Diane, Author at Bathroom Review

Updating bathroom accessories is one of the most effective ways to refresh a space without the cost or disruption of a full renovation. Small design details can have a significant impact, enhancing both the visual appeal and day-to-day functionality of the bathroom.

Replacing outdated items with well-designed accessories can instantly elevate bath, shower and basin areas, while helping to create a more organised and clutter-free environment. Practical solutions such as towel rails, soap dispensers and shower baskets streamline everyday routines, reducing mess and improving usability.

Keuco’s range of bathroom accessories is designed to combine functionality with high-quality design, allowing accessories to be matched with brassware and fittings for a fully coordinated look. This unified approach is increasingly important in modern bathroom design, where consistency in finishes and materials helps create a calm, considered interior.

Premium finishes such as Brushed Brass and Brushed Matt Black add warmth, contrast and a sense of understated luxury to the bathroom. Keuco’s brass surfaces are produced using precious metals, with fittings and accessories coated with 23.5 carat gold after the brushing process. For darker finishes such as titanium black, fittings and accessories are chrome-plated in black following brushing, ensuring a durable and long-lasting surface.

“The fittings and accessories are finished by hand in our electroplating facility. This is the only way we can meet KEUCO’s high standards of quality,” says Levent Obuz, head of electroplating in Hemer. Every product must pass through the strict control of KEUCO’s dedicated employees so they can inspire customers all over the world with their perfect finish. This makes each fitting and accessory produced in one of the special colours unique, as the surface is intricately hand-brushed and built-up layer by layer by hand at KEUCO’s manual electroplating facilities.

The finishes provide a wide variety of designs for every bathroom and lifestyle; be it large or small, minimalist or opulent, tone-on-tone or colourful, KEUCO’s colour and design world offers an extensive range of options for every room:

Keuco’s accessories collections Edition 400, Edition 11 and Collection Moll are all available in the new colours brushed brass and brushed black chrome, in addition to stainless steel and chrome plated, and compliment IXMO bathroom fittings. The COLLECTION MOLL accessories range is KEUCO’s interpretation of absolute timelessness with the series embodying solid materiality yet with a sensual feel. EDITION 400 fittings and accessories are characterised by their sensual design language. Soft, organic shapes meet straight lines. A soft oval characterises their face. The EDITION 11 series is characterised by straight-lined contours. The clean design underlines the value of the fittings and accessories and their solid materiality.

About KEUCO

KEUCO GmbH & Co. KG is an internationally active, expert provider of premium bathroom furnishings. KEUCO offers a large assortment of fittings, accessories, mirror cabinets, lights and mirrors, washbasins, and bathroom furniture “made in Germany.” At KEUCO, design and function play a key role. Perfectly crafted products must combine aesthetic form with sensible functionality. A standard that is systematically applied, from the idea right to implementation. Collaboration with designers is a long tradition at KEUCO. The company has been family-operated since its founding in 1953. Its headquarters are located in the Westphalian city of Hemer.

GROHE responds to the rise of wellness-led showering

Showering is no longer viewed as purely functional. New consumer insights reveal a shift towards experience-led routines, with 64% of users associating showering with relaxation, followed by wellness (41%) and me-time (40%). This evolution is reshaping bathroom design, placing greater emphasis on comfort, control and sensory quality.

GROHE is responding to this demand with solutions designed to enhance everyday wellbeing through performance-driven innovation. Its approach centres on creating a shower experience that delivers lasting impact, whether users are looking to recharge at the start of the day or unwind in the evening.

A key example is the GROHE Rainshower 130 SmartActive hand shower, which features the brand’s ActiveMassage spray. Developed to offer an invigorating and restorative experience, the spray was recently evaluated in a four-week independent user test conducted by a leading German institute. The results highlight strong user satisfaction, with 92% agreeing the spray feels pleasant on the skin, 87% saying it provides an energising start to the day and 79% confirming it enhances the overall shower experience.

The research also underscores the growing importance of functionality. Precise water control ranks as the most desired feature among users, alongside water-saving capabilities and the flexibility to switch between hand and head showers. Spray variety is equally significant, enabling users to tailor their shower to suit different moods and needs.

The GROHE Grohtherm SmartControl concealed system integrates these features, allowing intuitive control of water flow and spray selection at the push of a button. Combined with the Rainshower 130 SmartActive, it delivers a highly personalised showering experience designed around modern wellness expectations.

As bathrooms continue to evolve into spaces of relaxation and retreat, solutions that combine performance, flexibility and sensory engagement are becoming essential.

Bathrooms to Love introduces new ranges to its mirror category

Bathrooms to Love from distributor, PJH, has enhanced its mirror category with new options to incude both LED and standard mirrors, as well as designer-inspired models in an eclectic range of shapes, sizes and finishes.

The collection now includes over 40 styles, ranging from, front- and back-lit illuminated LED mirrors, to mirrored cabinets, and cosmetic mirrors. The perfect finishing touch to any basin zone means the once-humble mirror is now a stand-alone design statement. This shift presents a sales opportunity for stockists especially when styled symmetrically above a twin basin arrangement.

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Other new front-lit models include the round TOYA mirror, available in two sizes (600 or 1000mm dia.), featuring an aluminium frame with decorative LED strip. This geometrical patterned border raises a nod to Art Deco styling and boasts colour changing LED properties, from cool to warm light, to set the perfect ambiance.

Other new front-lit mirrors, include: the TOGO mirror with hexagonal LED frame; the oblong KITA mirror with aluminium frame and vertical LED strip; and the rotatable JUNA mirror with a rectangular LED framed border.

All front-lit models are IP44 rated and come with colour changing lights, touch sensors and de-mister pads.

Equally luxurious are new back-lit mirrors boasting the same hi-tech features as the front-lit range. Highlights include a choice of eye-catching shapes, such as the half-moon OTSU mirror with sleek aluminium frame; and the CATHERINE mirror which is available in both a square and round design with tempered glass frame.

New non-LED mirrors include some aesthetically-pleasing shapes, such as the art-deco inspired NOUVEAU model featuring a fine sculptured, symmetrical form with a black iron frame. The new NORI is another hexagonal design, as is KANTO, which boasts a contemporary brushed bronze frame and leather-effect strap with hanging hook.

The new Bathrooms to Love mirror range can be easily ordered via PJH’s Partners Portal for next-day delivery to store or home, and can also be viewed on the Bathrooms to Love website or within the latest brochure here: BTL Issue 26.

Further information:

Bathrooms to Love by PJH: T: 0345 450 8932 / www.partners.pjh.uk / www.bathroomstolove.uk

More news and product information from Bathrooms to Love.

Duravit shapes luxury bathroom architecture in Volante Towers, Dubai

Duravit sanitary ceramics have been specified throughout the prestigious Volante Towers residential development in Dubai, where architecture, interior design and materials combine to create expansive, high-end living spaces overlooking the Dubai Canal.

The-exterior-of-the-Dubai-Volante_Towers-photgraph-by-©Rami-Mansour

Located in Business Bay, the Volante Towers form a striking addition to Dubai’s skyline, defined by extensive glazing, staggered balconies and generous open-plan residences designed for luxury urban living.

Architecture and interior design collaboration

The development was designed by The Fraser Nag Partnership Architects, with interiors by Studio Lipparini and Saporiti Italia. Residences range from approximately 500 to 1,000 square metres, combining large open-plan layouts with bespoke finishes, custom-made furniture and precision detailing throughout.

The interior concept focuses on carefully balanced materials and a calm, architectural palette. Large-format natural stone flooring, light limestone walls and dark wood panels create structure across the open-plan living spaces, while a restrained colour palette of crème, sand and grey provides a backdrop for designer furniture, textiles and bespoke joinery.

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Bathroom design defined by materials and geometry

The bathrooms continue the architectural language of the apartments, with large-format natural stone surfaces featuring strong grain patterns defining the spaces. Wide countertops with integrated basins, linear mirrors, indirectly illuminated niches and dark wood cabinetry create a structured yet calm environment.

Duravit sanitary ceramics were integrated into the bathroom concepts, including ranges such as ME by Starck, Starck 1, Starck 3 and SensoWash®. The clean geometries and minimalist forms of the ceramics provide a visual contrast to the expressive stone surfaces while maintaining the overall architectural clarity of the interiors.

The result is a series of bathrooms that reflect the wider design concept of the residences – material-led, architectural and understated, with a strong focus on quality, proportion and detailing.

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Project Information – Volante Towers, Dubai

Development: Xtreme Vision
Architect: The Fraser Nag Partnership Architects
Interior design: Studio Lipparini and Saporiti Italia
Completion: Tower 1 – 2017, Tower 2 – 2025
Duravit products specified: DuraStyle, ME by Starck, Starck 1, Starck 3, SensoWash®

About Duravit AG

Founded in 1817 in Hornberg, Germany, Duravit AG is an international manufacturer of designer bathrooms, operating in more than 130 countries worldwide. The company works with leading designers including Philippe Starck, Cecilie Manz, Antonio Citterio, Christian Werner, Sebastian Herkner and Patricia Urquiola. Duravit is working towards becoming climate neutral by 2045, with a focus on reducing emissions rather than relying on carbon offsetting.

More product and news infomation form Duravit.

BC Designs launches Highcroft bath

A shift is taking place in bathroom design, where the sharper geometry that has defined recent years is giving way to fuller silhouettes and more sculptural forms that feel grounded, generous and enduring. Freestanding baths remain central to this evolution, though the focus is increasingly on proportion, usability and how a piece sits within a scheme from both a visual and practical perspective.

Responding to this direction, BC Designs introduces Highcroft, a new freestanding bath that brings a softer, more sculpted profile into the Cian® solid surface range, offering specifiers and retailers a design that balances presence with versatility across both traditional and contemporary projects.

Measuring 1745mm in length, Highcroft has been designed with generous internal dimensions to support a more immersive bathing experience, while maintaining a compact-enough footprint to suit a wide range of bathroom layouts. The bath’s gently contoured form creates a strong visual anchor without dominating the space, making it well suited to both residential and hospitality settings.

Highcroft is manufactured from BC Designs’ Cian® solid surface material, a proprietary composition that continues to play a central role in the brand’s product development. Combining durability with a refined finish, Cian offers high levels of heat retention, helping to maintain water temperature for longer periods, while its non-porous surface ensures ease of maintenance in day-to-day use. The material is also fully repairable, supporting long-term performance and making it particularly suitable for specification in high-use environments.

For retailers one of the key advantages of Cian lies in its integral colour capability. Available in both gloss white and BC Designs’ ColourKast finishes, Highcroft benefits from colour that runs throughout the material rather than sitting on the surface. This ensures consistency of tone across all edges and surfaces, while also allowing for light refinishing without compromising the finish.

As part of BC Designs’ wider portfolio, Highcroft sits within a collection that continues to prioritise material innovation, craftsmanship and design clarity. With freestanding baths remaining a key focus for the brand, the introduction of Highcroft offers an additional option for projects seeking a softer aesthetic, without compromising on performance or longevity.

Highcroft is available to bricks-and-mortar showrooms only, as part of BC Designs commitment to retailers.

RAK Ceramics tiles specified for Berkeley Hareshill development

March 27, 2026

Tile and bathroom manufacturer RAK Ceramics has supplied surface finishes for Berkeley’s Hareshill residential development in Hampshire, where its tiles have been used across kitchen and bathroom interiors.

Located in Crookham Village on the edge of a country park near Fleet, the Hareshill development comprises a collection of one- to five-bedroom homes designed with high-specification interiors and natural material palettes.

A-kitchen-with-RAK-Ceramic-Tiles-in-the-Hareshill-Place-development

In the kitchens, Berkeley selected RAK Ceramics’ Portofino ceramic brick tiles, chosen for their glossy finish and light-reflective qualities. The tiles, which measure 6.5 x 26cm, are available in seven colourways and were used primarily in white, as well as green and greige tones in selected plots, helping to create bright, clean-lined kitchen spaces.

A neutral and nature-inspired palette continues in the bathrooms, where a mix of textured and stone-effect porcelain tiles was specified. RAK Ceramics’ City Stone tiles in Grey and Bone were used alongside Marrakesh tiles in Dark Blue, Dark Grey, Light Blue and White, while other bathrooms feature Clay Stone tiles in White and Grey. Available in 60 x 60cm and 30 x 60cm formats, the porcelain tiles were selected for their durability as well as their natural stone appearance and matt finish.

Jenny Welch, Berkeley’s senior marketing executive, said the material choices were intended to support the overall interior concept for the development.

“The tiles we use are part of the story we’re telling about quality and lifestyle,” she said. “We feel the tiles we chose gave a good balance between aesthetics and practicality. These tiles are durable, easy to maintain, and are sourced from a trusted supplier.

“The colour palette complements the location and is clean, timeless, and welcoming. Ultimately, we want homeowners and visitors to feel a sense of calm, quality, and belonging the moment they step inside their new home. These tiles are modern, but they also feel grounded.”

The-Hareshill-Development-by-Berkeley-Homes

RAK Ceramics UK

01730 237850

www.rakceramics.com/uk/

Villeroy & Boch & Ideal Standard present Design Continuum at CDW 2026

The Villeroy & Boch Group will present Design Continuum: A Study in Sensory Experience during Clerkenwell Design Week, bringing together its two global power brands, Villeroy & Boch and Ideal Standard, in an immersive exploration of contemporary bathroom design. The installation transforms the London showroom into a multi-sensory environment, demonstrating how the bathroom can be reimagined as a space of continuous evolution, innovation, and wellbeing.

An experience for the senses

For the duration of Clerkenwell Design Week, visitors will experience the showroom as a hub of design experimentation. The installation combines light, projection, texture, scent, and interactive displays to engage multiple senses, challenging traditional perceptions of the bathroom as a purely functional space. Through these immersive experiences, the project highlights how thoughtful design connects with materiality, technology, and spatial perception.

Innovation and design heritage

Design Continuum reflects the longstanding design culture of both brands. Villeroy & Boch is renowned for quality craftsmanship, meaningful innovation, and iconic design, while Ideal Standard offers smart, contemporary design solutions that make premium bathroom design accessible. Together, they explore the intersection of materials, technology, and sensory experience, positioning the bathroom as a space that continuously evolves with modern living.

Featured design highlights

Among the installations is the recently launched VEA Collection by designer Christian Haas. Inspired by classic modern interiors, the VEA series combines minimalist geometry, tactile materials, and a visual language designed for longevity. It embodies the core principle of the Design Continuum: a bathroom environment that evolves through material intelligence, sensory perception, and innovative design thinking.

“Design is in our DNA and has driven transformation since our founding,” explains Sven Ullrich, executive vice president product and marketing at Villeroy & Boch Group. “For Clerkenwell Design Week, we bring this concept to life in our London showroom, showcasing future-forward design and innovation from our two power brands, Villeroy & Boch and Ideal Standard.”

Clerkenwell Design Week 2026 – Installation Details
Event: Clerkenwell Design Week 2026
Installation: Design Continuum: A Study in Sensory Experience
Location: Villeroy & Boch London Showroom
Experience: Interactive displays, immersive sensory environments, VEA Collection preview

The installation offers a glimpse into the future of bathroom design, where innovation, sensory engagement, and material intelligence converge to create spaces that are both functional and emotionally engaging.

Duravit and Patricia Urquiola present Balcoon-Scapes

Duravit will return to Milan Design Week 2026 with a dual presentation that combines an immersive design installation with a curated showroom exhibition, highlighting the brand’s ongoing collaboration with designer Patricia Urquiola and its wider premium bathroom portfolio.

At the centre of Duravit’s Milan presence will be Balcoon-Scapes, an immersive display created by Patricia Urquiola that reinterprets elements of the Balcoon bathroom range as an abstract, sculptural landscape. Presented as an artistic exploration rather than a traditional product display, the installation transforms familiar bathroom forms into architectural objects, encouraging visitors to experience design through form, materiality and spatial perception rather than function alone.

The installation will be staged at the Gran Meliá Palazzo Cordusio in central Milan and is conceived as a dialogue between object, space and perception, reflecting the evolving role of the bathroom as a considered interior environment rather than purely a functional space.

Alongside the installation, Duravit will also present its premium bathroom collections at the brand’s Milan showroom on Via San Gregorio. The showroom exhibition will feature a curated interior setting showcasing collections by Philippe Starck, Cecilie Manz and Studio F. A. Porsche, as well as technological innovations from the SensoWash range. Visitors will also be given an exclusive preview of new additions to the Balcoon collection launching in 2026, demonstrating the continued evolution of the series.

To connect the two locations, a shuttle service will run every 30 minutes between the installation and the showroom from 21 to 24 April, creating a seamless visitor experience between the conceptual installation and the product exhibition.

Further information on Duravit’s Milan Design Week presentation will be announced closer to the event.

Fibo expands waterproof wall panel range with new stone-inspired decors

Fibo has launched a new collection of wall panel decors designed to support faster installation, reduced downtime and long-term durability across residential, hospitality, healthcare, education and commercial interiors.

Designed and manufactured in Norway since 1952, Fibo’s wall panel system provides a fully waterproof interior wall solution and is positioned as a practical alternative to traditional tiling, particularly in projects where programme time, lifecycle performance and ongoing maintenance are key considerations.

The new collection introduces a series of contemporary stone-inspired finishes, expanding the design flexibility available to architects, specifiers, contractors and installers. New decors include Arctic Onyx in Extreme Matt finishes, Pebble Granite in Microdot finishes, Rustic Granite in a Silk finish and Cloudy Onyx in an Extreme Matt finish, with both tile-effect and non-tile options available across selected designs.

Fibo wall panels are manufactured using a PEFC-certified seven-layer birch plywood core combined with a high-pressure laminate surface, creating a durable wall finish suitable for wet rooms and high-use environments. The panels feature Fibo’s Aqualock tongue-and-groove joint system, allowing panels to be sealed, clicked together and installed efficiently to create a fully waterproof wall surface when installed with the approved sealant.

The system can be installed up to five times faster than traditional tiling and can be fitted onto timber frames, plasterboard or installed directly over existing tiles. This helps reduce installation time on site and minimise disruption, particularly in refurbishment projects and operational environments such as hotels, healthcare facilities, education buildings and residential developments where speed of installation is critical.

Tile-effect panels feature grout lines that are carved during the manufacturing process rather than printed onto the surface, creating a more realistic tile appearance while eliminating the need for grouting. This reduces maintenance requirements and makes surfaces easier to clean, which is particularly beneficial in environments where hygiene, durability and lifecycle performance are priorities.

Fibo’s wall panel system is supported by a full range of trims, sealants and accessories, providing a complete installation system designed to install, seal and finish waterproof walls efficiently and reliably. The result is a durable, easy-clean wall surface designed to perform over time while helping to reduce installation time, maintenance requirements and room downtime.

Danielle Kingswell, UK marketing manager at Fibo UK, said the new range was developed to respond to installer and contractor demand for faster installation and reliable performance. She explained that reducing installation time and minimising downtime helps projects stay on programme while still delivering a high-quality interior finish.

The new collection is suitable for bathrooms, kitchens and wet rooms in residential settings, as well as hospitality, healthcare, education, leisure and commercial environments where robust, hygienic and easy-to-maintain wall finishes are required.

Bathroom Association returns to InstallerSHOW 2026

The Bathroom Association has confirmed it will return to InstallerSHOW in June 2026 with a refreshed programme for its Bathroom Pavilion, curated to spark discussion, share best practice and help the industry respond to the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Amy Kirk, marketing and events director at the Bathroom Association, said: “We’re excited to be bringing the Bathroom Pavilion back to InstallerSHOW in 2026. Our sector is at its strongest when the supply chain is working together: manufacturers, retailers, distributors, and installers learning from each other, sharing knowledge, and tackling the big issues collectively. After a very successful show in 2025, we’re returning with a programme that combines practical insights with forward-looking conversations and creates the space for the industry to connect.”

Day one, Tuesday 23 June, sets the tone for the week with a strong emphasis on the big conversations shaping the sector. Daphne Doody-Green, the Association’s CEO, will be speaking at the World Plumbing Council Conference at 11 am, and at 11.15 am, the Bathroom Pavilion programme turns to one of the defining issues facing the UK: meeting water demand. This will incorporate a technical session exploring Ofwat’s Water Efficiency Lab, chaired by the Association’s technical director, Andy McLean and led by Jude Noro (policy ead, Ofwat), who will share how the regulator is driving innovation through its wider Water Efficiency Fund, showcasing winning projects from the Lab’s first competition and outlining the theme and opportunities for the next round.

The day also includes the Bristan Race for Change drinks reception from 4 pm, connecting the Bathroom Pavilion to one of the most distinctive initiatives on the calendar. Race for Change 2026 is a new four-day European charity race designed specifically for construction professionals, built around teamwork, problem-solving and resilience.

Day two shifts towards practical growth and visibility for bathroom businesses, with a session from Troy Linehan, focused on how social media and paid advertising can generate sales and build momentum, which is particularly valuable for anyone looking to sharpen their digital approach. Then, at 4 pm, the Designers Disco returns with the excellent DJ, Ron Stephenson.

Day three brings the programme back to standards, technical direction and the international context, with a session featuring the International Code Council. With expert input from Tom Roberts and Mark Falcon, the session will examine how codes and standards shape outcomes and what UK audiences can learn from global best practice as the sector continues to evolve.

A feature across all three days will be the Association’s invite-only Members Networking Breakfast, with the first day reserved for managing directors. On days two and three, all invited members will be welcomed with tea and coffee plus breakfast rolls, offering a relaxed setting to reconnect, meet new contacts and strengthen ties across the supply chain.

The Bathroom Pavilion will once again provide a platform for shared learning and collaboration, helping attendees leave with practical insights, a stronger network, and a clearer sense of where the sector can go next when the supply chain moves forward together.

Register for free to attend InstallerSHOW 2026 and join the Association for another exciting and informative event.