PRODUCTS | Wet rooms
Bathrooms To Love by PJH’s RefleXion Iconic wet room in brushed brass
Wet rooms can be made inclusive with a shower seat, such as this one from HiB
Accessible aids do not need to be an eyesore and can be incorporated into the design.
Future-proofing in the bathroom can start with installing a wet room and then having space to add on mobility aids like bars and seats. “With the increasing
rise in property prices,
many consumers may be looking to turn their current home into their – forever home, and this means ensuring it ticks all the boxes,” says Adam Teal, head of sales, Kaldewei UK. “When refurbishing or creating a new bathroom the consumer needs to consider not only their current age, but the ages of their family members and what may be required in the foreseeable future.”
Retailers should show off these benefits by installing examples in their showrooms and prove that accessible aids do not have to be unsightly and can blend in with a stylish design. Ash Chilver, sales director, HiB, said: “Retailers can communicate to their clients how the space can be used flexibly for family members of all ages, from children to the elderly. The wet-room layout can be adapted to suit changing needs with a slight alteration. Featuring wet room-style displays in the showroom with additions such as shower seats,grab bars and grab rails, can help customers understand how these areas can be suited for the elderly, providing a multigenerational aspect to the bathroom they may not have considered.”
Chrome is no longer the default option for a shower enclosure, and that allows retailers to play more with finishes
in the wet-room space.
Matching or contrasting the brassware is a great chance to add some interest.
Finishing touches Sarah Williams, managing director of Armera, says: “Demand for different brassware finishes continues to grow. However, we often find that retailers are concerned about matching brassware finishes with shower enclosure profiles. This has resulted in an increasing trend
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for contrasting the shower enclosure with the brassware, rather than finding an exact colour match or opting for a frameless screen.”
Richard Eaton, enclosures product manager, PJH, gives suggestions for livening up the wet-room space. He says: “Shower enclosures and wet rooms with metallic-effect profiles, such as on-trend brushed brass, provide beautiful warm tones and will add a richness of texture against ‘cooler’ materials such as white sanitaryware, marble and concrete. Collectively, this allows bathroom designers to achieve more of a bespoke look with the opportunity for greater creativity and a premium finish.” The wet-room walls can make just as much of a statement as the flooring, screens or brassware. There are many options for designers to choose from. The two most prevalent themes are either making the walls the same as the rest of the bathroom, so it all appears to be a seamless flow, or to contrast the wet room with a different surface to draw the eye to the wet room. Tiles are a classic option, and they offer many benefits. However, Keely Greenhalgh, national sales manager at Mermaid Panels, suspects that consumers might be after other options for their wet room. With online searches for ‘bathroom tile alternatives’ at
Grohe Rainshower Cosmpolitan 310 shower head
close to 40% and a 50% rise in searches for ‘bathroom panels’ over the
past three months alone,
Demand for different brassware finishes continues to grow. However, we often find that retailers are concerned about matching brassware finishes with shower
enclosure profiles Sarah Williams, managing director, Armera
Greenhalgh concludes that customers are beginning to see that tiles do not need to be the default. Greenhalgh says: “Whether it’s the speed of installation or the ease of maintenance afterwards, the evidence suggests that the USPs of bathroom panelling are starting to make their mark and drive growing interest levels. “Panelling certainly doesn’t com - promise aesthetics either, instead offering homeowners plenty of choices when achieving their preferred look for their bathroom. For
instance, most
panel ranges come in many styles, with textured finishes that match the latest interior trends, including stone, marble and wood effects.” As much as wall
panelling is a
practical solution, it can also be used as a decorative focal point and made
to be the statement in the bathroom. Showerwall has a vast selection of both statement and more subdued surfaces that are said to be easy to clean and maintain.
Steph Harris, product manager, Showerwall, says: “Feature walls in bathrooms and cloakrooms are becoming increasingly popular, and people are becoming more adventurous through decorative wallpaper or wall panels. It provides the perfect opportunity to create a focal point in the room, especially where space is limited.”
Once the wet-room base is set, the client can choose any brassware to suit their needs. For example, the shower could contrast with the wet room – the monochrome white wet room with contrasted black brassware is still a favourite – or the client may choose a smart or a rainfall shower to suit their needs.
· June 2022
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