Villeroy & Boch has unveiled a striking extension to its iconic Artis collection, introducing four rich, full-surface matt finishes for 2025: Pure Black, Almond, Nightfall, and Teal. These bold new additions respond directly to one of the year’s leading interior trends – the use of deep, earthy tones to create grounding, emotionally resonant spaces.

For the first time, the Artis collection now includes single-coloured surface-mounted washbasins, in addition to the well-established BiColour series. Manufactured from the brand’s proprietary TitanCeram material, the basins offer superior stability and ultra-refined edges, underlining Villeroy & Boch’s ongoing commitment to technical innovation and craftsmanship.

Available in four sculptural shapes – round, oval, square, and rectangular – the new models can be perfectly paired with furniture from collections such as Finion and Antao. The compact Artis Guest range also receives a refresh, with smaller versions in round and oval shapes ideal for making a statement in guest bathrooms.

Creating peaceful retreats 

Created in collaboration with celebrated Franco-German designer and colour expert Gesa Hansen, the new shades reflect a contemporary desire for interiors that offer comfort and emotional depth.

“They create a sense of security,” explains Hansen. Her four new colours explore the tension between light and dark. Nightfall, a dramatic midnight blue, and Pure Black, a rich grounding black, invite tranquillity and introspection. These are offset by Almond, a warm, sandy neutral, and Teal, a vibrant blend of blue and green hues that offer a subtle energy and sophisticated contrast.

“In an increasingly hectic, uprooted world, we yearn for peaceful havens,” says Hansen. “The depth effect of shadows and darkness creates a kind of shelter from the stimulation of the outside world.”

These new shades expand the expressive potential of bathroom design, providing homeowners, interior designers and specifiers with a broader palette to craft calming, characterful sanctuaries. Each tone embodies a tactile richness, while the matt finish ensures a contemporary, on-trend look that integrates effortlessly with natural materials and minimalist styling.

About Gesa Hansen

Recognised as one of the most influential designers of her generation, Gesa Hansen brings a deeply considered approach to colour in her work. For Hansen, colour is more than aesthetics – it’s a way to evoke emotion, define space and express individuality. Her long-standing partnership with Villeroy & Boch continues to redefine bathroom interiors with sensitivity and boldness in equal measure.

Kréte is the bold bathroom collection from Whitebirk Sink Company: a sculptural series of basins crafted from concrete which have been designed to bring colour, character and contemporary edge to the bathroom.
 
Offered in a variety of refined designs and a palette of distinctive colours, Kréte reimagines the bathroom basin as an architectural statement. The collection includes both countertop and wall-mounted options, with each design named after a location in Crete – reflecting the collection’s Mediterranean inspiration and grounding it in a sense of place.
 
Every Kréte basin is cast from an innovative eco-concrete blend that requires significantly less energy to produce than traditional alternatives, combining lower-impact raw materials with a durable, long-lasting finish. A soft satin surface gives the concrete a smooth, modern texture, allowing for details to appear sharper with minimal reflection from lighting. This refined surface treatment helps elevate concrete from a traditionally industrial material to one with a distinctly contemporary and luxurious feel.
 
Colour is integral to the Kréte collection. Alongside classic white, the basins are available in warm, earth-led tones and more expressive hues, including burnt orange, forest green, deep blue, tangerine, soft pink and terrazzo – each selected for its ability to complement both minimalist and maximalist interiors.
 
Kréte is an exciting new design chapter for Whitebirk, a British brand best known for its handmade fireclay kitchen sinks. While rooted in the same ethos of quality, craft and material integrity, Kréte represents a progressive step into modern bathroom design with a range that is fresh, considered and made to last – reflecting a shift in how bathrooms are perceived – no longer purely functional, but increasingly expressive and intentional spaces within the home.
 
“We wanted to create something that stood out not just for the material, but for the form and finish,” says Steve Allen, Managing Director at Whitebirk. “Kréte is contemporary and impactful. It has presence, without being overwhelming and it’s been designed with modern homes in mind.”
 
Defined by bold form, refined texture and confident colour, each Kréte basin makes a statement – whether used as a quiet centrepiece or a bolder design gesture.
 
Kréte by Whitebirk is available exclusively through the Whitebirk Sink Company website and via its global network of retailers with pricing from £669.00.

The Cabanes Basin by Frontline Bathrooms is a new arrival designed for modern living and compact spaces. Ideal for cloakrooms, ensuites, and smaller bathrooms, this statement basin will provide retailers with a stylish, space-saving solution. 

Available in 400mm or 500mm sizes and in Matt White or Matt Black, each basin is crafted from solid surface stone resin—a carefully balanced blend of natural stone minerals, resins, and pigments. Unlike ceramic, the surface is warm and silky to the touch, offering a luxe feel with everyday functionality.

One of its most thoughtful and standout features is the integrated towel rail, seamlessly moulded into the base of the basin itself. Each Cabanes basin is hand-finished for a premium feel. 

Each basin comes with a pre-drilled tap hole, ready to pair with a mini basin mixer so as not to overwhelm the statement the basin makes. The waste is concealed and colour-matched for a beautifully cohesive finish.

For more information, visit www.frontlinebathrooms.co.uk