Bathrooms and shower rooms are increasingly being designed as extensions of our living spaces, a space to retreat, relax and rejuvenate rather than just for practicalities. CRL shower hardware taps into this movement, with colours and styles to suit all décor schemes.
Frameless solutions, such as Cambridge (pictured top) and Serenity sliding shower doors, offer the ultimate in wet-room style luxury that also maximises accessibility in the modern bathroom.
A further highlight is the CRL Geneva hinge, available in a wide choice of finishes and suitable for bespoke applications, enabling the shower area to be tailored to fit any space, ideal when working with awkward shapes and sizes in rooms such as in corners and under eaves.
Integrating smart features into our homes is becoming part of the new normal as more of us work from home.The smart homes market was valued at around $80 billion in 2020, and it is expected to exceed $300 billion by 2026.
With UK householders dramatically increasing the number of smart devices they own, it makes sense for us to integrate smart living into the bathroom. For housebuilders, incorporating connected technology at build level might be a smart move in more ways than one, as demonstrated this year by Plant Prefab. The US prefab construction company announced its highest profit ever in 2020.
Mike Simpson, product & marketing director at Aqualisa agrees “There are currently 15 million households that own a smart home device, with predictions suggesting growth to 24 million by 2025. Smart technology is making homes more efficient and cheaper to run: reducing energy consumption, saving money, decreasing environmental impact and delivering a more personalised experience. “
All systems go
Scavolini Dandy Bathroom Furniture with built-in Alexa
Alexa is now a familiar feature in our kitchen and living areas, however, Scavolini has gone one step further and updated its popular Dandy bathroom furniture range with a smart built-in Amazon Alexa. Not only can you now talk to your home, but your virtual assistant is seamlessly integrated into its design via the Task Bar, an aluminium profile that incorporates smart technology.
Appropiate behaviour
According to UWLA, bathroom products are at the heart of water consumption in the home, with over 60% of water being used in the bathroom (20% accounted for by showers), and 25% of energy used heating hot water.
Helping to conserve water use in the bathroom, Aqualisa’s next-generation Quartz Touch™ smart shower includes an intuitive, easy-to-use mobile app. Families can use the Aqualisa app to control shower duration and monitor individual usage, therefore limiting water consumption and costs. Furthermore, a proximity sensor reduces water flow if the user steps away from the shower.
“With more than 2 billion litres of water used each day in the UK and an expected increase in demand of 30% over the next 20 years, sustainability has become a key priority in the bathroom industry. Combined with the rapid adoption of technology, this is resulting in the emergence of smart home devices that can both enhance consumers’ wellbeing and contribute to a more eco-friendly lifestyle.” continues Mike Simpson, product & marketing director, Aqualisa.
Aqualisa
Keep it clean
Smart technology is dovetailing with a new focus on hygiene as manufacturers integrate touch-free features for frequently used bathroom areas such as guest bathrooms. Sensor-activated products that you don’t have to touch with your hands help us feel more comfortable and enhance hygiene levels.
TOTO is one such company and is offering more touch-free functionalities for its shower toilets (WASHLET™), taps, soap dispenser and automatic hand dryers.
Mirror image
The bathroom is no longer simply a functional space, but a place to rejuvenate and refresh. Light and sound are key design elements when it comes to creating a safe haven, however smart technology also ensures that all-important connectivity. The latest technology means every aspect can be smartly integrated so there is no need to compromise on any single element.
Ash Chilver, HiB Sales Director agrees “As bathrooms become more of a multipurpose space, somewhere that we go to relax and unwind as well as for our hygiene needs, having access to technology is becoming more important. By using and interacting with products featuring technology such as integrated speakers, Bluetooth and charging ports, we can stay connected and enhance our experience and overall enjoyment of the bathroom.”
Teeming with useful technology, the Dimension LED Bluetooth Speaker cabinet (pictured top and below) offers a number of features that enhance the user experience in the bathroom. The cabinet’s dual aspect LED illumination is operated via a handy touch sensor that highlights the design on the mirrored sides and doors. Hidden discreetly within the mirror surface is a heated pad that helps to reduce condensation, and inside the cabinet, the two handy USB ports and a 2 pin socket allows users to charge their devices, toothbrushes and shavers.
PJH has launched a luxurious new modular furniture range, aptly named “Statement”.The range is part of its new Autumn/Winter Bathrooms to Love Collection and is available in three super matt soft shades – Matt Antique Rose, Matt Latte and Matt White.
Statement consists of a range of basin units and tall units (also available in a wall-hung option) and can be complemented with a choice of handles in three on-trend finishes – Brushed Brass, Matt Black or Polished Chrome. The basin unit drawers feature luxurious smoked glass sides and anti-slip drawer liners.
The basin units with tops come in two widths (590mm & 1180mm) and can be teamed with choices of handle and washbowl as well as a worktop – including an Urban Black 10mm HPL (High-Pressure Laminate), a White Slate 12mm HPL and a Matt Latte 18mm laminate design. A third basin unit option, at 610mm in width, comes with a 1-tap hole inset ceramic white basin.
Sitting at the top-end of the Bathrooms to Love furniture collection Statement is a perfect showroom display piece when teamed with coordinating Bathrooms to Love products, such as brassware, washbowls, mirrors, lighting, wall-hung ceramics and accessories, as shown above.
A five-year quality guarantee accompanies the Statement range, which is featured on the front cover of the brand new PJH Bathrooms to Love consumer brochure.
Stockist support includes new point-of-sale material, furniture colour swatch samples and display deals – and the new range is now available for ordering via PJH’s e-commerce platform, the Partners Portal™.
With more features and new dimensions, bathroom cabinet mirrors increase storage capacity, offering even better design options. The new Luna range from Roca provides ample storage, in a contemporary style to suit all bathrooms.
The ideal partner for bathroom grooming routines, the cabinet mirror is also a storage solution that will solve many space-saving challenges in the bathroom. This updated classic is back, with its popular minimalist design. With a 110º opening for better access to the inside of the Luna cabinet, the doors are highly durable thanks to their soft closing mechanism. Its neutral finish allows you to combine the cabinet with any other bathroom furniture, making it an incredibly versatile option. The new Luna models are the ideal combination of comfort and aesthetics.
Perfect Mirrored Storage
Ideal to store small objects or to keep toiletries tidy, Luna is available in several different widths, 500, 600, 800 or 1000 mm, all measuring 700mm tall and 150mm deep. In the 800mm model, the reversible door can be installed to the left or right-hand side, based on the distribution needs of the bathroom space. With two height-adjustable shelves in each module, it is easier to keep objects in different sizes tidy.
Luna can be complemented with a 300mm Starlight spotlight that provides energy-efficient LED lighting to the upper section of the mirror, offering a perfect lighting solution in the bathroom.
PJH has announced that for the second time this year, it is unveiling a brand new collection of bathroom products to add to its Bathrooms to Love portfolio.
New and updated ranges feature in the furniture, ceramic, worktop, bath and accessory categories, and include new design-led collections as well as beautiful new colours and finishes, and product specification upgrades.
A refreshed new 332-page consumer brochure accompanies the launch (Bathrooms to Love – Issue 18), including aspirational new lifestyle photography and, as always, supported with a package of stockist sales assistance, such as new point-of-sale material, furniture colour swatch samples, display deals and competitive pricing. PJH’s e-commerce platform, the PJH Partners Portal™, now lists all new products, making online ordering even easier, especially with the use of convenient functions such as live stock information and order tracking.
The evolving Bathrooms to Love Collection welcomes a number of new furniture ranges, including the luxurious “Statement” modular furniture family available in a super matt finish including a stunning Antique Rose colourway, as well as the hi-spec “Gatsby” modular furniture range with integrated LED lighting and high quality Blum fittings.
The popular “Lucia” ‘transitional’ furniture range see’s a new wall-hung cabinet option added to its choices, and the fitted furniture range “Benita” welcomes some new unit options. More contemporary worktops have been added to the furniture category along with a stunning marble-effect vessel basin – a real centrepiece!
Meanwhile, the modern freestanding bath range now offers a number of designs available in a new matt grey finish, available from stock for immediate delivery without having to pre-order – so great news for stockists with no lengthy ‘painted-to-order’ lead times.
Global bathroom brand VitrA’s Liquid is a new comprehensive range designed in collaboration with Tom Dixon. Liquid is the first-ever bathroom range by the acclaimed British designer.
The range is the latest addition to VitrA’s portfolio of designer collaborations, part of a long-standing programme of working with world-renowned designers to create distinctive, modern bathroom collections.
For Tom, the collaboration with VitrA has allowed him to explore new design opportunities while gaining an appreciation of the complexities of manufacturing products for the bathroom. Creating a fully comprehensive range was key for the designer so Liquid covers all elements of the bathroom – sanitaryware, furniture, taps, tiles, shower systems, and accessories.
For Liquid, part of Tom’s inspiration was Victorian bathrooms.
“I like the feeling of permanence in Victorian bathrooms, with their big chunky taps and fat tubes,” Tom notes. “It’s an aesthetic that’s closely connected to a whole tradition of British engineering and influenced the development of the bathroom.”
The fact that clay is readily available and extremely durable resonated with Tom, particularly from a sustainability perspective. He found it fascinating “the way a bit of grey and greasy earth can transform into something so white, clean and shiny.”
Like much of Tom’s recent work, the new collection is aligned with his increasing use of round-edged aesthetics. The designs have been inspired by elements of pop art, such as Jeff Koons and his Balloon Dog and the work of Claes Oldenburg, as well as the sculptor Barbara Hepworth’s geometry of soft forms and use of rounded marble.
Over months of close collaboration, VitrA and Tom Dixon explored lots of new ideas. “I think design should always increase the potentials,” says VitrA’s design director, Erdem Akan. “If you get the core pieces right, you can create combinations and potentials – creating more with less.” The final result is Liquid, a range that is wholly new and yet somehow familiar.
Levent Giray, managing director of VitrA UK, comments:
“We are delighted to introduce Tom Dixon’s innovative and contemporary collection as part of our ongoing collaboration with world-renowned designers. Our extensive manufacturing, design and innovation capabilities have ensured that there is a unity to the breadth of Liquid, the VitrA x Tom Dixon collection. At a time when there is a greater emphasis placed on the bathroom space, this cohesive collection has a generosity of design that will sit comfortably in both domestic and professional environments.”
HiB has launched a brushed brass finish to the Solas mirror range, offering customers an eye-catching alternative for their bathroom design.
The Solas mirror, which is also available in black and chrome finishes, now has a brushed brass option for the 50cm and 60cm mirrors. Offering a subtle but luxurious look, the decadent styling of the brushed brass Solas mirror is the perfect addition to the bathroom.
Solas can be hung portrait or landscape to suit the room and features a circle of LED light, which is offset from the surface of the mirror and provides optimal facial illumination. Integrated colour temperature changing technology allows user to find the perfect ambience for precision tasks such as shaving or applying makeup, making the mirror both practical and stylish. The Solas mirror also benefits from internal heated pads which reduce condensation on the mirror’s surface, for a flawless and functional bathroom centrepiece.
Ash Chilver, Sales Director at HiB said: “Solas is a real statement mirror that looks fantastic in the bathroom. Launching the brushed brass finish now means that we are able to offer customers a complete range of complementing products including brassware, to create a consistent design.”
For more information about the new brushed brass Solas mirrors visit hib.co.uk where you can also download the latest HiB brochure.
HiB is a major supplier to UK and Irish Bathroom Retailers and is a market leader in innovative bathroom products such as mirrors, cabinets, lighting and furniture. With more than 30 years of experience in the industry, the company is renowned for providing innovative, creative solutions which make bathrooms beautiful and substantially improves the lives of retailers, partners and the wider community.
Since HiB was established in the 1990s, the company has grown significantly. From humble roots as a fledgling business founded by Chairman Warren Ginsberg, to a 100 plus-strong operation with centres both in New Southgate, North London and a 85,000 Sq.ft national distribution site near Tamworth in the Midlands, the company has been responsible for many bathroom industry ‘firsts’.
HiB has pioneered numerous product innovations including colour changing technology, steam-free mirrors, LED lighting in mirrors and cabinets featuring Bluetooth and USB integration. All new concepts are designed by the company’s product development team, who ensure that each range adheres to the company philosophy of only bringing to market products which answer a genuine need. Managing Director, Robert Ginsberg along with the entire HiB workforce, are committed to driving growth and success through future product innovations and developments. The company has a long-term strategy to increase
White Tulip is the first complete bathroom range created entirely by Philippe Starck for Duravit. The range includes free-standing ceramic washbasins, round above-counter basins, matching free-standing and wall-mounted toilets and bidets, bathroom furniture, matching mirrors, taps and bathtubs.
The elegant shapes of the components within the series echoes the organic silhouette of a tulip in bloom; exuding an almost sculptural feel.
Basins
The monolithic design of the free-standing ceramic washbasin is particularly eye-catching. The washbasin can be attached to the wall or the floor as required.
Designed in the same style, the round above-counter basin has an aesthetically pleasing delicately outward sloping edge. The right-angled washbasin, when viewed from above, also reflects this form. Also available as a furniture washbasin and as a hand rinse basin, both come in two sizes and complete the range.
Bidets & Toilets
Matching free-standing and wall-mounted toilets and bidets complement the impressive ceramic elements. The White Tulip style is also found on the matching urinal. The toilets are equipped with the new HygieneFlush technology.
All new HygieneFlush toilets come with the tried and tested HygieneGlaze ceramic glaze as standard to guarantee even greater hygiene. Fired into the interior of the toilet, HygieneGlaze ensures that approx. 90% of bacteria (for example e. coli) are eradicated after six hours, and approx. 99.9% after 24 hours. The outstanding quality of White Tulip is also reflected in its new lifetime guarantee, which Duravit offers on the ceramic elements in the range for selected countries.
Bathroom Furniture
The corresponding furniture is as extraordinary as the entire range. The miter-cut, extremely finely crafted edges are testament to the precise composition of the White Tulip furniture, which comes in widths of between 350 and 1300 mm.
Matching Mirrors
Matching mirrors from the White Tulip series are available in versions controlled by sensors or an app. Creating a special visual effect, the mirrored glass has been brought forward which makes the mirror’s surface appear almost transparent around the illuminated area.
Freestanding Bathtub
The free-standing bathtub with its seamless acrylic paneling mirrors the form of the ceramics. The oval version is available in two sizes: 1800×800 mm, with 1600×900 mm for smaller rooms. The round bathtub with a diameter of 140 cm, offers a spacious interior.
Taps
White Tulip also includes the first range of taps developed by Philippe Starck for Duravit. The consistent design element is the tulip-shaped handle that echoes the shape of the washbasins and bathtubs and is particularly easy and pleasant to operate thanks to the polished surface, whilst the 160 finely engraved vertical stripes produce a truly sophisticated effect. Washbasin mixers are available in various “comfort” heights S, M, and XL. The range also includes bidet, shower and bath faucets.
The unusual design of the White Tulip series will add a stylish touch to any setting. Well-engineered technologies such as HygieneFlush and HygieneGlaze, tip-on technology and self-close action as well as mirror heating and app-controlled, customizable lighting complete the feel-good factor.
The Kartell by Laufen collection has been expanded with original products, in new colours and finishes. A timeless concept with a wide range of pieces that can be combined to create new compositions every time.
The bathroom, like all spaces in the home, is constantly evolving, changing to adapt to the latest lifestyle trends. From research and study on today’s ways of living, the Kartell by Laufen collection has boosted the impact of the colours and finishes of the ceramic fixtures and accessories, inserting new fresh, neutral tones that can be freely combined to generate different settings.
Kartell by Laufen is an extremely complete, variegated collection for the bathroom: it is composed not only of sanitaryware, washstands, brassware, shower trays and bathtubs – the indispensable constants – but also furnishings and décor complements, which can continuously change. Such a wide range of different items gives rise to a collection that combines the Italian design tradition and high quality of materials typical of Kartell.
The Kartell by Laufen collection has been enhanced with new chromatic versions for the sanitaryware and the accessories, while moving forward with the research on taps and mixers. The matte and soft touch finishes effectively mingle with the rest of the collection, bringing a contemporary image that easily fits in any type of décor solution. The white and gray tones previously favored are joined by black and anthracite gray for the washstands in different forms and sizes, produced in the finest ceramic which makes it possible to achieve squared lines and very slim borders, reducing environmental impact to a minimum.
Ochre, mustard yellow and blue-gray are the new hues for 2021, selected to facilitate different compositions of cabinets and drawer units that combine compact, linear design with ample size to offer maximum functional quality in any type of bathroom.
The transparent design accessories establish a perfect dialogue with the ceramic fixtures and the cabinets, adding a touch of lightness in the bathroom thanks to the transparency of the various modular elements. From the Sound-Rack storage systems, which offer great compositional freedom and an ample selection of colours and finishes, to the extensive selection of accessories and complements: Kartell by Laufen is an eclectic, contemporary collection that permits personalisation of the bathroom to suit the mood of the moment.
The toilet (rimless) and the bidet stand out for their linear form, like an overturned truncated cone, with the possibility of attachment to the wall or the floor.
The brassware also plays an important role in the collection: the various possibilities of installation and the great quality of the finishes allow for countless combinations with the ceramic fixtures. The minimal form of the mixers and cylindrical columns are softened by the elegant lines of the curved spigot, the perfect completion of a large washbasin or tub.
The sky’s the limit!
There are no limitations to the compositional freedom offered by the Kartell by Laufen collection: the bathroom becomes a fluid space, capable of adapting to the new needs of living that call for rapid, flexible solutions, in which functional quality rhymes with design and innovation. Sanitaryware, cabinets, complements and accessories, featuring pure geometric forms, to create combinations that are perfect for any space, of any size.
Leading supplier HiB has launched a new bathroom cabinet with a touch sensor for easy and quick illuminationand a built-in Bluetooth® speaker.
The Dimension LED Bluetooth® speaker cabinet brings together a myriad of features with a bold and sophisticated design that is striking when viewed from every angle. The touch sensor on the side of the cabinet activates Dimension’s illuminated exterior, which can be appreciated from the front, sides and inside the mirrored doors, creating a practical but showstopping centrepiece in the bathroom.
The cabinet features built-in Bluetooth® connectivity and speakers, allowing users to link their devices and listen to music, podcasts and audio books with ease. Charging devices isn’t a problem thanks to Dimension’s two integrated USB ports and a 2 pin socket for charging toothbrushes and shavers.
When using the cabinet after a shower or bath, the heated pad technology hidden beneath the surface of the soft-close mirrored doors, helps to reduce condensation and maintain visibility. Plus, personal items can be conveniently stored using Dimension’s adjustable shelving, maximising storage.
Product longevity and quality assurance have always been central to the design of HiB mirrors, cabinets, furniture and accessories and Dimension benefits from improved assembly features that ensure performance and durability.
