Hot Right Now
There have never been so many options when it comes to furnishing your bathroom, so to point you in the right direction, check out our must-haves and lust-haves.
FREESTANDING BATHS
They have rapidly become an expected element in any decent-sized bathroom, and thanks to the development of smaller, back-to-wall and corner options, freestanding baths now feature in spaces big and small. Trending styles range from twotone ergonomic egg-like beauties to gorgeous intricate versions that pay homage to old-world craftsmanship.
ORGANICALLY SHAPED VESSEL BASINS
Forecasters have identified organic shapes as key for interiors moving forward, given they reflect both comfort and style, and within the bathroom this is beautifully expressed with a smooth curved bowl. The Adesso Urban vessel basin range channels this wonderfully, while asymmetric shapes, as seen in Kohler Petaline, deliver the unexpected.
THE VANITY
Bulky options gobbling up floorspace have had their day, and now it’s time for floating vanities to shine, helping to simplify and enlarge the appearance of an area. The clean look they emanate is further enhanced with the disappearance of fussy handles and drawer pulls, to be replaced with integrated options. Wood is becoming the material of choice, with trends moving away from the lighter options into richer versions, adding warmth and texture.
TEXTURED TAPS
Nothing in the bathroom is immune to change, and as the most utilitarian of elements are reimagined, tapware has had a makeover. Forget smooth surfaces, exciting new options have patterns embedded throughout, delivering added layers of interest to the space. The Gessi 316 collection is a standout.
INTERCHANGEABLE MIXER HANDLES
Who says you can’t change your bathroom colour scheme with the seasons? Thanks to innovative mixer tap handles, as seen in the Phoenix Zimi Tapware range, you can opt for sage green or blush pink hues in the summer, and switch to brushed nickel or perhaps matte black in the cooler months.
CONCEALED SHOWERHEADS
To recreate that feeling of dancing in the rain, a flush ceiling-mounted showerhead makes the water the hero, jetting down seamlessly from above. To really push the boat out, install two for a his and hers experience, although with practicalities in mind, it’s worth combining these with a slide shower.
THERMOSTATIC MIXERS
If you haven’t hopped on the bandwagon of thermostatic mixers, now is the time. Why? Convenience, safety… and no more nasty shocks when the temperature suddenly plummets. These game-changers regulate both temperature and flow, you simply pre-set to your favoured level of warmth, which is then maintained throughout your shower.
RIMLESS TOILETS
Let’s face it, toilets are never going to be the statement piece, the key is they blend cleanly into the background… and ‘clean’ takes on a whole new meaning thanks to the rimless technology that is increasingly non-negotiable. Instead of water pouring from the rim, it whirls efficiently from the back, delighting anyone fed up with awkward scrubbing.
FLOATING EVERYTHING
Space is at a premium, and creating the illusion of more of it is a key goal in interior design. This is where floating vanities and tower units as well as wall-hung toilets come in, enlarging the look of the floor space. Adding strip lighting underneath these only enhances this clean finish.
3D TILES
Those who thought transforming walls into sculptural works of art would be a flash-in-thepan craze have been proved wrong, as the energy and tactility of raised surface tiles continues to delight into a new decade. This year’s tile trends have a wave-like appearance, as bath and beach combine.
VOICE CONTROL
As our homes become smarter, we’re looking to digital assistants to be at our beck and call in the bathroom; and now they can be. Developments in voice control mean you can tell your shower to turn on at 38 degrees and command your bath to fill. Standby for the day when you can also instruct them to clean themselves after use…
MICO TIP
"Gessi 316 tapware; it’s just beautiful. It’s a minimalistic style but it also incorporates texture. The luxury with tapware is that it’s not a huge cost, but a beautiful piece can instantly change the look and feel of a bathroom.” - Mico Bathroom Expert - Louise Cook