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BATHROOMS & SHOWERS


SMALL, BUT PERFECTLY FORMED


The average size of the UK home is shrinking, leaving installers with the challenge of coming up with practical, affordable and stylish bathroom solutions, and merchants with profit opportunities.


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ccording to Which?, British homes are now typically 20% smaller than in the 1970s, with houses built in the last decade now averaging 67.8sq m of living space. For context, the size of both decks of a London bus is 55 square metres. Our homes are now smaller than ever. Meanwhile, space notwithstanding, the habits of homeowners are changing, says Samantha Millican, Product Manager for Geberit Frames and Installation Systems. “A study by Hootsuite found that 83% of Instagram users say they actively use the platform to discover brands and products when planning an interiors project. The shift, therefore, towards ‘Instagrammable’ bathrooms is becoming increasingly prevalent. “Now let’s look at the significance of the bathroom in our homes. Geberit carried out research in 2018 which told us that the bathroom was, in fact, the most important place for sanctuary in the home – and, of course, the significance of having such a sanctuary in the home will have been keenly felt by many over the last 12 months.” Millican says that merchant’s bathroom designer and installer customers face a growing challenge: coming up with a stylish bathroom, one that offers this escape for homeowners - yet one that overcomes this challenge of space. “What advice can merchants offer installers to help them design a bathroom that ticks all the boxes for their customers?” she asks.


When it comes to designing a bathroom where space is at a premium, the most effective solution is to opt for wall-mounted furniture and ceramics which create the


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illusion of ‘floating’ above the floor. Offering a space-saving alternative to traditional close coupled toilets, wall-hung toilets can open up the bathroom space whilst offering a sleek, streamlined design.


“By concealing the cistern behind a stud wall, a wall-hung toilet reduces the outward projection of the furniture. And, where space is paramount, opting for wall-hung ceramics can make a real difference - the ability to conceal the cistern and lift the toilet’s footprint off the floor can make even the smallest of bathrooms instantly appear bigger. Opting for wall-hung ceramics can also enable toilets to be easily installed in those tricky spots on a project, such as under a window, in a narrow wall duct or under a sloping ceiling,” Millican says.


Ease of installation


Installers may have previously associated these systems with difficult installation processes. However, product development from leading manufacturers such as Geberit now means that quick and affordable pre-wall frame systems, such as Geberit Duofix, have been designed with ease of installation in mind. These systems make concealing the cistern inside a drywall quick and neat by eliminating the need for additional, carefully positioned studding.


“Wall-hung furniture can offer your customers the opportunity to upsell finishing touches to a project with the option of adding stylish flush plate finishes such as textured rustic wood or slate designs to shades that blend harmoniously into the desired colour scheme,” she adds. Best in class prewall frame systems, like Geberit Duofix, can, according to


Millican, also offer homeowners a variety of location choices, including remote actuated flush buttons which enable the flush to be located away from the cistern. “Yet, if wall-hung isn’t possible for the task at hand, you can talk instead to your customers about the importance of saving even a few centimetres in such a small space. Geberit’s Selnova Compact series, for instance, offers solutions for small bathrooms, such as short projection toilets and smaller- depth basins. Considering storage solutions, too, can reduce unnecessary clutter in the room – vanity units or mirror cabinets are smart solutions to make the most of the space.” BMJ


www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net May 2021


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