BATHROOMS LUXURY IS BACK
As the ‘improve don’t move’ trend continues, bathroom refurbishment projects continue to create high-margin opportunities both for merchants and for their customer, as BMJ finds out.
L
uxury is back in fashion. No matter what the budget, householders are choosing bathroom designs that feel plusher, more indulgent, and which offer a greater sense
of well-being.
At plumbing and bathroom products manufacturer Geberit, there has been a surge in demand for concealed cisterns, wall hung installation systems and wall hung toilets since the pandemic, down, according to the research, to demand for more luxurious spaces, says Sophie Weston, head of marketing. “People are spending longer in their homes due to changes in working patterns and the rise of hybrid working, which inevitably means they are more open to investment in the home,” she exaplins. “ We also know from speaking to homeowners that there is a greater appreciation for the bathroom space, and the sanctuary that a well-designed bathroom can provide. Many want to recreate what they were missing out on during the pandemic – the luxurious hotel and spa experience.”
This accounts for the increased demand for wall-hung toilets, which enable the installer to conceal the cistern and lift the toilet’s footprint off the floor. This can make even the smallest of bathrooms instantly appear bigger, helping to create a luxurious aesthetic in domestic bathrooms that once was reserved only for commercial projects.
There are other benefits too. Lifting the toilet off the floor with wall-hung sanitaryware makes cleaning easier, and helps to enhance the look and feel of the bathroom as a ‘clean’ space too. Gone are the days of complex installations for wall-hung toilets. Continued product development means that installers can benefit from quick and affordable pre-wall frame systems. Concealed fixings and the inclusion and position of water inlets, in the Geberit Duo-fix for example, make life easier for installers and the cistern is concealed inside a drywall, so there is no need for additional studding. Servicing and access to the cistern is also easy. Weston says: “If that’s not enough, wall- hung toilets are also now available at a more affordable price point than ever before. Our new entry level Alpha range of concealed cisterns with DuoFix Installation System offers premium quality, reliability and efficiency at an affordable
price point. It means installers can provide modern bathroom designs on any project, along with a range of on-trend flush plate colours including Matt Black and Brass finishes.” For many years in the UK, shower toilets were considered (and often looked like) institutional bidetsthe sort of thing one might find in the care sector. Now, though, the latest designs offer an aspirational product that adds to any design-led project, with domestic projects increasingly influenced by high-end commercial spaces at home and abroad.
Shower toilets come of age Setting a new standard in the bathroom, modern shower toilets combine a modern toilet with spray functionality at the touch of a button for gentle, hygienic and thorough cleaning of sensitive, intimate areas. What was once a luxury is now accessible for everyone, with products like the Geberit AquaClean Alba Shower Toilet offering a wash function for around £1,100 RRP.
The design benefits are plentiful. Shower toilets combine the functionality of two appliances (the toilet and the separate bidet), which is one of the most effective ways to save space. They include a concealed cistern and supply connection, as well as wall-hung design, all made easier thanks to Geberit’s in front of and behind the wall WC system. They also offer enhanced hygiene through touchless operation, including integration with the Geberit Home app and remote control for domestic users. Despite the sophisticated functionality, these products are incredibly easy to use, clean and maintain. There are benefits for installers too. Shower
May 2025
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
toilets are straightforward to install in around one to two hours, subject to any minor adjustments that might be necessary for the water and power supplies. All of this is helping to make them an increasingly important addition to bathroom ranges for merchants.
Maximising bathroom storage New homes are getting smaller, down every decade since the 1950s, even though prices don’t reflect it. With the targets to increase housing stock and a lack of affordable homes overall, the challenge is how to achieve balance between space and style, particularly in light of increased demand for design-led bathrooms. Although space is at a premium, homeowners still want to declutter their homes, especially in the bathroom. Clever wall-mounted furniture and vanities help to maximise the space available by providing storage for bathroom essentials, all whilst lifting away from the floor. Flush plates are an essential feature in any design-led bathroom, combining form and function to enhance the aesthetic of the room. Geberit’s Sigma range has been extended with the new Sigma40, offering an enhanced choice of materials and finishes to suit each individual project, and the improved Sigma01 collection of high-quality molded plastic flush plates. BMJ
43
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
