Schlüter-Systems has strengthened its sales team with two new area sales consultants.
Jamie Bannon will service contractors and distributors in London South and surrounding boroughs. Jamie, formerly at CTD, brings with him knowledge and industry experience gained in tile sales.
Owen will be looking after contractors and distributors in East Anglia and North London and brings with him a wealth of tiling knowledge from his time as an apprentice tiler and working alongside his father as a tiler. Most recently, Owen’s time has been spent as a national salesman for a tile distributor.
Following an earlier announcement, Warren Ginsberg, Chairman of HiB, has officially received his MBE from The Princess Royal at a recent Investiture Ceremony held at Windsor Castle.
The award honours his outstanding contributions and commitment to the bathroom industry, with a career spanning over five decades.
Reflecting on the event, Warren said: “It is a truly humbling experience to receive an MBE, especially for work I am so passionate about.
HiB started as a small idea, and to now be recognised for its impact on homes across the country and overseas is beyond what I ever imagined.
I would also like to share this honour with the incredible team at HiB who have worked alongside me to achieve the success we see today.”
Creating a beautiful, functional child-friendly bathroom that meets the needs of both adults and children can be challenging. The good news is that style doesn’t have to be compromised for safety.
Victoria Plum’s interior design expert, Ruth Foster, offers top tips on designing a child-friendly bathroom that perfectly balances aesthetics and practicality.
With a few clever design choices, you can create an elegant and safe space for your children while still adhering to your personal style.
1. Opt for slip-resistant flooring “Safety should always come first, especially when children are involved,” Ruth advises. “Choosing slip-resistant flooring is a must for a child-friendly bathroom.”
Tiles with textured surfaces or vinyl flooring provide excellent grip, reducing the risk of slips and falls, particularly in wet conditions. These flooring options come in a wide range of styles, from minimalist to bold patterns, allowing you to maintain your bathroom’s aesthetic appeal while ensuring safety.
2. Rounded fixtures for a softer touch Sharp edges on bathroom fixtures can pose a safety risk for small children. Ruth suggests opting for rounded sinks and bathtubs. “These designs are not only safer for children but also lend a sleek, modern look to the space,” she explains.
Round-edged fixtures create a softer, more inviting feel without sacrificing style.
3. Smart storage solutions “A clutter-free bathroom is not only visually appealing but also safer for children,” says Ruth. “Incorporating clever storage solutions will keep hazardous items like razors, medicines, cleaning products, and any electrical appliances, like hairdryers, out of reach.”
Wall-mounted cabinets, vanity units with child-proof locks, and recessed shelving help keep the space tidy and organised, minimising the risk of accidents. You could add storage baskets or bins in colours that complement your overall design scheme for a playful touch.
4. Temperature control for taps and showers Hot water can pose a severe risk to children, so controlling the temperature is crucial. Ruth recommends installing thermostatic showers and taps, which prevent the water from getting too hot and ensure a safe bathing experience for little ones.
“These features aren’t just about safety—they also contribute to a more comfortable and relaxing environment for everyone,” she adds.
5. Functional, stylish and fun accessories Accessories are a great way to introduce personality into a child-friendly bathroom while keeping safety in mind. “Choose soft, non-slip bath mats, patterned shower curtains, and brightly coloured towels that can inject a sense of fun into the space,” Ruth advises.
These items are easy to swap out as your child grows, allowing you to update the look of your bathroom without the need for a full renovation.
“You can keep the main design elements stylish and timeless, while incorporating playful accessories which can be easily changed,” she says.
6. Low-level fixtures for independence Encouraging children to become more independent in their daily routines is essential, and your bathroom design can play a big role in this. Ruth recommends installing low-level sinks or adding a sturdy step stool to allow children to access the basin on their own. “By giving children easy access to the sink and mirror, you’re helping them build confidence and autonomy,” Ruth explains.
There are plenty of stylish options available, from sleek step stools that blend seamlessly into modern designs to custom-built vanities tailored to a family-friendly layout.
Style and safety can coexist “Designing a child-friendly bathroom doesn’t mean sacrificing style,” says Ruth. “With a few thoughtful choices, you can create a bathroom that’s safe, practical, and visually appealing.”
By prioritising safety features and incorporating playful, functional elements, you can design a child-friendly bathroom space that works for the whole family without losing your personal style.
For more bathroom design tips and inspiration, visit Victoria Plum.
Nestled in a 16th-century Venetian palazzo overlooking the Cannaregio canal, the Radisson Collection Hotel, Palazzo Nani, has been meticulously restored to preserve its historical essence. The interior design by Studio Marco Piva and the architectural work by Venice Plan emphasise both luxury and heritage, with approval from the Fine Arts and Landscape Superintendency of Venice.
This five-star hotel, now part of the Radisson Collection, offers 52 rooms, suites, and three private apartments. Every detail reflects Venetian craftsmanship, particularly in the hotel’s bathrooms, where modern sophistication meets classical elegance. The bathrooms feature Vimar’s exclusive Eikon Exé series, with controls in anthracite grey, blending seamlessly with the décor to create a luxurious and refined experience.
The Eikon Exé series, with its traditional controls, enhances the timeless feel of the hotel’s bathrooms. Positioned on wood panelling and in key communal areas, the series offers both form and function, providing a sleek and harmonious look throughout the property.
Studio Marco Piva’s design balances modern convenience with historical preservation, creating a “box-in-the-box” concept that respects the palazzo’s past. The communal areas, including the bathrooms, maintain a sense of elegance, allowing guests to experience a seamless blend of Venetian tradition and contemporary luxury.
“Vimar’s Eikon Exé series fits perfectly into the hotel’s design, enhancing the luxurious atmosphere while preserving the rich heritage of Palazzo Nani,” said a spokesperson for the project. The attention to detail in the bathrooms, from the fluted glass to the finely crafted fixtures, ensures guests enjoy a unique and immersive stay.
With the Eikon Exé series, the Radisson Collection Hotel, Palazzo Nani, marries past and present, offering a luxury bathroom experience that honours Venice’s illustrious history while delivering modern convenience.
The Unified Water Label Association (UWLA) is marking its seventeenth year of success in Europe with a significant rise in new memberships across the continent.
The first Unified Water Label registration occurred in September 2007 by Lecico Bathrooms in the UK, followed by numerous others throughout Europe. Over the past two years, fifteen new brands have joined the scheme, with seven of these joining within the last three months.
Antony Thompson, managing director at Lecico Bathrooms, remarked, “We have been proud supporters of the UWLA since 2007 and continue to use the label to highlight the water-efficiency of our products.”
The seven latest members include Ireland’s Sanbra Group, which encompasses the R T Large and St James brands; Italian bathroom and kitchen supplier Cristina; Polish ceramics company Cersanit; Frattini, an Italian tap manufacturer; German bathroom and kitchen fittings company Kludi; handwashing solutions provider Smixin, based in Switzerland; and Neoperl retail, an international leader in innovative solutions for drinking water.
Yvonne Orgill, UWLA managing director, stated, “The UWLA emerged from the European Bathroom Forum, a collaboration of four European water labels. These robust European foundations have enabled the Unified Water Label to become the leading product-based water label in both the UK and Europe.
“Earlier this year, we merged with the Portuguese association Anqip, creating a unified scheme for cross-border sales. Together, we are striving towards the goal of a single water labelling scheme across Europe.
“By continuing to drive growth through our extensive communication and education programmes, we expect further expansion across Europe and are on track to meet government objectives for 2024 and 2025.”
The new Lebenshilfe e.V. residential centre in Elzach, Black Forest, is a state-of-the-art facility designed to offer a modern, accessible living environment for individuals with disabilities. Thoughtfully constructed to promote both comfort and independence, the centre features innovative sanitary solutions from Duravit, a leading name in bathroom design.
Accessible and Hygienic Bathrooms
Each Lebenshilfe bedroom is equipped with a private bathroom that includes Duravit’s Starck 3 Vital washbasins and Architec Vital wall-mounted toilets. These wheelchair-accessible washbasins provide ample space for ease of use, helping residents with restricted mobility maintain their independence. TheArchitec toilets, with their deep projection, are specifically designed for accessibility, and Duravit’s advanced HygieneGlaze technology ensures a superior level of cleanliness and hygiene.
Independence and social interaction in a thoughtful layout
Since opening in February 2024, the centre has provided residents with a carefully designed space that balances privacy with communal living. The centre comprises four apartments, each containing six single bedrooms, allowing residents to enjoy their personal space. Additionally, communal areas – such as the fully accessible kitchen and dining spaces – encourage interaction and socialising among the residents, promoting a sense of community while ensuring their individual needs are met.
Seamless indoor-outdoor living
The centre’s design integrates nature into daily living, and the luxurious floor-to-ceiling windowsfill the rooms with natural light. Each apartment includes a private balcony or terrace, offering direct access to outdoor spaces, further enhancing the residents’ quality of life. Broad corridors with handrails ensure freedom of movement, and warm wooden floors add a homely touch, making the centre an inviting place to live.
Duravit’s high-quality products are designed with accessibility in mind, making them the perfect choice for this state-of-the-art residential centre. They ensure residents can live with greater independence and comfort.
Lebenshilfeaccessible sanitary ceramics products : − Starck 3 Vital washbasin, 600 x 545 mm − Architec Vital wall-mounted toilet with HygieneGlaze 700 x 350 mm, – Architec wall-mounted rimless toilet, 575 x 365 mm
Shower designer and manufacturer Roman has furthered its commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. Roman has long embraced the Circular Economy, with all products featuring very high levels of recycled content. As a British manufacturer, Roman’s carbon footprint is unrivalled.
Roman has also announced another breakthrough: the installation of four state-of-the-art renewable energy furnaces. These furnaces have revolutionised Roman’s waste handling while contributing to a greener and more sustainable future. They have been installed across Roman’s 400,000 sq ft manufacturing site in County Durham.
The new furnace technology is designed to efficiently remove waste wood, converting what would otherwise be discarded material into a valuable energy source. This not only reduces environmental impact but also cuts down reliance on non-renewable energy sources, dramatically reducing Roman’s carbon footprint. This marks a significant step forward in Roman’s journey toward a zero-waste future. The wood comes from nearly 300 tons of waste generated annually from supplier packaging. The hot air is ducted throughout Roman’s manufacturing complex and has the added benefit of eliminating the need for traditional heating.
This further investment in renewable energy is just one part of Roman’s broader sustainability initiative. In addition to the four furnaces, Roman has upgraded its entire facility with energy-efficient LED lighting. LED lights consume significantly less energy than traditional lighting systems, offering an eco-friendly alternative that reduces electricity consumption.
Roman is a very active member of the United Nations Global Compact – the global leader in sustainability, ethics, and human rights. These advancements align closely with Roman’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which guide businesses to continually strive for economic growth that is inclusive, environmentally responsible, and beneficial to society. As a proud member of the UN SDG initiative, Roman is committed to advancing several vital goals, including affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), and climate action (SDG 13).
Roman has also announced that its CEO, David Osborne, has been invited to speak at the forthcoming United Nations GC Annual Summit at London’s Guildhall on October 1st. David commented, “It is a great honour to be involved with the United Nations GC Summit, and we are there to share our achievements and ambitions within our supply chain.”
For over 60 years, Saniflo has excelled at enhancing homes and buildings with its innovative pumps and macerators. The latest offerings, Modulo and Modulo XL, enable the creation of complete bathrooms within bedrooms through two convenient all-in-one solutions. Modulo features a pod-style design with a shower and basin, while Modulo XL incorporates a shower, basin, and wall-hung WC.
These bathroom pods come with various profile and glass options, including white profiles with white glass, black profiles with black glass, and black profiles with white glass. Installation of a new en-suite can be completed in just 2 to 3 days, requiring only basic electrical access and small-bore pipework. Where waste discharge presents challenges, a Saniflo pump can be included as part of the installation package.
Both Modulo models offer a luxurious version with a sliding door shower, a chic vanity unit with a basin, and a modern towel rail, as well as a standard version featuring a curtain rail shower and a washbasin with a mixer tap. Each model is equipped with a contemporary mechanical shower valve and handset.
The bathroom pods can be positioned in a recess or corner, with a pivot door for easy access. In the shower area, a self-supporting Biocryl platform rests on height-adjustable feet, complemented by finishing plinths and opaque white glass back panels. The ceiling is crafted from white honeycomb polypropylene and includes two integrated LED spotlights. Additional features include a mirror, glass shelves, towel hook, ventilation grill, 220 V socket, and a floor mat, with all glass treated for anti-limescale properties for effortless cleaning post-installation.
Modulo and Modulo XL are perfect solutions for boutique hotels, bed and breakfasts, guest houses, modular buildings, or any homeowner looking to expand living space in a basement, garage, barn, or other external structures. They present a new opportunity for installers to deliver swift and efficient bathroom solutions to their clients.
Amanda Mills, marketing manager at Saniflo, states, “The new Modulo and Modulo XL make it easy to add a practical yet stylish en-suite to an existing bedroom. This will be particularly appealing to many small boutique hotels, bed and breakfast owners with shared bathroom facilities for guests, and domestic households needing an additional bathroom. It’s also an excellent opportunity for manufacturers of modular buildings seeking a complete bathroom solution.”
The new MAYFAIR in MATT REED GREEN is the latest addition to PJH’s Bathrooms to Love Collection. This elegant bathroom furniture range features a transitional design that merges classic shaker style with modern touches. The Reed Green cabinets have a super matt, fingerprint-proof surface with a velvet-like texture for long-lasting appeal.
Available in wall-hung and floor-standing options, the Mayfair range blends timeless shaker design with contemporary elements, making it a versatile choice for traditional and modern homes.
The drawer and door fronts, with fine shaker framing and a tactile super matt finish, can be customised with a choice of 11 handles and knobs in brushed brass, matt black, or chrome, allowing for a personalised look. Bathrooms to Love also provides matching overflow rings, flush covers, and seat hinge caps for a fully coordinated design. For a cohesive finish, complement the chosen hardware, such as brushed brass, with matching brassware, shower enclosures, mirrors, radiators, and lighting.
The Mayfair range includes a selection of basin units (615-815mm widths), a floor-standing WC unit (500mm width), and a wall-hung tall unit (350mm width), all offering ample storage space. Basin units come with a sleek, slim-edge white ceramic sit-in basin, available in wall-hung units with two spacious drawers or floor-standing units with doors.
With a reduced depth of 395mm, the Mayfair range is ideal for bathrooms and ensuites where space is limited.
All units feature soft-close fixtures and fittings for smooth operation and long-lasting durability. Always in stock and available to order from PJH, the Reed Green Mayfair range includes competitive display deals, product samples, and showroom support, including QR codes with AR links allowing customers to view the Mayfair range in their own space.
Supported by Next Day Delivery (to 93% of UK postcodes), Mayfair is available through PJH’s Partners Portal™ e-commerce website.
GROHE, a leading supplier of premium bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings, is preparing to unveil its inaugural UK Specification Hub in London by late 2024.
GROHE has confirmed its plans to establish its first UK Specification Hub at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London. As a permanent addition to the venue, GROHE will join a prestigious design and interior brand group at this iconic exhibition centre.
The hub will serve as a specialised space for A&D (architects and designers) customers to explore the GROHE portfolio up close, including the luxury sub-brand GROHE SPA. The space will showcase GROHE’s top-selling products, such as plumbed-in shower systems for live demonstrations, Sensia Pro shower toilets, brassware, and accessories. Additionally, visitors will see a variety of finishes from the GROHE Colour Collection.
The hub will be operated by GROHE’s UK Sales and Projects team, targeting designers, specifiers, and architects. Visits are arranged by appointment. The space will also host broader activities for the UK team, including events, training sessions, and product launches.
The concept for the Specification Hub has been led by Chris Dodds, Leader, UK & Ireland, LIXIL EMENA, and Louis Pullen, Leader, Architecture & Design, UK, LIXIL EMENA, with a clear focus on strengthening customer relations.
Commenting on the launch, Chris Dodds, leader, UK & Ireland, LIXIL EMENA, said: “The opening of our Specification Hub in the Business Design Centre marks a strategic advancement in our approach to the projects sector, which is seeing rapid growth in the UK and Ireland. We recognise the importance of providing a tactile environment where customers can interact with our products before specifying them. Now is the perfect time for us to invest in a dedicated space for our A&D partners in the UK. This new hub will allow us to expand our premium and professional product range, providing a fresh touchpoint for our partners and prospective customers to experience GROHE’s innovative offerings.”
