaptable to the needs of individuals of all ages, from the young to the elderly.
Homeowners can enhance accessibility by installing a flush-to-floor shower tray like the LAUFEN Pro and Pro S. Made from LAUFEN’s Marbond composite with an Antislip finish, these shower trays ensure both safety and convenience. Additionally, when it comes to the WC, older individuals may have difficulty rising from lower seats. Therefore, including a raised-height WC, such as the Pro Comfort Height wall-hung WC at 480mm instead of the standard 430mm, is a considerate addition.
Above: The Pro S shower tray (left) and Comfort Height LAUFEN Pro toilet (right) are both suitable for multigenerational family bathrooms.
3. Making sustainable choices
In 2024, sustainability is not just a trend but a continuing necessity, with a focus on water conservation and waste reduction.
To start, the experts at LAUFEN recommend replacing old showerheads and taps with low-flow versions. Alternatively, you can choose a mixer tap like the LUA tap with LAUFEN’s ECO+ technology, which helps save resources. When you turn on the tap, the water starts off cold by default. You then turn the handle to the left to gradually introduce hot water, at which point the boiler is engaged. However, for quick handwashing, cold water is sufficient, which helps reduce energy usage and CO2 emissions.
When it comes to its bathroom furniture, LAUFEN only uses wood that originates from Europe and is certified by the FSC and PEFC. These guarantee sustainable and responsible forestry without overexploitation or uncontrolled deforestation. In addition, LAUFEN uses a high percentage of recycled wood to manufacture its wood composite materials, substantially reducing logging.
Above top left: LUA basin mixer in chrome with Eco+ technology; Main hero image: The New Classic wall-hung vanity is made from FSC-certified wood.
4. The rise of the ‘spathroom’
Next, LAUFEN introduces the epitome of relaxation and functionality: the spathroom! These spaces combine the serenity of a spa with the practicality of a bathroom, making them a popular choice for homeowners seeking a luxurious chill-out room as an escape from their busy lives. LAUFEN has recently unveiled a new smart shower system in collaboration with Andreas Dimitriadis of Platinum Design, enhancing the spathroom experience (below).
The new smart shower system is a modular design, which features a horizontal wall panel with light tiles, an illuminated storage niche, and a variety of shower heads. The centrepiece of the system is a 12-inch display screen that allows users to personalise their showering experience by pairing water therapy with sounds and lights. For instance, people can enjoy the sensation of standing under a waterfall while listening to the sounds of the sea. What’s more, they can choose a scheme – a candlelit hammam, for example – and the colour of the light tiles will change to evoke that warmth within the shower.
Pictured: LAUFEN’s smart shower system, which launches in 2024.
5. Creative designs for small spaces
As UK cities become more crowded and property prices continue to rise, space has become a valuable commodity. Consequently, bathrooms are being fitted into small and awkward spaces to maximise living and sleeping areas. This is particularly true in urban apartments and townhouses, where residents need to make the most of every square foot. Fortunately, LAUFEN excels at ensuring that limited space doesn’t mean compromising on style. For example, the VAL collection (right) offers basins with clean architectural lines and extremely slim edges (made possible by their SaphirKeramik construction, as explained in trend six), making them ideal for compact bathrooms, en-suites, and cloakrooms.
6. The limitless possibilities of modern materials
Thanks to innovative materials, today’s bathrooms really can have it all: good looks, versatility, durability, and even low maintenance. A prime example can be seen in the reinterpreted ILBAGNOALESSO collection, which utilises the properties of LAUFEN’s SaphirKeramik. This material is a combination of ceramic and corundum, a component of sapphires, giving the resulting material the strength of steel while still being able to be formed into thin pieces.
A highlight of the new ILBAGNOALESSI collection is the iconic Tuna basin. Thanks to SaphirKeramik, it has been slimmed down to millimetres, resulting in an elegant and sculptural design (right).
Cyncly, a provider of software and content solutions, is bringing its connected portfolio to kbb Birmingham 2024, March 3-6 at stand L70 in hall 19. This event marks the first UK event where Cyncly will showcase its integrated solutions for the KBB industry including Virtual Worlds, Winner Flex, EQ Flex, Ideal Spaces, 3CAD, Mozaik and Insight.
Cyncly provides specialised visualization, sales, manufacturing and content solutions and says it offers the world’s largest catalogue content hub and a range of market-leading products, increasingly integrated on a cloud platform, to connect every step of the customer journey.
“Our integration of leading solutions empowers businesses involved at every step of the KBB design, sales and manufacturing process,” said Gordon Bartels, General Manager of Kitchen, Bath and Furniture Retail Solutions. “We’re helping businesses provide an outstanding experience to their customers through capabilities including collaborative design, comprehensive pricing and accurate ordering. We can’t wait to show visitors to kbb Birmingham the boundless possibilities of working with Cyncly.”
Solutions featured at kbb Birmingham include:
Leading kitchen design solutions
Visitors to kbb Birmingham 2024 will see the value of Winner Flex for kitchen retail specialists and designers. The professional design tool can be used to design a customer’s dream kitchen, create technical documents and generate inspirational rendering. With the entire project managed in the cloud, it can be accessed from everywhere and shared across the organization for maximum collaboration. The latest version of Winner Flex features a new intuitive interface to search and browse product catalogues and more easily manage favourites for more efficient design.
Immersive, engaging bathroom design using virtual reality
For bathroom retailers, Virtual Worlds showcases equal levels of efficiency, with dedicated functionalities allowing for quick and precise design using catalogues from a rich existing library. Virtual Worlds 4D Theatre enables consumers to visualize their dream bathroom with an immersive design experience in virtual reality—helping retailers improve sales and build stronger customer relationships.
Business management software integrated to design solutions
For the first time, Cyncly’s integration of EQ on the Flex platform enables retailers using Winner Flex and Virtual Worlds to streamline the sales process. EQ Flex allows retailers to manage leads, keep track of actions and plan next steps so no opportunity is missed. From quotation to ordering and taking payment, EQ Flex offers a one-stop solution that allows retailers to create a kitchen or bathroom design plan and import all the products into an EQ quote for quick pricing and ordering.
Retail solutions to enable omni-channel experiences
Cyncly’s presence will also feature Ideal Spaces, a consumer-facing online configuration tool that delivers a seamless omni-channel experience to strengthen customer engagement. Retailers use the solution to inspire customers and complete the full journey—from inspiration to qualification, from space planning to purchasing—with an enhanced experience.
Manufacturing solutions that improve quality and margins
For manufacturers, the company’s solutions, including 3CAD, Insight and Mozaik, enable manufacturers to automate their processes for greater efficiency and flexibility. Through advanced production management software, the ability to manage orders based on real-time data, and market intelligence tools, Cyncly’s manufacturing software helps customers maximize margins and sales performance.
Cyncly continues to invest in new product capabilities to help KBB retailers and manufacturers succeed. For retailers, the company brings mood boards to 3D designs and auto decorating, and helps to define good, better and best scenarios, enabling customers provide consumers with an amazing experience designing and buying spaces for living. The company’s continued investments in AI-enabled solutions, leveraging the company’s deep industry expertise and rich data, will further enable customers to access innovative capabilities that help them succeed.
The end of 2023 culminated in the final few days of a long and distinguished career for Saniflo MD, Tim Pestell who joined the company very early in 2007 as sales director. Prior to joining Saniflo Tim climbed the ladder in sales both in the merchant and bathroom manufacturing sectors, including spells at Aqualisa and Ideal Standard. He subsequently became managing director in January 2013.
Over the 17 years that Tim worked at Saniflo, the company consolidated its position as UK market leader in the macerator sector. He not only oversaw the upgrade of the complete domestic Saniflo range, but also the introduction of multiple new products in the commercial range, including underground pumps and floor standing lifting stations. He has also championed the Kinedo shower brand and oversaw the emergence of the all-in-one cubicle product offering that was pioneered by Kinedo.
An avid cyclist, Tim, along with several of his Saniflo colleagues, has raised thousands for charity during epic cycle rides from the Saniflo offices to Paris; the last one undertaken in September 2023. He will now have more time to indulge his cycling passion and also intends to continue with various charity endeavours as well as being a volunteer for his local church. No doubt he will wonder how he used to find time to work.
Everyone at Saniflo wishes Tim a long and happy retirement. He is succeeded by Dave Cook, ex-Baxi, who joined Saniflo in May 2023 and has been working alongside Tim as Sales Director.
London-based luxury lighting specialists, Nulty Bespoke, are masterminds in the creation of beautiful, handcrafted, and tailor-made luminaires for architects, interior designers, and high net worth clientele around the world. In responding to their individual needs and envisioning their most specific wishes, the studio is uniquely positioned to provide an insight into the sector’s latest trends.
Under Founder Paul Nulty’s watchful eye, design manager Michael Sillitoe crafts the most unique lighting pieces befitting the most beautiful spaces. Having formerly produced luminaires and installations globally for Swarovski, David Gill Galleries and Isometrix, Michael loves to explore the challenges that come with working with light, especially where form, materiality, and finishes are concerned.
As an industry innovator, Michael Sillitoe reflects below on the company’s latest commissions and identifies several patterns emerging in the world of interiors.
NATURE-INSPIRED DESIGN
“Integral to any interiors and lighting brief today is an assessment of how playful organic design can be seamlessly integrated into the home.
The prevalence of organic forms isn’t new in the world of decorative lighting – flowing lines and shapes are timeless and lend themselves perfectly to beautifully realised schemes where chandeliers and pendants are used to create a focal point.
But for 2024, the trend will truly deepen due to a growing appreciation for biophilic design and a desire to connect with the integrity of nature. There is strong evidence that the stronger our connection with nature, the happier we are. Yet our ‘natural’ habitat is increasingly an urban one. This is where biophilic design comes in, as it strives to counteract the effects of modern urban life by bringing nature into a space. Creatives are having fun with this trend in lighting, reinventing familiar elements from nature to produce something unique.
Pictured above – Organic shapes of the Perla wall sconce in peach and the On the Wing installation.
In a design sense, the aesthetic is multifaceted – sinuous shapes, elaborate finishes, vibrant colours, and soft use of light are balanced to create a visually interesting centrepiece. The key to this sensibility is beautiful imperfections. Nature isn’t flawless; it’s a living and breathing entity so design must reflect this. Movement, intricacy, and nuance give each lighting piece character and personality.
Our Perla was inspired by the pearl, and the glass installation On The Wind is a joyful celebration of birds in flight.”
QUIET LUXURY
“’Quiet luxury is the latest trend to make its way into interiors. With the world increasingly feeling like a challenging place, we’re drawn to moments of calm. And in our efforts to seek out tranquillity, we try to surround ourselves with beautifully made pieces that evoke a sense of equilibrium and simplicity.
Characterised by carefully curated yet understated aesthetics, with just a hint of grandeur, the trend is all about considered composure. What these lighting pieces lack in drama, they make up for in detail. Clean lines and materials are the starting principle but gain an extra facet of lavishness through thoughtful creative touches. The most refined interiors are often the most stylistically balanced.
The key to this trend is the beautiful fusion of simplicity and intricacy. This can be seen through the glass tiers of our Planetary design, which feature a cloudy white finish, and the smoky detail inside our Glass Globe Pendant.”
[L-R: Planetary Pendant; Glass Globes Pendant]
REFLECTIVE GLORY
“A recurring theme throughout our client projects is curated illumination. Decorative lighting is moving beyond the realm of simple illumination and becoming a method of artistic expression – a way to animate or embellish a scheme. Lighting is being used as a work of art through oversized sculptural installations that bring a sense of movement to a space or create an optical illusion.
From avant-garde designs to cascading geometric clusters, these installations easily add a touch of glamour, drama, or intrigue to interiors.
The key to this trend is creative thinking – lighting pieces don’t just blend in with their surroundings, they add something unexpected and imaginative. This can be seen through our Droplet Inspired Chandelier at the Southbank Spa and our Jeu de Luminaire installation, which was created for a private residence.”
Pictured above – Jeu de Luminaire; Droplet Inspired Chandelier at the Southbank Spa
ABOUT NULTY BESPOKE
Nulty Bespoke creates bespoke and standardised composition luminaires for architects, interior designers, and developers. The team works in close collaboration with clients to guide them through every step of the bespoke lighting process, producing exceptional pieces that have been handcrafted by a team of specialist artisans using the finest materials and techniques.
Nulty Bespoke is the sister company of Nulty – an international lighting design consultancy that has worked on lighting schemes for clients such as Harrods, Selfridges, Bloomingdales, The Waldorf Astoria, Hakkasan, and Newnham College at the University of Cambridge.
With the choice of three colour temperatures and five bezel finishes, the CFR5CCT fire-fated downlight from Knightsbridge – a UK lighting manufacturer – is able to adapt lighting to fit the demands of every location.
Providing a versatile three-in-one lighting solution, the CFR5CCT features tri-CCT that provides three colour temperatures: 3000K, Warm White; 4000K, Cool White; and 5500K, daylight. Supplied with a white bezel as standard, the CFR5CCT can be accessorised with interchangeable bezels in five finishes – brushed chrome, matt black, polished chrome, white and brass.
Robust, durable, and easy and quick to install thanks to push-fit terminals for loop in/loop out connections, the downlight meets fire safety standards, being rated for 30/60/90min in solid timber, 30min in web joist, and 30min in I-joist (Staircraft).
Providing up to 115lm/W, the CFR5CCT downlight is also acoustic rated, minimizing noise interference, and is insulation contact-rated, as well as rated IP65 for dust and water-tightness. It has a three-year warranty and is designed for use with Trailing Edge dimmers.
For further details of the Knightsbridge innovative wiring accessories and lighting products, please visit www.mlaccessories.co.uk or call 01582 887760.
Through the work of the Liz Green Remembrance Fund, Utopia is supporting charities close to its heart. The charity was set up in Liz’s name to benefit two national cancer charities, Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support, as well as local causes in the Wolverhampton area.
Through a series of fundraising events, the company is pleased to have donated throughout the year to the two cancer charities along with Compton Care, a local hospice providing specialist palliative and bereavement support for people living with life limiting conditions, and The Good Shepherd, a Wolverhampton based charity supporting disadvantaged people. This charity pledges to end homelessness, support recovery, and create pathways out of poverty.
In addition, Utopia has also donated lots of brand new clothes to Compton Care to enable them to raise even further funds and the proceeds from the end of year Christmas jumper day and raffle will also go to this charity.
Ian Hall, Joint MD and brother to Liz Green, comments “We’re delighted to have supported these four charities throughout 2023 as part of our ongoing activities. In doing so, it’s also a very positive way for us to honour Liz’s memory.”
The Water Regulation Approval Scheme (WRAS) has appointed Jamie Lynch as business development manager.
Jamie brings more than 12 years’ experience of working in the water industry to WRAS, having joined Bristan Group as a graduate mechanical engineer back in 2011. Since then, Jamie has progressed through various roles with the shower, bath and taps manufacturer as supplier quality engineer, technical manager, and most recently as Bristan’s product compliance and data manager for which he managed a team responsible for obtaining all product approvals.
The Water Regulations Approval Scheme is an independent UK certification body for plumbing products and materials, helping business and consumers choose compliant products that keep water safe. Gaining approval from WRAS, enables manufacturers to demonstrate compliance with water fittings regulations. WRAS certify plumbing products and materials in the UK following rigorous tests in accredited laboratories.
WRAS has been focusing on improvements to customer experience, using customer feedback as part of its leading work in promoting compliance with water fittings regulations.
Jamie says: “Having known WRAS as a customer for many years, I’m excited to join the team and to have the opportunity to draw upon my experience to make meaningful changes and improvements that will hopefully enhance the scheme for others.”
Jamie’s immediate priority will be the communication of planned updates to several approval submission processes including direct submission to the application assessing team, which are due to be launched in 2024 and will improve Tap and Shower applications.
Jamie adds: “As WRAS prepares to implement these changes in 2024, I will be supporting customers to address any issues and to guide them through the new process and gain the necessary testing and WRAS approvals. The new process will benefit all customers by giving them early feedback direct from WRAS about their application and test requirements. This will help to resolve any issues identified early on.”
In a recent WRAS survey of British manufacturers, 63% of respondents answered they would like more choice of testing labs. In the newly created role, Jamie will support WRAS with the ongoing rollout of its lab recognition programme, ensuring that more laboratories are added to the Laboratory Recognition scheme offering more freedom of choice for clients and customers.
“Gaining a WRAS approval provides trusted assurance that manufacturers have demonstrated their products are of a suitable quality and standard, as required by the water regulations.”
