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Us Brits are often tasked with planning compact bathrooms, with the average UK bathroom measuring a modest 2M x 2M1. Fortunately, many innovations and designs allow homeowners to create an inviting yet functional space. Opting for wall-hung fittings within a compact space is an ideal solution to provide additional space while limiting clutter, helping to create a streamlined finish, and these fittings are continuing to grow in popularity as we get more familiar with their benefits.

Today, bathroom experts GROHE, provide a complete buyer’s guide and share all there is to know on wall-hung fittings, including how these design choices can elevate even the smallest of bathroom spaces with reduced outward projections and elevated placement.

Simple Installation

While its recommended wall-hung fittings are installed by professional installers, the fittings are often
not as invasive and complicated to install as often believed, especially when it comes to full bathroom
renovations. Many of GROHE’s models can be installed in front of a solid wall or within a stud wall in
next-to-no-time thanks to the GROHE QuickFix system with ToolFree feature, which requires no tools
to connect hose, inspection shaft, or water supply.

Functionality & Durability

Wall-mounted fittings offer the same functionality and durability as standard fittings and can even provide
improved function in some cases. The ‘built to last’ fittings firmly mounted to the wall allow room for improved cleanliness and hygiene. As the fittings are elevated from the floor space, with just the toilet or basin bowl visible and no exposed pipework or cistern, there’s less surface area and corners for dirt and grime to build up in, making easy cleaning.

A common misconception with wall-mounted toilets and sinks is that they do not offer adequate support, however a correctly installed flush-frame and basin can more than comfortably support the weight of almost any adult without any concerns. GROHE’s wall-mounted fittings carry the German TUV certification for load capacity with the toilets approved for weights up to 400KG and basins approved for up to 150KG.

Future-proof fittings

With modern flushing systems models such as the GROHE Rapid SLX, homeowners can have peace
of mind if future renovations are needed. While the Rapid SLX can work well with the regular WC
pans, it is exciting to note that it has been designed specially to cater to future-planning and features a
built-in electric socket and water connection ready for shower toilet installations, limiting the need for
invasion renovation work. The system is also equipped with various technologies, including GROHE
3 Whisper which prevents sound travelling through walls making it an ideal choice for households where
someone may be waking up numerous times throughout the night.

Wall-hung fittings can also provide enhanced accessibility to users, thanks to the fitting’s height being
adjustable and not limited to the fitting’s pedestal stands. GROHE’s concealed flush-frames have
adjustable feet, setting the height at the desired level and providing additional comfort.

Arranged like a Japanese lunchbox: the new Bento Starck Box bathroom series from Duravit and designer Philippe Starck represents the latest Duravit Artisan Lines addition. Inspiration is drawn from a traditional Japanese bento box – which is subdivided into several internal compartments by separators.

The new series includes a washbasin, toilet sets, plus bathtub, featuring a clear-cut design that is perfectly matched to different variants and dimensions of the bathroom furniture. The spacious Bento Starck Box washbasins offer practical and convenient storage areas. All personal care products and accessories can be placed within easy reach.

Washbasins

The Bento Starck Box single washbasins are made from DuraCeram®, and the double washbasins from DuroCast UltraResist. Enabling Duravit to demonstrate how a range of different materials can be used to produce unconventional designs.

Alongside the 650 mm-wide washbasins, the Bento Starck Box collection comprises above-counter basins
in a range of sizes, all available in White and White Satin Matt: round variants with a diameter of 460 mm, and rectangular versions with a width of 550 mm as individual basins or, for two faucets, in widths of 1140 mm and 1340 mm – made from DuroCast UltraResist. The faucet is mounted inside the inner basin on all models.

Bathroom Review Duravit Bento Box Series

Bathtub

The freestanding acrylic infinity bathtub, sized 1800 x 900 mm, is ideal for a spa-like experience in your home bathroom. A tapered water channel prevents a build-up of water and can be used as a storage area for accessories.

Bathroom Review Duravit Bento Box Series

WC

Bento Starck Box toilet sets harmonize with the design of the ceramic and bathtubs, including a compact model with a projection of just 480 mm and the HygieneFlush version with a projection of 570 mm. The range includes a floor-standing, close-coupled toilet and matching bidets. The integrated push buttons on the seat with the gentle, silent lowering mechanism means it can be easily removed and cleaned.

“The Bento Starck Box collection is the start of an elegant serenity,” said Starck, describing the washbasins and bathtubs. “With intelligently divided wet and dry areas, the clean, clearly structured washing areas and bathtubs enable countless options for personal design.”

Bathroom Review Duravit Bento Box Series

Saniflo UK – a leading designer and manufacturer of macerators, pumps and lifting stations – continues to solve some of Britain’s quirkiest plumbing issues while providing best-in-class technical consultation to ensure the right product is specified first time. 

sanibest pro

In March 2023, a 100-year-old two-storey guest house apartment above commercial premises in Inverness received a new Sanibest Pro to replace a non-Saniflo macerator that had been changed three times in seven years and had required multiple repairs and maintenance due to clogged blades.

The experts at Saniflo advised the property owner that the Sanibest Pro, although usually specified for commercial applications, would suit this domestic scenario because a more powerful product was required to dispose of items that clog blades, such as wet wipes. The Sanibest Pro occupies the same space as its defunct predecessor, so no additional plumbing or pipework was required.

Matt Watson, Saniflo national sales manager, recommends that customers call the Saniflo technical team to double-check their requirements as every situation differs, and there may always be a better solution. He says: “Our engineers often attend call-outs where a product has been misspecified. We would always recommend a commercial product for an application like this, particularly when members of the public use the facility. Guests often don’t follow disposal guidelines and put bulky items down the WC; they don’t tend to worry as they do in their homes, so mitigating for that is important.”

Leading bathroom manufacturer, Ideal Standard, has announced the latest addition to its i.life B range – a Glossy Grey finish is available on a selection of i.life B’s vanities, toilets, and bidets.

Designed in collaboration with the Italian studio Palomba Serafini Associati (PS+A). The entire collection is built to be flexible, offering various models for both large family bathrooms and smaller ensuites.

Ideal Standard’s Singular™ approach ensures compatibility since any of Ideal Standard’s portfolios can be brought together to create tailored solutions without compromising.

The manufacturer offers matching furniture options and shower trays in grey, with various models to suit any space. Partnering perfectly with the glossy grey finish, Ideal Standard’s range of Silk Black fittings, accessories, and shower enclosures enable customers to create a fully coordinated look. Equally, the new grey ceramics can be combined with Ideal Standard’s wide range of brassware collections in chrome or durable PVD colours for fully tailored solutions and truly cohesive space.

i.life B also boasts powerful flushing technology, while the lack of an overhanging rim means these WCs are easier to clean for a more hygienic space.

Making the installation process more accessible, the innovative EasyFix+ installation system means wall-hung toilets can be installed faster and by just one person – saving time and resources.

Ideal Standard’s UK marketing director, Leanne Martin said: “The i.life bathroom collection provides a smart, adaptable collection where design, comfort, and hygiene all come together. No matter the size or shape of your bathroom, i.life  can bring style to any space, and the addition of Glossy Grey to this range offers a contemporary and sophisticated look.”

Bathroom Review Ideal Standard i.life B Gloss

Find out more about the i.life collection here: www.idealstandard.co.uk/products/highlights/ideal-standard-i-life

Features by Diane Larner founder of Bathroom Review & Kitchens Review.
Diane Larner launched both titles over 12 years ago and has been writing about the bathroom and kitchen interior design industry ever since, publishing regular features across the two sectors.


Whilst a successful bathroom design relies on the synchronicity of all its necessary parts (from surfaces to lighting), sanitaryware undoubtedly leads the way in tone and style. Whether you intend to create impact or build a space to relax and rejuvenate, the choice of sanitaryware can make or break your design. Today we look at the latest products to reach the market and consider solutions, from bespoke designs to minimalist styles.

Bespoke beauties

C_bath_baths_basins_WCs

Creating ‘bathrooms to order’ is simpler if products are selected from companies that build-in design flexibility for all aspects of the bathroom. When it comes to baths and basins, creating bespoke designs is not truly possible if limited in size and material.

Charlotte Hughes, retail manager at Cosentino UK, agrees: “When specifying bathrooms, design flexibility is key, especially when it comes to the basin given it is one of the key focal areas and most used products of the room.

“As such, designers need to be able to have maximum opportunities for customisation here as possible; whether that’s seamlessly integrating basins into worktops that match with wall claddings, offering adjustable basin widths and depths or being able to manufacture basins to exact colour and material specifications.”

The new C-Bath brand from Cosentino brings this freedom to bathroom design; the company uses surface applications to create bespoke applications such as cladding, flooring, countertops, shower trays, washbasins and furniture. As seen above, the concept allows designers to incorporate iconic and individual designs.

Personal places

Another way to create a unique bathroom experience is to source design-led products that stand out. Sanitaryware that offers something a touch more exotic in terms of colour and shape delivers a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’, and is an easy win when injecting personality into your design.

Ashley Sinclair, specification and design manager of Sanipex Group, explains: “One of the biggest trends in bathroom design currently is the shift towards adding personality to the bathroom. This remains a tranquil, calm setting, of course, but as a very personal space, it also offers the perfect canvas for injecting an individual look unique to the homeowner.

“In terms of the sanitaryware chosen, this means more in the way of colour for washbasins and shapely design – don’t be frightened to experiment with curves to make a style statement!”

The Koy collection from the luxurious BAGNODESIGN brand (pictured above) is available in ten colourways ranging from daring Buttercup Yellow to the more dulcet tones of Matt Green and Thistle Blue. The basins are designed to team with Bagno Design’s wall-mounted WC (in four matching shades), and to complete the look, Koy brassware is also available in various finishes.

Material gains

Sourcing materials that deliver a happy, sustainable outcome is very much on the mind of today’s consumer. We can expect a robust analysis of green credentials to apply to an increasing array of purchasing decisions.

A recent report into eco-awakening states that many consumers believe ‘brands bear as much responsibility for positive change as governments’ and look to the commitment from businesses to protect nature and ecosystems. For the bathroom industry, products that offer longevity and durability and can be recycled at the end of life are an attractive option. Copper is one such product since it is one of the few materials that can be recycled repeatedly and does not lose performance.

Bathroom_Review_ Baths_basins_WCs_Asrton_matthews

James Lentaigne, creative director, Drummonds comments: “Interestingly, copper is also 100% recyclable without any loss of quality, and it is estimated that over 80% of the copper ever mined is still in use today.

“Polished and lacquered, copper retains its natural rich red colours, but there is also a trend for un-lacquered copper, making a very direct visual link to the authenticity of this material, which patinates so beautifully.” 

Pictured at the top, Drummond’s hammered copper tamar bath is a compact, double-ended bath with a perfectly proportioned contemporary skirt. The comfortable roll-top design is finished with a copper exterior wrapped around the tub, giving the look and beauty of copper but with the durability of cast iron.

Aston Matthews also produces stunning roll-top copper baths and uses recycled metals. Pictured left is the Astonian Copper freestanding roll-top bath in polished nickel interior, with an antique copper exterior.

Feeling flush

Saniflush

Bringing the outdoors in is very much part of the design landscape, whether due to a renewed enthusiasm for the great outdoors as reflected in the tourism industry or the popularity of home office spaces and garden rooms. WCs that still look stylish yet work well in projects with problematic water removal are ticking the right boxes for designers.

Saniflush from Saniflo is a complete ceramic toilet with an integrated macerator and an on-trend solution for installing a WC in spaces where gravity drainage isn’t an option. Whether it is a bathroom in a basement or loft or a cloakroom under the stairs, installing a Saniflush is possible with just a water supply and electrical connection. Thanks to its two outlets, a basin or a shower can also be connected. 

Maximum style

Minimalist bathroom designs have the benefit of retaining longevity and credibility in a rapidly changing market. And, whilst creating a de-cluttered and minimalist space is often advocated as a route to success in our personal lives, the simplicity of a minimalist design is also unfailingly easy on the eye.

With perfect timing, Ideal Standard’s new Solos range debuted at Clerkenwell Design this week. Due to launch in October 2023, the visually-striking Solos range is part of the design-led Atelier Collections. The range features a unique combination of basin and fitting and is characterised by its sleek lines and defined edges.

We hope you enjoyed this sanitaryware feature from Bathroom Review. Please look through our feature archive for more useful information.

If you want to see the latest trends in Kitchen design, please visit our sister site Kitchens Review.

Pictured very top Drummonds hammered copper Tamar, and pictured middle – Hammered Copper Usk Price: £11,940

Designed to make installing wall-hung and back-to-wall WCs simple, VitrA has introduced its new range of versatile frames and concealed cisterns, including models for floor fixing, floor and wall fixing, reduced height and back-to-wall installations, with 3/6 litre and 2.5/4 litre cisterns.

The new frames have clever features to make installation easy, quick, and fault-free; these include spring-loaded feet to bear the weight and an adjustable clamp to secure the waste pipe in place – both allowing a one-person installation.  Water and electrical connections to allow the installation of shower toilets and electrical flush plates, are included. The conduits can be accessed through the flush plate opening, meaning they can be connected in the future retrospectively without causing damage to the wall.

The new frames include a host of technical USPs. Each comes with a wall connection fixing kit, including fully adjustable fixation brackets and front adjustment mounting bolts. There are three water inlet options – left, top and back – for extra flexibility. Spring-loaded feet for perfect positioning make it easy for one-person installation, as well as the adjustable clamp which holds the waste pipe in position, with 50mm of adjustment. Clean water and wastewater pipes are also fixed together with load-bearing clamps.

The thickness of the frames is 30mm x 40mm for perfect rigidity, and the V stopper and flush plate area have reference points that can leave an imprint on the plasterboard to show where to cut the holes.  The frames and cisterns are all subject to rigorous reliability and performance testing, and the 3/6 litre cistern option has WRAS approval.

Margaret Talbot, VitrA marketing manager, explains, “Our new concealed cisterns and frames have been produced to be especially trouble-free and super easy to install in various settings – exactly what installers have been asking for. Ease of installation, quiet in operation and a fast first-fix option.”

VitrA offers a range of mechanical and electronic flush plates for use with the frames. For helpful online advice on installation, VitrA has collaborated with Plumberparts on a series of how-to videos.

The Bathrooms to Love brand, from PJH, has announced the launch of the new LILY ceramic range, a contemporary design perfect for teaming up with fitted bathroom furniture.

Characterised by its soft curves and smooth clean lines, the LILY range is a versatile ceramicware family that enhances further the choice of styles and designs within the Bathrooms to Love collection of suites. The appeal of its simplistic styling and streamlined form make it a welcome addition to PJH’s high quality range of bathroom sanitaryware.

Featuring a semi-recessed basin, measuring in at 555mm (W) x 435mm (D), which is suitable for use with fitted bathroom furniture – such as the Benita Furniture design as pictured – the LILY range also includes a comprehensive collection of WCs. WC options include close-coupled fully shrouded, close-coupled open back, back-to-wall and wall-hung models. All feature luxurious soft-close seats and rimless designs as standard.

Bathrooms to Love also offers coordinated brushed brass and matt black overflow basin rings, dual flush buttons and seat hinge caps, perfect for LILY and which can be merchandised easily across the full Bathrooms to Love suite range.

Complete with a Lifetime Guarantee, the LILY Suite is manufactured to exacting standards, boasting a high-quality fit and finish that will stand the test of time.

Supported with PJH’s usual package of Bathrooms to Love showroom point-of-sale, display deals, consumer brochures, website and of course the PJH Partners Portal for online ordering, account management and next-day delivery, the new LILY Suite looks set to become a popular choice amongst retailers and the consumer.

Further information:

Bathrooms to Love by PJH: T: 0800 8 77 88 99  / www.partners.pjh.uk  / www.bathroomstolove.uk

For many DIY enthusiasts, upgrading their own home is an enjoyable pastime, taking time to create their perfect space. When it comes to designing our homes, the stakes are often high, especially when it comes to our functional rooms such as the bathroom.

Planning a new bathroom is not just about creating your very own oasis of well-being, it’s also about ensuring that the products match, fit and function perfectly. Making a conscious product selection is key for ultimate comfort, design harmony and long-lasting quality. That’s why many tend to hesitate when it comes to the more complex changes – such as installing a new toilet.

New bundle concept

The brand-new, bundle concept GROHE SOLIDO ALL IN ONE is a user-friendly alternative that means consumers no longer have to spend time on choosing individual products, but instead can buy smartly and have peace of mind. Once a GROHE WC design has been chosen, the ideal combination of high-quality products and installation components is pulled together by GROHE in just one box, ready for installation.

Making the ideal look possible

GROHE SOLIDO ALL IN ONE makes it easy for consumers to choose the right WC model to suit all
preferences. No matter if it’s a classic or modern look, basic level or luxurious comfort – the ready-to-install packages are available in different design variants to meet the highest of standards.

Consumers can choose from four designs that include best sellers and beloved classics such as Bau, Euro, Start Edge and Essence. Consumers also have freedom of choice with regard to preferred features, for example, a quiet flush and hygienic functions. Multiple product options, including all the important parts of a WC set, will ensure the consumer’s choice is a perfect match for all their style and functional requirements.

The perfect WC is more than just a look…

…it is a big component of people’s everyday lives. Nowadays, aspects such as hygiene and sustainability matter when it comes to choosing the right product for the home. The value of hygiene in the bathroom in particular has never been more important, and wall-hung WCs enhance this further. Thanks to their space-saving positioning they allow easy cleaning, with limited fixtures and streamlined fittings.

On top of this, features such as the strong GROHE Triple Vortex flush supports hygiene by cleansing every corner of the bowl, limiting the chances for bacteria to thrive. As people’s conscious decisions are reflected in their interior design choices, the search for sustainable products does not end with the WC itself. The GROHE dual flush system in GROHE’s air flush plates reduces water consumption by up to 50%, helping to support sustainable lifestyle choices.

GROHE Solido All in One

Click the link for more news from GROHE.

Duravit’s contribution includes the expertise of development engineer Franziska Wülker and products such as SensoWash® Starck f.

What might life on Mars look like? How would everyday living be managed? Two artists from Bristol, working with an interdisciplinary team, have taken it upon themselves to answer these questions by building the Martian House. Duravit is also in the mix thanks to the expertise of development engineer Franziska Wülker and products like SensoWash® Starck f – the Martian Toilet.

Visionary project
Inspired by the Earth-like planet Mars, the artists Ella Good and Nicki Kent brought the project “Building a Martian House” to life in collaboration with Hugh Broughton Architects and Pearce+. The aim of the public art project is to build a real prototype of a Martian house.

Nicki Kent explained: “Mars is a place where you’d have to live carefully and resourcefully.” Ella Good added: “Imagining how a small community would live there offers a sharp lens on our lives here on Earth today and our fraught relationship with consumerism.”

Martian House

Standard of living and comfort in an environment that is hostile to life
Franziska Wülker, head of research & development at Duravit AG, came on to the initiators’ radar. In 2020 she took part in the NASA Lunar Loo Challenge, the aim of which was to develop a toilet that would work both in zero-gravity and on the moon. Wülker’s design ranked among the top three.

The development engineer’s fascination and motivation to be involved in the project arises from the discrepancy between the hostile planetary environment and daily comfort: “Everyday life on Mars is challenging and arduous as a result.

That’s why it’s so important that everyday items in the home are designed to be as simple and comfortable as possible. That applies especially to the things we don’t like talking about, such as using the toilet.”

Different approaches to a Martian toilet
Requirements for the Martian Toilet include low water and electricity use, ease of operation and maintenance, prevention of unpleasant odors as well as the ability to use urine and feces as fertilizer.

Franziska Wülker identified various approaches: incinerating toilet, separation & composting toilet, freeze-drying, or a toilet with a water flush. Freeze-drying, for instance, removes any water contained in the matter and enables the dried residue to be disposed of. Mars is subject to cold temperatures and low pressure, both of which are required for freeze-drying. “At the same time, the overall process is complex, and we want to make life comfortable for the astronauts on Mars.”

Water extraction on Mars
The total volume of the ice reservoir on Mars is 5,000,000 km³. Franziska Wülker: “On Mars there are ice caps at the north and south poles. Some parts of the planet have subterranean ice layers and glaciers up to 100 meters thick and close to the surface. So it’s best to build the Mars base where there’s lots of ice that’s easy to get at.” Water could be extracted by drilling and melting frozen water.

Duravit Sensowash

The Martian toilet: SensoWash ® Starck f
Franziska Wülker: “SensoWash® reduces the consumption of toilet paper, which also ensures a high level of comfort and hygiene.” A symbiosis of toilet and bidet, Duravit’s SensoWash® shower toilet offers gentle and comfortable hygiene. Pure water is an ideal way to ensure gentle, highly hygienic cleaning. Significantly gentler and more sustainable than toilet paper, water removes bacteria, boosts circulation, and is gentle on skin.

Expanding on her theoretical ideas, Franziska Wülker said: “Treated grey water from washbasins, showers, etc. can be used for flushing via a circular system. It is also conceivable that an additional urinal could be used to separate urine and turn it into fertilizer.”

Franziska Wülker and the project team ultimately opted for a shower-toilet: “We opted for a toilet with a water flush. We’ve also integrated a shower function, which is comfortable and hygienic – plus there’s a lot more water than toilet paper on Mars.”

Exhibition in Bristol
The house at M Shed Square in the English city of Bristol will be open to the public until October It will start off as an empty façade and will come to life thanks to alternating interiors that provide opportunities to collectively explore a new, sustainable culture.

Initiator Nicki Kent: “It is to be a place where people can research, experiment, and discuss: a blank canvas to try things out and imagine new perspectives for today’s lifestyles.”

Ella Good sums up: “Each of us has expertise to offer and a part to play in shaping our shared future.”

Martian House

More news from Duravit

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.

Kartell Collection Laufen

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.

Kartell Collection Laufen

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.

www.kartellbylaufen