BATHROOMS & WETROOMS 37 ON-TREND TILES
Cameron Fraser of Ceramique Internationale explains how the use of wetroom systems is influencing both bathroom design and the creative use of tiles.
onsumer demand in the bathroom environment is changing, with spa-style bathrooms and wetrooms becoming increasingly prominent. According to a study conducted by AMA Research, the industry saw a 10 per cent increase in the demand for wetrooms between 2014-2016 – and this figure is expected to vastly increase by 2021. Wetrooms are no longer the preserve of upmarket homes with several bathrooms, but in fact can provide a stylish and practical option at almost any market level. Previously just a practical room, homeowners are now beginning to treat bathrooms as a luxury space, a place for relaxation, pampering and escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. They have to be practical, look good and offer a luxury element. In terms of the aesthetics, tiles can play a significant role.
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Before the tiling process can begin, the wetroom needs to be designed and created, which requires skilled installation, especially as waterproofing is of paramount importance. The advent of BBA-approved construction boards has made the task of creating a spa-like environment easier for housebuilders and developers, coming in a flat pack to simplify installation. In addition, there are also a number of construction board systems that offer the opportunity to personalise wetrooms with kits for hanging-wall units, bench seats, and arched or curved walls – all of which offer the perfect substrate for the creative application of tiles and mosaics. Once the wetroom has been created it is time for the important part, the tiles. In recent years there has been huge changes in the styles and trends. Consumers are looking for sleek, minimalist tiling to replicate hotel and spa-style bathrooms, but still want to achieve standout and focal points within the room. While this may have consisted of dolphins or a Grecian Goddess in the 1980s and 90s, we’re now seeing feature walls consisting of three dimensional or textured tiles.
The advancement in inkjet printing has also enabled manufacturers to replicate natural materials, such as limestone, wood and marble on ceramic tiles, opening up new possibilities for housebuilders and developers to bring natural materials into the bathroom, while still benefitting from
PREVIOUSLY MORE OF A PRACTICAL ROOM, HOMEOWNERS ARE NOW BEGINNING TO TREAT BATHROOMS AS A LUXURY SPACE – A PLACE FOR RELAXATION, PAMPERING AND ESCAPE FROM THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF DAILY LIFE
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