Widcombe Roll Top Bath, £875
Note Back-to-Wall Bath, £1595
Note Corner Bath, £1595
Roper Rhodes: Meeting the changing needs of the market I
n the ever-evolving landscape of home design and consumer preferences, the bathroom remains a focal point of innovation and style. We spoke with Matt Hartley, Product Manager for Bathing at Roper Rhodes, to discuss the shifting consumer preferences towards baths and how Roper Rhodes is more than meeting this demand.
To start, could you share your thoughts on the evolving demand for baths? Are they still a popular choice for consumers?
Absolutely, we have certainly observed a change in consumer behaviour and preferences towards baths over the past few years. Although the challenges encountered by consumers designing a bathroom—such as space, storage, and cost— remain unchanged, homeowners are no longer willing to compromise on design and style. For instance, there’s a growing trend towards the practicality of a conventional shower combined with the luxury and aesthetic appeal of a freestanding bath rather than a standard, or inset bath. People are looking for bathroom solutions that don’t just serve a functional purpose but also act as a statement piece in their homes.
How have Roper Rhodes responded to this trend? In July 2023, we launched our Bathing Collection, a significant milestone for the company. Designed in the spa city of Bath, where the brand was founded and where we continue to design from, the collection features a wide selection of luxury
4 BKU APRIL 2024 BATHROOM EDITION
baths, including traditional and contemporary designs, in a range of sizes to suit homes both small and spacious.
Could you elaborate on the types of products featured in the collection?
Certainly. The collection includes the Note series, known for its generously proportioned baths with a super slim edge, offering fitted, back-to-wall, and corner bath options. Then there’s the Widcombe range, which pays homage to the original Victorian bath with modern quality and innovation, and the Harrow, a stately Bateau bath that complements our popular Harrow collection of sanitaryware. Each product line within the Bathing Collection is designed to cater to the evolving needs of our customers, combining form and function in equal measure.
Widcombe Corner Bath, £875
With the size of homes shrinking, how will this impact consumer choice when it comes to baths? Whether by design or necessity, homes are smaller than ever before, and consumers, designers and retailers are learning to rethink attitudes to modest spaces. Available in both traditional and contemporary styles, our 1500 freestanding baths were designed to meet this growing demand - offering luxury with a more compact footprint. The same can be said for less conventional and more versatile baths, such as back-to-wall and corner bath options, that give the appearance of a freestanding tub while maximising on available space.
Finally, how important is the presence of a bath in today’s home?
Despite the increasing popularity of wet rooms, having a bath in your home still adds value and continues to appeal to buyers - particularly those with young families. Our research indicates that baths and bath-related terms still account for over 50,000 monthly Google searches in the UK alone. This underscores the enduring appeal of baths. It’s clear that for many, the bathroom remains a space for design, and a luxurious bath is a key element of that.
For further information please visit the the Roper Rhodes website.
01225 303 900
www.roperrhodes.co.uk
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