FOCUS | Kitchen and bathroom design post-Covid


PPE and increased hygiene standards and social distancing measures, and this will inevitably put retail business owners at the forefront of reliable customer care and service.


“Defining and communicating the


USPs of independents will therefore be critical to business success and I believe there will be a focus on what your business is ‘doing’ to manage customer expectation and changes in the industry.”


Green, safe and smart Pillay at Crosswater sees it this way: “We would see the market moving in a similar way to how it has in the past three to four years.


“Especially when it comes to easier- to-maintain environments and smart technology, particularly in water management.


“There may well be a move to produce more hygienic products, such as no-touch designs.


“If a home goes down the route of investing in hi-tech, smart wear and no-touch equipment, then we may notice consumers paying less for other elements in the bathroom such as WCs, shower trays, baths and tiles.” One thing is for sure, sales will continue, despite uncertainty over the future progress of the Covid-19 virus. The industry has adapted to the challenges it faced and will continue to meet consumers’ needs, however they may change in the future.


A BATHROOM RETAILER’S VIEW The return of the art of bathing


Hayley Robson of Day True in London believes lockdown has helped customers turn their bathrooms into areas to promote well-being


L


ockdown has had an impact on how we live. It not only forced a change in our daily routines, but more importantly meant we spent more time in our homes. As normality slowly resumes, some positives will remain. Our homes will have to work harder for us to provide the changing functionality that we are going to need.


Not only will we have to change the way we sell to, and interact with, clients when they come into our showrooms, we will continue to develop other ways of servicing and communication going forward. In a strange way, the use of Zoom video technology has made us more efficient, as a business. We have found it can speed up the process of design and selling. Our designers are better prepared with an on-screen presentation. Also being able to share screens with a client to demonstrate details and drawings has been really successful. There is a level of attention devoted during the virtual meeting that means everyone focuses. This can be difficult in a physical showroom environment, because of busy schedules and family commitments, but with the ability to mix in virtual meetings, we can plan and manage the process much more effectively. Lockdown has forced us into our homes and most people have seen


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this as a positive. As a result, they value their personal space more and are choosing to invest in their homes to improve comfort and the functionality for the future. Bathrooms have long been a space where people can escape to after


a tough day, but I believe we will now start seeing a demand for increased home wellness solutions. The main bathroom is often a redundant space, but with the introduction


The use of Zoom video technology


has made us more efficient, as a business. We have found it can speed up the process of design and selling


of more en suites, this area can now transform into a multifunctional space – be it a home gym/spa to maximise every square foot for well- being and de-stressing, or simply a dedicated ‘relaxation’ bathroom to provide ultimate escape to refresh and rejuvenate. We are seeing the art of ‘bathing’ return, often removing the shower altogether to allow for a freestanding tub with a large basin/vanity area. Some are removing the bath altogether and opting for a large steam-room shower. We always suggest building in a form of seating, either a bench seat or stool, this provides a different way to relax. We expect the ‘following of trends’ in terms of colours and materials to be less important in the future than it used to be. Texture, natural material, space, light and the balancing of all of these elements will become the trend. Homes need to be well designed in terms of spatial planning and functionality, so every decision and selection is critical, but choices we make with colours, materials and furnishing should be timeless and trend-less, built up of different layers that will evolve and develop over time. Our homes should be personal to us, reflect who we are and, most of


all, provide a safe, healthy environment for us to live, especially in a lockdown situation!


· September 2020


Crosswater’s wall-mounted Infinity range


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