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The Bathroom Association has welcomed Addmaster as a new Affiliate Member, strengthening the Association’s growing network of specialist suppliers supporting better bathrooms for people and planet.

Addmaster (part of Polygiene Group) is a leading supplier of antimicrobial additive solutions, including Biomaster, a silver-ion-based antimicrobial product protection technology designed to be incorporated into materials during manufacture to deliver built-in, long-lasting protection.

Why antimicrobial product protection matters in bathrooms

Bathrooms and washrooms are naturally high-risk environments for microbial growth: heat, humidity, splash zones and frequent touchpoints make many surfaces prone to microbial build-up, which can also contribute to staining, odour and material degradation over time.

Addmaster’s washroom-focused guidance highlights that using antimicrobial additive technology can reduce microbial load, helping to protect products from deterioration, reduce staining, and combat odour, thereby supporting a more hygienic and pleasant washroom environment.

Biomaster is designed to be used across a wide range of bathroom-relevant applications and materials, including sanitaryware, ceramic tiles, taps and shower heads, shower curtains, sealants and grouts, as well as plastics, paints and coatings commonly used across bathroom components and interiors.

Daphne Doody-Green, CEO of the Bathroom Association, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Addmaster to the Bathroom Association. Bathrooms are demanding environments, and Addmaster brings deep expertise in antimicrobial product protection to help our members design and manufacture products that stay cleaner and fresher for longer.

“Their specialist technology, built into materials at the point of manufacture, offers an important additional layer of reassurance for consumers while also helping protect surfaces; a win for customers and the fight for improved hygiene.”

Paul Willocks, global marketing director for the Polygiene Group, commented: “Joining the Bathroom Association matters because it’s where the industry comes together to raise standards, share insight and shape what’s next. As part of this community, Addmaster can collaborate with manufacturers across the sector to help them tackle a real-world challenge in bathrooms: microbial build-up in hot, humid spaces. We already work with leading bathroom manufacturers, and this collaboration further cements our position as a trusted antimicrobial partner within the industry.

“Members can gain access to expertise, connections and collective influence, and we’re excited to contribute proven antimicrobial product protection know-how that can support better-performing bathroom products and stronger end-user confidence.”

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The Bathroom Association has announced that ASR International Ltd has joined as an Affiliate Member, further strengthening the support available to those in the bathroom sector and its wider supply chain across the UK.

The UK bathroom industry is a vital part of the wider building materials and home improvement sectors, contributing significantly to both residential and commercial development. Success in the industry is being driven by innovation, increased consumer demand for luxury and energy-efficient products, and the growth of online retail alongside traditional trade channels. At the same time, businesses are navigating rising material costs, supply chain disruptions, and evolving regulatory requirements, putting a premium on strong leadership and strategic capability.

ASR International exists to connect industry-leading businesses with the best executive talent, providing tailored search solutions, market intelligence, and strategic consultancy. With a deep understanding of the bathroom and building materials sectors, ASR International helps companies deliver on growth, transformation, and succession planning with confidence.

Daphne Doody-Green, CEO of the Bathroom Association, said: “We are delighted to welcome ASR International as an Affiliate Member. The bathroom sector is facing both significant opportunities and significant pressure from regulatory change, sustainability demands, and shifting consumer expectations and channel mix. In this environment, having the right leadership and team in place is absolutely critical.

“ASR International understands our sector, our routes to market, and the realities we face. Their insight into executive search, succession planning, and strategic hiring will be a real asset to our members as they strengthen their organisations for the future.”

ASR International specialises in recruiting key commercial, operational, and sales leadership roles, supporting manufacturers, distributors, showrooms, and merchants in securing the talent needed to drive market growth, expand customer reach, and implement effective business strategies. Their work spans board and C-suite appointments through to critical leadership roles across commercial, operations, and technical functions.

Ed Robinson, managing director of ASR International Ltd, commented: “Joining the Bathroom Association marks an important step for ASR and reinforces our long-term commitment to the bathroom and wider building materials sectors. We partner closely with design-led manufacturers and suppliers, supporting them through growth, transformation and ongoing strategic development. Through collaborative, long-term relationships, we help businesses overcome market challenges while unlocking new opportunities for sustainable growth.”

“For Association members, our value goes beyond traditional recruitment. We bring deep sector expertise, strong industry relationships and an active headhunting approach to identify senior leaders who can drive performance and resilience. We’re excited to work alongside the Association, share insight with members, and help them build teams that support long-term growth and industry progression.”

The new partnership will see ASR International engaging with Association members through events, insights, and tailored support on recruitment strategy, executive hiring, and succession planning.

The ETRO Residences Phuket introduces a vision of branded living, marrying Italian luxury with the lush, natural surroundings of Phuket. As the fashion house’s debut residential project in Southeast Asia, the development combines ETRO’s hallmark expressive design with Phuket’s serene coastal landscape.

Designed by The One Atelier and developed by Amal Development, ETRO Residences Phuket redefines modern living. Located in the prestigious Gardens of Eden enclave, this intimate collection of eight luxury residences embraces the growing trend of experience-led living, blending Italian craftsmanship with a tropical paradise setting.

Luxury living inspired by nature

ETRO Residences Phuket is more than just a place to live; it is an immersive experience where architecture and interior design are shaped by nature. The interiors, recently unveiled through exclusive renders, highlight the integration of ETRO’s iconic design language with the island’s rich natural elements.

The master bathroom is a perfect example, where Italian craftsmanship meets expressive materials and bespoke detailing. Marble finishes, velvet upholstery, and artisanal wood textures create an inviting, tactile space. The color palette – comprising oceanic blues, forest greens, and sun-washed neutrals – reflects the lush greenery of Phuket’s jungle and the calming tones of the surrounding beach and sea.

“ETRO has always stood for boldness, quality craftsmanship, and self-expression,” says Fabrizio Cardinali, CEO of ETRO. “With ETRO Residences Phuket, we wanted to transform these values into a lifestyle experience that feels authentic and deeply connected to our DNA.”

Exclusive residences with coastal elegance

Comprising three-bedroom apartments (222 square metres) and three-bedroom penthouses (438 square metres), the ETRO Residences Phuket collection is one of Southeast Asia’s most refined luxury offerings. These spacious homes combine coastal resort-style living with refined Italian aesthetics, offering the perfect blend of luxury, privacy, and connection to nature.

The homes’ interiors are designed with layers of light, proportion, and materiality, creating spaces that feel open, calming, and in harmony with the natural surroundings. The use of velvet, marble, and artisanal woods in the bathrooms and living areas creates a sensory experience that mirrors the landscape of Phuket itself.

A sanctuary within Gardens of Eden

The Gardens of Eden is a 33-acre master-planned sanctuary where 70% of the land is dedicated to nature. With lakes, shaded walking trails, and tropical gardens, the development fosters a deep connection to nature, prioritising wellbeing and privacy. The residences, positioned just steps from Bang Tao Beach, enjoy sweeping views of the surrounding tropical forest.

As part of the exclusive development, residents will enjoy an array of bespoke amenities including yoga lawns, meditation trails, and a variety of swimming pools – each designed to create a unique sensory experience. From rainforest outdoor pools to beachfront areas, the amenities encourage relaxation and mindfulness throughout the day.

“Gardens of Eden was created as a sanctuary for residents, a place where architecture, landscape, and wellbeing coexist in balance,” says Aleksandr Chuvalov, CEO of Amal Development.

Luxury amenities and wellness experiences

The project offers more than just a luxurious home, it presents a lifestyle. Concierge services, personalised health programs, and access to curated brand experiences are designed to keep residents connected to the world of ETRO’s fashion, art, and culture.

The interiors are a true embodiment of ETRO’s legacy, where every detail, whether through custom wall finishes or sculptural forms, reflects the brand’s dedication to authenticity and excellence. The result is a home that is not just a residence but a living story of craftsmanship and style.

“The interior design at ETRO Residences Phuket tells a unique story through quality materials, proportion, and light—every surface and space has been carefully considered to create a home that feels expressive, serene, and deeply connected to its surroundings,” says Michele Galli, CEO of The One Atelier.

Why this project sets a new benchmark for luxury living

ETRO Residences Phuket is setting a new standard for branded living in the region. Its design, focusing on experiential luxury and wellness, redefines the way we think about luxury homes. It reflects Thailand’s growing influence in the global real estate market while celebrating the local culture and environmental sensitivity. For those seeking the finest in resort-style living, ETRO Residences Phuket offers a unique opportunity to experience the ultimate in coastal elegance and sophisticated interior design.

For more information, visit etroresidencesphuket.com

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Lecico Bathrooms has appointed Dan Banks as its new commercial director, effective January 2026. In this pivotal role, Dan will oversee the company’s commercial activities, including customer management and sales strategies. With a wealth of experience in senior sales and marketing roles at major companies such as Velux, Adey, and most recently Brand K, Dan brings a proven track record to the business.

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Banks commented “I’m delighted to be joining Lecico at this exciting juncture. Lecico has a strong heritage, a customer-centric focus, and ambitious growth plans.  I’m looking forward to working with the Lecico team to accelerate sustainable growth, strengthen our market position, and deliver long-term value for customers, partners and the wider business.”

Antony Thompson, managing director at Lecico Bathrooms said, ‘We are extremely pleased to welcome Dan to the Lecico Bathrooms team. This important appointment perfectly aligns to our strategic growth plans and Dan joins us at an exciting stage of our journey.”

About Lecico Bathrooms:

Lecico Bathrooms is one of the UK’s leading bathroom brands, renowned for its high-quality, stylish, and reliable bathroom solutions. Trusted by a broad spectrum of the industry, including merchants, retailers, installers, and homeowners, Lecico’s products offer unbeatable value.

As one of the world’s largest manufacturers of sanitaryware, Lecico exports to over 50 countries and employs more than 6,000 people across its production facilities. The company boasts an impressive capacity, manufacturing over 6.2 million pieces of sanitaryware annually.

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

Bathrooms to Love has enhanced its 2026 collection with the addition of the CELINE range, a period-inspired family of basin and washstands designed to complement classic bathroom schemes.

This elegant range features a ceramic console basin mounted on a sleek, slim washstand with tapered legs and integrated towel rails.

The Celine washstand is available in two generous sizes – 610mm or 810mm in width – making it ideal for various bathroom layouts. With a height of 820mm and a depth of 465mm, the design maximises floor space, contributing to an open and spacious atmosphere. The minimal footprint of the frame’s chrome or brass legs ensures your bathroom feels airy and uncluttered.

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Period-style washstand basins, such as Celine, blend traditional character with contemporary craftsmanship, creating a refined focal point for classically styled bathrooms. Elegance never goes out of fashion, and the Celine range certainly boasts an enduring charm with broad appeal.

The range pairs beautifully with other classic designs from Bathrooms to Love, including the Sherbourne High-level Cistern & WC and the Eterno² Radiator (pictured below). For a streamlined, coordinated look, consider matching the Brushed Brass or Chrome finish with complementary brassware, showers, and bathroom accessories.

To complete the look, Bathrooms to Love has teamed its new Celine range with its also new Dion floor-standing furniture, as shown here, to maintain the heritage theme for a truly sophisticated scheme.   

Complete with a Lifetime Ceramics Guarantee, customers can be assured of a premium level of quality with the purchase of the new Celine range. Watch the video here: BTL-CELINE

Available now from PJH, online ordering is easy via the PJH Partners Portal™, backed by next-day delivery to store or home. For further information, including Bathrooms to Love’s comprehensive range of showroom support, contact PJH now:

Further information on Bathrooms to Love by PJH: T: 0800 8 77 88 99  or visit the website – www.partners.pjh.uk  / www.bathroomstolove.uk

For more news and product information from PJH, visit the PJH page on this website.

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SANIPEX GROUP has announced that BAGNODESIGN, its luxury bathroom brand, will make its KBB Birmingham debut in 2026 where it will give retailers the opportunity to see its latest launches alongside some of its core ranges.

Visitors to stand G30 will be able to see Carlyle and Fonteyn, its two newest collections, which provide retailers with complete bathroom solutions characterised by a harmonious design language that flows throughout.  

Empowering retailers operating in the premium end of the market to create aspirational bathrooms that blend understated luxury with refined details, Carlyle and Fonteyn provide cohesive, sophisticated solutions that simplify the design process. Fonteyn is influenced by mid-century design, while Carlyle is a modern classic range that is inspired by the elegance of 5-star hotel living. 

Looking to replicate the brand’s recent success at HIX 2025, where it unveiled Carlyle and Fonteyn to the hospitality sector, BAGNODESIGN’s stand at KBB Birmingham will also feature its Studio 316 and Beach House collections, alongside other key ranges. Combining beauty, functionality, durability and sustainability, Studio 316 provides retailers with an elegant range that blends accessible luxury with exceptional value for money. 

Visitors will be given the opportunity to experience the depth and breadth of BAGNODESIGN’s brassware offering with mixers from each of its collections, including Bristol, Orology and M-Line, displayed on a dedicated wall. Samples of every finish, from Soft Bronze, PVD Oyster and Chrome to Amour Lip Gloss and Anthracite will be on show, highlighting the quality and elegance of BAGNODESIGN’s timeless collections, which encourage individuality and creativity throughout the bathroom.

BAGNODESIGN’s expert team will be available throughout the four-day show, which is set to take place at the NEC from 1 – 4th March 2026.  For more details, contact SANIPEX GROUP on 01924 233977 or visit www.bagnodesign.it

After years of pale minimalism and spa-like simplicity, the design world is embracing a richer, more emotive palette. Dark romanticism – defined by its deep hues, opulent materials and quietly dramatic atmosphere – has become one of 2025’s most alluring interior movements. In bathrooms, it signals a shift from pure functionality to something altogether more expressive and sensual.

The look is steeped in contrasts: polished nickel against veined marble, unlacquered brass framed by deep green or oxblood walls, the soft gleam of candlelight playing over cast-iron and stone. These are spaces that evoke old-world grandeur and modern intimacy in equal measure.

“Bathrooms have always been a place of ritual,” says James Lentaigne, creative director at Drummonds. “The rise of darker, more atmospheric palettes speaks to a desire for immersion and privacy. We’re seeing clients move away from stark white minimalism towards spaces that feel cocooning, layered and emotionally resonant.”

Drummonds’ collections lend themselves naturally to this darker mood. Cast-iron baths with raw or burnished exteriors, aged brassware, and richly toned marbles such as Black Marquina, Verde Guatemala or Nero Portoro all embody the aesthetic’s tactile depth. Each piece, handcrafted in the company’s foundry, reveals the subtle beauty of patina and time-honoured techniques.

“Darker schemes allow craftsmanship to take centre stage,” Lentaigne continues. “A hand-polished spout against black marble or the textured surface of raw iron catching low light becomes a focal point in itself. These materials celebrate imperfection – they age beautifully and grow more characterful with use.”

More than a stylistic phase, dark romanticism reflects a wider return to emotional interiors – spaces that tell a story through materiality and light. In the bathroom, this translates to a retreat-like atmosphere: enveloping colours, natural textures and an appreciation for the handmade.

Rooted in 19th-century sensibilities, dark romanticism finds its natural home in Drummonds’ world. The brand’s freestanding baths, high-level cisterns and solid-brass fittings echo the grandeur of Victorian engineering – designs conceived in an age that prized ornament, weight and permanence.

Reinterpreted for contemporary interiors, these heritage forms reflect a renewed appreciation for authenticity and craft. Their sculptural lines and richly worked finishes lend a sense of permanence and depth, aligning seamlessly with the darker, more atmospheric mood shaping today’s most considered bathrooms.

Hansgrohe Group is marking the passing of Klaus Grohe, who died on 3 January 2026 at the age of 88. The youngest and third son of company founder Hans Grohe, he was born on 3 April 1937 in Aachen, Germany. He joined the family business in 1968, serving as the authorised signatory and head of sales.

Over the course of almost five decades, Klaus Grohe shaped the development of the Schiltach-based company – initially as managing partner, later as chairman of the executive board from 1999, and from 2008 to 2015 as chairman of the supervisory board. With visionary thinking, tireless energy and a strong customer focus, he transformed the family business into a global player in the sanitary industry.

His guiding principle was: “Always hands-on – being close to the customer, close to the product, close to the employee, both in administration and in production.” He was also an early advocate of sustainability, introducing water-saving showers and renewable energy projects that earned the company the Baden-Württemberg Environmental Prize in 1994.

“With Klaus Grohe, we are losing a pioneer who, until the very end, followed Hansgrohe’s development with great interest and commitment as honorary chairman of our supervisory board,” says Hans Jürgen Kalmbach, chairman of the executive board of Hansgrohe SE.

“He laid the foundation for the global success of our Group and decisively shaped Hansgrohe’s DNA. We are deeply grateful to him and will miss his advice and guidance. His principles and his passion for Hansgrohe will remain forever embedded in the company and in all our minds. All employees, the Executive Board, the Supervisory Board, and our shareholder Masco mourn his passing and extend their heartfelt condolences to his family.”

Richard Grohe, Klaus’s eldest son, added: “Klaus leaves behind a human and entrepreneurial legacy of immeasurable depth. His inspiration and entrepreneurial achievements will endure for generations. We accept his legacy and commit to preserving it.”

Staff at Utopia Group, based in Bilston, West Midlands, entered the Christmas spirit with their usual enthusiasm in late December, donning festive jumpers in style and hosting a Christmas Raffle. These two charity events marked the end of another successful year of active fundraising by Utopia employees.

At Christmas, the money raised was donated to The Mel Evans MBE Foundation, a local charity nominated by an employee and committed to supporting research into Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

Mindful of local families facing hardship, Utopia Group also continues to support The Excel Foodbank in Bilston, delivering a significant haul of donated groceries in the run-up to Christmas to help those in need across the local community.

Throughout the year, employees also took part in the annual Utopia charity walk, held in July, which raised over £1,000 for MIND and the company’s own Liz Green Fund. The fund was created in memory of one of Utopia’s founding directors and supports cancer charities and local community initiatives.

October saw staff dressing up once again for Wear It Pink Day, raising a further £100 for Breast Cancer Now as part of Utopia’s ongoing commitment to national cancer awareness campaigns.

Helen Clark, Head of marketing at Utopia Group, commented:“As part of our ongoing Corporate Social Responsibility commitment, we are proud to continue to support national cancer charities including Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support, alongside local charities that are close to our employees’ hearts. Cancer charities are particularly dear to us, but we encourage all employees to suggest local worthy causes, enabling us to support a wide range of initiatives that matter most to our people and our local community.”

About Utopia Group

Utopia Group is a UK-based company located in Bilston, West Midlands, committed to delivering excellence while making a positive impact through strong Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. The company actively supports national charities, local organisations, and community projects that matter most to its employees and the communities it serves.

For more news and product information from Utopia, visit our Utopia stories hub or see their official website at www.utopiagroup.com

Duravit AG has announced that Michael Demmer will join the company’s Executive Board on 1 February as chief transformation & people officer (CTPO). In his new role, Demmer will oversee transformation, organisational strategy, and human resources at the highest level.

The move reflects Duravit’s commitment to consolidating key competencies to drive the company’s strategic development and embed lasting change across the business.

“Duravit’s employees are the decisive factor for the sustainable success of our company. Especially in times of change, it is crucial to think about transformation and human resources issues together and to implement them
consistently,” emphasises Gregor Greinert, chairman of the supervisory board of Duravit AG.

Demmer brings with him many years of international management and leadership experience. In his previous positions, his focus was on the further development of organisations and successful leadership in dyamic market conditions. His leadership approach combines clear objectives, efficient structures, and the consistent involvement of employees.

With this decision, Duravit is sending a clear signal for the future: the company is anchoring transformation and employee orientation as key success factors at the executive board level.

More news and product information from Duravit