PRODUCT FEATURE | En suites and cloakrooms
Roman’s 200mm x 800mm Liberty matt black shower enclosure Synchronicity in alcove fitting with Roman matt white anti-slip shower tray
perfectly formed SMALL AND Francesca Seden takes a look at en-suite
bathrooms and cloakrooms and considers how designers can maximise these small spaces
read. In fact, home buyers are reportedly prepared to pay significantly more for a home with additional bathrooms – around £3,900 more for a property that has en suite, compared with one of the same size without one. A study by Mira Showers of more than 1,000 UK homeowners and potential buyers, found that limited bathroom access could reduce offers on a property by thousands, while 94% would offer more on a property if it had an en suite, and 84% would offer more for a modernised or recently refurbished bathroom. Elsewhere, a third of respondents said they would prefer to buy a house with more bathrooms rather than one with more bedrooms. Additionally, recent research by data analyst Eureka has found that the number of bathrooms in the average UK home is increasing, with new
O 50
nce thought of as a luxury, and a nice- to-have, en-suite bathrooms and cloakrooms now tend to be taken as
homeowners opting for more en-suite bathrooms at the expense of a large ‘family’ bathroom. So what factors are driving trends and how is innovation moving the market forward? Perhaps one of the first things to note is that en suites and cloakrooms particularly don’t have to follow the same design rules as other rooms in the house. These smaller spaces are often considered as a place where homeowners can let loose and really make a statement. As Ripples senior designer Chris Payne notes, it’s also an area that can be highly personalised and as quirky as the imagination allows, providing that it meets all functional criteria. In terms of drivers, Armera’s sales and marketing manager Lizzie Smart thinks the strain on household bills plays a big part when choosing products. “Not only with water-
saving products, but also with products that serve a dual purpose,” she says. “Like space-saving products such as wall-mounted WCs and basins.” Cosentino UK’s marketing manager Laura Davie comments: “High quality yet low maintenance looks to be the order of the day for bathrooms in 2023. This makes tile sizing for floors and walls a key consideration for designs and, thanks to Silestone’s extra-large slabs, a luxurious look can be offered without the interruption (and additional cleaning) that grouting presents.” Ibironke Ugbaja, leader, product management UK, Lixil EMENA and Grohe UK continues: “The rise of extensions and renovations that create space for en suites have also been driven by changing consumer behaviour and the bathroom now being considered as a wellness-inspired personal sanctuary within the home, with homeowners seeking to create that dedicated space.
“The borders of the bedroom and bathroom are dissolving. These once purely functional rooms are instead becoming integrated living spaces, where individual style and emotional connection are prioritised when it comes to design.”
As far as innovation is concerned, concealed fittings and controls, so that only the product itself is visible,
tend
A major challenge for designing in small spaces is to create storage but
not crowd the room Josie Medved, design manager at Symphony Group
to be the
preferred option and wall- hung sanitaryware and brassware frees up floor space, creating the illusion of more space.
James Smith, marketing director at House of Rohl,
· February 2023
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