GROHE has unveiled its latest innovation in wellness-led bathroom design with the launch of GROHE Grohtherm Aqua Tiles, a next-generation concealed thermostat ’tile-shaped’ control panel system that redefines the modern shower as a fully customisable, spa-inspired experience.
Designed to respond to the growing demand for personalised wellbeing at home, the system combines architectural minimalism with advanced shower control.
A minimalist approach to intelligent control
At the core of the system is a precision-engineered metal thermostat presented in a sleek horizontal format. The design is deliberately restrained, with recessed control buttons that sit flush within the surface and only extend when activated, reinforcing a clean, uninterrupted aesthetic.
This pared-back interface reflects a wider shift in bathroom design towards seamless integration, where technology enhances the space without visual disruption.
Fully customisable shower experiences
The Grohtherm Aqua Tiles system enables control of up to five different shower functions, allowing users to move effortlessly between head and hand showers, body sprays and a variety of spray patterns.
This flexibility transforms everyday showering into a tailored wellness ritual, adapting to individual preferences, moods and routines. Interchangeable cover plates further enhance this sense of personalisation, offering icon-based options that clearly communicate each function and can be configured to suit bespoke shower layouts.
The result is an intuitive user experience that prioritises clarity, accessibility and precision.
Designed for immersive wellbeing
The system can be paired with the GROHE Rainshower Aqua, engineered to deliver an enveloping water experience that brings a true spa atmosphere into the home. With adjustable positioning and generous proportions, it is designed to maximise comfort and relaxation.
Two distinct spray modes – from a gentle Rain setting to a more invigorating ActiveRain – allow users to shift seamlessly between calming and energising experiences. Complementing this, the hand shower offers multiple spray options, including massage-style and air-infused variations designed to support both relaxation and revitalisation.
Cohesive design and elevated finishes
Material consistency is central to the system’s design language, with high-quality metal components used throughout for a unified, premium feel. The refined detailing ensures the entire shower environment reads as a cohesive architectural feature rather than a collection of separate elements.
Available in finishes aligned with the broader GROHE palette – including contemporary tones such as Phantom Black – the system is designed to integrate seamlessly into a wide range of interior schemes, from minimalist residential bathrooms to high-end hospitality projects.
A new direction in bathroom wellbeing
Positioned within GROHE’s wider premium bathroom offering, including systems such as the GROHE Atrio Private Collection, the launch reflects a continued focus on holistic wellbeing and design-led innovation.
Rooted in the principle of Salus per Aquam – wellbeing through water – Grohtherm Aqua Tiles reinforces the bathroom’s evolving role as a personalised wellness environment, where precision engineering and emotional comfort come together.
As the boundaries between wellness, architecture and daily ritual continue to blur, GROHE’s latest launch signals a clear direction of travel: towards highly adaptable, design-led spaces that elevate the everyday.
At Casa Decor 2026 in Madrid, Kaldewei unveils a refined bathroom installation designed by interior architect Isabel López Vilalta, presenting a calm, sensory interpretation of the bathroom as an architectural space for wellbeing, reflection and material clarity.
The project is conceived not as a literal narrative, but as an atmospheric spatial experience. Sculptural volumes, softened edges and a restrained material palette create a gradual unfolding of space, guiding visitors through a carefully controlled sequence that prioritises perception over immediate readability.
Bathroom elements are fully integrated into the architectural composition, with the NUIO DUO Zen Edition bath introducing a subtle multi-sensory dimension through heat, sound and light. Rather than functioning as standalone objects, the fixtures operate as part of the spatial and sensory system.
“The proposal does not unfold as an explicit narrative scene, but rather as an enveloping atmosphere. The sculptural volumetry reorganises the space from a contemporary perspective, creating a subtle contrast between architectural precision and the warmth of the materials. The result is a serene environment that invites visitors to pause and reflect,” says Isabel López Vilalta.
Movement through the installation is deliberately slow and intuitive. Layered planes reveal themselves progressively, encouraging a more mindful engagement with light, proportion and surface. A suspended mirror becomes a key spatial device, shifting viewpoints and subtly expanding the perception of the interior.
Light plays a central role in shaping atmosphere, working in dialogue with materials to define and soften architectural edges. Translucent textiles and a muted tonal range introduce warmth and intimacy, balancing precision with tactility. The result is a composed environment that feels both structured and emotionally open.
“The intention was not to impose an image, rather to craft an emotion,” adds ILV*, continuing: “We wanted visitors to be guided by the space, to move through it without haste, and to understand it through perception, not only through sight.”
The installation also reflects an ongoing collaboration with Kaldewei, developed through a wider project in San Sebastián where the studio, alongside architect Ignacio Quemada, is converting a former theatre into a hotel. That process informed bespoke terracotta tones and material references that appear within the Casa Decor installation.
The project reflects Kaldewei’s focus on steel enamel as a durable, circular and precise material language, reinforcing ideas of longevity and responsible design. Importantly, the installation has been conceived for reuse and will be relocated to Kaldewei’s showroom in Germany after Casa Decor, extending its lifecycle and supporting a more sustainable approach to exhibition design.
Aqualisa has launched its new S Range, bringing smart technology into the bathroom for control, convenience and personalised comfort. Showers can be started via remote, app, or voice with Google Assistant or Alexa, while the SmartValve™ regulates water temperature 10 times a second for precise performance.
Personalised showering for all users
Households can save profiles for multiple users, monitor water use, and enjoy precise temperature control thanks to the concealed SmartValve™, which adjusts water 10 times per second.
The S Range includes three models: S1, S2 and S3, each catering to different levels of smart sophistication. The S1 offers intuitive, analogue-style controls for those new to smart showers. S2 adds an HD digital display, app-powered routines, and remote start for daily convenience. The flagship S3 combines a fully customisable glass display with advanced connected features, colour-changing mood lighting, and spa-like performance with its 400mm overhead drencher.
Available in four premium finishes – Brushed Brass, Chrome, Matt Black, and Gun Metal – the S Range fits a variety of bathroom styles, from family bathrooms to ensuite retreats. Additional features include handshowers, bath fillers, divert functions, timers, child locks, delayed start, and eco modes, offering both luxury and sustainability.
With smart technology increasingly part of the home, the S Range demonstrates how connected showers can enhance daily life, delivering precision, comfort, and style. Whether a quick morning blast or a relaxing evening soak, Aqualisa’s S Range ensures every shower is perfect, personalised, and effortless.
Installer Connect for exceptional installer support
Aqualisa prides itself on exceptional products backed by exceptional service. Its recently launched Installer Connect programme is the framework on which it will build and sustain installer engagement for many years to come. It delivers the support needed at the time it’s required, in the preferred format. Installers receive quick access to product and install content with a dedicated first-line phone number, video calls for trouble-shooting and site-specific challenges, dedicated field service engineer support with 1:1 support and pre-booked on-site consultations. There’s also an Installer Connect website forum with live Q&A.
Designed and built by Aqualisa in Westerham, Kent and supported by a UK-based customer services team, the S Range is covered with a 1-year guarantee, which can be extended to 5 years.
Flair Showers has expanded its wetroom portfolio with the launch of BABY AYO, a reduced-height shower screen system designed for compact bathrooms and loft conversions.
Building on the design language of its AYO wetroom range and BABY ILI enclosures, the new collection stands at 1800mm high, offering a practical solution for spaces with restricted or sloping ceilings. As demand for space-efficient bathroom design continues to rise, particularly in attic renovations, the lower profile allows specifiers greater flexibility when planning contemporary wetroom layouts.
The modular system combines pared-back detailing with robust materials. Panels are manufactured from 8mm toughened safety glass, certified to EN12150 standards, and treated with a Clearvue hydrophobic coating to minimise limescale and grime build-up. Ultra-clear seals and concealed internal fixings maintain a clean, architectural aesthetic, supporting the growing trend for spa-inspired bathrooms in smaller footprints.
Part of the premium Harmony Collections, BABY AYO is available in three finishes – Silver, Matte Black and Brushed Brass – all applied using PVD technology for enhanced durability and colour consistency across components.
Designed with versatility in mind, the collection includes fixed panels ranging from 700mm to 1400mm, alongside T-pieces, 300mm rotating panels, recessed channels and a range of stabilising bars, including angled, ceiling-mounted and L-shaped options. All panels are reversible, enabling multiple wetroom configurations across both tray and floor-level installations.
For projects requiring a tray, Flair Showers also offers its Gemstone Slate Textured Trays. With a minimal height of 25–30mm, anti-slip properties and four colour options – Onyx Black, Graphite Black, Flint Grey and White – the trays are designed to integrate seamlessly with contemporary bathroom schemes. Both square and linear waste options are available, with chrome or colour-matched grilles.
BABY AYO is backed by a 20-year guarantee and has been tested for durability, stability and water retention, ensuring compliance with industry standards and long-term performance.
Ronán O’Grady, lead product designer at Flair Showers, said the launch responds to increasing demand for solutions tailored to compact and awkward spaces: “We are seeing a clear shift towards bathroom designs that maximise smaller footprints, including rooms with low or angled ceilings. BABY AYO allows our retail partners to deliver a premium wetroom experience without compromising on design or performance.”
Information on the collection is included in the 2026 Harmony Collections brochure, available in print and digital formats via Flair Showers – www.flairshowers.co.uk
The Connect2 tray, designed and made in the UK by Kudos has been constructed to avoid floor joists, ensuring it retains its super-low profile when installed. Launched in a choice of grey slate effect, high gloss white or slip-resistant white, Kudos has now added its best-selling slate effect white colourway to the collection.
Connect2 trays stand at just 35mm in height, are guaranteed to avoid all standard joist sizes and spans thanks to the precise positioning of a unique offset dual waste outlet, allowing the installer to choose the waste clear from obstruction to connect. The tray may need to be rotated to accommodate the fixed joists, but once set, the installer simply uses the blanking plug provided to seal the unused waste and plumb in the high-flow waste and trap, avoiding any need to lift the tray off the floor. If both waste holes are free then both wastes can be connected for even faster water removal. A re-inforced, magnetically secured waste cover, that’s easily removed for cleaning, then sits neatly over the plugs to complete the installation.
The Connect2 range of shower trays are manufactured in a acrylic capped ABS filled with a structural resin bonded stone for maximum strength and stability. The collection offers 12 rectangular sizes from 800mm square to 1700x800mm plus four quadrant/offset quadrant options. Each comes complete with a high flow waste rated to 35 litres of water per minute, and is competitively priced.
Kudos has been designing and manufacturing shower products at its Cumbria facility since 1999. They understand the UK bathroom market and all its idiosyncrasies and endeavour to develop products with easy to install features. Their products are stocked with a number of regional distributors to ensure a reliable service and ease of availability and they offer a lifetime guarantee on their shower trays and a spares website giving a superior after sales service.
Now trading as RONAL Bathrooms UK Ltd, the Kudos portfolio includes shower enclosures, shower trays, over-bath screens, and wet-room solutions sold via KBB showrooms and merchants across the UK. Visit its website, kudosshowers.co.uk, call 01539 564040, or email info@kudosshowers.co.uk.
House of Rohl UK, comprising Perrin & Rowe, Shaws of Darwen and Victoria + Albert, alongside Aqualisa, showcased a series of new product launches at KBB Birmingham, held from 1–4 March 2026.
Taking one of the largest stands at the show (Stand D68, Hall 20), the group presented several innovations as part of the exhibition’s 40th anniversary edition. Highlights included the new Aqualisa S Range smart digital shower collection (available April), the Victoria + Albert Lussari built-in baths (available March), and the Victoria + Albert Vetralla back-to-wall basins (available July).
With a combined sales team and enhanced marketing support, House of Rohl UK offered distributors, retailers and showrooms a single source for premium kitchen and bathroom fittings. The stand also incorporated a hospitality space featuring Perrin & Rowe’s Armstrong, Juliet, Phoenician and Provence 3-in-1 instant hot taps, while a dedicated heritage zone celebrated the history and craftsmanship of the House of Rohl brands.
A key highlight was the launch of the Aqualisa S Range, the brand’s next generation of smart digital showers. Visitors experienced working demonstrations on the stand, with Aqualisa experts explaining the connected features, intuitive controls and simplified installation.
Developed following extensive customer research, the S Range was designed to deliver a highly personalised showering experience while remaining simple and intuitive to use. The design combines a distinctive aesthetic with familiar dials and buttons, ensuring technology is seamlessly integrated without overcomplicating operation.
Each member of the household can create their own personalised shower routine through the Aqualisa app. Showers can be started via a wireless remote, smartphone or smart speaker, and the illuminated dial indicates when the water has reached the desired temperature.
At the heart of the system is the Aqualisa SmartValve™, which measures water temperature ten times per second to maintain consistent performance and eliminate hot or cold fluctuations. The smart valve can also be installed up to 10 metres away from the shower, offering installers greater flexibility.
With smart home technology now commonplace in UK households, Aqualisa believes digital showering is approaching a tipping point for wider adoption, with the S Range designed to make the benefits of connected showering accessible to a broader market.
GROHE’s Rapido Heat Recovery system offers a cutting-edge solution to reduce energy consumption in the shower, providing both environmental and financial benefits. Developed in collaboration with Hamwells, a Dutch startup specialising in sustainable shower solutions, this system efficiently recycles heat from wastewater to lower energy usage.
Product Highlights:
Heat Recovery Technology: The system captures warm water from the drain and circulates it through a separate pipe, transferring its residual heat to the incoming cold water supply. This process reduces the need for additional heating.
Energy & Cost Savings: A typical four-person household can save up to €299 annually, while reducing CO2 emissions by up to 48%.
Dual Efficiency Options: The system is available in single-pipe or double-pipe versions. The double-pipe version enhances heat transfer efficiency, making it ideal for maximising savings.
Efficient installation for maximum impact
GROHE Rapido Heat Recovery is based on the GROHE Rapido Shower Frame, enabling fast, easy, and safe installation of concealed shower systems for partners. Thanks to its pre-assembled components, installation time can be reduced by up to three hours. Requiring minimal installation effort and delivering maximum energy efficiency, it’s a low-impact upgrade that offers high-impact savings for years to come.
With the Rapido Heat Recovery system, GROHE offers an accessible, efficient solution to reduce energy costs and CO2 emissions while maintaining a premium shower experience. This innovative design is a smart addition to any sustainable bathroom project, offering both comfort and long-term energy savings.
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Features by Diane Larner, founder and editor of Bathroom Review & Kitchens Review. Diane Larner launched both titles over 15 years ago and has been writing about the bathroom and kitchen interior design industries ever since, publishing regular features across both sectors.
As demand for efficient, easy-to-install shower spaces continues to rise, today’s manufacturers have responded with a range of products that simplify the process for design and construction professionals. Modular components, standardised product ranges and user-friendly installation solutions make it easier to create customised shower spaces that meet functional and aesthetic demands.
In this feature, Diane Larner examines the latest products to reach the market – from minimalist shower design to water-saving features.
Minimalist Style
KEUCO IXMO
In recent years, minimalist design has surged in popularity. Clean lines, uncluttered spaces and a focus on capability characterise the movement. The look has extended beyond living and kitchen areas to the bathroom, making it the perfect design philosophy for the shower.
James Sketch, KEUCO UK country, explains, “Minimalism continues to shape contemporary shower design, with the focus on clean lines, understated elegance, and intelligent functionality. Current trends emphasise walk-in showering spaces with sleek, accessible features that can be adapted for multigenerational living while maintaining a luxurious feel. Neutral palettes and tactile finishes create calm, spa‑like environments, with the use of concealed fittings to ensure seamless aesthetics.”
In the world of bathroom innovation, KEUCO’s IXMO shower series has become a benchmark for both technical excellence and design minimalism. Developed for specifiers, designers, and discerning homeowners, IXMO combines multiple functions into the fewest possible visible components, creating shower spaces that are as stylish as they are efficient.
Making Connections
Ideal Standard Connect 2
Pairing shower enclosures and shower trays with the rest of the bathroom requires careful attention when coordinating spaces. The key is to ensure the materials and finish complement the overall design to create a cohesive look that blends with furniture, tiles and sanitaryware. Additionally, unobtrusive low-profile shower design helps create a seamless look, which in turn enhances the overall aesthetic.
Yiota Toumba, senior designer at The Villeroy & Boch Group, agrees, “These days, shower trays and enclosures aren’t just about function – they’re a key part of the bathroom’s look and feel. We’re seeing a real move toward sleek, low-profile trays that sit almost level with the floor, giving a more open, seamless feel.”
The Connect 2 range of shower enclosures from Ideal Standard is designed for flexibility, with sliding doors, bi-fold styles, and wet-room solutions available to suit a variety of bathroom layouts and spaces. Available in Chrome and Silk Black finishes, the enclosures are easy to pair with matching furniture and fittings, creating a cohesive, integrated bathroom.
Carefree Colour
CRL Shower Door Thresholds
Colour has made a comeback this year, becoming a central fixture on the design agenda. In bathrooms, colour helps create a bold aesthetic or can be used to define structure and layout. The use of colour in hardware adds an unexpected twist, especially when used to soften or accentuate design schemes – whether bold and dark for a sleek, contemporary look, or rose gold for a touch of luxury.
Simon Boocock, MD, CRL, comments, “Colour remains big news and innovation in hardware design is providing consumers with more choice than ever before. Designers can now create boutique-inspired enclosures with hardware in a plethora of finishes from Brushed Nickel and Satin Brass to Matte Black – and innovations such as our new Shower Door Thresholds are giving customers even more creative freedom.”
CRL has extended the design possibilities of its shower systems, including the multi-award-winning Quadrato, with the launch of new, coordinating Shower Door Thresholds. Available in six chic and sophisticated colours of Matte Black, Brite Anodised, Polished Nickel, Brushed Nickel, Satin Brass, and Brite Gold Anodised, CRL’s new Shower Door Thresholds will seamlessly complement all of its bespoke frameless shower screens to create a truly cohesive look.
Tall Orders
Multipanel 2-7m panel
We have a love affair with height in the UK, and buildings that boast extravagantly high ceilings carry an undeniable charm. However, making use of such a space can be a challenge. According to Chaboun Construction, properties built before the mid-20th century often feature higher ceilings, sometimes up to 2.7 meters. Leveraging the space without it feeling lofty and uncomfortable can be achieved through innovative panel design, creating a stunning, cohesive atmosphere that is expansive yet well-proportioned.
Elliott Fairlie, product and marketing director at Grant Westfield, says, “As more homeowners renovate period properties like Georgian and Victorian homes, there’s growing demand for wall solutions that accommodate higher ceilings without compromising on style. The result is a sleek, seamless look that enhances the architectural character of these homes while offering the waterproof performance and ease of installation retailers and fitters rely on.”
Waterproof bathroom wall panel brand Multipanel is expanding its range to include a new 2.7m panel height, designed to meet the growing demand for full-height solutions in properties with taller ceilings.
Water Aware
Module X From Crosswater
Only last week, the Environment Agency urged water efficiency to become a national priority, with Helen Wakeham, EA director of Water, saying, “Climate change and population growth are putting a tremendous strain on resources and this year’s drought is a stark reminder that we all need to be more mindful of our consumption.”
The water agency has also issued a bleak warning about the likelihood of more frequent droughts in the future, and is continuing to progress toward mandatory water labelling. With this in mind, incorporating water-saving products into bathroom design is more relevant than ever before. By selecting high-performance, water-saving fixtures, architects, house builders, and homeowners can address rising environmental costs and lower utility bills, while also contributing to the overall sustainability of their projects.
Jorge Hernandez, head of design at Crosswater, comments, “Across the industry, we have seen a growing appreciation for intuitive controls that hold temperature reliably and make every day shower use effortless and user-friendly. Equally important is the shift toward eco-conscious design in showering, requiring manufacturers to deliver water-saving solutions that maintain high pressure and performance while meeting the expectations of today’s buyers.”
Module Push from Crosswater is designed with sustainability in mind. It features water-saving controls while presenting the latest in luxury showering technology and design.
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Whether it’s a new build or a remodel, carefully designed, resource-efficient shower solutions will prepare your bathroom for the future, combining sustainability with lasting comfort.
We can expect a bathroom to last 15 to 20 years on average, so it’s important to keep the future in mind when planning today. For expert guidance, this means looking at sustainable solutions as a whole — from planning an accessible design and using long-lasting materials to overall efficiency in everyday use. Within the shower area, in particular, you can find a variety of different ways to combine functionality with environmental responsibility.
Sustainability starts with planning and smart product choices
An accessible, floor-level shower area is comfortable, convenient, and allows independent use even with physical limitations. The self-supporting Sustano shower tray, with its extremely low overall height of only 1.2 inches (30 mm), enables flush-mounted installation even in remodel projects with low floor heights. In addition to the low-profile, edge-free design for installation flush with the floor, the shower tray range comes in a variety of sizes for small and large bathrooms alike.
Sustano also has an attractive entry-level price and comes in six colour options for creative, individual bathroom design; it is especially suitable for remodel projects. DuroCast® Nature, a recyclable mineral composite material, offers a range of excellent features: it is lightweight and easy to handle and cut during installation, whilst being durable, easy to clean, pleasant to the touch, UVresistant, and slip-resistant on matte finishes.
Taps and showers that save water and energy
Whether designing a new bathroom or updating an existing one, innovative water-saving solutions are the preferred choice. They contribute to sustainable water use in the bathroom without compromising comfort. They also help lower your water and energy bills. Duravit’s MinusFlow feature can reduce water use by up to 40% with the overhead shower and up to 60% with the hand shower.
Modern thermostatic taps actively help reduce energy consumption by keeping the water at a constant temperature. The integrated HeatLock function, with a safety lock at 100°F (38°C), helps prevent energy waste and reliably protects against scalding.
Available in a variety of designs and finishes, Duravit’s shower systems feature a thermostat that is seamlessly integrated into the shower tap. They are also available with the MinusFlow feature, providing a resource-efficient, all-in-one solution that is easy to install — an appealing choice for bathroom remodels.
Pictured top: Built for the future: A shower space that combines comfort, accessibility, and timeless design, guaranteeing many years of use and embodying sustainability in the truest sense.
Pictured middle:Recyclable: The self-supporting Sustano shower tray, with its extremely low overall height of only 1.2 inches (30 mm), enables flush-mounted installation even in remodel projects with low floor heights.
Pictured bottom: The easy-to-install Shower System Shelf 1050 features a thermostat built directly into the shower faucet, and the showers are available with the water-saving MinusFlow feature.
CRL has extended the design possibilities of its shower systems, including the multi-award-winning Quadrato, with the launch of new, coordinating Shower Door Thresholds.
Infinitely practical, the new snap-in thresholds measure 2.4m and are designed for use with SDCD38 U Channels. They can be installed under and above fixed panels, allowing the U Channel to be used as a frame, and continue across door openings to create a watertight barrier and ensure no water leaks out of the shower area.
Available in six chic and sophisticated colours of Matte Black, Brite Anodised, Polished Nickel, Brushed Nickel, Satin Brass and Brite Gold Anodised, CRL’s new Shower Door Thresholds will seamlessly complement all of its bespoke frameless shower screens to create a truly cohesive look.
Providing customers with even more creative freedom, the new Shower Door Thresholds are made from premium materials to ensure long-lasting durability. The perfect partner to its popular, award-winning Quadrato Shower System, pictured, which combines style, versatility and ease of installation, the new aluminium thresholds provide CRL customers with a complete showering solution.
For further information call 01706 863600, email crl@crlaurence.co.uk, or visit www.crlaurence.co.uk
