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Duravit has highlighted the role thoughtful bathroom design can play in supporting everyday wellbeing, exploring how form, materials, lighting and colour can influence the way bathrooms are experienced. As the bathroom continues to evolve beyond a purely functional space, the manufacturer believes carefully considered design can help create interiors that feel calm, balanced and restorative.

Drawing on the design philosophies behind collections created in collaboration with Philippe Starck, Christian Werner, Sebastian Herkner and Antonio Citterio, Duravit explores how considered design choices can contribute to more harmonious bathroom environments.

The bathroom is one of the few places where people can enjoy uninterrupted time alone. As the space where the day begins and ends, its design plays an important role in shaping everyday routines and the overall user experience. Even simple rituals, such as a morning shower or evening wind-down, can feel markedly different when the surrounding environment has been carefully considered.

Forms & materials

Soft radii, clean lines and carefully coordinated materials and colours create a cohesive overall aesthetic. Many contemporary bathroom collections embrace these principles, using organic forms, matt textures and warm tones to establish a calm and welcoming atmosphere.

Designers including Philippe Starck, Christian Werner and Sebastian Herkner employ a restrained design language, combining refined detailing with balanced proportions to create timeless bathroom environments.

White Tulip by Philippe Starck
Light & colour

Lighting also plays an important role in how a bathroom is experienced. Bright, focused illumination around the wash area can promote alertness, while indirect lighting creates a softer, more relaxed atmosphere.

Colour further reinforces this effect. Warm beige and wood tones introduce a sense of comfort, while green shades help evoke calm. Lighter finishes can make rooms feel larger and more open, while darker furniture and accent surfaces provide visual contrast and create defined focal points within the space.

Vitrium range by Christian Werner
The bathroom in everyday life

The bathroom serves as both a place of retreat and one of the most frequently used rooms in the home, making thoughtful design increasingly important. Clearly organised layouts and integrated storage create a sense of order, helping everyday routines feel simpler and more intuitive.

This is particularly evident in the wash area, where repeated daily rituals benefit from an environment that is uncluttered, functional and visually calm.

A new approach to bathroom design

For Duravit, contemporary bathroom design is increasingly focused on combining clean forms, balanced proportions and practical functionality to create spaces that are both aesthetically pleasing and easy to use. The manufacturer’s collections demonstrate how considered design and everyday practicality can be brought together to create cohesive bathroom solutions that are visually striking while promoting a sense of calm and harmony.

The mirror cabinet by Duravit

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Bathroom with the look & feel of a living area: White Tulip by Philippe Starck combines light-coloured fronts with striking chrome handles for a gently structured washing area. The warm setting featuring wood and decorative objects lends the room an appealing, homely atmosphere. (Image source: Duravit AG)

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Compact clarity: Tight space with a homely feel. A compact console with above-counter washbasin and a harmoniously positioned mirror from the D‑Neo range by Bertrand Lejoly offers storage and shelf space. The green wall colour instills a sense of composure and creates a relaxed setting. (Image source: Duravit AG)

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Light and storage space: The mirror cabinet by Duravit combines lighting and storage in a single unit. With a mirrored interior and glass shelves, it keeps everything neat and tidy and provides for pleasant lighting in the washing area. Functional and sedate in appearance. (Image source: Duravit AG)

Kaldewei spent the first half of 2026 on something akin to a modern Grand Tour, taking its steel enamel bathtubs across Europe’s leading design events and, setting out a clear position on where bathroom design is heading: toward colour, craft and genuine sustainability in equal measure.

The journey began in Milan, where Fuorisalone’s Bubbles of Time installation at Palazzo Crespi paired the freestanding Meisterstück Classic Duo Oval, in Dusty Pink, with cinematic lighting and floating forms courtesy of Parasite 2.0 and Forgotten Architecture. In Madrid, Casa Décor saw architect Isabel López Vilalta explore balance and sensitivity through the Nuio Duo Zen Edition, introducing heat, sound and light to the bathing experience. Berlin brought colour to the fore with the bold Oyo Duo in Golden Sun for Kaldewei’s collaboration with e15, a shade that will move aside for Dusty Pink this September.

The tour’s most recent stop was London’s WOW!house at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour, and saw Kaldewei partner with Ca’ Pietra and De Rosee Sa on a Mediterranean-inspired bathroom built around the Classic Duo Oval — a fitting pairing, given that both are family-run businesses with craftsmanship at their core.

Running through every stop is Kaldewei’s Luxstainability® ethos: the belief that luxury and sustainability can and do work in unison. Every product is crafted from steel enamel, is 100% recyclable, and more than 600 are Cradle to Cradle Certified® Silver. The Calima shower tray, made using Solidlite™ technology, extends this thinking with a base of recycled glass.

What emerged across Milan, Madrid, Berlin and London is a consistent message for the trade: today’s bathtub is judged not only on form and finish, but on colour storytelling and material integrity — proof that sustainable manufacturing and genuine design ambition can, and should, sit in the same room.

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Duravit has expanded its Balcoon bathroom collection with a new range of furniture washbasins designed by Patricia Urquiola. The original collection took its inspiration from architectural structures, and the new elements bring the option of an additional sculptural centrepiece to the series.

Balcoon_extension-by-Duravit

Available in four widths — 600mm, 800mm, 1000mm and 1300mm, the largest being able to accommodate two basins — the new washbasins enable a broad range of planning options, from compact private bathrooms to large-scale project specifications.  Each is a crafted as a ceramic monolithic cuboid, with the basin seamlessly integrated into the unit’s clean-lined form. A narrow rim traces the outline, creating a gentle transition from the flat vanity surface to the recess below — a signature detail that lends the design its quiet sophistication. The generously proportioned vanity surface reinforces the collection’s calm, architectural presence and unique character.

Urquiola describes Balcoon as “a study in interactions between different volumes and levels,” and that dynamism carries through to the washbasins’ three finishes: classic White, a stylish Matt White, and Clay Terra Matt, this warm terracotta tone brings a natural, warmth to a room.

The washbasins are designed to complement Balcoon’s wider furniture concept, including storage units with plain drawer fronts or open, symmetrically divided compartments, and a semi-tall cabinet with open storage below. Textured surfaces in White, earthy Brown and Anthracite add depth and faucets in Chrome, brushed stainless steel or Matt Black, plus a round mirror with integrated lighting, complete the ensemble. Within the wider Balcoon range, the washbasins sit alongside coordinated ceramics, bathroom furniture, mirrors, bathtubs, faucets and accessories, creating a harmonious overall look.  Balcoon is  positioned firmly within the mid-price segment, bringing, high-quality design within reach of both private bathrooms and high-end project business.

Duravit Balcoon_extension wasshbasin

Frontline Bathrooms is strengthening its bathing offer with a broader collection designed around the realities of UK bathrooms, rather than simply adding more freestanding shapes to the catalogue.

At the centre is AquaKast, a nine-model collection developed with British bath designer Barrie Cutchie. It includes compact ovals, slipper baths, boat baths, back-to-wall and corner designs, giving retailers options for both statement schemes and more restrictive layouts. Models such as Minuet suit smaller rooms, while Desire includes a practical tap ledge for deck-mounted brassware, with the option to pair it with a floorstanding mixer.

Each AquaKast bath is made from acrylic reinforced with stone resin. This gives the bath a solid feel and smooth finish, while keeping the weight more manageable for delivery and installation, particularly on upper floors or in older properties.

The collection is supplied in gloss white as standard, but every model can also be painted in any RAL or BS colour through Frontline’s custom service. This gives retailers an accessible way to offer personalisation, whether the customer wants a strong feature colour or a shade that sits more closely with surrounding furniture, tiles or paintwork.

AquaKast forms part of Frontline’s wider Aqua bathing portfolio, which also includes fitted baths, shower baths, corner models, solid-surface designs, bath panels and screens. This breadth allows showrooms to specify around the room, budget and installation requirements rather than treating a freestanding bath as the answer for every project.

All AquaKast models share a £1,600 RRP and come with a lifetime guarantee. Together with Frontline’s retailer network and stock-backed approach, the collection gives showrooms a clear, practical offer built around design choice, easier specification and reliable availability.

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Ethan Phillips has joined the Ronal Bathroom Group as regional sales manager for Kudos Showers covering Wales and the south-west of England. He is part of the contract sales team at Kudos, looking after both contractor and merchant customers in his region.

Phillips joins the business after a decade ‘on the tools’ as a plumber, which has given him a strong practical understanding of the market he now sells into. This was followed by four years in sales within the bathroom industry, combining technical knowledge with building customer relationships and recognising business opportunities.

“I’m looking forward to building strong relationships with Kudos customers and to becoming someone they can rely on for support, service, and product knowledge,” said Ethan Phillips.

“I want to increase the visibility of the Kudos brand across my region by creating new opportunities, strengthening existing partnerships, and helping customers recognise the value and quality Kudos delivers. I intend to bring energy and a hands-on approach to the role to drive long-term growth.”

Phillips reports directly to Mark Batley, National Accounts & Contracts Manager for Kudos, who adds: “Ethan is already proving to be a real asset to the team. His practical understanding and skill set provide strong support for our customers and the rest of the team at Kudos. He’s also a very likeable colleague whom we all enjoy working with, and I have no doubt he will help further develop the Kudos brand.”

Kudos Shower Products has been designing and manufacturing shower products at its Cumbria facility since 1999. Now part of the Ronal Bathroom Group, the company’s portfolio includes shower enclosures, shower trays, over-bath screens, and wet-room solutions, sold via KBB showrooms and merchants across the UK.

Visit its website, kudosshowers.co.uk, call 01539 564040, or email info@kudosshowers.co.uk.

REHAU has expanded the design possibilities of its RAUVISIO crystal range with the launch of the refreshed Strong Collection, introducing six new polymer glass decors inspired by natural materials.

Developed for contemporary bathroom and kitchen interiors, the updated collection has been designed to help specifiers create calm, cohesive spaces while making it easier to coordinate finishes across furniture, splashbacks and wall surfaces.

The range comprises six décors, each offered in both high-gloss and matt finishes. Vela, Torino and Onice draw on the look of natural stone, while Creta, Nube and Cortena take inspiration from other natural materials. Positioned beneath the RAUVISIO crystal polymer glass surface, the décors create subtle transitions, visual depth and a distinctive three-dimensional effect as light penetrates the material, adding texture without overpowering a scheme.

Suited for furniture fonts, wall cladding and other interior applications, the collection is available as a 2,800 × 1,300 × 19 mm with an MDF backed panel, or as a 3.7 mm glass laminate version for projects that require greater installation flexibility. The slimline panel can be fitted directly over existing tiles, making it particularly suited for refurbishment projects where installation speed and minimal disruption are key considerations.

Alongside its design potential, the polymer glass surface collection offers several practical advantages over conventional mineral glass. It is significantly lighter, more resistant to scratches and impacts and can be fabricated using standard woodworking tools. The easy-clean surface also incorporates anti-fingerprint properties, while the muted décors have been selected to work across a wide range of interior styles.

Jonathan Heginbottom, national sales manager at REHAU Interior Solutions UK, said: “The collection was redeveloped to capture the essence of natural materials in a calm, contemporary design language. The focus was on creating visual harmony through timeless aesthetics and a carefully considered palette that can be used across a variety of interior applications.”

To support the specification process, REHAU also offers Surface Select, an online platform that enables designers to browse its decorative surface collections and order samples for client presentations and project development.

Interior.rehau.uk/surface-select

For more information, visit: interior.rehau.com/crystal

Rehau-Rauvisio

Frontline Bathrooms has significantly expanded its Aqua Glass collection for 2026, adding new enclosure configurations, larger sizes and additional finish options, further strengthening its stock-backed showering options to the UK market.

The launch forms part of Frontline Bathrooms’ ongoing refresh of the Aqua brand and product portfolio, building on the established Aqua glass range, which includes the 6mm Purity enclosure range, 8mm shower enclosures, and thepremium 10mm Elite wet room collection.

Frontline Bathrooms has invested in new tooling to expand its 6mm enclosure offering with several new models, including single-door quadrants and offset quadrants in the sizes most commonly specified by retailers. The range has been expended with double-door sliding enclosures in popular configurations, providing greater choice for both compact bathrooms and larger showering spaces.

The existing Purity collection has been extended with additional offset two-door quadrants and corresponding tray sizes, alongside a wider choice of sliding doors. New 1700mm, 1800mm and 2000mm options allow retailers to cater for the growing demand for more generous showering areas without moving into a bespoke product category.

Velar-Fluted-Glass-Walk-In-Brushed-Brass

Frontline Bathrooms has also added new 1000mm pivot and bi-fold doors, broadening its offering for bathrooms where limited wall space or restricted door clearance makes specifying a standard enclosure more challenging.

The expansion also introduces a new range of bath screens in a wider selection of brassware-inspired finishes. New gunmetal and bronze options join the collection, enabling retailers to create more coordinated bathroom schemes while meeting growing demand for alternatives to chrome.

Frontline has also extended its 8mm Mineral walk-in collection, which complements the award-winning Mineral brassware range. New brushed bronze and gunmetal finishes have been added alongside additional panel sizes, increasing the range of layout options available.

Darren Allison, managing director at Frontline Bathrooms, says: “Glass is not a one-size-fits-all category. Retailers are working with everything from smaller bathrooms that require careful door clearance to large walk-in spaces where customers want fewer profiles and a more open showering area. The expansion gives them more ways to answer those briefs from a stocked range, rather than compromising on size or waiting for a specialist order.

“We have invested in the areas where we know retailers need greater choice, particularly larger sliding doors, additional quadrant options and finishes that can work with the wider bathroom scheme. It means a merchant can offer the customer a much more complete showering solution while still having the reassurance of nationwide next-day delivery.”

Aquashield protective glass coating is supplied as standard across the Aqua Glass collection, helping to make the glass easier to maintain. The range is supported by a lifetime guarantee, an extensive replacement parts service and Frontline’s dedicated customer support team.

Frontline Bathrooms holds the Aqua Glass collection in UK stock, with nationwide next-day delivery available through its established distribution network.

For further information, visit www.frontlinebathrooms.co.uk

Ideal Standard has expanded its Alu+ range with taps, beauty bars and accessories, and two new finishes – Bronze and Chrome. Originally launched as a showering collection, award-winning Alu+ now offers even greater design flexibility and 100% recycled aluminium across showers, taps and accessories.

Designed by Roberto and Ludovica Palomba, Alu+ combines slim profiles with integrated functionality to suit bathrooms of all sizes, particularly those where space is limited. The extended collection reflects a growing trend for coordinated bathroom schemes that balance design, practicality and sustainability.

The introduction of Bronze responds to the increasing popularity of warmer metallic finishes, offering a softer alternative to black fittings and pairing with natural materials and earthy colour palettes. Chrome joins the collection as a timeless option, complementing the existing Silk Black, Rosé and Silver finishes to provide greater design flexibility.

One collection, multiple functions 

Alongside the new finishes, Ideal Standard has broadened the collection with coordinated products designed to maximise space. Integrated shower shelves provide storage within the showering area, while beauty bars combine mirrors and accessories in a compact solution for smaller bathrooms. Matching accessories, including toilet roll holders, toilet brushes and flush plates, allow a consistent design aesthetic throughout the space.

Ideal Standar ALU+

The thinking behind Alu+ is simple: good design should do more. Developed with the realities of modern urban living in mind, the collection incorporates intelligent features that help maximise both functionality and available space. 

Integrated shower shelves provide convenient storage for everyday products, while the coordinated Beauty Bars combine mirrors and accessories into a compact solution for smaller bathrooms. Available in multiple sizes, they offer practical storage without adding visual clutter. Matching accessories, including toilet roll holders, toilet brushes and flush plates, allow consumers to extend the design language throughout the room. 

The collection also includes single-lever basin and bidet mixers featuring Ideal Standard’s market-leading FirmaFlow® XS cartridge technology. Tested for 500,000 cycles – twice the industry standard – they deliver exceptional durability alongside their distinctive design.  

The range also now includes single-lever basin and bidet mixers featuring Ideal Standard’s FirmaFlow XS cartridge technology, tested for 500,000 cycles – twice the industry standard – to deliver long-term durability.

Sustainability designed in 

Sustainability remains central to the Alu+ collection, with components now manufactured from 100% recycled aluminium, an increase from the previous 84%. The range also incorporates high-performance polymers suitable for drinking water applications, plastic-free packaging and water-saving technologies. Basin mixers are designed to use just 3.8 litres of water per minute, while low-flow showering products reduce water consumption without compromising performance.

Designed to elevate everyday routines 

Shower systems feature Ideal Standard’s SilkRain spray technology, delivering softer, quieter water droplets, alongside a traditional Rain spray option. PreciTherm thermostat technology maintains a consistent water temperature, while CoolBody technology helps keep exposed surfaces safe to touch.

By extending Alu+ beyond showering into taps and accessories, Ideal Standard has created a coordinated bathroom collection that combines contemporary design, intelligent functionality and a more sustainable approach to bathroom specification.

IS_Multisuite_Multiproduct_

 

Mira Showers has launched Mira Minimal, a newly improved specification mixer shower designed to help housebuilders and housing providers meet tightening regulatory requirements while maintaining consistent performance in the home.

Mira Minimal builds on the launch of Mira React earlier this year and marks the latest addition to Mira’s expanding specification portfolio, reflecting the company’s ongoing commitment to supporting specifiers with solutions that address evolving industry requirements.

Developed for new-build applications, Mira Minimal reflects the sector’s increasing focus on delivering efficient, cost-effective homes that meet rising expectations for design and user experience, while responding to the growing emphasis on water efficiency across the built environment.

At the heart of the product is an integrated 6 litres-per-minute (LPM) flow regulator, supporting compliance with current and proposed updates to Part G and Part L building regulations. The specification mixer also supports eligibility for water efficiency incentives offered by UK water companies – providing a potential commercial benefit for developers working to meet stricter usage targets.

As water efficiency standards evolve, specifiers are increasingly seeking solutions that reduce water consumption without relying on changes in user behaviour. With patented Mira SprayBoost™ technology, Mira Minimal delivers a stronger spray feel without increasing water usage, helping to maintain a satisfying showering experience while supporting efficiency objectives.

This approach aligns with Mira’s broader focus on delivering water efficiency solutions that work in real-world settings. It also reflects the company’s support for a fittings-based approach to Part G that encourages water efficiency while recognising how people use water in practice. Research from the University of Surrey suggests that restricting flow alone can lead to longer showering times and higher overall consumption, reinforcing the need for user-focused design alongside efficiency measures.

Mira Minimal is available in single- and dual-outlet configurations, with a choice of finishes in chrome and matt black.  Upgrade options enable specifiers to meet higher-spec requirements and differentiate across plots while maintaining a consistent core specification. Features include an infinite spray adjustment slider and an anti-drip overhead to improve usability and reduce water waste.

Commenting on the launch, Ben Smith, senior channel manager – specification, said: “Specifiers are under increasing pressure to meet tighter regulatory requirements while maintaining performance in the home, and showers need to deliver on both.

“Mira Minimal has been developed to support that balance. It enables developers to meet evolving compliance requirements and access water efficiency incentives, while maintaining a high-quality showering experience. 

“By combining regulated flow with technologies like SprayBoostTM, we’re helping ensure targets can be met without compromising performance.”

With over 100 years of manufacturing experience, Mira continues to invest in product innovation that responds to regulatory change and the practical needs of specifiers, developers and end users.

Mira Minimal is available now. For more information visit Mira Minimal | Mixer Showers

Mira-Minimal-Single_Chrome

Back by popular demand, the Kinemagic Serenity Plus has been reintroduced into the range and features all the benefits of its counterpart, with an innovative improvement for people with a weak hand grip.

Kinemagic shower cubicles from Kinedo offer ease of installation and user-friendliness. The purpose-built Serenity model is designed for inclusivity and features a low-threshold entry, a fold-down chair, and grab rails, making life easy for customers who need a little extra help getting in and out of the shower. The anti-slip tray provides confidence underfoot, whilst the low-level tray means safe ingress and egress.

A magnetic handset holder ‘sticks’ to any part of the handle whilst an integrated horizontal safety bar provides support along the middle section of the cubicle to provide extra security and peace of mind for those who need to hold on whilst in the shower.  A further grab bar is placed at the entry of the cubicle, whilst the low-level shower tray has optional, adjustable feet to ensure a flat installation even if the floor is uneven. The integrated cool-touch thermostatic shower control is designed to eliminate accidental scalding and has easy-adjustment taps.

All Kinedo products in the accessible sector are designed to be as aesthetically pleasing as all others in the range.

Kinemagic-Serenity