Products B


rassware is no longer taking a back seat in the bathroom as merely a functional necessity. With advances in PVD coatings and a vast array of stylish metallics to choose from, it is, as BC Designs national sales manager, Adam


Smith notes, “now playing a central role in shaping the overall mood of the modern bathroom.” Warm and earthy metallics, such as brushed nickel and brass, as well as


bronze and gun metal, maybe in an antique finish, are continuing to have a moment, while polished chrome is a perennial favourite for a selection of homeowners, according to some of our contributors. The market for matte black and brushed brass is beginning to “steady”,


according to Frontline’s managing director Darren Allison, while there is increasing interest in more expressive colour options that allow homeowners and designers to personalise the bathroom. “Collections such as Toko Flavours reflect this shift,” says Bagnodesign


group merchandising & marketing director, Kerrie Black. “Introducing vibrant accent colours including Sage, Cocoa and Mandarin that add character to contemporary bathroom schemes really caught the attention of retailers at the recent KBB show.” Yousef Mansuri, director of design at C.P. Hart, comments: “European design


fairs this spring highlighted the key brassware trend of matt-look brushed metallic finishes, which are already proving popular in our design projects for 2026. Stand out finishes are Brushed Brass, suiting more traditional styles and muted bathrooms or ensuites, while Brushed Gun Metal complements more contemporary, high colour and industrial looks. Textures and tactility are also increasingly important to consumers, with some manufacturers responding to demand with fluted brassware finishes and knurled handles. Overall, the theme still remains on personalisation and a steady appetite


for home improvement, with a continued focus on upgrading existing spaces rather than undertaking full renovations. “Taps and brassware, in particular,” says BC Designs’ Smith, “have become


one of the most accessible ways to refresh a bathroom, offering a relatively simple change that can have a transformative impact on the overall scheme without the disruption or cost of a complete redesign.” In terms of technology, sustainability continues to be top priority, with


ColdStart technology mentioned by a few of our respondents. Hangrohe UK’s brand and communications manager, Emma Freeman


makes a strong argument for ColdStart tech, noting that “water heating accounts for around 90% of household CO₂ emissions generated in the bathroom, so the impact is measurable: a four-person household using gas- heated water can reduce emissions by approximately 23kg of CO₂ per year by switching to a tap with CoolStart compared to a conventional mixer.” Freeman focuses here on the emissions but in terms of the savings for


the consumer, which is a greater sales tool in the showroom, the company’s website states that a four-person household that heats water with gas can save £52 every year simply by replacing their old tap (non CoolStart Hansgrohe tap) with a CoolStart model.


Knowledge is power Meanwhile, Aqualisa’s head of commercialisation, Michael Bennett thinks the


biggest innovation is the integration of smart functionality into brassware and shower controls. “Consumers are increasingly expecting the same level of connectivity in the bathroom as they experience elsewhere in the home,” he asserts. “This includes voice activation via platforms such as Alexa and Google Assistant, app-based control, and personalised user settings.” Thinking about how brands help their retailers sell in the showroom, the ways in which products are displayed is key, particularly considering that >


"


Taps and brassware have become one of the most accessible ways to refresh a bathroom...without the disruption or cost of a complete redesign


Adam Smith, national sales manager, BC Designs


below Bagnodesign’s colourful Toko Flavours incorporate Armour coating technology


> May 2026 kbbreview 37


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