In a move to simplify the various features and benefits of different types of worktop for the consumer, alongside presenting its full collection and colour options, Utopia has produced a digital brochure entitled ‘A Guide to Utopia’s Worktop Collections’. The guide showcases each type of worktop in all the colourways available in an easily accessible format. It is available to view online or download in the Literature section of the website at www.utopiagroup.com.
Helen Clark, head of marketing at Utopia, explains “As we continue to expand our worktop offering across our different collections, it can be a confusing process for consumers to navigate their way through which option is best for them, so we’ve put together this handy and informative brochure to help them select exactly the right worktop to suit their furniture collection choice as well as style and budget. Choosing a digital format for our new brochure is designed to help our retailers and consumers access information very quickly and easily without having to store additional brochures in the showroom.”
The guide can be used standalone or in conjunction with the Utopia in-store display stand, enabling product types and colours to be viewed and handled. In addition,
Utopia’s free sample service further ensures that the customer can make a confident and informed choice.
Utopia is committed to reducing its carbon footprint per its environmental and sustainability policy. Producing digital marketing materials is another key step in achieving its ambitious targets in this area.
The senior leadership team at Frontline Bathrooms and Smiths Briten, headed by senior managing director Darren Allison, has committed to making a six-figure investment in a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Software system.
The new ERP system will replace legacy software and streamline business operations, making delivery to retailers more efficient and timely. It will include new features such as electronic proof of delivery, better visibility of stock levels when placing an order, and more efficient delivery routes for improved sustainability.
On a business level, the ERP will help to simplify the back-office process across both companies, including minimising dual stocking and a more efficient delivery schedule into the warehouses.
Darren Allison, managing director at The Bathroom Distribution Group, says: “We’re investing heavily in smarter systems and streamlined operations to make doing business with us easier, faster, and more reliable. At the heart of this is the rollout of a new ERP system, which will allow us to simplify processes, improve accuracy, and provide a better overall experience for our customers.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the backing of our parent company, Huws Gray, whose support has been instrumental in enabling these changes. Their investment and belief in our long-term vision has given both myself and the wider team the confidence and resource to drive meaningful improvements. The investment of the new ERP systems is just the start.”
Smiths Briten and Frontline Bathrooms operate as sister brands, each with its own distinct offer yet closely connected through shared leadership and aligned values. With the same Managing Director overseeing both businesses, there is a strong synergy in their approach to product innovation, customer service, and market support. This connection allows them to collaborate seamlessly behind the scenes, ensuring consistency, expertise, and a comprehensive offering across the bathroom and plumbing sectors, while maintaining the individuality that makes each brand unique.
Clerkenwell Design Week will see the UK launch of Bette’s flattest ever shower tray, the BetteUltra Space, and its new colour, ‘Salvia’ which will be shown on the BetteSuno bath, designed by Barber Osgerby. Bette will also be displaying a selection of its counter-top washbasins, in a wide range of colours.
All Bette shower trays, baths and basins are made of glazed titanium-steel and are durable, easy to clean, fully recyclable and come with a 30-year warranty, making them as suitable for hotels, restaurants and bars as they are for private homes.
New BetteUltra Space shower tray
The new BetteUltra Space shower tray is Bette’s flattest-ever shower tray. It has a minimalist, timeless design and an ultra-flat height of just 15mm. It can be installed flush with the floor or slightly raised and comes in a choice of 20 sizes from 800 × 800 mm to 1700 × 800 mm and in a wide range of colours.
New colour – Salvia
Bette’s new colour, ‘Salvia’, an elegant glossy sage green, will also launch in the UK at Clerkenwell Design Week. It joins Bette’s existing 30 Key Colours, which are available on the entire Bette enamelled-steel range of shower trays, baths, and washbasins.
Two colour ranges and new colour fan
Bette’s colour expertise is demonstrated through its two colour ranges: Key Colours and Bespoke Colours. Key Colours offers a choice of 31 colours, available across all Bette’s shower trays, baths and basins, while Bespoke Colours are 40 additional colours, including eye-catching shimmering effect colours. They are available on specific products and can be used to create colour accents and stylish focal points.
All Key Colours and Bespoke Colours are included in Bette’s new free colour fan. Its format and accurate colours are designed to make it easy select colours to create a complementary colour scheme by holding the Bette colours against other items to be included.
BettesSuno by Barber Osgerby – now in Salvia
Bette’s new colour, ‘Salvia,’ will be shown on the BetteSuno freestanding bath and basins, which were designed by Barber Osgerby.
In collaboration with Bette, the British design studio Barber Osgerby developed the exclusive BetteSuno bathroom collection, which includes a freestanding oval bath and two washbasins—all made of glazed titanium steel and with a 30-year warranty.
Jay Osgerby commented: “The form invites engagement, and its exactness is achieved through expert engineering and the use of enamelled steel, which is a far superior material for sanitary ware.”
The collection is characterised by a pared-down design approach with the bath featuring an outwardly projecting rim and referencing classic bath design. The collection is now also available in the new sage green colour, Salvia, on display at Clerkenwell Design Week.
Basins in a choice of colours
In addition, Bette will display a selection of its basins, which are all available in 31 Key Colours. They combine style and colour with durability, ease of cleaning, and a 30-year warranty, making them ideal for restaurants, bars, and hotels as they are for private homes.
Bette sustainability
Bette products can support a more sustainable circular economy approach, in which products are re-used and recycled. The glazed titanium-steel material from which products are made is so durable that all products come with a 30-year warranty. This means that, when a bathroom is being refurbished, Bette’s baths, shower trays and basins will often be re-used or will be sold for re-use elsewhere. The products are made from natural materials and can be recycled entirely. They are also extremely easy to clean, with minimum cleaning products required.
Where possible, carbon-neutral green steel is used at no extra cost to customers. Bette has been buying significant quantities of green steel since 2021.
Bette also makes its manufacturing processes as environmentally friendly as possible. It generates electricity and heat from combined heat and power plants and solar energy, and when the sun shines, it creates 2/3 of its electricity requirements from solar energy.
Bette is a specialist for bathroom products made of a special material and manufacturing process.
Titanium steel sheets are formed under high pressure and refined with a thin coating similar to glass – hence the name “glazed titanium steel”. This composite material is ideal for the bathroom living space – it is smooth, hygienic, durable and robust.
The family-owned company Bette was founded in 1952 in Delbrück (North Rhine-Westphalia) and has specialised exclusively in this manufacturing process, which enables the products to be shaped with the highest level of precision craftsmanship.
Around 390 people are employed at the production and administration headquarters. Thilo C. Pahl, a representative of the owner family, is the managing director.
The range includes baths, shower surfaces, shower trays, washbasins and bathroom furniture “Made in Germany”: unique pieces that can be varied in colour and dimension and open up inspiring scope for the interior design of the bathroom. Bette manufacturing combines high-tech production with handcrafting where it serves the customer’s benefit. Today, more than half of the products are customised according to the customer’s wishes. Over 600 different bath and washbasin models are offered in a wide range of possible surface colours.
High-quality, completely recyclable products are created from the natural raw materials glass, water and steel. They are verified according to the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) in accordance with ISO 14025 and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).
Leading business organisations from the European Union and the United Kingdom convened in February 2025 to explore practical solutions to reduce technical trade barriers and enhance economic cooperation post-Brexit. Central to the dialogue was a strong joint call for a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) on conformity assessment, a move seen as both pragmatic and achievable in the current regulatory landscape. A public statement calling for the MRA has now been made available.
Participants acknowledged the similar challenges faced by industries on both sides of the Channel and agreed that a mutual recognition agreement on conformity assessment would provide substantial mutual benefits.
Among the key advantages identified:
Regulatory stability and investment confidence: An MRA would bring predictability to compliance processes, encouraging long-term investment and enabling businesses to scale operations with assurance.
Reduced duplication and compliance costs: By removing the need for duplicative conformity assessments, businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, would benefit from lower administrative burdens and improved access to both EU and UK markets.
Enhanced capacity and competition: Recognising all conformity assessment bodies would expand access to these services, build capacity, and drive healthy competition, ultimately benefiting exporters.
Business organisations agreed that an MRA is not only desirable but also practical and deliverable. It can be pursued independently of the broader EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, allowing for more agile progress. Additionally, it can start with selected industries and be expanded over time, ensuring a manageable and results-driven approach.
Furthermore, existing technical foundations are in place. The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is assessed to the same standards as EU Member State Accreditation Bodies. This alignment provides a strong technical basis for mutual recognition.
The initiative has received strong backing from the UK construction products sector, including the Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA), a member of the Construction Products Association, one of the signatory bodies.
“A mutual recognition agreement on conformity assessment is a common-sense step that will significantly reduce unnecessary costs and red tape for our industry,” said Tom Reynolds, chief executive of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association.
“As proud members of the Construction Products Association, we strongly welcome this initiative and urge political leaders on both sides of the Channel to take heed of this clear message from industry. Enabling smoother access to each other’s markets is key to supporting growth and innovation.”
A call to action ahead of the EU-UK Summit
With the EU-UK Summit scheduled for 19 May 2025, signatories, including the CPA, CBI, Make UK and Orgalim, urge political leaders to prioritise this initiative. An MRA on conformity assessment stands out as a tangible step toward easing trade friction and fostering a stronger, more collaborative economic relationship.
The full public statement, along with the full list of signatories, can be viewed here.
Excellent design and outstanding comfort does not need to cost a fortune. Duravit offers sophisticated solutions for stylish and functional bathroom designs that meet the most exacting standards. With the D-Code, Balcoon, and D-Neo bathroom ranges, the complete bathroom manufacturer proves that cost-effective projects are as well suited to high-quality design and practical functionality as their more upmarket counterparts.
How good design should look!
The D-Code range, designed by sieger design, is synonymous with timeless and contemporary design and blends harmoniously into any bathroom. With a range of different dimensions and variants, D-Code offers flexible solutions for budget-friendly bathroom planning.
The range is known for its clear, fluid forms and wide range of décor surfaces, which give rise to individual design options. Personalised bathroom dreams can be brought to life thanks to contemporary colour and wood décors paired with quality ceramics. Matching accessories in Chrome or Matt Black add a harmonious finishing touch in both functional and visual terms.
Elegance and functionality in the medium price bracket
The Balcoon bathroom range designed by Patricia Urquiola combines timeless elegance with contemporary functionality. Clear geometric forms and natural colors offer a stylish solution for price-conscious bathrooms. The Balcoon range includes high-quality ceramic items, furniture, faucets, and bathtubs, all of which impress with their durable aesthetics and first-class finishing.
The range’s above-counter and handrinse basins feature the antibacterial DuraShield® protective glaze, making them exceptionally hygienic and easy to clean. Additionally, the faucets incorporate resource-saving features such as Fresh Start and Minus Flow, which save energy and water.
Balcoon is perfect for luxurious bathroom design without breaking the bank. Its many design options make Balcoon the perfect backdrop for private and project bathrooms.
Versatility and style for every day
The D-Neo range, designed by Bertrand Lejoly, represents a broad product range that fits unobtrusively into any ambience. D-Neo offers a wealth of possibilities for personalised and price-effective bathroom design. The range includes washbasins, furniture, faucets, toilets, and bathtubs that stand out thanks to their minimalistic design and practical functions.
The SensoWash® D-Neo shower toilet ensures additional comfort and hygiene in the entry-level segment for those keen on price-conscious bathroom design. D-Neo enables stylish and functional bathrooms on a small budget that reflect an individual’s personal style and offer the highest possible comfort.
Bathrooms to Love by PJH has launched a new fitted furniture range, Edin, which offers a wealth of product options for a stylish, tailor-made fit, centred around flexible storage solutions.
Available in eight beautiful colour finishes, the Edin fitted furniture family has been created for maximum design flexibility to suit a wide spectrum of bathroom sizes, types, and styles, enabling truly individual looks. The range is so versatile that it can be installed either wall-mounted using the included brackets or floor-standing with the matching clip-on plinths.
On-trend colour choices include two timber-effects (Havana Oak and Warm Walnut), one gloss finish (White), and five flawless matts (Dove Grey, Graphite Grey, Stone, Arley Blue and Green). Then coordinate cabinet exteriors with a choice of two interior finishes – an oak-effect or a light grey. Handle options include a wide selection of styles to complement the Edin units, including new walnut or oak-effect dome handles and chrome, matt black, matt white, brushed brass and brushed bronze designs.
Maximising storage space is at the heart of Edin’s design. With more cabinet options and configurations than any previous fitted furniture from Bathrooms to Love, choices are wide and also include many accessories to fine-tune customised solutions. Units are available in both standard (depth of 318mm) and slim space-saving (depth of 218mm) dimensions. Sizes range from 200mm to 600mm wide, including basin, WC, three-drawer, tall, mirrored, toilet roll, one-door, and two-door storage options. Also available are a selection of special packs, including a range of units (including WC and basin units), plinth and end panels. These convenient packs include slim and standard depths, range from 1236mm to 1536mm in width and offer a value-added option to the customer.
Basin options are equally varied, continuing the customisation theme. Customers can choose from a new range of one-piece basins and worktops, a statement washbowl with worktop, or a semi-recessed or inset basin with worktop—all include slim versions for the reduced-depth cabinets, as well as plenty more options on form and finish.
Luxurious in its design, Edin boasts a high-quality and durable construction, featuring 18mm doors/fascias with soft-close mechanisms as standard. Easy to install, the new Edin Fitted Furniture range is now available for ordering via the PJH Partners Portal and can be delivered via a Next Day service to the store or home address.
Bathrooms to Love offers exceptional display deals on its new Edin range and a package of showroom sales support, so speak to your Regional PJH Sales Manager now.
During Clerkenwell Design Week 2025, held from May 20 to 22, Marazzi marked its 90th anniversary with the unveiling of its newly renovated London showroom at 90/92 St. John Street, in the heart of Clerkenwell. The refreshed space provided visitors with a dynamic and immersive experience that showcased the brand’s enduring commitment to design, innovation, and material excellence.
The exhibition featured a striking selection of Marazzi’s latest ceramic and porcelain stoneware collections. Central to the presentation was Crogiolo Terramater, (pictured left), a collection that celebrates traditional craftsmanship with rich textures and earthy tones in small formats, evoking hand-made authenticity. In contrast, the Grande and The Top series demonstrated Marazzi’s expertise in producing large slabs for architectural and bespoke interior applications, combining refined aesthetics with high performance.
Visitors were invited to explore a curated journey through multiple applications of ceramic surfaces—from custom-designed tables to integrated furniture pieces—showcasing the material’s versatility, elegance, and functional beauty. The collections reflected Marazzi’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of surface design, bridging heritage techniques with contemporary creativity.
The event not only celebrated a major milestone in the company’s history but also reaffirmed its role as a leader in ceramic innovation on the global design stage.
The Bathroom Manufacturers Association (BMA) has announced that Be Modern Ltd, along with its well-known brand Atlanta Bathrooms, will be a Gold Sponsor for the upcoming Connect Conference 2025, taking place on September 16–17 at the Grand Hotel in Birmingham.
As Be Modern Ltd recently celebrated its 60th anniversary, it reflects a long-standing commitment to innovation, quality, and customers’ evolving needs. From its beginnings in 1964 with a single brand, the company has grown to include a diverse portfolio, producing fireplaces, stoves, bathroom furniture, and more, to make life at home more stylish, simple, and comfortable.
The 2025 conference will centre on the theme “Connect the Dots,” exploring how closer collaboration between manufacturers, retailers, merchants, and supply chain partners in the bathroom sector can unlock sustainable growth and resilience in an increasingly complex marketplace.
Tom Reynolds, Chief Executive of the BMA, welcomed the announcement: “We’re delighted to welcome Be Modern Ltd and Atlanta Bathrooms as gold sponsors for this year’s Connect Conference. As a long-established manufacturer with a strong customer focus, their support reflects the spirit of this event – bringing the industry together to share knowledge, tackle challenges, and drive innovation for a successful future.”
Mike Spink, managing director of Be Modern Ltd, commented: “We’re proud to be supporting the BMA Connect Conference 2025 as a gold sponsor during such a special time for Be Modern. Marking 60 years in business, this is a moment to reflect on our heritage while looking ahead with ambition. The conference provides a valuable platform for the industry to come together, exchange ideas and build the kind of partnerships that will help us all grow in a fast-moving world.”
Attendees can expect a dynamic two-day programme, including keynote presentations from Alex Depledge and Anna Leach, interactive panel sessions, and exceptional networking opportunities.
Rounding the conference off in style will be the Gala Dinner, where not only will guests be treated to an exceptional three-course dinner, but they will also be able to celebrate the winner of the BMA Sustainability Award and our Thirty-under-Thirty 2025 cohort of winners.
As the bathroom industry continues to adapt to shifting demands and new opportunities, the BMA Connect Conference 2025 will provide the insights and connections needed to shape a bright and collaborative future.
House of Rohl has announced it will be part of a key event on the international design calendar once again – WOW!house at Design Centre, Chelsea Harbour, running from June 3 to July 3, 2025.
For its fourth consecutive year at WOW!house, House of Rohl collaborates with renowned global design studio 1508 London to create a distinctive and emotive Primary Bathroom. The design explores three key themes: Reflection, Ritual, and Reverie, drawing on global bathing rituals and the transformative power of water.
WOW!house spans 600sqm, with 22 full-sized rooms and outdoor spaces, each uniquely designed by world-class interior designers in collaboration with leading design brands. The House of Rohl bathroom features a sculptural Victoria + Albert Seros freestanding bath, designed with British sculptor Sophie-Elizabeth Thompson, which becomes the focal point of the space. Brassware from Perrin & Rowe’s Langbourne collection further enhances the bathroom’s refined aesthetic.
“WOW!house is now firmly established as one of the highlights of London’s design calendar, attracting global interest. House of Rohl is extremely proud to have participated every year since its inception, presenting exciting and highly original bathroom spaces in partnership with acclaimed design practices. 1508 London were top of the list of practices we most wanted to work with, and so we are thrilled that they have taken the project on for 2025. We immediately fell in love with their concept, and can’t wait to unveil the completed bathroom, with our award-winning Seros bath as the centrepiece, in June.” comments Nigel Palmer, head of communications marketing, House of Rohl.
The design features tactile materials, including plaster walls, intricate floor patterns, and artisanal furniture pieces, to create a space that seamlessly blends modern luxury with ancient bathing traditions. Visitors will experience a seamless interplay of light and shadow, heightening the sense of discovery.
Key products featured include Artisans of Devizes, Bert Frank, Clayworks, Tom Faulkner, Porta Romana, and exclusive commissioned artwork by Carl Koch of Paynes Grey.
“It feels serendipitous to be part of WOW!house 2025, as it coincides with our 15th anniversary… WOW!house is not just an exhibition; it is a celebration of community and collaboration.” said Ailsa Connery, regional director and Design Principal, 1508 London
House of Rohl at WOW!house 2025 – where ritual and reflection meet remarkable design.
The Space House – a brutalist landmark designed in 1968 by Richard Seifert & Partners – has been transformed by Squire & Partners and Seaforth Land into a future-ready, sustainable workspace in the heart of Covent Garden, London.
This Grade II-listed building now spans over 24,000 m². Its two original forms – the cylindrical ‘Tower’ and the rectangular ‘Block’ – have been opened up to create generous floor plans with bright lobbies and accessible roof terraces. Ninety per cent of the original structure has been retained, supporting a strategy of sustainable reuse.
Duravit’s ME by Starck range has been installed throughout the sanitary areas. Known for its minimalist geometry, the collection complements the bold architectural lines of the building.
“The pared-down design of the wall-mounted toilets and urinals is consistent with the structured materiality of the building and creates a continuity of design right down to the last detail.”
Original mosaic tiles have been preserved in stairwells, while newly laid terrazzo adds a calm, modern character to common areas. Exposed concrete and radial ceiling structures highlight the building’s legacy, now integrated with energy-efficient cooling systems and intelligent building technologies.
This approach creates a visible dialogue between past and present. The Space House has achieved multiple sustainability credentials, including BREEAM “Outstanding”, Net Zero Carbon, Fitwel, and WiredScore Platinum certifications.
The Twentieth Century Society describes it as one of “the coolest new office developments of 2024”.
Duravit’s involvement contributes to the project’s architectural continuity, supporting a renewed vision for working life within a landmark space.
