For Washington state-based artist David Franklin, there’s nothing better than an evening boat cruise on Puget Sound with his wife, a couple of cocktails and the dazzling hues of the sea.

‘When you're out there at sunset it's like a colour dome — it's just this rainbow of colours from east to west,’ he says.

Franklin channelled all that vibrancy into a recent body of work created with Kohler’s MakerSpace artist residency program. Specifically, he made ceramic fish — hundreds and hundreds of them — which now hang in mesmerising arrays in Kohler showrooms and even the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.

A funny thing happened when Franklin was developing glazes for his next school of sturgeon, walleye and trout: he helped invent Kohler’s newest finish, Pearlized.

It all started when one of the workers in the Kohler factory decided to stick some pieces of ceramic into a PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) machine, a multi-million-dollar device that’s usually used to put metallic finishes on faucet parts. The piece came out as gleaming as bullion. Franklin wondered, could they do the same for his fish?

After a period of trial and error, Franklin and the Kohler team managed to create a hypnotic pearlescent coating which exuded a rainbow-like gleam not unlike the artist’s treasured vistas of Puget Sound. ‘It captures both the iridescence of a fish, but also the water at sunset,’ he says.

The company liked the experiment so much that a cluster of Franklin’s shimmering fish became the centrepiece of Kohler’s booth at Salone del Mobile last year (according to Franklin, CEO David Kohler even kept a ceramic fish on his desk). ‘People were so excited about it,' Franklin remembers. 'I think the reaction showed that, wow, there is something here.'

Pearlized will make its official debut at Design Miami this December as part of a special installation designed by Harry Nuriev of Crosby Studios at the fair. The centrepiece of the installation will be a limited-edition Derring Carillon sink in the Pearlized finish. With its iridescent coating, the sink appears like a gleaming abalone shell, something straight from a mermaid's dream house.

While Kohler doesn’t have plans to expand Pearlized into other products just yet, the debut hints at more innovations to come and the company’s ongoing commitment to artist collaborations, one that was especially valuable to Franklin:

‘It was incredible to have carte blanche to play in the factory like that,’ he said.

Pearlized will be on view to the public at Design Miami from 3-7 December.

Once a purely functional fixture, the humble bathroom sink has undergone quite the transformation over time. No longer chosen solely for size or colour, it has become a focal point in its own right – a piece that can anchor an interior scheme or express a designer’s material obsession. Advances in fabrication, from precision stone-cutting to experimental glass casting, have opened up new possibilities for form and texture, while a shift towards more indulgent, ritual-driven bathroom design has encouraged a sculptural approach.

Here, we round up some old favourites alongside new launches that put eye-catching design firmly at the forefront.

8 statement sinks for your bathroom

Centre stage

Double act

Soft focus

Glass act

Force of nature

Corner stone

Pleats please

Curve appeal

Also see: our bathroom design ideas for 2026

Martha Stewart can turn virtually anything into a work of art – from wheelbarrows to vodka bottles to brownies. She’d have certainly found a kindred spirit in John Michael Kohler, who in 1883 transformed a lowly cast iron horse trough into an enamel bathtub. His company, Kohler, would grow into one of the most important kitchen and bath companies in the world. Stewart, for her part, grew her own home and lifestyle business into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise.

It makes perfect sense, then, that Kohler would tap Stewart to be the face of its latest campaign. As the company’s first-ever Cast Iron Ambassador, the famed entrepreneur and TV personality will collaborate with the company to showcase the craftsmanship, durability and classic style of Kohler’s elegant cast iron offerings – from farmhouse sinks to claw-foot bathtubs.

‘I have been a proponent of enamelled cast iron for decades, all throughout the home,’ Stewart, who has been known to favour classic roll-top tubs and cast-iron cookware in her properties and kitchens.

‘[I] look forward to sharing my passion for the material with the world, and helping others discover its beauty, strength, and lasting value – especially through the lens of the category leader, Kohler,’ she added.

In new campaign imagery, shot by renowned interiors photographer Douglas Friedman at Stewart’s own Bedford, New York stables, the lifestyle guru, dressed in knee-high riding boots, stands alongside a mint-green clawfoot tub surrounded by four glossy Friesian horses.

‘Martha Stewart personifies quality, design, and what it means to live a gracious lifestyle,’ said Kohler’s chair and CEO David Kohler, ‘making her the perfect partner to help us celebrate the extraordinary character of Kohler Cast Iron.’

If you find yourself in Wisconsin between 16 and 19 October, be sure to catch Stewart as part of the Kohler Food & Wine Festival.

Leading American bathroom brand Kohler has expanded its ever-growing offering launching a range of indoor and outdoor saunas. Even though they are no strangers to immersive wellness rituals, it is the first time the company has made a foray into saunas, with a launch offering that blends traditional functionality with cutting-edge additions and contemporary design.

Kohler saunas: everyday wellbeing

The debut offering is bound to please all wellness enthusiasts, with indoor and outdoor options starting at 1/2 people saunas for a compact space, up to a 5-people cabin, in finishes that include graphite grey for indoor, Douglas fir and weather grey spruce for outdoor, as well as Scandinavian spruce available for both. Starting at just 167cm wide, it means that you can probably fit a sauna where you didn't think you could.

In terms of sauna experience, Kohler has been scrupulous with its design, featuring subtle backrest sunset lighting, Obeche wood headrests and an intuitive touchscreen system to control heat and light within the space. The sauna works as a standalone structure, or can be embedded into a room.

The new saunas join Kohler's extensive smart wellness portfolio, from hydrotherapy to ice baths, aromatherapy and steam solutions, in a constant push for the Wisconsin company to embed wellbeing into the domestic experience.

'The thoughtful design of Kohler saunas create beautiful and therapeutic environments that invigorate the senses and promote deep relaxation, recovery, and rejuvenation,' said Katie Stevens, GM of Kohler Wellness. 'Our new sauna category makes it easy for customers to find and purchase the right sauna to seamlessly integrate into their lifestyle and the architecture of their home, inside or out.'

Welcome to Wallpaper's annual compendium of the biggest and brightest bathroom ideas, as we bring you the coolest, most inspiring modern bathroom designs from the world’s specialist manufacturers. Our favourite new bathroom design ideas for 2026 focus on a series of backgrounds to accompany freestanding bathtubs and innovative bathroom lighting. Follow us as we update bathrooms big and small with futuristic marble, playful pastels, contrast tiling and discrete alcoves that keep your wellness spaces sharp.

Modern bathroom design ideas for 2026: the Wallpaper* edit

Serene alcoves

Lean into the sacrality of bathing rituals with an altar-like bathtub set up. Bisazza's ‘Nefertiti’ mosaic bath tiles form the base for this space, in delightful contrast with ‘Crogiolo Terramater’ wall tiles by Marazzi in the background, while a more classic approach on the floor is offered by Sapienstone's 'Blu Belge' tiles. On each side, Daniel Arsham's 'Landshapes' sconces for Kohler add an eerie element to the setting.

Monochromatic pastels and bold accents

A small bathroom is the perfect opportunity to play with colour and texture, and this rich space comes to life through khaki green ‘Field’ tiles by New Terracotta, punctuated by bright red edging to enhance its texture. That's all you need for a super characterful space, framing the simplicity of Kaldewei's ‘Meisterstück’ bath and Artelinea's ‘Plissé’ unit (with Patricia Urquiola's ‘Balcoon’ washbasin for Duravit.

Contrasting tiling

These brick-like tiles by by Matteo Thun and Benedetto Fasciana for Florim inspired a playful interpretation of a classic tiled bathroom. With contrasting hues on walls and floors, the space feels geometric and dynamic, also thanks to the accented shade on the wall.

Wood panelling

Warm and inviting, this wood-panelled space could be any room in the house, and yet it beautifully complements a built-in basin and freestanding bathtub. The wall lamps by Spanish lighting specialist Marset and Armani Roca's wall mirror (plus the orange accents complementing the wood) add a futuristic flavour to the room.

Futuristic marble

Antolini's Silver Stream Stratos marble is part of the Italian material specialist's Textures+ collection. This unique marble surface combines the natural material's rich veined motif with a graphic texture that enhances its tridimensionality. It also lends itself to delightful contrasts, in this case with Margraf's Giallo Silvia Oro marble, anc with the black accents of the Villeroy & Boch bath and the Scalea Negro Absoluto surface by Cosentino

Dark-tiled corners

Textured tiles create an intimate corner in your shower room, framing the space while adding a luxurious layer to the space. Ragno's 'Look' tiles, shown here in sleek black, are a perfect tool to create contrast, with their glossy surface and multi-dimensional texture. Pair them with a rich palette of reds and greens, and contrasting floors (here in ‘Earthtech’ floor tiles in Pumice Flakes, by Florim) to illuminate the room.

Mircea is a new personal care brand that launched just last month (April 2025) by Stéphane Chambran, a former L’Oreal Luxe director of twenty years. ‘I’ve spent decades in this industry,’ Chambran tells Wallpaper*, ‘and the big focus is always on makeup, skincare, and fragrance. But we bathe every day, and it’s the most essential ritual we have, and the oldest. Those other things are a lot more recent. So the ritual of washing really deserves some attention.’

Mircea is a new personal care brand putting the ritual back into bathing

Named for Mircea Eliade, author of The Sacred and The Profane (1957), the brand’s goal is to reconnect us with the traditions and ceremony of bathing, which until relatively recently in human history was an entirely outdoor affair, but since the advent of the sleek modern bathroom has become perfunctory and habitual. Mircea has hit the market with three body washes developed with the same attention to detail as the finest luxury fragrances. Inspired by different archetypal landscapes, each product brings a sacred connection to nature back into the everyday activity of washing.

Certainly, Chambran’s attitude towards the natural world is one of reciprocity, informed by his love of the ocean. ‘I swim every day, and surf anytime I have the opportunity. I think people who are very connected to the ocean have a sensitivity to plastic pollution that is more concrete than for most people. Being in the ocean puts you in a position of humility, too,’ he says.

Inevitably, this means Mircea has a no single-use plastic policy. But the real innovation is in the formula itself, which reaches customers in the form of soluble crystals which have to be activated by adding water. Not only is the production of the crystals lower-impact than it would be to pre-mix a liquid product, but by not transporting the water, which makes up about 85% of a typical body wash formula, Mircea is significantly reducing the environmental damage done by international shipping.

‘Bathing has always been, and always should be, about the body and the mind. Cleansing is about renewal. That’s why it’s important to me to use the best quality ingredients and to be thoughtful about it. It’s setting people up to have the best quality of day.’

Naturally, after two decades of growing the brands in L’Oreal’s extensive luxury portfolio, few people are better placed than Chambran to bring together the best of the best. These include frosted glass bottles inspired by Libyan glass, and 100% natural essential oils from Grasse, blended by prestigious perfume house Robertet. To launch, Mircea has started with an edit of just three signature perfumes: cyprus and eucalyptus, fig tree and peppermint, and cedar and rosemary, each one deeply rooted in a specific archetype of the natural world, of which Chambran speaks passionately.

‘I want every perfume to be a catalyst for imagining bathing in a specific place. The ideas we have of mountains or orchards or forests are universal, the atmospheres we associate with them transcend geographies, histories, and culture – the profound mysteries of the forest are the same in the English stories of the knights of the round table as they are in ancient Indian texts. Mountains are about purity, or being close to the Gods, whether it’s in Chinese philosophy or Greek mythology.’

To create the visual identity for Mircea, Chambran’s starting point was the phrase ‘bathed in light’. Subsequently, the imagery is infused with an evocative warmth that conjures up memories of golden hours spent rinsing the beach out of your hair. ‘It was important to me to work with a community with the same values and appreciation for the environment that I have,’ says Chambran, whose early-career was spent in graphic design and who, upon resigning his position at L’Oreal, returned to design school in Paris, in part to connect with a new generation of creatives.

With himself as creative director, Chambran tapped filmmaker Yentl Touboul, whose background is working with indie surf brands, and photographer Corentin Bertau to produce the brand imagery. ‘We shot everything on film, no digital, so that everything feels very intentional,’ says Chambran. Indeed, ‘intention’ is at the very heart of Mircea, a brand whose invitation to reverie is the antidote to the plasticised production line of the TikTok ‘everything shower’.

mircea.care

With more than 130 years of expertise in perfecting bathroom essentials, it’s no surprise that Laufen has a few impressive innovations in store for us this year. After four years of development, it has created a CO2-free 100m industrial tunnel kiln, powered by solar and green electricity to produce ceramic sanitaryware. It's a world first and it highlights the company's continued commitment to sustainability. Streamlining the production process, kilns continuously fire products as they move through the tunnel, so pieces do not need to be loaded and unloaded as with batch kilns.

This cutting-edge technology allows Laufen to produce ceramic sanitaryware more efficiently while significantly reducing its environmental footprint. It has also resulted in the launch of ‘Volta’, a sink imagined by Swiss designer Yves Béhar and on display during Milan Design Week 2025. ‘My inspiration for “Volta” comes from water, the element that [has] played an important role throughout my life,’ he says. ‘I wanted the motion of water to be part of the experience, so the water moves in a circular motion like a river.’

The ‘Volta’ basin marks Yves Béhar’s first foray into bathroom design

Crafted using Laufen’s innovative SaphirKeramik, an ultra-thin, high-performance ceramic material, ‘Volta’ features a complex interior and exterior profile that doesn’t increase the overall size of the basin. Its unique design is a harmonious blend of form and function, making it a standout piece that could become a true icon in bathroom design.

Although Béhar is well known within the tech design world for his collaboration with Samsung on the Frame TV, launched in 2017, this is his first foray into bathroom design. ‘Yves’ approach was fresh and resulted in an unconventional concept for the bathroom,’ says Marc Viardot, marketing and design director of Roca Group, Laufen’s parent company. ‘It feels like we reinvented the wheel, or at least reimagined how we engage with water in our daily lives.’

Volta’s design contrasts the simplicity of the outer form with the functional, yet unconventional, shape of the sink’s interior. ‘In addition to creating an aesthetic of movement with the swirling water that cleans the basin perfectly, it also allows water to pool at the bottom. This makes it ideal for activities like shaving or washing your face without filling the entire sink,’ Béhar adds.

‘I wanted “Volta” to express Laufen’s incredible sustainability commitment, embodied in the world’s first industrial electric kiln that produces CO2-free ceramics.’

laufen.com

Salvatori knows how to transform nature’s most ancient material into something extraordinary and almost weightless. The Tuscany-based natural-stone design brand blends beauty with design and innovation, with a showcase each year during Milan Design Week in its showroom at Via Solferino 11, in the heart of Milan’s Brera district. In the rooms of the Milanese palazzo overlooking a charming inner courtyard, the year's new creations are unveiled.

For 2025, inspired by Nereids, the sea nymphs of Greek mythology, architect and interior designer Elisa Ossino’s new bathroom collection 'Nereo' captures the movement of water in the solidity of stone, creating a dialogue between fluidity and permanence. It features wall-mounted vanity units, with options for an integrated basin, a countertop basin, or a basin-free surface.

‘The idea was to design a bathroom that is extremely sculptural and timeless, offering a contemporary interpretation of classicism while celebrating the beauty of the material itself,’ says Ossino. ‘The project brings together multiple elements: the form is minimal and simplified, yet the power of the material is enhanced by its generous dimensions.’

The theme of softness is highlighted by the rounded countertop, with curves that extend to the sides of the unit. ‘The integrated sink is carved from a single block – made possible by Salvatori’s ability to work with cutting-edge technologies, combined with a deep knowledge of the material, rooted in tradition,’ she adds.

CEO Gabriele Salvatori nods, surrounded by pieces that reflect the timeless artistry and masterful craftsmanship that have defined Salvatori for nearly 80 years: ‘Think of those old country houses of our grandmothers, where kitchen sinks were carved directly into marble,’ he says. ‘They had a unique energy and presence, unlike anything that came after. Over time, marble began to be processed into slabs, cut, and fragmented. For us, creating a solid marble sink was certainly a challenge due to its weight, but also because of the decision to integrate highly engineered, customisable drawers with hidden handles,’ continues Salvatori.

This project, from the meticulous design process to its revelation from the block of stone, says Ossino, has been an emotional journey. ‘I find the material to be incredibly sensory, and when treated in this way, it feels almost like a sculpture rather than just a bathroom or a purely functional object.’ The collection offers a palette of stones, spanning from Bianco Carrara, to Crema d'Orcia Aura or Verde Antico, and Verde Guatemala.

Also new is ‘Nagi’, designed by the Canadian duo Yabu Pushelberg. ‘Nagi’ is a marble surface with delicate ripples; the texture resembles the wavy pattern created when a stone breaks the stillness of the water. It is, in fact, a meditation on movement and a tribute to the tranquil rhythm of water, elegantly captured in natural stone. ‘Nagi’ is a Japanese word that describes the calm or stillness of the sea.

‘The challenge in interpreting these ripples in the stone was to find a way to make it not banal and to avoid the impression of repetition,’ says Salvatori. ‘The result, I believe, is very elegant, with the pattern ensuring an almost flowing effect.’ It is surprisingly versatile, because it can be laid horizontally or vertically, allowing for a variety of compositions and arrangements – its short edges align seamlessly in a dynamic movement. The green palette is reminiscent of Piero Portaluppi's green, which is both iconic and intriguing: ‘We used the opportunity to introduce a new material, Verde Antico, which transports us back in time,’ Salvatori says.

Salvatori, Via Solferino 11, Salvatoriofficial.com

Read our Milan Design Week 2025 guide for more highlights

A towel by Antipodean brand Baina is guaranteed to immediately elevate your bathing experience. It was founded in 2019 by Bailey Meredith and Anna Fahey, with a mission to ‘disrupt the neutrality of the bathing space’, bringing design-led colour palettes and patterns to 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton towelling.

‘[This material] was a very conscious choice for us as a brand,’ says Fahey. ‘Organic cotton is soft, durable, natural, and biodegradable. We carefully consider the density of each towel to create a soft, plush, handle, whilst still ensuring it’s light enough to dry in time for the most regular of bathers.’

Five years on, Baina continues to draw upon a wide pool of references, from sculpture to architecture, making some of the most aesthetically pleasing bathroom towels, robes and mats out there. In keeping with its conscious ethos, all are responsibly crafted in Portugal to stand the test of time.

Now, Meredith and Fahey have teamed up with Emiliana Gonzalez and Jessie Young, who head up Los Angeles-based design studio Estudio Persona. Gonzalez and Young, who both hail from Uruguay, set up their joint practice in 2015, making furniture and lighting in bold silhouettes and neutral tones, using raw materials such as wood, leather, steel and brass. (This includes the ‘Medano’ and ‘Ruban’ collections, respective collaborations with Monde Singulier and Pierre Frey.)

Estudio Persona’s project with Baina is called ‘Umbra’ a four-piece, limited edition collection of plush towels with a subtle jacquard technique. This technique, alongside the ombre palette of ‘Stone’, ‘Sand’, ‘Rust’ and ‘Bark’, references the interplay of light and shadow, from where the collection takes its name. Ahead of the collection’s release in September (2024), the four founders tell Wallpaper* more about it.

Baina and Estudio Persona’s design-led towels are going to elevate your bathing experience

Wallpaper*: How did the idea of a Baina and Estudio Persona collaboration come about?

Bailey Meredith: Collaborations are an important dimension of our collection planning, and so we were intrigued as to how we could co-create a towelling collection through the lens of a design studio. We had long admired Estudio Persona’s work, and when we connected in early 2023, inviting them into the world of Baina felt like such a natural fit. We instantly knew we could bring together the design codes from both brands, whilst embracing our shared philosophy of simplicity and refinement.

Emiliana Gonzalez: Baina approached us, and after getting to know them and learning more about their values, working together felt organic. The brand’s use of natural materials, combined with a mindful craftsmanship, really resonated with us. We also connected with their minimal approach, and felt our vision could complement their collection.

W*: How did you arrive at the theme of the ‘Umbra’ collection?

EG: Architecture is a constant inspiration for us. In this case, we looked at how the light filters through buildings. We began by exploring how the sun’s shifting position in the sky can alter the direction of its rays, and from that, the shadow that an object casts.

W*: ‘Umbra’ is a four-piece collection: a bath sheet, bath towel, hand towel, and bath mat. Why did you select these four products to work with?

Jessie Young: We wanted create a sense of continuity throughout the collection by reimagining the towels as one connected item, instead of separate unique towels. We created an illusion of ombre using lines – their separation gradually changes, creating a transition between each towel.

Anna Fahey: In a first for Baina, this collaboration consisted of a complete towelling set. We invited Estudio Persona to conceptualise how the four-piece collection would sit together in the bathing space, layering it with warmth and depth. The conceptual rigour and deep understanding of interiors from Estudio Persona seamlessly integrated with our vision to elevate the daily routine of bathing.

W*: How have the ‘Umbra’ towels been fabricated?

AF: Our towels are constructed using a two-ply twist, an extra detail in the weaving process, whereby two cotton fibres are twisted together making a rope-like yarn. In addition to giving a superior strength and stability, this technique creates a higher absorbency, drawing moisture to the base of the towel rather than ‘pushing it around’ like many conventional towels.

This collaboration sees our first collection crafted entirely from cut pile, organic cotton velour, resulting in a plush texture and velvety soft surface for enhanced softness. The application of a jacquard technique contrasts raised blocks of terry against the base fabric of each towel. The resulting tonal variants reference the effect of light and shadow.

W*: Can you discuss how you arrived at the colour palette for ‘Umbra’?

JY: Drawing inspiration from the phenomena of ‘umbra’, the collection explores the interplay of light and shadow. The natural earthy shades were carefully selected to create a visual story which reinforces how the presence – or absence of light – can alter tone.

W*: What did you learn from this collaborative process?

BM: There was natural dialogue between us, and we led with a minimalist approach. As with most design processes, we started with an aligned concept – but this had many iterations, and really pushed the boundaries. Being new to ‘the towel’, Estudio Persona challenged us to reimagine the potential of terry and towelling as textiles. This has allowed us to explore new creative possibilities, too.

JY: For us, the challenge of working in a new material is always exciting, learning the possibilities and limitations. It was our first time designing textiles, which was a big challenge for us. We’re used to designing volumetric shapes, and to be part of a tangible prototyping process where we can alter and visualise the final product ahead. The textile is a very different process – and we loved learning from it.

The limited-edition ‘Umbra’ collection will be available at the Baina online store, ssense.com and select retailers from 4 September, 2024.

shopbaina.com

estudiopersona.com

Welcome to Wallpaper's eclectic bathroom inspiration: every year we look for the coolest, most inspiring bathroom ideas from the world’s specialist manufacturers. Here, we select the best bathroom design ideas for 2025, with a retro-futuristic aesthetic and dramatic lighting to enhance some of the best bathroom furniture's sculptural silhouettes. Discover our bathroom ideas, from 1970s-inspired colours and lighting, to cool tiling solutions to keep your wellness spaces sharp.

Bathroom design ideas for 2025: the Wallpaper* edit

Utilitarian cool

Modernist simplicity lies at the core of this bathroom scene, with cool metal surfaces complemented by the subdued lighting. Ceramica Cielo's curvaceous sink combines with the contemporary forms of Axor's mixer. Geometric touches are offered by the clean lines of Artelinea's mirror, and the functional simplicity of Ludovica, Serafini and Roberto Palomba's red tower rail for Tubes.

A 1970s palette

A 1970s approach defines this bathroom, with deep red walls contrasting with Neolith's sintered stone on the floor, echoed by the mirrored surroundings. Boxed into this 1970s inspired alcove is VitrA's pebble-shaped washbasin, flanked by Tom Fereday's wall lights made of cast crystal glass.

A Japanese-inspired sanctuary

Invite warmth into your bathroom with immersive lighting approaches aimed at creating a wellness space fit for relaxation. Our distinctive colour palette is combined with scene-setting illuminated walls, complemented by Linde Freya Tangelder's totemic glass lamp and Patricia Urquiola's sleekly illuminated mirror. Expanding the scope of the room, Urquiola's bath for Agape is surmounted by Dornbracht's Aquahalo shower, and accosted by Faye Toogood's ‘Squash’ armchair for Poltrona Frau, offering a sense of calm comfort in the space.

Zen minimalism

This Riobel bathtub offers the perfect opportunity to create a meditative room: a floating curtain in Sahco's pink Keiga fabric provides privacy, while Formafantasma's tiles for Cosentino contribute to the serene environment.

Futuristic simplicity

Frosted glass partitions help convey a sombre mood in this futuristic bathroom setting, with contemporary innovations including Samuel Ross' Formation 02 Toilet for Kohler and Naoto Fukasawa's basin mixer for for Fantini Rubinetti.

Tiled compositions

Square tiles in varying sizes have become the go-to wallcovering for bathroom spaces, with some of our favourite options including large tiles for walls, and small, mosaic-like tiled surfaces on furniture. The grid-like compositions are the perfect companions for more sculptural pieces, such as Bette's washbasin and Victoria + Albert's bath.

Hero pieces : eclectic freestanding sinks

A collaboration between Visionnaire and Italian designer Marco Piva, the ‘Tharis’ bathroom/vanity console features a metal top, crossed by two full-height, LED-backlit mirrors, together with a freestanding Travertine marble sink and vanity station. Adding spa vibes to the domestic environment, it comes with undertop shelves in satin-finished steel, and can be wall-mounted or freestanding.

The 'Teti' washbasin is one of a trio of sinks designed by AMDL Circle for Antoniolupi: this steel and wood basin uses a new technique, pioneered by AMDL Circle founder Michele De Lucchi, in which wood panels are stitched together with wire or rope instead of being glued, framed or inlaid. Here, walnut panels, arranged vertically, cover the entire volume, and are connected to each other by metal clips. The silhouette may reference ancient monuments, but it still manages to look refreshingly modern.

‘It was a journey that lasted over a year and half. We knew that we didn't want that boxy furniture that is always attached to the wall or washbasin, but something that would work for both e15 and Kaldewei,’ reflects the industrial designer Stefan Diez/ The occasion if the preview of a new collection of bathroom furniture and accessories developed and manufactured by the Frankfurt-based furnishings brand e15 for Kaldewei presented during Fuorisalone 2024.

e15 and Kaldewei's new collection

The e15-Kaldewei collection consists of a stool and bench, a footboard, a towel rail, and a bathtub bridge in European oak, but also a bag and a towel loop in water-repellent leather. ‘[They are] statement pieces that do not dominate the style of your bathroom, allowing your own personal touch,’ says Christian Büttner, Division Manager Innovation and Portfolio of Kaldewei. 

The collaboration, according to Diez, Büttner, and Philipp Mainzer (founder and managing director of e15), is based on shared values and expertise: to illustrate this, Kaldewei decided to provide an exclusive close-up look at its manufacturing process - including the creation of the steel-enamel products. In a hot facility near the offices a furnace reaches sky-rocketing temperatures appropriate for melting raw materials such as oxide, borax, feldspar, and quartz, which have been used to make enamel for millennia. The brand developed its secret formula 100 years ago in Ahlen, Germany, where its headquarters remain to this day: Kaldewei is the only bathroom manufacturer worldwide that produces enamel in its own melting furnaces.

During the first part of the process, the red-hot enamel is cooled in water, to solidify before being broken into tiny granules called frits, and then processed into a sprayable slurry. In a second building, the scream of the steel bending takes precedence over the classic clang of a factory - it's the sound of a steel blank deep-drawn into a bathtub shape. 

Cutting holes, laser drilling, enamelling in two coatings, the furnace (at 850° C), and, of course, a final and accurate inspection are among the many steps that follow. It's mostly a highly automated process, a ballet of articulated robotic arms that can grab, overturn, rotate, and envelop a tub with charming synchronicity. Only the inspection is carried out by specialised personnel, working in 20-minute shifts, as it requires not only a trained eye, but also one that is well rested, they explain.

The apparent simplicity appears to be the common thread linking this production and the new collection. ‘To make a product really simple is the most difficult thing in the world,’ considers Diez, while showing the stools, in two heights, that rely on bold geometry, with angled legs meeting at the top. 

A bathtub bridge features a circular hole for a towel (‘It's for when you're reading or listening to music and need to dry your hands,’ says Diez). In consideration of Kaldewei's enamelled steel pieces, it includes a hidden magnet to prevent it from slipping into the water: it has also been added to the pouch and the soft leather strap (which can be used to hold the towel as well as a cushion). 

The towel rail and foot board complete the collection: the latter presents a substantial material thickness, underlines Mainzer. ‘Because the pieces are so simple, they must be perfect in terms of proportion in order to truly define their functionalities,’ he adds. ‘The wooden board has the potential to transform the entire space. Its construction allows it to remain elevated above the floor, so that the water can flow.’ 

The pieces also perform well in terms of multifunctionality (‘The stools can go into either the kitchen or the bedroom,’ highlights Mainzer) and are designed to not only last, but also age well. ‘For me, the goal is now to develop more universal tools,’ says Diez. ‘Instead of selling a specific solution for every minor detail of our home, we should focus on carefully crafted products.’

The collection will be presented at Casa Flash, Via Durini 24, during Milan Design Week 2024, from 15 to 21 April

kaldewei.com
e15.com

'We actually wanted to do something else: an Agape tale – 1973/2023.' The unusual title chosen by Emanuele and Giampaolo Benedini to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Agape through an exhibition (until 31 March 2024) at the bathroom company's Bosco campus, near Mantova.

'We actually wanted to do something else: an Agape tale – 1973/2023'

As the title suggests, the story of Agape has an accidental beginning: the company was given to Emanuele and Giampaolo Benedini as a gift by their parents in 1973. Maybe they would have preferred to do something else, and from a certain point on, as demonstrated by the story of the brand, they did something else. Indeed, the two brothers, both architects, pioneered a revolutionary design ethos in a space that, in the 1970s, was conventionally and uninspiringly utilitarian.

Agape reimagined and portrayed the bathroom as a haven of well-being, necessitating the same meticulous planning to the other commonly much more respected, at the time, spaces within a home. ‘This is a special occasion for us,’ says Emanuele Benedini. ‘This exhibition is a tribute that expresses our gratitude to all of the creatives who have partnered with us over the years. There have been quite a few, which I believe is also a reflection of my determination to steer Agape's path towards an ever-expanding realm of creativity.’

The location of the exhibition is significant. The "Bosco" location houses Agape's completely renovated brand showroom, which is immersed in green fields, a few steps from the placid flow of the Mincio river, a few miles from Mantova and a couple of hours from Milan. Emanuele and Giampaolo Benedini regard it as a gathering, design, and social space. ‘We decided to host the exhibit at Agape Bosco due to our deep connection to this venue and, more broadly, to the entire area,’ Emanuele Benedini explains. ‘This was an in-house project that we completed with the help of our research and development and marketing departments. As a result, it provides a double source of accomplishment.’

Agape Bathrooms through the years

The exhibition begins with a series of archival photographs, from the dark wood Mantus series (1973) and its traditional lines, designed for the Spanish department store El Corte Ingles. 

With Erion, a modular furniture system, we can see the first step towards a more architectural approach. Following that, the vibrant colours of the Seventies and Eighties are represented by Makerio, or by the Secchia Rapita basin, designed by Giampaolo Benedini for his young daughter Camilla, with wall mounts that could be adjusted over time to accommodate the child's growth.

Along with the images, products and prototypes guide us through the brand's history: the crucial choice to expand the design to other designers in 1992 is summed up by the unmistakable poetics of Enzo Mari's Calvino accessories series.

The Spoon bathtub achieved great success a few years later, marking an important milestone in the Agape catalogue. As were the Pear washbasins and sanitary ware, which were designed by Patricia Urquiola in 2003. The relationship with Angelo Mangiarotti was also important, as evidenced by pieces such as the washbasin Bjhon 1, decorated by Giuseppe Pasquali.

A brand grown from creative collaborations

To summarise the collaborations, on display is a variety of brand interpretations by creative minds and designers working along Agape. ‘The vibrant and affectionate relationship that we have fostered with our designers and creative friends is well summed up by the reinterpretation of the drop, the emblem of Agape that we asked them to recreate,’ Emanuele Benedini explains. 

As a result, on display is the graphic and elegant essentiality by Elisa Ossino, the symbolism by Studiopepe, a double interpretation by Dimorestudio, the elaborate depth by Patricia Urquiola, and the playful 'pinwheel effect' by Bibi Benedini, Giampaolo Benedini's wife, who has been an essential protagonist of the brand's development since the beginning.

Angelo Mangiarotti said that happiness comes from correctness, as recalled by a sign in the bright showroom overlooking the fields outside. ‘Reconstructing Agape's journey was also important on a personal level, as it allowed us to recognise how influential our parents were in our lives’ Benedini concludes. ‘As I always say, “It's better to be lucky than wealthy.” This has been our experience in recent years. We've always pushed our creative horizons and goals forward.’

The exhibition 'We actually wanted to do something else: an Agape tale – 1973/2023' is on view until 31 March 2024

Agape Bosco
Via Po Barna 69
46031 - Bagnolo San Vito

agapedesign.it

Every year, Wallpaper* searches for the coolest bathroom design ideas from the world’s best specialist manufacturers, from clever objects to new surfaces and functional additions. Here, we select the best bathroom trends for 2024, including freestanding elements, rationalist layouts, dramatic lighting and well-defined chromatic compositions. 

Dive into our 1980s-inspired bathrooms to discover the latest bathroom trends for 2024 and beyond. 

Bathroom design trends 2024: the Wallpaper* edit

Dramatic lighting

Take bathroom design to the next level with dramatic lighting that elevates the most expressive chromatic composition and frames carefully chosen bathroom accessories. Our bathroom space is illuminated by Ramos & Bassols’ 'Spa’ ceiling lights for Vibia, a sleek lighting solution conceived especially for wellness spaces and wet rooms. The ‘Air’ mirrors by Spanish studio Lievore + Altherr Désile Park for Noorth are part of a series inspired by classical architecture: in their perfectly round, backlit versions they ideally complement the space. Philippe Starck's ‘Suite’ freestanding bath tub for Axor (completed here with the ‘Armstrong 3660’ freestanding bath shower mixer tap by Perrin & Rowe) adds a minimalist edge to the room. 

From left, ‘Laufen x NM3’ shelves; stool; vanity unit, all price on request, by NM3, for Laufen. ‘Ink’ handblown candle, £170, by Perfumer H. ‘Spa’ ceiling lights, €665 each, by Ramos & Bassols, for Vibia. ‘Suite’ freestanding bath tub, £7,225, by Philippe Starck, for Axor. ‘Armstrong 3660’ freestanding bath shower mixer tap, from £2,820, by Perrin & Rowe. ‘Air’ mirrors, price on request, by Lievore + Altherr Désile Park, for Noorth. ‘Bette Balance’ countertop basins, from £907 each, by Tesseraux & Partner, for Bette. ‘Tulum’ taps, £374 each, by Philippe Starck, for Duravit. Terry bath towel, €65; guest towel, €20, both by Tekla. ‘Kosei’ floor tiles in Dark Grey, price on request, by Vincent Van Duysen, for Mutina

Hero pieces: bathtubs and more

If space allows, nothing beats a centrepiece to anchor a room. A freestanding bathtub is a sleek addition to a contemporary bathroom, and this sculptural piece from Laufen's Il Bagno Alessi collection is both modern and minimal. While these large standout pieces are defined by generous volumes and practical elements, matching pieces can help define a bathroom's character: Tom Dixon's ‘Liquid’ mirrors for VitrA are perfect in combination with Rick Tegelaar's ‘Sasi’ wall lamps, creating a geometry of functionality that frames the room. 

From left, ‘Aranya Brazn’ sinks, part of the Artist Editions series, price on request, by Pushpa Kumari, for Kohler. ‘Liquid’ illuminated mirrors, £951 each, by Tom Dixon, for VitrA. ‘Cilindro’ progressive tap sets, £1,098 each, by Victor Vasilev, for Falper. ‘Sasi’ wall lamps, €479 each, by Rick Tegelaar, for Nuura. Freestanding Sentec bath tub, £4,875; freestanding mixer tap, price on request, both part of the Il Bagno Alessi collection, by Stefano Giovannoni, for Laufen. Stainless steel hooks, £55 each, by Buster & Punch. ‘780/783’ low table, £2,318 for set of four, by Gianfranco Frattini, for Cassina. Terry towel, €65, by Tekla

Rationalist arrangements

In these bathrooms, strict formal compositions merge with sensual colour palettes, the rigour of straight lines softened by a gentle chromatic approach. Palomba Serafini's ‘Solos’ shower systems are designs that exude pure functionality, while Patricia Urquiola's sinks for Agape merge a rationalist inspiration with the designer's signature approach to functionality and shape. Softening the rationalist composition, Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec's ‘Slim’ bench for Cassina offers a moment to contemplate the room. 

From left, ‘Cotone Slim’ bench, from £2,637, by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, for Cassina. ‘Solos’ shower systems, price on request, by Palomba Serafini Associati, for Ideal Standard. ‘Cenote’ washbasins, price on request, by Patricia Urquiola, for Agape. ‘Antao’ taps, , from €351 each, by Kaschkasch, for Villeroy & Boch. ‘Vetrina’ wall tiles, price on request, by M+. ‘Plimatech’ wall and floor tiles, price on request, by Florim 

Meanwhile, the ‘Abaco’ toilet module by Natalino Malasorti for Ceadesign looks like it's back from the future, with its sleek metal finish and rationalist forms, plus integrated bidet function and jet cleaner, heated seat with soft-open and soft-close cover. Part of the ‘Origami’ collection by Bernhardt & Vella for Ex.t, the sinks give an uber-contemporary interpretation to the bathroom space, complemented by Salvatori's Passepartout wall tiles for a dramatic effect. 

From left, ‘Abaco’ toilet module, price on request, by Natalino Malasorti, for Ceadesign. ‘Prisma Double’ pendant, from €3,539, by Brokis. ‘Xarita’ mirror with LED lights and capacitive touch sensor control, £2,467, by Phoenix Design, for Hansgrohe. ‘Origami’ cabinet and sinks, price on request, by Bernhardt & Vella, for Ex.t. Wall-mounted basin mixer tap with short spout, from £807, by Varied Forms. ‘Passepartout’ wall tiles, price on request, by Salvatori. Curtain in ‘Salicornia’ fabric in Moutarde, price on request, by Dedar

All-over colour interpretation for a serene environment

An all-over chromatic treatment brings together a room while creating a space for relaxation and contemplation. We chose the ‘Bottega d’Arte’ wall tiles by Iris Ceramica; a collection that nods to ancient Italian craft while looking as contemporary as ever thanks to the sleek surfaces and rich colour palette (covering all hues to the spectrum and more, and here shown in Terre Lucide Avio).

From left, ‘Diametro35 Wellness Impronte’ shower heads, £1,006 each; built-in single lever bath/shower mixer taps, £595 each, both by Davide Vercelli, for Ritmonio. ‘Le Banc’ benches, from £1,865, by Xavier Lust, for MDF Italia. ‘Milano Horizontal’ radiator, from €2,492, by Antonia Astori and Nicola De Ponti, for Tubes Radiatori. ‘Hill’ waste container, from £1,160, by Morten & Jonas, for Vestre. ‘Les Petites’ washbasins, price on request, by Andrea Parisio and Giuseppe Pezzano, for Ceramica Cielo. ‘Nu’ basin mixer tap, price on request, by Studio Inma Bermúdez, for Roca. ‘Salicornia’ fabric in Moutarde, price on request, by Dedar. ‘Bottega d’Arte’ wall and tiles, €53 per sq m, by Iris Ceramica

Lightness: freestanding and wall-mounted elements

'Increasingly, storage furniture is moving [out of the bathroom] into adjacent spaces, such as the bedroom. The washstand can then focus on its specific function, becoming lighter and simpler. In its simplicity, it enhances the bathroom while offering greater freedom of movement than the traditional washbasin,’ says Agape co-founder, Giampaolo Benedini.

From left, ‘Refract’ coffee table, A$13,900 ($9,285), by Hayden Cox, for SP01. ‘Origini’ tap, €2,131, by Gessi. ‘AGO85’ washbasin, €10,292, by Mario Ferrarini, for Antoniolupi. Classic bathrobe, £150, by Tekla. Towel dryer, €486, by Note Design Studio, for Tapwell. ‘Lussari’ corner bath, from £3,350, by Victoria + Albert Baths. ‘Hoop’ bath mixer tap, from €1,510, by Matteo Thun and Antonio Rodriguez, for Zucchetti. ‘Confetto’ tiles, part of the Crogiolo collection, price on request, by Marazzi

Among our favourite freestanding sinks is Agape’s ‘Undici’ stainless steel wash basin, an evolution of the design based on the company’s ongoing research into the way we live the bathroom. The new design by Benedini Associati is faithful to the original minimal design, extending its functionality by simply connecting the basin to a cylindrical column. Despite its essential design, ‘Undici Inox Freestanding’ is defined by a bold chromatic palette: while the bowl’s interior and upper band maintains the original steel or brushed brass finish, the exterior and column are painted in a range that includes pink, orange, green, purple and black, with the possibility of colour customisation. 

Meanwhile, the latest collection in the long-term collaboration between Flaminia and Nendo is ‘Taki’, characterised by three suspended ceramic elements, inspired by the movement of water. 

Artistic interventions

For its latest artistic interpretation, Kohler enlisted four female artists to create images that were then translated into a series of bathroom essentials. Ananda Nahú from Brazil, Ziling Wang from China, Pushpa Kumari from India, and Elle from the United States worked on the limited-edition collection of 12 Artist Editions products, each a unique ode to beauty. The collection includes the ‘Numi 2.0’ smart toilet and the ‘Brazn’ sink and bathtub, adorned with textures and landscapes, sinuous patterns and complex illustrations from the four artists. Each piece will be offered in a quantity of 150, in honour of Kohler’s anniversary year.

Accessible fittings

Keuco’s new barrier-free range is defined by clean lines and functional simplicity. Conceived by German interior design studio F A Porsche, the collection includes a shower rail that can be adjusted with one hand and doubles as a stable grab rail, including a folding support rail with an optimised grip design, and a freestanding stool. The collection adds cross-generational accessibility to the bathroom, supporting safety, independence and autonomy with a design that is timeless and discreet. The collection can be combined with existing Keuco fixings and accessories. ‘Our aim was to develop accessible bathroom products from a completely new perspective,’ says Christian Schwamkrug, design director of Studio FA Porsche. ‘Timeless, very clear, aesthetic forms, permanently perceived as beautiful, even after many years. Our ambition was to create something special, right down to the smallest detail, and making it technically possible. A combination of German engineering and top-quality implementation in every respect.’

Discover the Wallpaper* guide to Salone del Mobile 2023 and Milan Design Week

Kohler, a global pioneer in design and innovation, has embarked on a mission of discovery with four female artists from across the globe, as part of ‘The Creator's Journey’, presented at this year's Milan Design Week 2023. 

Kohler’s ‘The Creator's Journey’

Ananda Nahú from Brazil, Ziling Wang from China, Pushpa Kumari from India, and Elle from the United States have created a limited-edition collection of 12 Artist Editions products, each an ode to the beauty of the bathroom. The artists have infused their unique visual expressions into Kohler's products, transforming them into works of art.

This international collection is a tribute to Kohler's 150th anniversary, displaying the brand's dedication to the fusion of art and craftsmanship. Every product, from the ‘Numi 2.0 ’smart toilet to the ‘Brazn’ sink and bathtub, is adorned with exquisite textures that delight the senses, sinuous patterns that stir the imagination, complex illustrations that spark curiosity, and charming landscapes that transport the viewer to faraway lands. Each piece is a tribute to Kohler's vision of making beauty a part of everyday rituals.

Kohler at Milan Design Week 2023: installation by Janet Echelman

At Milan’s Palazzo del Senato, visitors will be greeted by a monumental aerial sculpture, Noli Timere, by American artist and sculptor Janet Echelman. Suspended overhead, the sculpture captivates onlookers with its dynamic shape and graceful movement, paying homage to the force of water streams. Echelman, who once participated in Kohler's Arts/Industry residency programme in Wisconsin, has also collaborated with Kohler on an Artist Editions vessel sink, ‘18.02’, which is displayed in the exhibition. 

The journey culminates in an immersive digital experience that beckons visitors to unleash their inner artist. As they enter The Creator's room, a kaleidoscope of colours, patterns, and shapes envelops them, offering an infinite canvas for self-expression. Every movement in space ignites a burst of creativity as visitors bring art to life with their own unique flair.

Kohler's ‘The Creator's Journey’ is a celebration of the cross-section of artistry and craftsmanship. 'This new Artist Editions collection celebrates women of exceptional talent and diverse backgrounds,’ says Laura Kohler, chief sustainability and diversity officer for Kohler Co. It is a tribute to the beauty that can be found in everyday rituals and an invitation to explore the infinite possibilities of creativity.

Kohler's ‘The Creator's Journey’ is on view from 18 to 23 April 2023

Palazzo del Senato
Via Senato, 10
20121 Milano

kohler.com

Kohler has announced a new creative partnership with British artist and designer Samuel Ross and his industrial design studio, SR_A. Developed over the next few years, the collaboration will begin as Kohler celebrates its 150th anniversary, and will first be debuted during Design Miami 2023, with more presentations and experiences set to be unveiled throughout 2024. 

The Wisconsin-based bathroom specialist is no stranger to creative collaboration, having always created special editions with artists and designers alongside its cutting-edge products. Most recently, the brand collaborated with Daniel Arsham on a 3D printed ceramic sink.

'Everyday objects can be works of art and provide delightful interactions,' says David Kohler, Chair and CEO of Kohler Co. 'This concept has always been essential in the way we innovate and design products and experiences, and it will be further elevated in our creative partnership with SR_A.'

The collaboration, Kohler continues, 'will embrace the hallmarks of Samuel Ross’ artistic approach, often avant-garde and thought-provoking.' 

A pupil of the late Virgil Abloh, Ross started streetwear brand A-Cold-Wall* in 2015, and was the recipient of the Hublot Design Prize in 2019. He launched his studio, SR_A (Samuel Ross & Associates) the same year, and presented a full collection of furniture in 2021, with gallery Friedman Benda during Design Miami.

'Our collaboration celebrates Kohler’s 150-year legacy of bold moments, expert craftsmanship and pioneering innovation. What lies ahead is an elevated form of self-expression for the home,' continues Kohler. 

The collaboration, Ross explains, will be based on 'developing a new language for water solutions. We believe expression, and optimism can be communicated through radical engineering, and rechallenging expectations society may have towards familiarised objects. Our intention is to democratise access to design in its purest format, using water as a vessel to transport this idea, whilst openly exploring and questioning, in a search for what’s next.'

kohler.com
sr-a.com

Kohler’s ever-growing repertoire of luxury bath and kitchen wares is pushing confidently into smart home territory, spanning from personalised showering to intelligent toilets. Now the company’s new wellness brand Sprig sees Kohler delve into aromatherapy, presenting six formulations of scent in three forms. 

Sprig: a new wellness brand from Kohler

In its first release of products, Sprig unveiled a series of bath bombs, linen and body mists and, arguably the star of the show, an infusion device that promises to deliver a spa-like atmosphere at home by infusing your shower’s water with botanical blends. 

The shower infusion contraptions are easy to install on existing plumbing systems, and the kit comes in two iterations. A starter kit covers the infusion device, which hangs just below your existing shower head and comes in both white chrome and matte black, along with a selection of three pods. 

Six fragrant blends make up the Essentials Collection of infusion pods: Breathe, featuring refreshing eucalyptus and mint; Recharge, an energising mix of clary sage and patchouli; Recharge, with uplifting bergamot and lemongrass; Shield, combining tea tree and rosemary to help you ‘centre’; Relax, with chamomile and green tea; and Sleep, with lavender and vanilla. The kit is also available with a Handshower Infusion Upgrade, which includes a hand shower attachment, along with the water infusion system

Adding to the home spa-like experience are Sprig’s body and linen mists, and shea butter and kaolin clay bath bombs, all in the same six fragrances. The products utilise natural ingredients and are free of parabens, phthalates, mineral oils, sulphates and formaldehyde, and are not tested on animals. Packaging is made from 94 per cent post-consumer recycled materials, intended to be put back in the recycling system. 

stepintosprig.com

In partnership with Kohler

At Design Miami 2022, Kohler invited visitors to enjoy calm and tranquility through Transcendence, an immersive installation created by Lebanese designer Nada Debs. Imagined in collaboration with Kohler and Design Miami curatorial director Maria Cristina Didero, the three-room exhibit is a modern translation of a traditional hammam, which refers to both the place and experience of cleansing the body and mind.  

In the exhibit, Debs channelled her belief in the power of tactile storytelling and highlighted the emotional resonance of culture and craftsmanship. 

‘Having the opportunity to design a modern hammam at Design Miami truly embodies the sentiment that wellbeing transcends all culture,’ says Debs. ‘I am excited to offer such a unique experience to the industry.’

This artistic expression came to life in a poignant marriage with Kohler’s design and material expertise and commitment to sustainability. In partnership with Kohler WasteLAB, Debs designed the exhibit’s custom handcrafted tile using reclaimed waste materials for the tile body and its uniquely coloured glazes. The tile’s arch aesthetic mimics the design of traditional hammams and offers a visual parallel between the rebirth of waste material, the mission of Kohler WasteLAB, and the spiritual and emotional rejuvenation visitors experience within the installation at Design Miami. 

The archival Kohler sinks featured in Transcendence are vintage 1927, reinforcing the company’s focus on building products that withstand the test of time. The sinks also showcase Spring Green, one of six heritage colours Kohler is featuring during a year-long campaign celebrating the company’s 150th anniversary and its century-long colour story. 

Visitors had several opportunities to engage with Kohler throughout Design Miami, including a panel discussion with Nada Debs and Laura Kohler, chief sustainability and DEI officer at Kohler Co. The discussion was moderated by Didero, who led an examination of how partner collaboration can address societal shifts and result in more sustainable designs. 

If you couldn’t attend Design Miami in person, Kohler invites you to immerse yourself in the hammam experience virtually and explore every aspect in intricate detail. Discover Transcendence and much more at studiokohler.com

In partnership with VitrA

Tom Dixon turned to both sanitary history and a dependable future for inspiration when designing his new bathroom collection for VitrA. ‘We looked at Victorian roll-top baths and church fonts,’ says Dixon. ‘Things that worked well but were also very evidently  long- lasting.’ 

With the ‘Liquid’ bathroom range, VitrA and Dixon were striving to achieve what the designer terms ‘an expressive minimalism – a very visible but modern functionality and a reduction in visual noise’. Ergo, exaggerated curves, forms and silhouettes, nodding to pop art sculptures by Jeff Koons and acknowledging Barbara Hepworth’s geometry of soft forms and rounded marble, adding personality and a contemporary sense of solidity.  

‘I like the feeling of permanence in Victorian bathrooms, with their big chunky taps and fat tubes. It’s an aesthetic that’s closely connected to a whole tradition of British engineering and has influenced the development of the bathroom all over the world. If the items from the collection feel a bit like a comic-book representation of the artefact, I think that's probably a good thing,’ says Dixon. ‘There's something fun about a soft, fat edge.’ 

From the outset, it was important to Dixon that he create a fully comprehensive range encompassing all elements of the bathroom – sanitaryware, furniture, taps, tiles, shower systems, and accessories – designed to work together or as stand-alone pieces. It was also key that the VitrA pieces would combine and contrast with Dixon’s own, existing product ecosystem.  

Extending sculptural ceramics beyond the traditional realms of basins and sanitaryware, the collection includes the unusual feature of a rotund, moulded ceramic stool – for use in the shower or anywhere else in the home. ‘The stool seemed to be the kind of overlapping item – it's an iconic design but also it gives the option to sit comfortably in the bathroom.’ 

Practical and slab-like ceramic countertops and shelves are an integral part of the ‘Liquid’ language, while the soft-edged aesthetic also forms an expressive frame for an obround-shaped mirror with inbuilt lighting. Basins are Dixon’s obround-shaped interpretation of the classic butler sink or, as with the cylindrical high-bowl types, a reimagining of baptismal fonts. 

Countertop options are designed to rest on the collection’s ultra-practical ceramic slab, and wall-hung variants can be paired with a ceramic pedestal. A statement, monobloc basin, moulded as a single piece of ceramic, is designed for use with wall or floor-mounted taps. The toilet-roll holder – sculptural, playful, chromium – makes reference to Claes Oldenburg. 

VitrA and Tom Dixon share a vision for creating innovative and original designs that retain their appeal over the years; ‘Contemporary without being of the moment,’ states Dixon. Bucking the current trend for slender, hyper-modern and highly technical, minimal designs, Dixon chose the counterpoint. The ‘Liquid’ collection is stripped back but sturdy, curvy, strong and durable. Smooth surfaces are easy to clean, while soft, rounded edges ensure a safe bathroom environment. Taps, levers and shower faucets are operated intuitively with simple, time-honoured, mechanical controls. ‘I wanted the collection to look like a kid’s sketch of a bathroom basin or a tap,’ says Dixon, ‘displaying a clear logic and simplicity in looks and usage.’

While the ceramics are offered only in white, the range combines different materials, including fluted glass and metal mesh. Taps and showers are available in chrome or for contrast, a new gloss black finish that is atypical in modern bathrooms. The range also includes distinctive wall tiles, available in five designs and with colour options of white, black, grey, sage green and ecru. The tile designs nod to ripples in the water and feature patterns inspired by the classic U-bend, embossed dots and waves that can be creatively configured. 

The products can be combined to create different styles to suit domestic and public usage – including in offices, restaurants and hotels – offering customers the opportunity to personalise the bathroom space, and to choose from products including a urinal, a bidet and a touch-free tap. 

Dixon joins designers including Ross Lovegrove, Sebastian Conran, Arik Levy, Terri Pecora and Claudio Bellini, each of whom has collaborated closely with VitrA’s in-house team to create bathrooms that reflect their own vision, style and luxury. 

vitra.co.uk/explore/liquid

At Design Miami 2022, Nada Debs and Kohler present Transcendence, a one-of-a-kind immersive installation. To emphasise cultural inclusivity, the Levantine designer created a contemporary take on the traditional Middle Eastern hammam for a soothing experience that all could enjoy. 

Nada Debs and Kohler present Transcendence

‘Having the opportunity to design a modern hammam at Design Miami truly embodies the sentiment that wellbeing transcends all culture,’ says Debs. To equally draw in critical conversations about sustainability, the installation’s lustrous hand-crafted tiles, designed by Debs and the Kohler WasteLAB team, have been fabricated using landfill materials and glaze originating from Kohler’s manufacturing waste flow.

The crucial aim of Kohler WasteLAB is to apply new manufacturing processes where nothing is wasted. ‘At Kohler, we have a great passion for exploring the nexus between design and environmental sustainability, a passion that is shared by Nada and translated into the hammam and the tiles themselves,' says Laura Kohler, chief sustainability and DEI officer for Kohler Co.

Laid out in typical hammam tradition, Debs has designed three lightly toned chambers taking you through a sensory journey, each dressed appropriately with its own hued tile in arch patterns that share a visual parallel to the hammam’s classical aesthetic. 

To start, a darkly elegant Hot Room calls for meditation and disconnect with a sea of jumbled patterns in glazed lake-blues and mirrored edges evoking a peaceful infinity. Moving on to the Warm Room, the walls are adorned in double arched tiles with optic loops in a soft Bone finish, complemented by sounds of water triggering an awareness of self and surrounding. At the rejuvenating stage, the room features a pair of 1920s sinks from Kohler’s archive collection in Spring Green – one of the iconic heritage colours celebrated for the brand’s 150th anniversary. Ending the journey in the elegant Cold Room, you’re prompted to feel spiritually recharged around the central water feature, its glimmering turquoise tiles uniformly arched – all as refreshing and welcoming as the airy portals luring you in to finally engage with the world and social exchange.

Calling her approach ‘handmade and heartmade’, Debs’ global understanding and sensibility of cultures translates beautifully in her experiential concept with Kohler. Aptly in line with this year’s Design Miami theme of 'The Golden Age: Looking to the Future', it’s a tribute to wellbeing and heritage through innovative design and materials: a quiet retreat where we can all find solitude and silence within the chaotic overstimulated labyrinth of design-hungry crowds.

Transcendence is on view as part of Design Miami 2022, until 4 December

Convention Center Drive & 19th Street
Miami Beach, USA

kohler.com
nadadebs.com

In partnership with Kohler

Meet Anthem: Kohler’s latest bathroom innovation, a series of shower controls that offer a bespoke, immersive experience. Available with digital as well as mechanical control panels, Anthem can control up to six water sources to customise temperature and flow.

Anthem combines with Kohler’s Statement shower collection: a new range that includes hand showers, body sprays, rainheads and showerheads, and by using Anthem valves and controls, each can be independently adjusted to reach the desired temperature and water flow (options include a soft, warm spray from the overhead rain head and strong, hot massage from the hand shower). Users can mix and match, and with Anthem digital controls, up to ten presets can be programmed to be used any time.

In its digital version, Anthem can be configured via a dedicated app, paired with voice assistants and voice-controlled. Besides offering control over the valves, the app monitors shower temperature and duration, water usage, and features a ‘warm up mode’ that can purge cold water before the shower is started.

‘A really great shower is based highly on personal preference and should be completely within the control of the user,’ adds vice president of Kohler Industrial Design, Lun Cheak Tan. 

The Anthem control and Statement shower collection are available in four contemporary finishes, to easily adapt to and enrich any bathroom expression: Polished Chrome, Vibrant Brushed Nickel, Matte Black and Vibrant Brushed Moderne Brass. 

‘We asked ourselves how we could elevate the function of a showering collection to transform a daily routine into a wellness ritual that also accounted for different requirements across regions and countries,’ stated Kohler. ‘The result is Anthem, a comprehensive collection that can be specified and installed anywhere in the world.’

Both the digital and mechanical panels are meticulously engineered to adapt to global plumbing standards, and they have been precisely developed to ‘elevate the showering routine to a next level sensory event.’ 

Explore Statement and Anthem showering collection here:  

studiokohler.com

‘These [past] two years have weighed heavily on my thoughts around the concept of the bathroom, which has become a fluid space, with functionalities related to wellbeing increasingly linked to an emotional and aesthetic concept,’ reflects Milanese designer Cristina Celestino during the preview and launch party of her installation Bathscape, presented by Kaldewei during Milan Design Week 2022. 

The German company creates bathroom solutions that combine modern luxury with sustainable thinking, an approach it calls ‘Luxstainability’. It’s something that Celestino relates to: ‘The concept of luxury, in my opinion, is unrelated to the intrinsic richness of the materials, but rather to the quality of the spaces in which we find ourselves and the time we have to devote to ourselves,’ she says.

The installation, on display at Via Maroncelli 2, Brera, until 12 June 2022, unfolds through various areas that appear to be small oases of wellbeing. The first contains a sink, next to a dressing table with a pouf, a mirror and a seat. The wash basin has rotating mirrors. A structure has been built around the tub to highlight its unique shapes. The shower is screened by orange glass and metal pipes, which also divide other spaces in the showroom, as a nod to the theme of nature and to Harry Bertoia's sound sculptures. 

A soft carpet welcomes you to another ‘room’, where a tub with a whirlpool function conveys a more intimate concept of a domestic sauna. ‘There is a totem, an architectural volume, around each functional element, so the bathroom becomes a sort of landscape [marking] the rituals that take place in the bathroom,’ Celestino says.

‘We worked with a variety of materials because the goal was to create a luxury concept that was also sustainable in terms of materials and approach.’ Notably, Kaldewei’s signature steel enamel is fully recyclable and is made from 20 per cent recycled steel.

The result in terms of the installation is a combination of natural materials, such as terracotta and marble, and metals, including brass. ‘My inspiration comes from the classic bathrooms of [Piero] Portaluppi. The architecture created uses elements such as metal, orange lacquers, and Italian Siena yellow marble to create simple and sculptural volumes around each functionality.’

When working on an interior design project, she says, the context is critical: ‘The dialogue with the space in which one operates is important in the selection of materials – in this case, brass and large volumes. It’s fundamental.’ 

INFORMATION

kaldewei.co.uk

A pure white installation designed by the multidisciplinary Cobalto Studio and paying tribute to the spirit, shapes, scents and colours of the Mediterranean, with a nod to sustainability too, represents the Fuorisalone debut of Barcelona-based bathroom brand Roca. 

On show at the University of Milan (until 13 June), the installation, Influence, is inspired by Roca's new ‘Ona’ bathroom line (ona meaning ‘wave’ in Catalan) and provides an immersive experience, transporting visitors to a Mediterranean oasis that seems to pulse with a wave-like rhythm. 

To calibrate the installation’s fluctuating brightness, Cobalto Studio interpreted data gathered from a buoy deployed in the sea off Menorca – capturing fluctuations in wave intensity on the day of the spring equinox, thanks to a research system called REDEXT (Deep Water Boats Network). 

The rhythm of the waves is reflected in the amplitude of golden light impulses, producing an immersive, sensorial experience. ‘It’s breathing as the sea,’ explains Cobalto Studio’s founder Gabriel Escámez. ‘By day the sounds surround you, and you can enjoy the optical effects, as well as the poetic and philosophical focus. Yet to me, it’s even more amazing by night.’

The installation also references Mediterranean traditions and architecture, including Cobalto Studio’s take on talaiots (Bronze Age megalithic structures indigenous to the Balearic Islands) and proto-rationalism (Influence employs reusable materials, tying in with the idea of optimising natural resources).

‘It’s about the Mediterranean, because [that] is where I was born, but it could be wherever, because we are focused on the concept of vernacular design, as in my [view] we all need to move to another perspective, and focus on the materials that are around [us],’ says Escámez.

As visitors experience the sensation of being embraced by the sea, the installation’s series of sculpted white volumes frames pieces from Roca’s ‘Ona’ collection.

‘I think we are arriving at Fuorisalone in a very good way with this project and this installation. We wanted to have the right format,’ says Marc Viardot, Roca Group's corporate marketing and design director. 

‘It was important for us to come with products,’ he adds. ‘I believe visitors come here for inspiration but also for information on products they can use later on, and the “Ona” collection is very complete and democratically positioned, ecological, functional… with all the innovations and finesse [needed] to stand out.’

INFORMATION

Influence is at the University of Milan, Via Festa del Perdono 7, until 13 June 2022
roca.com
cobaltostudio.com

In partnership with Axor

What does it mean when our home reflects not only our taste, but also our unique personality? When the rooms that we occupy become sources of creative provocation themselves? The Germany-based design brand Axor believes multisensorial personalisation in the bathroom to be the ultimate form of luxury and inspiration. Through individual design, Axor creates bathrooms as truly exclusive and luxurious spaces, guaranteeing moments of happiness and holistic relaxation.

But what does this mean, in concrete terms, when designing a room charged with moments of self-conference, a place where we experience intimate ritual and personal moments of freedom? Where we find fulfilment beyond pure purpose delivered via the intuitive technology of rain showers, overhead showers, hand showers, and body sprays, modular shower systems, shower pipes, and intelligent control units? 

Further differentiation and refinement is delivered through the design of the taps and the pervading environment. In this context, the bathroom is one of the most complex design tasks of them all.  

Via a unique examination of the personalisation of private living spaces, Axor’s ‘Distinctive’ campaign explores ideas of individual luxury by inspiring and empowering architects, interior designers and design-savvy customers to make unique expressions of personal luxury in the bathroom. 

A self-described ‘interior and emotion’ architect, Paris-based Tristan Auer sees himself as a stage director, with his clients, whom he regards as accomplices, in starring roles. Although renowned for the sensuality of his designs and for his vibrant mixing of colours, lights and eras, Auer never imposes a style on his clients. Instead, he studies them, draws inspiration from them, and creates singular interiors tailored to their individuality. 

‘For me, it was a gift to be able to do this project, because it’s always very interesting to work for myself,’ says Auer of the original bathroom concept he developed as part of the Distinctive campaign. ‘I could be crazy and not have to please anybody or seduce anybody or teach anything.’ 

As someone who takes inspiration from place  –  not just the sights but the sounds, smells and textures  – Auer was particularly excited about the Axor brief’s suggestion of a high-rise apartment in Hong Kong. ‘You know the original Blade Runner movie by Ridley Scott? Hong Kong is like that  –  something which is building on top of itself. Different layers. You have the crowd on the street level, and then, as you elevate, it’s more and more futuristic. It’s why I combine old antique pieces with very modern textures.’ 

Noting the similarity between the diamond-cut pyramidal pattern of the ‘Axor Edge’ tap by Jean-Marie Massaud and the iconic Dupont cigarette lighters Auer remembers from the 1980s proved another key reference. ‘I don’t smoke, but I like to touch. So, that set the stage  – Dupont, those colours, those ambiances.’ 

Finished in Polished Gold Optic, the ‘Axor Edge’ wash basin tap and freestanding bath tap set a striking contrast to the surrounding materials, while the ‘Axor ShowerHeaven’ and the ‘Axor Edge’ thermostat provide cutting-edge functionality within the shower area. 

Building on the bold, clashing aesthetic, Auer combines reflective stainless steel with neon lighting and offsets it with a graphic mix of light and dark travertine stone. ‘It’s disruptive and very masculine,’ Auer says of the travertine. ‘It’s very 1980s, as well. You know, you had some perfumes that were very strong in their masculinity. It was a little bit of a reference to this period.’ Equally striking are the ‘Axor Universal Rectangular’ accessories that add a further personal touch to the bathroom. 

In case there was any doubt as to the personality Auer had in mind when designing for Axor, he explains without hesitation: ‘It’s for a man. Definitely selfish. The guy is only thinking about himself. He likes to collect. He’s a hedonist. Today, we say that we need to have empathy, to share with everybody else, but I feel like the truth is maybe in-between: you have to do it for yourself first to be able to do it for others.’
 
The designer’s approach to a house’s most intimate space is both personal and unconventional. ‘I prefer to call it, “room with a bath”. It’s a real room –  you live in it. That’s why you need to have a niche for arts – maybe a painting, maybe some object that’s usually found in your living room. So, let’s bring it into the bathroom! That’s also why I design freestanding washbasins – it’s a piece of furniture.’ 

Whatever space he’s designing for, from bathrooms to tailored car interiors, Auer makes clear that individualisation is at the heart of his process. ‘I started my career with Christian Liaigre, which was totally bespoke at that time, and I learned to design everything  –  every single door handle. I know the artisans. I know the process. And individualisation is very interesting because, for me, that’s luxury, to have something made bespoke.

‘You’re working with the people who have the know-how, who are artists and craftspeople,’ Auer says. ‘And when items are made just for you, they are made just once. This is going in the right direction for not consuming too much.’ 

For Auer, the ‘Distinctive’ element of the Axor project means ‘being an influencer and not a follower. Trust yourself, trust your taste and show it.’ Assume an intimate and personal, inward-looking dandy approach, he suggests. ‘Not to show off and tell people, ‘I’m better than you.” But just to say, “OK, I’m like that.”’

INFORMATION

axor-design.com

In partnership with VitrA

Colour has emotional and spiritual as well as aesthetic impact, affecting mood and behaviour. With the tones and textures of a bathroom contributing to a sense of calm and wellbeing, VitrA has introduced three new colourways to its sculptural Plural range.

Created in collaboration with the Los Angeles-born, Milan-based bathroom expert Terri Pecora, Plural’s monoblock basins, vanity basins and bowls are now available in Matt Clay Beige, Matt Moss Green and Matt Terra Rossa, in addition to classic, White, Matt White, Matt Taupe, and Matt Black options. Drawing on the natural tones of sage, terracotta and stone, these new earthy hues, explains Pecora, provide an opportunity to personalise the washroom. 

‘The colour palette and textures featured in the new collection are not normally associated with a bathroom environment,’ she says. ‘Plural is very furniture-orientated and aims at making the bathroom a versatile living space where one can spend time, at one’s leisure.’

In their new colourways, the designs could be matched with a complementary palette to transform a bathroom into a vibrant, colourful space, or paired with a more muted palette for the washbasin to stand out as a statement piece. 

Communal bathing spaces and rituals drove Pecora’s design philosophy for the Plural collection. Positioning the bathroom’s original function as a social hub – a space for shared intimacy where people convene to reconnect with themselves, close friends and family, the distinctive collection comprises midcentury-inspired furniture, designer basins and sculpturally complementary WCs. 

Incorporating VitrA’s technologically intelligent details, the collection includes innovative pipe work that enables washbasins to be fitted in any part of the room. Plural washbasins can be positioned away from the wall, even in the centre of the room, allowing for complete design freedom. A wall-hung vertical mirror swings from side to side, allowing shared usage, while Plural basins and vanity basins are adaptively versatile and can be used in combination with bespoke furniture pieces. ‘Plural consists of a group of elements meant to be used together or separately,’ says Pecora.

VitrA bathroom excellence

Founded in 1958 in Turkey,  VitrA is an international bathroom brand that distributes to over 75 countries on five continents. VitrA UK, based in Oxfordshire, has been supplying the UK bathroom market for 30 years. In 2021, VitrA launched its flagship showroom in Clerkenwell, London – a creative hub for architects, designers and thinkers with dedicated areas for product specification, events and workshops. 

INFORMATION

vitra.co.uk

Merging top class bathroom design and interior inspiration is Ceramica Cielo’s Marcel washbasin, a new piece that blurs the boundaries between the bathroom and the rest of the home with a thoughtful material palette and details inspired by traditional furniture manufacturing.

Conceived by the brand’s artistic directors Andrea Parisio and Giuseppe Pezzano, the new piece is inspired by the Bauhaus, its name being a tribute to Marcel Breuer and his use of bent steel and Vienna straw in his furniture designs. These design inspirations merge with Ceramica Cielo’s signature minimalism, defined by lightness and functionality.  

The Marcel washbasin combines the woven Vienna straw panelling with a bent ash structure, while the ceramic basin features a soft geometric form that matches the furniture design. The set is available in two distinctive colour palettes inspired by land and sky, with a natural wood option paired with white ceramic, and a darker, black-stained version with matte grey ceramic basin. 

The collection is completed by a matching wall-mounted mirrored cabinet, featuring a bent ash frame and side panel that once again uses the Vienna straw as a unifying element. 

Say its creators: ‘Marcel is a true style manifesto, a further declination of the creative language of Ceramica Cielo, a harmonious synthesis of refinement and contemporaneity, of attention to detail and high quality standards, values that make our company a symbol of Made in Italy excellence throughout the world.’

This new piece is a fitting continuation of the company’s legacy: evolved from a family of potters operating in Italy since the late 19th century, through its products and collections, Ceramica Cielo has always looked for innovation and originality, combining design and craftsmanship to create thoughtful collections that make the bathroom the centre of the home. 

The Marcel washbasin will be presented alongside the new Ceramica Cielo collection during Salone del Mobile 2022.

INFORMATION 

ceramicacielo.it

Tom Dixon was inspired by the Victorian era for his first foray into bathroom design, with his collection for Turkish specialist VitrA nodding to 19th-century aesthetics. He explains: ‘I like the feeling of permanence in Victorian bathrooms, with their big chunky taps and fat pipes. The aesthetic is closely connected to a whole tradition of British engineering, and influenced the development of the bathroom.’

‘Liquid’ collection by Tom Dixon for VitrA

The resulting collection, ‘Liquid’, takes the British designer’s distinctive bold approach to a new functional level. Comprising bathroom essentials such as sinks, showerheads, taps, WCs, mirrors and hooks, as well as furniture including stools and cabinets and a series of textured tiles, the collection follows VitrA’s tradition of creative collaborations, while expanding the brand’s reach beyond just bathroom products.

The collection is defined by soft-edged, rounded forms that nod to the work of Jeff Koons, Claes Oldenburg and Barbara Hepworth, merging soft geometries and bold, shiny silhouettes. Dixon has injected even the most mundane of domestic objects (think toilet roll holders and urinals) with a strong design identity and bold aesthetic humour. Each piece was individually conceived, with the whole range working together in a space or individually as standalone pieces.

The designer worked with VitrA’s Innovation Centre to push the manufacturing and creative boundaries of bathroom design. Like Dixon’s other 2021 collections, which involved mono-material explorations in brass, cork and glass, this one emphasises materiality, this time in the form of ceramics. When discussing ‘Liquid’, he references his fascination with ‘the way a bit of grey and greasy earth can transform into something so white, clean and shiny’.

Dixon describes ‘Liquid’ as ‘expressive minimalism’, a bathroom collection like no other. Its aesthetic also informs functionality through, for example, the safety of round edges or the ease of cleaning surfaces. Throughout the range, he included small design devices that demonstrate how ‘Liquid’ is more than an aesthetic exercise, such as the magnet attaching the hand-held showerhead to the controls. He says, ‘I wanted the collection to look like a kid’s sketch of a bathroom basin or a tap, displaying a clear logic and simplicity in looks and usage.’

INFORMATION

The Wallpaper* Design Awards 2022 feature in the February 2022 issue of Wallpaper*. Subscribe today!

In partnership with House of Rohl

Cleansing, renewing and restoring, combining both the liquid delight of warm, falling water with the calming immovability of stone, ceramic and brass, contemporary kitchens and bathrooms offer a gamut of luxurious sensations: tactility and substance, alchemy and materiality. Such qualities are at the heart of House of Rohl and its collection of brands.

Victoria + Albert Volcanic Limestone baths and sinks

Volcanic Limestone is at the core of House of Rohl bathroom materiality. The white rock is formed when immense heat and pressure from liquid magma transforms surrounding limestone. The result is a world-class stone of unrivalled strength and beauty, perfect for creating Victoria + Albert bathtubs. 

Versatility, optimised insulation, liquid and heat retention are all vital considerations for bathroom materials.  With each Victoria + Albert bathtub, cast from one single, hand-finished, stone-rich piece, a thinner wall construction and exceptional strength-to-weight ratio is guaranteed, the material offering superior strength and resistance to chips and cracks. No creaking or flexing of the bath ensures a quiet, unspoiled soak.    

Colour is pure, consistent and naturally white. Exterior surfaces of each Victoria + Albert bathtub can be painted and personalised in a gloss or matte finish, and in a broad spectrum of colours to match or complement surrounding décor. 

Shaws fireclay sinks 

In a quiet, distinctly non-volcanic corner of north-west England the craftspeople at Shaws have been making sinks the same way, by hand, for over 100 years. Employing an age-old process passed down through generations, each Shaws sink is a work of art and the epitome of understated luxury. 

Materiality is key to a Shaws sink’s construction, the clean lines and natural shapes of its designs formed using the time-honoured ‘slip casting’ method and locally sourced fireclay. The preferred process is manual and highly skilled; liquid clay is poured into porous moulds, glazed twice and fired for two days in specially designed kilns. 

When the newly minted sinks are sufficiently dry, expert hand-finishing begins, through an artisanal procedure of sponging and ‘fettling’ to create a smooth surface. Only once a sink has been left to slowly dry out for a period of over 40 hours, is it deemed ready for a first coat of glaze. A second glaze is added to improve the feel and durability of the product.  Each sink is then carefully fired in specially designed kilns at temperatures of over 1,200 degrees Celsius to complete the manufacture. 

Perrin & Rowe brass taps and fixtures

To best convey water, efficiently and beautifully, from exterior source to expertly formed ceramic vessel, brass – cool and smooth to the touch – is the ideal material. At the Perrin & Rowe factory in the English Midlands, workshops are bound by a passion for traditional manufacturing craft that defines the brand. 

Every product must be treated individually to ensure quality. Mass production has no business amongst its craftspeople who hand-forge brassware taps and sanitaryware from the highest quality brass. Perrin & Rowe’s manufacturing processes marry the latest technologies with hand-moulding and hand-polishing while surfaces are plated to a thickness that exceeds industry standards, ensuring a deep, protective coating that is resistant to wear and pleasing to the eye.

‘Brassware is also assembled by hand and each piece is individually water-tested,’ say the company founders.  ‘Our casting plant in Wolverhampton is one of the last of its kind, carrying on a tradition that’s over a hundred years old. But what distinguishes us most is our high standard for performance and beauty. Because precision isn’t our method. It’s our mission.’ 

House of Rohl

Across its portfolio of brands, House of Rohl is unstinting in its pursuit of the best materials and outstanding artisanship and engineering. It sees the potential in stone and clay, brass and steel, poured and casted, glazed and fired, and transformed into the finest of products, bringing brilliance and beauty to kitchens and bathrooms. 

INFORMATION

houseofrohl.com

In partnership with The House of Rohl

The aesthetics of both midcentury modern and new millennium design have inspired a bathroom colour palette to complement contemporary architectural style: metallic, robust and minimalist.

When Wallpaper* editor-in-chief Sarah Douglas was working with The House of Rohl to make Light Industrielle – one of three new bathroom colour palettes for Victoria + Albert tubs and sinks – her references were modern architecture, classic 20th-century industrial design and raw building materials: timber, cement, steel and glass.

Exposed details, structural forms and angular, geometric shapes filled the mood board for a tonal range that is urban, powerful and elegantly utilitarian. Douglas designed the colour palette to enhance and adapt to clean and modern environments, playing off honest, finely rendered materials, sheer surfaces, bold fixture design and classic furniture pieces.

Light Industrielle’s stealthy, steely aesthetic makes reference to the work of the Bauhaus and Bjarke Ingels BIG practice, nodding to the brutal elegance of the Gio Ponti-designed Pirelli Factory in Milan as well as countless warehouse / factory conversion homes all over the world. Accented with subtle grey and orange, acknowledging a readiness to adopt tones, techniques and processes from engineering, the colours celebrate a building’s core construction processes and incorporate these elements into domestic design.

‘The emotional impact of colour has a new relevance,’ says Douglas. ‘These colour palettes have been created to help shape our mood, improve our wellbeing and bring light into our day-to-day lives.’

Victoria + Albert and the modern bathroom

The House of Rohl ventures to the ends of the Earth to find the most exquisite kitchen and bath fixtures, made with quality craftsmanship and technical prowess. Its five brands, which include Victoria + Albert, create collections of modern innovation, imagination and unique beauty. Established in 1996, Victoria + Albert has showrooms in London and Chicago, as well as dedicated production facilities in South Africa. Sporting elegant proportions and opulent curves, its products are designed to create the perfect bathing experience, transforming any space into a luxurious sanctuary.

INFORMATION

houseofrohl.com

In partnership with The House of Rohl

Wallpaper* editor-in-chief Sarah Douglas developed the Dune Retreat colour palette for The House of Rohl’s Victoria + Albert brand with escape and relaxation in mind. Desert architecture and interior design often place an emphasis on light, space and solitude, and desert houses are conceived to allow for thoughtful isolation and big-window contemplation.

Evoking natural minerals such as feldspar, quartz and ochre, the Dune Retreat colour palette channels the open-air bathrooms often found in contemporary desert homes, from Arizona to Morocco, spaces that welcome the outdoors in, with views of vast arid landscapes and towering, blooming cacti. Here, in these dry and delightfully exposed places, water is both an indulgent luxury and a welcome necessity.

Such contemporary desert dwellings reveal how design and material can work in harmony to make life comfortable and luxurious, even amid the challenging climatic conditions of sand plains or subtropical terrains. Like the cactus and the camel, buildings must adapt and respect their environment in order to survive, and to ensure the wellbeing of their inhabitants.

Inspired by the stillness of desert life, its cooling sunsets, shifting sands and baked earth, Dune Retreat’s warm, contemplative, escapist tone, can be applied in any home to suggest sanctuary and quiet refuge. During the day, it is a sunny match for untreated, sunbleached wood, and dusty, bone whites; come evening, it’s perfectly chilled.

The House of Rohl and bathroom innovation

The House of Rohl ventures to the ends of the Earth to find the most exquisite kitchen and bath fixtures, made with quality craftsmanship and technical prowess. Its five brands, which include Victoria + Albert, create collections of modern innovation, imagination and unique beauty. Established in 1996, Victoria + Albert has showrooms in London and Chicago, and dedicated production facilities in South Africa. Sporting elegant proportions and opulent curves, Victoria + Albert’s products are designed to create the perfect bathing experience, transforming any space into a luxurious sanctuary.

 INFORMATION

thehouseofrohl.com

Every year, Wallpaper* searches for the coolest bathroom designs from the world’s best specialist manufacturers. Here, we select the best bathroom trends for 2022, from freestanding minimalist bathtubs to modernist taps, funky sinks and exceptional surfaces. Have a splash in our 1970s-inspired bathroom.

Bathroom trends 2022: the Wallpaper* edit

Oversized colourful tiles

Add a fun splash of colour to your bathroom and define the space with bold tiles in shiny hues. Villeroy & Boch’s ‘Pro Architectura 3.0’ collection combines form, function and colour throughout, and it’s designed with architecture in mind. Available in a variety of colours covering the full rainbow, these tiles are an invitation to play. 

Minimalist freestanding bathtubs

A synthesis of organic and minimalist forms, these freestanding bathtubs are a sleek addition to a contemporary bathroom. Balancing the more colourful and decorative elements with their essential forms, these standout pieces are defined by generous volumes and practical elements. The ‘BetteEve Oval Silhouette’ bath is inspired by nature, with a two-seater capacity and enhanced comfort thanks to the oval-shaped, flowing interior. 

Frequently collaborating with the likes of Piet Boon and John Pawson, Dutch bathroom brand Cocoon creates ranges that are both contemporary and timeless. Its ‘Purist’ range of baths and basins includes this freestanding tub, with recessed drain, available in a choice of nine natural stones and marbles. Perfect for those with an eye for industrial minimalism but a love of luxurious wallowing, its pure geometric form ticks a lot of visual boxes while the smoothness of the stone makes bath time a comforting treat.

Eclectic bathroom sinks

The bold silhouettes of these bathroom sinks will enlighten any bathroom space. Designed by Mark Jankowski for Formed Concrete Basins, the ‘Arlo’ washbasin features a deep curved concrete wash area with matching base. A sculptural, eye-catching design, it is available in the company’s full range of bright colours, from Emerald Green (pictured above),to midnight blue, deep purple, apricot orange and violet. 

A more organic direction is offered by Brazilian architect Ruy Othake’s eponymous design for Roca. Featuring a sinuous edge, the architect was inspired by waves, the horizon and the purest shape in nature, the egg, to create this collection of bathroom sinks.

Dramatic stone surfaces

Natural stones are bathroom classics, and in their bolder interpretations they can make a plain surface stand out. The material is an ideal all-over surface solution, like in the case of this floor of Antolini’s ‘Explosion Blue’ quartzite slabs (top) or the sensual black Grafite from Margraf, seen on the wall. But marble can be an option for mixing and matching too, like in the case of Bisazza’s latest collection of tiles; titled ‘Marmo’, it celebrates the richness of natural stone through bold geometric compositions (like the Montalcino Noce, above, combining Avorio Perlino, Marrone Emperador and Giallo Reale marbles).

Modernist taps

Forming part of Grohe’s new ‘Spa’ collection, which launches in September, the ‘Allure’ tap range matches cylindrical bodies with square or rectangular base plates, and comes in a choice of different colours and finishes, including chrome, brushed cool sunrise, brushed warm sunset, and hard graphite. The line includes floor-mounted taps and waterfall spouts for the bath, as well as this three-hole basin mixer, which combines state-of-the-art water technology with German craftsmanship in an elegantly slim and sleek package. 

The signature piece in the comprehensive new ‘Langbourn’ bathroom collection from Perrin & Rowe is this handsome freestanding bath mixer and hand shower, which reflects the British brassware brand’s principles of proportion, balance and detail. Cast by hand at Perrin & Rowe’s Black Country foundry, it takes a skilled craftsman around five hours to polish, and is available in a choice of seven finishes, including chrome (pictured), polished brass and gold.

Hansgrohe’s ‘Pulsify’ hand and overhead showers, available in chrome, matte black and matte white, are all equipped with the brand’s innovative microfine PowderRain, Massage and IntenseRain spray modes, as well as a spray disc with an adjustable inclination of 10-30 degrees for a more comfortable showering experience. This sleek and slim range is also designed to use less water, thanks to its EcoSmart technology, and features a QuickClean function, allowing for the easy removal of lime and calcium deposits.

Harmoniously blending flat surfaces with sharp angles, this striking collection of taps, from American bathroom brand Kohler, oozes sophistication and refinement. The range can be wall- or deck-mounted, and comes with multiple body height and spout length options, allowing it to be paired with a wide range of bathroom styles and configurations to create a unique look. Available in polished chrome, brushed nickel and matte black, the range features a lasting finish that resists corrosion and tarnishing.

As we learn to spend more time in the cocoon of our home, our focus is increasingly turning to those familiar surroundings – the spaces in which we live, work, relax and contemplate. The textures and colours that surround us each and every day have taken on more importance than ever; no longer just decoration, they are now a carefully considered and significant contributing factor to our wellbeing and sense of place.

Victoria + Albert Baths, a luxury brand with a worldwide reputation for creating beautiful designs (its baths can be found in hotels across the Belmond and Nomad group portfolios), believes that bathroom design should go beyond monochromatic options. Instead, its free-standing baths and basins are available in a wealth of bespoke colours that can match and harmonise with the tones and textures of their surroundings. 

Inspired by the manufacturer’s innovative spirit, Wallpaper* has collaborated with Victoria + Albert Baths on three new colour palettes that add joy and calm to inner sanctums. Compiled by Wallpaper* editor-in-chief Sarah Douglas for the current climate’s refocused lifestyle philosophy, the three palettes – Wavelengths, Dune Retreat and Light Industrielle – have been chosen to represent a trio of different moods.

Wavelengths

From Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater to Thomas Heatherwick’s Vessel, the dynamic nature of water has long influenced architecture and design. Evoking a sense of calm and wellbeing, Wavelengths offers a tranquil colour spectrum that sails across deep, inky Atlantic waters to the sun-dappled Mediterranean and onto the bluey-green Aegean.

Dune Retreat

This warm, contemplative and escapist palette takes its cues from the shifting sands of the desert and the sun-baked earth. Evoking the colours of natural minerals such as feldspar, quart and ochre, Dune Retreat is inspired by contemporary desert architecture from Arizona to Morocco, designed to withstand the challenging climatic conditions of arid environments and extreme temperatures.

Light Industrielle

Referencing contemporary architecture and classic industrial design, this palette is steely, robust and minimalist. Influenced by building materials, structural forms and angular, geometric shapes, the resulting tonal range of subtle greys and accents of orange is both elegant and effective.

‘The emotional impact of colour has a new relevance,’ says Sarah Douglas. ‘These colour palettes have been created to help shape our mood, improve our wellbeing and bring light into our day-to-day lives.’

Established in 1996, Victoria + Albert Baths has showrooms in London and Milan, as well as dedicated production facilities in South Africa. Design and manufacturing are both carried out in-house, with all free-standing baths made from 100 per cent Quarrycast, a signature blend of finely ground Volcanic Limestone and high-performance resins. Sporting elegant proportions and opulent curves, Victoria + Albert Baths’ products are designed to create the perfect bathing experience, transforming any space into a luxurious sanctuary.

INFORMATION

vandabaths.com

WINNER

Carácter antibacterial tiles, by Marazzi

A particularly timely product, Marazzi’s new Puro antibacterial technology for ceramic surfaces eliminates up to 99.9 per cent of bacteria and other harmful microorganisms. ‘Carácter’ is the first of three collections by the Italian tile manufacturer created using the innovative technology, a permanent treatment that provides continuous antibacterial protection throughout the life of the product surface, without the need for external activation agents such as UV radiation. Ideal for use in residential as well as commercial and public spaces, the stone-effect ‘Carácter’ tiles are suitable for indoor and outdoor floors and walls. In appealing natural tones, with a minimal or more pebbled appearance, the tiles are made from 40 per cent recycled materials, and come in a range of sizes. They also feature anti-slip technology called StepWise. Sophisticated design meets truly useful innovation in a product that will enhance any home.

marazzitile.co.uk; @marazziceramiche

SHORTLIST

As we are spending more time than ever at home, we seek comfort in the shape of pure sound (that also looks good to the eye), technological innovation to keep us safe and a bit of beauty to accompany our everyday habits – be them hand-washing or pouring the perfect cocktail

Beogram 4000c turntable, by Bang & Olufsen

Pioneering Danish electronics brand Bang & Olufsen has revived its iconic 1970s Beogram 4000c turntable. The first of a new initiative to reimagine classic products, the turntable is a testament to Bang & Olufsen’s capabilities in sound, design and craftsmanship as well as its commitment to product longevity. Having sourced 95 original turntables, the Bang & Olufsen engineers worked their magic in the same facility where the models were first created nearly five decades ago. They disassembled and cleaned the vintage designs, then upgraded some of the components, adding a touch-sensitive control panel and RIAA phono pre-amplifiers so that the turntables could be connected to modern speakers. The appearance too has been refreshed while maintaining the essence of the original model: the aluminium element has been polished in a warmer champagne tone, and the turntable now sports a hand-crafted wooden frame and a new cover.

bang-olufsen.com; @bangolufsen

JS50 and JS30 speakers, by Georg Jensen and Philips

For their second creative collaboration, classic Danish brand Georg Jensen and Dutch electronics powerhouse Philips have released a new collection of beautifully crafted audio products. The range includes a pair of pebble-shaped portable Bluetooth speakers, featuring Georg Jensen’s signature highly polished ‘slate blue’ steel and a luxurious, acoustically transparent blue-grey Kvadrat fabric, as well as wireless Bluetooth headphones and a wireless power bank in dark leather. ‘Collaborating with Philips on this new collection has been an exciting challenge for us - it has guided us to design for technology in new ways, but it also has taught us how many of our iconic expressions can rise to the occasion of new frontiers,’ says Georg Jensen chief creative officer Nicholas Manville. 

georgjensen.com; @georgjensen

‘Midnight' cocktail cabinet, by Armani/Dada 

Produced in collaboration by fashion supremo Giorgio Armani and leading Italian furniture brand Molteni&C, the ‘Midnight’ cocktail cabinet goes well beyond the simple drinks trolley: the good-sized bar comes with a sink, practical sliding trays and plenty of storage – including space for an integrated wine cellar. The perfectly functional offering is partially hidden behind a pair of fully retractable Japanese-inspired gilded doors, with vertical walnut rod inserts and champagne satin aluminium details. The unit also features a Rosa Portogallo marble countertop that includes accessories for cocktail making, such as ice-holder and cutting board. An optional LED lighting structure creates a frame for the marble back, which features a wooden shelf with built-in LED lights and golden metal wine glass holders.

armanidada.com

‘Aura’ and ‘Astro’ bathroom sinks, by Marco Piva, for Antonio Lupi 

Resembling slowly melting ice-cubes, Marco Piva’s free-standing bathroom sinks are made of a smooth eco-sustainable resin, Cristalmood, that is manually poured into moulds. Once the resin has solidified, they are sanded and polished to remove imperfections and add brightness. The Milanese designer has equipped both sinks with LED lighting, available in 13 Cristalmood colours, making them rich in light and reflections. The drain and siphon are hidden from view, giving the designs a sculptural presence. ‘Resistant like stone, transparent like crystal, this resin has allowed Antonio Lupi to develop shapes that would have been unthinkable with any other material,’ explains the company’s art director, Andrea Lupi.

antoniolupi.it; @antoniolupidesign

Tuscan stone design expert Salvatori has unveiled its first Dutch flagship showroom within Piet Boon’s Amsterdam Headquarters.

It was 2003 when Gabriele Salvatori first approached Piet Boon with hopes to collaborate, but it didn't work out. ‘They were not what they are today, and I wasn't what I am today,’ says Salvatori. Almost twenty years later, a chance encounter in Milan would finally unite the brands. ‘Salvatori are champions league in marble and bathroom design,’ says Boon. ‘We’re two different worlds, but we fit very well together.’

Multidisciplinary studio Piet Boon was first conceived as a construction company in 1982 and has since taken Dutch design to the global community, joining forces with the likes of, Rosewood Hotels and Resorts, Michelin star restaurant the Jane, and Jaguar Land Rover.

Third-generation CEO Gabriele Salvatori’s parents began involving him in the Querceta-based family business when he was fourteen. During school holidays, he would take to the production lines in Italy’s marble heartlands. ‘That gave me the opportunity to understand whether I was interested in the business or not,’ he says. He took the reins in 1996 and began steering the brand beyond a ‘stone company’, knocking on the doors of design-world greats including Vincent Van Duysen, Kengo Kuma and John Pawson. Some initial collaborations were successful, some less so. ‘Sometimes you make decisions that don’t make economic sense, but you do it because you love it,’ he says.

The striking Piet Boon headquarters is the size of an aircraft hangar and houses a design utopia. Forming part of a new 500 sq m bathroom, home and lighting showroom, the space accentuates Salvatori’s masterful command of stone.

Elisa Ossino’s statement Balnea bathtub, fashioned from a monolithic hunk of Bianco Carrara Marble, celebrates the material’s inherent characteristics. Her floating Ciane drawers defy gravity and pay direct homage to the strict geometry of minimalist artist, Donald Judd. Elsewhere, Piero Lissoni’s Colonnata bookcase uses ten different natural stones to punctuate a dark oak structure.

‘We’re very linked to our heritage and values so are strict about who we do business with,’ says Salvatori. We feel like we’ve found a partner who shares our values.’ With a joint appreciation for down-to-earth design, longevity, and the capabilities of raw materials, the new space fuses two family-owned brands with a bond set in stone.

INFORMATION

www.salvatori.it
www.pietboon.com

ADDRESS

Piet Boon
Skoon 78
1511 HV Oostzaan
Netherlands

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We’re like kids in a candystore with this new range of brightly hued washbasins from Antoniolupi, which have just won a Wallpaper* Design Award for Best Dip Dye.

The Italian bathroom specialist is continuously researching new ways to create more contemporary, more versatile and more efficient products. Its latest material innovation, dubbed Cristalmood for its transparency and sheen, is composed of a high-performance polyester resin in a glossy finish, which is combined with colouring pigments to create a rainbow of variations.

A recently completed beachfront apartment in Tel Aviv, designed by Pierre Yovanovitch. Alongside vintage pieces his custom designs include a circular sofa, armchairs, tables, and a handknotted rug.

It has been used to produce a new edition of Carlo Colombo’s ‘Albume’ freestanding sinks, a design whose simple, totemic composition lends itself well to displaying the variations, with colours in the range including Ambra, Lime, Petrolio, Cobalto and Fumé.

As originally featured in the February 2019 issue of Wallpaper* (W*239)

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Antoniolupi website

Santa Clara 1728
Lisbon, Portugal

Comprising just six rooms, Santa Clara 1728, which is located on one of Lisbon’s most romantic squares, occupies one of the few homes to survive the city’s calamitous 18th-century earthquake. Inside, designer Manuel Aires Mateus’ clean, modern additions breathe new life into ancient walls and worn, limestone stairs. Rooms are kitted out in coarse linens, pale woods and furnishings by designer Antonio Citterio, a neutral palette that is boosted by splashes of duck egg blue. For their part, bathrooms are practically monastic. Walls covered in hand-cut white tiles, the pinewood flooring and shelving act in soft counterpoint to a vast freestanding tub, large enough to sail across the Mediterranean, and deep, cylindrical wash basins, both carved out of pinky-beige Portuguese Lioz limestone, sourced from quarries near Sintra. For those who prefer to their bathing experience vertical, each comes with an adjacent wet-room, complete with industrial-sized shower, which overlook the hotel’s gardens.

Campo de Santa Clara 128, T 35.1 934 418 316, www.santaclara1728.com

Four Seasons
Kuwait City

Having shed its mid-century reputation as a Sin City (of sorts), Kuwait now pursues a more genteel and sophisticated pace, which are qualities that also inform its Four Seasons hotel. Inside, design firm Yabu Pushelberg has humanised the soaring spaces with a mix of theatre and tradition; think vast decorative panels, low-slung furniture and geometric mashrabiya patterns, which appear all over, including strategic sections of room windows, such as bathrooms, where they offer guests an additional layer of privacy. All grey and white striped marble, slabs carefully aligned like elongated barcodes, bathrooms are screened off from bedrooms by sliding doors. Furnishings are courtesy of Australian luxury bath makers, Apaiser, which produced standalone tubs, walk-in showers and, of course, twin sinks. Bronze fixtures, in-mirror televisions and concealed lighting add splashes of drama and in places, the marble expanse is subtly interrupted by mosaic tiling or contemporary mashrabiya screens.

Al-Soor Street, Al Mirqab, Kuwait, T 965. 2200 6000, www.fourseasons.com/kuwait

Elements of Byron
Byron Bay, Australia

Celebrated for its cinematic ocean frontage and powdery beaches, Byron Bay’s laid-back charms have been raised a few notches by its most stylish resort, Elements of Byron, which is set amongst 50 acres of wilderness. Cabins – which have bush, beach, rainforest or creekside views – also have walled decks for bathing outdoors in privacy. With a Japanese simplicity-meets-Australian-informal feel, the onsen vibe is enhanced by wooden bath stools and ladder towel racks, while the potted cheesecloth plants (and elsewhere, rattan armchairs and shell chandeliers), are coy nods to the Bay’s bohemian reputation.

144 Bayshore Drive, T 61.2 6639 1500, www.elementsofbyron.com.au

Almanac
Barcelona, Spain

The Almanac group’s debut just off Barcelona’s Passeig de Gracia is the work of local studio, OAB, who have combined two existing buildings into a 91-room cocoon. Inside, Jaime Beriestain Studio has conjured a cinematic, contemporary art deco vibe, with copper accents, low-hanging white drum lamps, and panels of oak and walnut in the bright bedrooms. The immaculate bathrooms meanwhile, feature double sink vanities with individual mirrors, walk-in showers and full-length tubs, and are once again an orgy of marble and glass. The chill is softened through the addition of muted metal fixtures, which hover somewhere on the colour spectrum between copper and gold, and by bespoke bathroom products from Scottish-Catalan perfumer, Jimmy Boyd, a graduate of Grasse, which scent post-shower air with subtle notes of bergamot and pear-apple.

Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, T 34.9 3018 7000, www.almanachotels.com/barcelona

Hotel Bocage
Hua Hin, Thailand

An homage to concrete, the stark, pared-down Hotel Bocage is the work of Thai architect, Akaradej Pantisoontorn. Inside, Duangrit Bunnag has created complementary interiors that border on the austere. This includes the bathrooms which, definitely not for the retiring, are separated from the rest of the room by floor-to-ceiling glass walls. Those not convinced, can add a modicum of privacy by drawing the curtains, but doing so will deprive bathers of dramatic in-tub views over the Gulf of Thailand – and roommates of a show. Sculptural sanitary ware is by Antonio Lupi and toiletries, as stripped-back as the décor, are from the bamboo charcoal-based Charcoalogy range produced by local skincare specialists, Gla Nature.

Seenspace Building, 4th Floor, Hua Hin, T 66.91 712 8822, hotelbocage.com

Le Mount Stephen
Montréal, Canada

The former home of Canadian railway pioneer, George Stephen, and later a private members’ club, this landmark property has now been reincarnated as a hotel to include a new, honeycomb-covered annexe. A bit of a hybrid, the new addition contrasts starkly with the ornate, neoclassical splendour of the mansion and, occasional nod to the past aside, rooms are resolutely contemporary. Bathrooms, which are marble and minimal throw a technological punch with multifunctional Japanese Toto toilets with heated seats that do everything but go to the toilet for you, walk-in rain showers equipped with Cura chromatherapy showerheads, toiletries by Italy’s Comfort Zone and, blessed be, window-defoggers and heated floors – for come winter, the temperature difference between indoors and out can be 40°C, sometimes more.

1440 Drummond St, T 1.514 313 1000, www.lemountstephen.com

Sofitel Darling Harbour
Sydney, Australia

Occupying all 35 floors of Sydney’s Darling Harbour’s tallest building, the interior design of the 590-room property is the work of Dreamtime Australia Design and the A+ Design Group. Rooms are sleek and contemporary, while the sandstone bathrooms come with quite a lot packed into them – in some, the twin basins are complemented by twin walk-in rain showers – but thanks to the jaw-dropping panoramic vistas of the bay and the sparkling skyline beyond, the view from the freestanding tubs stretches to infinity, if not beyond. Toiletries, naturellement, are by Lanvin.

12 Darling Drive, 2000, T 61.2 8388 8888, www.sofitelsydneydarlingharbour.com.au

Verride Palácio Santa Catarina
Lisbon, Portugal

Built in 1750, this handsome four-storey former townhouse has been transformed into a boutique hotel by architect Teresa Nunes da Ponte who walked a fine line between keeping the ancient bones, whilst injecting a dose of sophisticated modernity. This meant meticulously restoring intricate mouldings, wrought iron staircases, ornamental ceilings and, in some of the suites, the original blue and white Azulejo decorative tiles, before updating the 19 spacious rooms in a muted palate of light browns, low-slung sofas, slender AJ floor lamps and de Gournay silk wall panels. Bathrooms are as eclectic as the rooms. Some, like this beauty in the Queen’s Suite, feature parquet floors, standalone tubs and refurbished 18th-century Azulejo panels. Others, simpler and more onsen-esque, are open-plan beige marble spaces that feature wet room style overhead showers, snug bathtubs and long, trough-like marble sinks that often overlook a view. One constant is that they seamlessly integrate contemporary design and minimalist fittings with historic, sometimes ornate interiors. Toiletries are courtesy of Aesop.

Rua de Santa Catarina No. 1, T 351. 21 1573058, verridesc.pt

Amanbagh
Ajabgarh, India

Among the rolling Aravalli Hills, Amanbagh sits in the grounds of an old campsite for royal tiger hunts that has been reimagined by Paris-based American architect Ed Tuttle. As an offering from the group that first blurred the line between spa and hotel, it’s no surprise that the spacious, light-filled bathrooms are sumptuous. All Indian minimal, warmth comes from massive wooden door panels, delicately carved Mughal arches and the cappuccino-coloured stone flooring, while colour comes chiefly in the form of the large, sunken green Udaipur marble bath in the middle of the room – perfect for wallowing in after a tough day lounging by your private pool or indulging at the ayurvedic spa.

District Alwar, Ajabgarh, Rajasthan, T 91.1465 223 333, www.aman.com

137 Pillars
Bangkok, Thailand

The sister property of Chiang Mai’s 137 Pillars House, the Bangkok outpost of the expanding hotel chain occupies the top eight floors of a sparkling skyscraper in the heart of the capital. The equally sparkling interiors are the work of P49 Deesign, who extended its contemporary design to the jazzy marble bathrooms, some of which feature small sofas. All have glass-walled rain-showers perfect for putting on a show, as well as deep, circular standalone tubs that are ideally suited to watching TV, drinking something bubbly or taking in the expansive views over Bangkok’s sprawling cityscape through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

59/1 Sukhumvit Soi 39, T 66.2 079 7000, 137pillarsbangkok.com

It’s a rare sort of company that appears more youthful as it grows older. Swiss bathroom specialist Laufen – which celebrates its 125th anniversary this year – is one such forward-thinking brand.

Established in 1982 in Switzerland, Laufen has celebrated several milestones along the way: the invention of both the first wall-hung toilet and one piece floor-standing washbasin, and most recently, the launch of its groundbreaking SaphirKeramik. But it’s Laufen’s creative collaborations that have really captured our imagination.

So to Design Miami/ Basel, where Laufen has brought together luminaries from the spheres of art, architecture and design for the project, with Atelier Oï, Konstantin Grcic, Alfredo Häberli, Ludovica and Roberto Palomba, and Patricia Urquiola among them. Curated by Beda Achermann, the objects are playful explorations of Laufen’s materials.

Toan Nguyen created a vase in glazed and sintered SaphirKeramik, reimagining a drop of water in an abstract way, while Atelier Oï envisioned the cross-section of a sapphire crystal using 3D printing. Peter Wirz’s contribution – a fine fireclay recreation of a Toblerone chocolate bar – was a humorous tribute to the proudly Swiss bathroom brand.

The exhibition made its debut in March at the German Architecture Museum (DAM), before travelling to Milan for Salone del Mobile, and Copenhagen for 3 Days of Design. Further stops on the tour include the London Design Festival, and Vienna Design Week, culminating with Design Miami in December.

INFORMATION
For more information, visit the Laufen website

The contemporary ideal when it comes to bathrooms is a sterile sanctuary, stripped down to its essentials yet luxurious enough to draw you in for hours. Roca, the Barcelona-based bathroom outfitter that’s been at it for a hundred years, gets it, owns it and wants everybody to know it.

To that end the company has unlocked the secret to getting bums on seats: take what could be a run-of-the-mill showroom and elevate it into a gallery. After launching successful galleries in London, Lisbon, Spain and Shanghai, Roca has now opened its sixth in the Dongzhimen area of Beijing. And though it deviates dramatically from those spaces, it also remains spectacularly on message.

To design the 800 sq m interior Roca chose Ma Yansong, whose Beijing practice MAD specialises in organic, almost supernatural silhouettes that appear to pulsate with movement. Working within the strict confines of an existing building off congested Dongzhimen Outer Street, Yansong instead used light and projection to play with perceptions.

Taking advantage of full-height windows on two floors overlooking the busy pavement, he transformed the back wall into a giant LED screen, directing attention right through the building. The images on the screen, commissioned from art critic and curator Jérôme Sans, are eerily real: a mother bathing her baby, a man shaving his beard, a father tending to his young son, all tinkering with the latest Roca fixtures, seemingly oblivious to any spectators regardless of the constant flow of spectators on the street. It’s disarmingly alluring.

Yansong says he hopes the gallery ‘can become a positive, vivid corner of the urban community, connecting people and the city in the simplest way’. Elsewhere, projections of falling water that illuminate voids in the walls seek to calm them too.

It’s a deft bit of performance art amid the gallery’s backlit tile floors, stark pedestal displays and ominous black walls. It may not translate into concrete sales, but it advances the ideal of the contemporary bathroom that Roca has conceived immaculately.

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the MAD Architects website

It is often a stretch to describe a bathroom showroom as visually stimulating – but when Patricia Urquiola is behind the design, things liven up. The Spanish designer has loaned her Midas touch to Laufen's new Madrid outpost, showcasing the Swiss bathroom brand's wares at their most desirable.

Located in an historic villa built in the early 1900s, the space has been conceived as a platform where designers and architects can get experimental with the brand's modern collections. Here, Urquiola embraces her Mediterranean roots by imbuing clinical bathroom ceramics with a little warmth.

Rather than staging mise-en-scènes, Urquiola has curated the products like sculpture – wall-mounted sinks and a pair of bathtubs mirror each other, arranged around a series of plinths. The Milan-based designer added hints of colour to the original architectural surrounds by way of dark marble plinths, vibrant side tables and tinted glass shutters that mimic the iridescent iterations of her ‘Shimmer’ collection for Glas Italia.

'The idea was to create a space with multiple functionalities,' Urquiola explains of the spa-like set-up. 'A new kind of showroom, where people can also work... an elegant and strict space.’ Wood, Perspex, resin and marble form the alluring backdrop to Laufen's ranges, which include collections by Konstantin Grcic and Toan Nguyen, both utilising the ultra-thin ceramic SaphirKeramik.

As a finishing touch, each room features a continuous black iron tube border, with gold corners for added elegance; a fine framing of Urquiola’s refined sanctuary in the Spanish capital.

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Laufen website

ADDRESS

Laufen Bathrooms
C/Covarrubias 23
28010 Madrid

VIEW GOOGLE MAPS

Luxury porcelain manufacturer Porcelanosa has unveiled the first images of a new bathroom collection designed in partnership with Zaha Hadid Design. The line is some of the final completed work from Hadid, who sadly passed away in March. Produced for Noken – Porcelanosa's manufacturing arm – it was first previewed at Salone del Mobile, Milan.

The collection, named ‘Vitae’, features a wide range of bath and sanitary-ware including a bathtub, basins, bathroom shelving and a wall-hung toilet with bidet. Featuring Zaha’s signature curves and fluid lines, that evoke the movement and dynamism of water, the collection was designed to merge practical needs with cutting-edge design. Inspired by seashells and the way water flows through their unique structures, the sleek ceramic pieces are a combination of the subtlety and perfection that characterised Hadid's designs.

The collection of individually handcrafted pieces won the i-NOVO Design Award from ArchiExpo, and was declared best design at Salone. July sees its official launch in London, during a presentation at Zaha Hadid Design Gallery.

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the Zaha Hadid Design website

Photography courtesy Zaha Hadid Design

Australian hair care brand Kevin.Murphy, known for a fashion-focused range of salon only products, is extending its repertoire with a new scope of goods. ‘Repair.Me’, the title of Kevin.Murphy’s latest launch, was born by utilising both skincare research and scientific technology to repair damaged hair.

Comprising of three products – Repair-Me.Wash, Repair-Me.Rinse and Re.Store – the aim was to create a range which would strengthen, moisturise and protect hair by using naturally-derived superfood proteins and fruit enzymes, restoring brittle hair back to its optimum health.

The sulphate- and paraben-free products work in conjunction in a three-part system. In its ‘Repair-Me.Wash’ shampoo, Kevin.Murphy promotes hair growth with antioxidants and active enzymes derived from anti-ageing paw paw fruit, nettle extracts, and nourishing green pea protein. The ‘Repair-Me.Rinse’ conditioner increases lustre with moisturising shea butter, smoothing aloe leaf extract, and açai, the latter rich in vitamins A, C and E, restoring damaged hair. While the former two products may be used together every day, once or twice a week they should both be replaced with ‘Re.Store’, a cleansing conditioning treatment. With a blend of papaya and weight-less pineapple extracts, the treatment features a no-foam technology as to cleanse hair and provide targeted nutrition simultaneously. It gives hair a shot of pure vegetable protein, leaving an overall softness and healthier feel – think of it as a super-food juice for your hair.

The jewel-like appearance of the azure-coloured bottles, the shapes synonymous with the brand and conceived by design agency Container Made Australia, is fitting for the company’s next generation products. As Kevin.Murphy not only upholds his sustainable philosophy with Repair.Me’s natural ingredients, derived from renewable sources, the brand also applies this approach to its recyclable and biodegradable packaging by focusing on both human and environmental issues that matter.

INFORMATION

Repair.Me will be available in selected salons in the US starting January 2016, and in the UK beginning April 2016. Prices range from USD $32-35. For more information visit the Kevin.Murphy website

When launching a design product label, the story usually goes that said company unveils a collection of goods for all to see. Piaule, a home accessories line that quietly made its entrance at the end of last year, has chosen to take an alternative tack.

Based in New York City, the fledging company has debuted with just one item: a simple white bath towel. Not just any old towel, of course. The Piaule ideal is surprisingly thin and lightweight. Made from 100 per cent Japanese cotton in Japan, the towel consists of two layers – a delicate gauze on one side and then a neatly looped terry underneath it. Airy, yet absorbent, the compact, uncomplicated towel is a stark contrast to versions that might overcompensate on thickness, size and heaviness to conceal its inferiority.

Piaule, which is French slang for ‘room’ or ‘pad’, aims to cater to the modern home by bringing good design and quality in an affordable, high-low balance.

‘We’re planning on rolling out our products one by one as we move forward,’ says co-founder Nolan McHugh. ‘They’re products that traditional designers might find boring or underwhelming –  but consumers have a lack of choice, in terms of quality, currently in the market. We want to approach things and make them a really well-designed object that can be used on a daily basis.’

Embracing a pared back, Scandivanian/Japanese aesthetic, Piaule already has products lined up for release; they plan on launching an item every two months. ‘We want everything to feel very considered. There is a lack of quality options, but at the same time there is an overwhelming amount of options, period. We’re trying to strike a balance of a minimal product offering with very approachable things,’ continues McHugh.

Piaule aspires to eventually become a one-stop shop for basic home accessories. Tableware, drinking glasses and diningware are categories that it will bring out later this year. The company has sourced its offerings from specialised makers steeped in tradition, and worked with them to create a pure, understated product.

‘We have a weird attraction to Japanese craftsmen and aesthetics because they typically show a lot of restraint and a lack of over-complication. We just want to be able to adapt to any home and create a very harmonious existence,’ McHugh says.

INFORMATION

Piaule’s towel is now available for $55. For more information, visit Piaule’s website

The world's most popular bathroom biennial, ISH, invited spectators to be more imaginative with the way we set up our sanitary rooms this year. With new versatile shapes, materials and colours, the evolution of the bathroom as a living space - rather than pure utility - continues.

Among our top picks were German bathroom players, Dornbracht and their modern experiment. They presented a new glass washbasin in their new CL.1 range with an adaptable bowl that allowed patterns created by 40 individual tap jets to be visualised, whilst being able to be placed upon - and against - any surface. Also introducing new materials to their range was Duravit, with their collection by Philippe Starck, Cape Cod. The fresh oceanic range included structured wooden and chrome vanity consoles to match washbasins.

On the colour front, Ceramica Flaminia brought a darker shade to the set-up, with new two-toned versions of the 'Roll' range by Nendo. The foldout standing sinks came in a chic monochrome scheme, with a black exterior and the classic white ceramic inside. Italian brand Cielo featured the same palette with chalky black and grey curved sinks, whilst Valdama added brighter hues to proceedings. The Civita Castellana-based brand and first time ISH-goer brought a colourful splash to its ceramic sinks with sunny yellows and earthy greens.

As always, the fair took pride in its technical innovations. Our favourite was the long awaited, fully-fledged SaphirKeramik collections by Konstantin Gricic and Toan Nguyen for Laufen. Using ultra-thin ceramic, the designers added clean structured bathtubs to their detailed bowl washbasins and trays. Grohe also showed a pioneering design with subterranean bathtubs, allowing the feature to neatly (and literally) become a part of your bathroom, staying hot even longer through clever insulation. Now that, we could really sink into…