BATHROOMS, SHOWERS & KITCHENS


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it’s clear why young people are returning to live with parents.


When social distancing measures for Covid- 19 are relaxed and normal life resumes, these factors will still be in the driving seat. Multigenerational living is baked into the next 20 years and will be a strong driver for many home improvement sectors. The number of homes being converted to adapt to multigenerational living is currently around 125,000 a year . Loft or basement conversions, extensions and separate living annexes improve your living space, and allows for greater privacy and independence.


The bathroom is one of the most used rooms in a house. With more people living under one roof and sharing bathroom spaces, it’s more important that showering spaces and bathroom furniture are robust, low maintenance, easy to clean, safe and adaptable for different needs from young children to the less mobile, or ageing parents.


Lakes Sales & Marketing Director Mike Tattam says that two key considerations for a multigenerational bathroom are improved accessibility, without compromising on style, and maintenance.


“Multi-generational houses need practical solutions to ensure older parents or people with access or agility problems enjoy a safe and invigorating shower,” he says. “Typically these adaptations are clunky or utilitarian white, glossy plastic without refinement. But they don’t need to be, and it’s not what this new market is looking for. A new generation of multi-generational products are smart, stylish and unobtrusive, well matched to the popular spa-like modern bathrooms.”


A trend that Lakes have picked up on is for walk-ins with a low threshold tray. “Increasingly popular, they are great for creating an open, stylish space to reduce slips, trips and falls,” he says. “There’s a growing trend for premium,


1. Lakes new


contemporary collection of foldaway shower seats, grab rails and bars. 2. Quick release function for easy cleaning around the base of the shower 3. Lakes Walk-In with premium stone resin shower tray in Cotswold Grey. The tray is low threshold, anti-slip and anti-bacterial 4. Lakes Seated Shower Tray and Walk-In


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stone-resin trays that are non-slip and feel great under your feet - ideal for wet rooms where the bath is removed for ultimate accessibility. An integrated shower seat provides a seamless finish to a comfortable and safe showering experience, or a discreet, foldaway shower seat and grab rail attached to the wall for a perfect uncluttered look.”


Sparkle & shine


Tattam says that, with showering spaces mostly being glass, and with Covid-19 making people more conscious about keeping hands and surfaces clean, the last thing anyone wants to be doing is spending a lot of time wiping away the build-up of scum and scale after every shower, and for every shower in the house. “‘Hard work’ showering spaces quickly lose their appeal. That’s why iInnovations like AllClear® from Lakes Glass are popular. An advanced nano-coated glass coating on both sides of the glass - ensures that water, limescale and soap scum slide off the glass rather than sticking to it with a simple wipe using a damp cloth. AllClear® is also 10 times more scratch resistant than normal glass, so it can handle


May 2020 www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net


whatever families throws at it,” he says. Tattam adds that qu”ality sliding shower doors also have a ‘quick release’ function at the base to make it easy to clean around the hard to reach areas. Many homeowners are unaware of this, and while not revolutionary, it’s an appreciated benefit when it’s pointed out.


Selling style & practicality “Multi-generational living is not a specialist market: it’s a big and growing trend, which affects everybody. Engaging with it, asking questions about lifestyle, and getting to know what people want and need gives merchants a competitive edge. These consumers are not looking for ‘cheap and cheerful’ solutions. Grandparents moving in with children generally have the money and time to shop for products with the convenience and practicality they need, and the higher-end style they expect.” Tattam says he knows that closed showrooms will reopen, so merchants should make sure thirs are ready with designs for multi- generational living to encourage conversation and new selling opportunities for forward thinking stockists.


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