Today, we hear from Tom Reynolds, chief executive of the Bathroom Manufacturers Association.
Architects and designers have often been at the forefront of more sustainable home improvement. But to avoid greenwashing, it’s essential that specifiers see the whole picture around decarbonisation. So, let’s revisit some first principles.
A carbon scope is a measure of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with a specific activity or organisation. There are several different types of carbon scopes:
Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions from sources owned or controlled by an organisation. These include emissions from fossil fuel combustion, such as burning coal or natural gas for energy on-site.
Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions from the generation of purchased electricity, steam, heating, and cooling consumed by an organisation.
Scope 3 emissions are all other indirect emissions that occur in an organisation’s value chain, including activities such as the extraction and production of purchased materials and fuels, transportation of products, and waste disposal. This includes the carbon associated with a product in its use phase.
Bathroom manufacturers are already making great strides on scopes 1 and 2, with many already able to certify that their operations are carbon neutral. Scope 3 abatement, the necessary step towards the elusive net zero, is more difficult.
Firstly, the bathroom sector has a complex global value chain, making it difficult to measure the emissions with such operations, let alone abate them. “ESG” requirements of investors lead the sector to assess scope 3 emissions seriously. With likely carbon pricing coming in the medium term (check the EU’s CBAM), many suppliers may look to reassess their supply chain. It’s something to consider when making product selections.
But secondly, and more significantly, terminal fittings in bathroom installations are part of a broader system in the home. By recommending the decarbonisation of hot water heating to clients, either as an extension of a project or ‘next item on the to-do list’, designers play a vital role in addressing the upstream use phase emissions associated with bathroom products. By transitioning hot water heating away from fossil fuel-based energy sources to clean energy options like solar and heat pumps, specifiers and homeowners help bathroom manufacturers get a step closer to net zero.
Gaining the whole picture around decarbonisation can help specifiers make more genuinely sustainable product choices and facilitate honest and nuanced conversations with clients about the wider steps necessary for authentically green homes.
To commemorate World Water Day on 22 March, SFA, Saniflo UK’s parent company, is supporting the supply of clean drinking water to 250 school children in Vietnam, working in partnership with Planet Water Foundation.
The SFA Group’s donation covers the deployment of an AquaFill water filtration system, a hygiene education programme to be delivered by Planet Water Foundation and 500 ml reusable water bottles whose packaging recalls the key educational messages of the hygiene education programme through drawings of the ten critical steps of hand washing. The project at the Hanoi primary school will start in May with the installation of the AquaFill system and will take 120 days to complete. For more than a decade, the SFA Group has supported World Water Day, World Plumbing Day and World Toilet Day with numerous humanitarian projects to promote access to clean drinking water for all, partnering with Planet Water Foundation since 2021.
The AquaFill system works by gravity – so no external supply is needed – and with three-stage water filtration using hollow fibre ultra-filtration and activated carbon technology. The process ensures the removal of pathogens, including fungi, bacteria, parasitic worms, viruses and other protozoa. The process filters 1,000 litres of water per hour from a municipal non-potable water supply, equivalent to the daily drinking water needs of 1,800 people. Unfortunately, many schools in urban and peri-urban centres in Southeast Asia have a municipal water supply that is unsafe to drink, forcing schoolchildren to drink unsafe water or spend considerable sums on bottled water. The hygiene education programme will also benefit the parents and relatives of the 250 children, who will be encouraged to share their new knowledge on healthy hygiene.
Saniflo UK managing director, Tim Pestell, says: “We’re delighted to contribute once again to a very worthwhile project. We don’t know how fortunate we are in the UK to have constant access to plentiful, clean drinking water. We hope the school children of Hanoi and their extended families will benefit greatly from the project and thrive with the new AquaFill filtration system and hygiene education programme.”
Saneux is introducing Edition 27, its latest product catalogue for 2023. The catalogue includes new product ranges, new colours, and new styles across their furniture, ceramic, and brassware collections that incorporate current bathroom trends to bring your bathroom to life.
Saneux is launching two new furniture ranges: KINGSBURY and MONUMENT.
KINGSBURY is their “trad mod” collection fusing traditional and modern designs. It features classic routed drawer fronts and trays with a modern matte black steel frame in sizes 50cm & 60cm, and in matte white and matte anthracite. The units are paired with the UNI slim profile basins to create a lovely seamless look.
Next is MONUMENT, a fluted furniture collection inspired by the Monument column in London. This on-trend range comes in 40cm, 50cm and 60cm door and drawer configurations, and they each pair with the UNI thin basins, perfect for a minimalist & modern look. MONUMENT also comes in 3 matte finishes including a new matte black finish that is exclusive to the collection.
Both KINGSBURY & MONUMENT are part of Niche, a new initiative whereby selected ranges are available solely through non-internet bathroom retailers & showrooms and will not be available online. This is to support showrooms by providing them with exclusive stylish ranges to increase footfall in an internet-heavy market.
There is also a new affordable contemporary brassware collection called INTENT. This range can suit both commercial and residential bathrooms as it is a complete collection with a basin mixer & clicker waste, bath filler, bath shower mixer, and a thermostatic shower pack all in a chrome finish.
Aside from new collections, some of Saneux’s existing ranges have expanded for the new year. Matte anthracite has been introduced for the HYDE furniture; dove grey is now available for the AIR and INDIGO units; 3 drawer floor-standing units and rimless toilets have launched within AUSTEN; 40cm & 50cm short projection basins & units are available in the UNI collection; and COS now has 3-piece basin mixers in deck-mounted & wall-mounted variants in chrome, matte black and brushed brass.
Edition 27 officially launches on 1st February 2023both in showrooms and online.
Features by Diane Larner founder and editor of Bathroom Review & Kitchens Review. Diane Larner launched both titles over 12 years ago and has been writing about the bathroom and kitchen interior design industry ever since, publishing regular features across the two sectors.
As we step boldly into 2023, the latest design schemes are ahead of the game, bringing a welcome burst of colour and style into our homes. Today we look at five bathroom furniturecollections.
Earth & sky
Arabella Utopia Azure Blue
There is no shortage of earthy bold hues on the colour catwalk; however, for 2023, we can expect to see a vibrant new take on the familiar deep greens and blues as dynamic new shades such as vibrant luxe greens, inky blues and blueberry reds are approved by the style council.
Richard Shore, head of product design at Utopia, agrees: “There is certainly no lack of confidence when it comes to colour trends for 2023. Bold and expressive colours at a darker more intense level of the spectrum are appearing in what would normally be considered conservative settings. Dark blues, vibrant greens and rich terracottas are now mainstream options.”
At the same time, nature is still to be found in abundance for more neutral palettes with gentle sage greens and light watery blues. Utopia expresses this contrast perfectly with its latest Arabella slab door – available in 23 of Utopia’s Original fitted furniture finishes, it also comes with four different handle options. Pictured above in Azure Blue and below in Glacier Grey.
Arabella door slab in Glacier Grey
Express wishes
Roca Tenet Bathroom Furniture
Homeowners are looking for designs that chime in with individual lifestyle demands, whether creating multi-generational spaces, building in plenty of storage or conjuring a home-spa environment.
Natalie Bird, marketing manager, Roca tells us, “Homeowners are increasingly looking to express more of their personality in the bathroom: it is no longer a utilitarian space devoid of colour and texture. Bathroom furniture reflects this and is available in a range of colours. Most popular for 2023 will be nature-inspired hues that tie in perfectly with the ongoing trend for spa-inspired bathrooms.”
Roca’s Tenet handleless vanity units come in five glossy and wood finishes or three wood-effect finishes: Nordic Ash, City Oak and Walnut. Tenet is also compatible with pieces from Roca’s other ranges and is designed to suit bathrooms of all sizes and styles.
Exploring space
HiB ‘HiB Novum’s Tranquil range with Link unit
Creating a bathroom haven configured to individual needs or is required to fit into a restrictive space is challenging for house builders, architects and designers. Building in storage that looks good but maximises usable space is a crowd-pleaser and one of the reasons well-designed bathroom storage remains so popular.
Ash Chilver, HiB sales director, says: “Furniture is one of the key foundations for a strong bathroom design. Along with the bath and shower, it is arguably one of the most used areas in the space. Because of this, special attention needs to be paid to the details to ensure that it maximises style potential but also serves its practical purpose.”
HiB has been increasing its Novum range to offer flexibility to suit individual styles. Ranges such as Fabrica (pictured very top) are offered with wall-hanging and floor-standing options and are ideal for use with a wash basin or vessel basin with countertops to complement either choice. Matching brassware and handles can help to complete the look. The Tranquil compact bathroom furniture range (pictured above) can also be adapted to suit several bathroom designs and trends, thanks to the multitude of handle, brassware and basin options.
Textured living
Bagno Design Orology
Texture raises depth and serves as the highlight of a design scheme. For the bathroom, textured surfaces are rapidly gaining popularity since they complement the trend of bringing the outdoors in while creating a sense of warmth and well-being.
“Look to furniture for an amalgamation of some of the hottest trends in bathroom design as a whole. Nature-inspired materials such as wood and stone create the necessary serene and calming ambience, while a bold use of colour offers the perfect accent for consumers who want to add personality and character to their bathroom,” says Sanipex Group specification and design manager Ashley Sinclair, noting that combining these options with the metallic finishes on furniture hardware will echo those being seen on brassware.
Orology by Bagnodesign is a high-class bathroom furniture collection with a distinctive and wonderfully tactile grooved detail. The wall-mounted furniture creates a luxurious impression and can be chosen in four on-trend colourways: Matt White, Ebony, Dark Grey and Ocean Blue.
Orology colour waysOrology in Ocean Blue
Custom made
Scavolini Aquo Collection
Modular furniture remains popular as it allows designers to configure bathrooms to suit individual requirements and delivers flexibility for design schemes.
Scavolini’s Aquo is a truly modular collection that allows customers to select from a huge range of furniture and an array of finishes and colours. The refreshed collection comprises wall units and vanities suitable for countertop and under-mount wash basins and wall or counter-fitted taps. There is also a choice of vanity tops, from classic options – glass, stone and ceramic – to high-tech materials, including Cristalplant, Mineralmarmo, Corian, Fenix and Ocritech.
For the latest kitchen design features – visit Kitchens Review.
Aquo, the bathroom furniture collection from Scavolini, has been refreshed to add new finishes and configurations. A truly modular collection, Aquo allows you to select from an impressive array of furniture available, choosing elements, finishes and colours to create a bathroom that perfectly represents your sense of style.
Aquo comprises wall units and vanities suitable for countertop and undermount wash basins alike, plus wall- or counter-fitted taps. There is also a choice of vanity tops, from classic options – glass, stone and ceramic – to high-tech materials including Cristalplant, Mineralmarmo, Corian, Fenix and Ocritech.
Key cabinet finishes in the Aquo collection include gloss and matt lacquer, both of which are available on flat and gently ribbed doors in a wide range of colours including a new soothing pearl effect and an industrial-style metal effect. Alternative options include laminate, melamine and glass (clear or smoked) door fronts, along with the more unusual solution of wire mesh, which allows a sneak peak of what’s inside the cupboard.
All pieces are equipped with drawers, pull-out baskets, wooden internal partitions and open-fronted compartments in various depths to help maximise bathroom storage. to ensure coordination the cabinet interiors are offered in the same finish as the fronts.
Orology by Bagnodesign is a collection of high-class bathroom furniture that takes inspiration from sleek watch designs. Like a watch bezel, Orology features a distinctive and wonderfully tactile grooved detail, the wall-mounted furniture creates a luxurious impression while achieving an uncluttered, calm and seamless finish in the modern bathroom.
The versatile wall-mounted storage unit has two pull-out soft-close drawers and can be chosen in four on-trend colourways of Matt White, Ebony, Dark Grey and Ocean Blue. The sleek storage unit handle is available in a choice of metallic finishes Brass, Bronze and Oxide as well as sophisticated Matt Chrome. In this way the furniture can be harmoniously combined with Orology brassware for a cohesive look throughout the bathroom. The brassware itself comes in five stunning finishes to offer the ultimate luxury of choice in bathroom design. The versatile options include PVD Gold, Anthracite, Chrome, Brushed Nickel, and Soft Bronze, each adding individual perspective and depth to the finish.
The furniture unit can also be combined with a countertop in a choice of surface options, including Statuario Polished, Light Grey, Terrazzo White and Capraia Matt. This can be provided as a slab countertop or as an integrated slab washbasin for a seamless finish with no joins for complete hygiene and a hotel-inspired look. If preferred, the design of the furniture can be elevated even further with the inclusion of an integrated glass washbasin in striking Graphite.
For more details, contact Sanipex Group on 01924 233977 or visit www.bagnodesign.it
At the heart of bathroom design is furniture. But unlike other areas of the home, furniture used in this space requires additional consideration. It needs to be robust enough to withstand everyday use, high enough quality to tolerate surrounding water, adaptable for varying users’ preferences and also pleasing to the eye.
As well as all these factors, furniture must accommodate the increasing demand for personalisation. HiB has been increasing its Novum range to offer more flexibility to suit individual styles. Ranges such as Fabrica is offered with wall hanging and floor standing option and is available in Midnight Blue, Dark Emerald and Carbon Grey finishes. Fabrica is ideal for use with a wash basin or vessel basin with countertops to complement either choice. Matching brassware and handles can help to complete the look and create more consistency across the scheme, allowing customers to make a bolder, more creative statement.
Fabrica Bathroom Furniture
Another HiB Novum range that offers enhanced customisation is the Tranquil compact bathroom furniture and accompanying Link unit. Offering more flexibility and style options, the range can be adapted to suit a number of bathroom designs and trends, thanks to the multitude of handle, brassware and basin options.
When all these pieces come together and are viewed as a complete look, having all the details matching can create a cohesive design that demonstrates a high level of finish and is pleasing to the eye.
Utopia is launching Arabella, a brand new doorstyle which joins its Original Fitted collection of bathroom furniture.
Arabella is a slab door with an integrated, recessed pull handle in four contemporary finishes – Matt White, Matt Black, Brushed Nickel and Brass. Richard Shore, Utopia’s head of product design, explains the background to the handle style: “The Arabella door handle is actually very bold, despite its humble origins. Traditionally, a flush fit pocket handle was used for more practical, unseen applications such as filing cabinets or stationary cupboards – 99% function, 1% form! Arabella loses none of that functionality but also delivers a massive dose of glamour. Its elegant proportions and contemporary styling in four stunning finishes will work well within any modern bathroom concept.”
Available in all 23 of Utopia’s Original Fitted Furniture finishes and with four different handle options, Arabella gives the retailer and customer much greater choice as the number of combinations is immense. Arabella also embraces the current trend for handle finishes making it a very popular choice with customers aiming to create their own personal look.
Arabella will be available from Utopia from February 2023.
Bathroom and kitchen manufacturer, GROHE, has announced its latest cashback promotion aimed at helping retailers give back to their customers this spring.
Customers can claim up to £100 cashback when purchasing an eligible shower system, with the promotion available across a range of best-selling GROHE products such as the GROHE SmartControl thermostats and Rainshower heads.
Running from the 1st March 2023, until the 30th June 2023, the cashback promotion is available across over 20 different GROHE shower systems including the bestselling Rainshower SmartControl Duo 360 which offers intuitive controls and a luxurious GROHE TrioMassage spray. The system also comes equipped with GROHE EcoJoy; GROHE’s water-saving technology which supports water preservation without affecting the premium shower experience.
Also included in the promotion is the Grohtherm Perfect Shower Set with the Rainshower Cosmopolitan 310 showerhead, which is perfect for those looking to experience the luxurious enjoyment and convenience that a concealed system offers. The head shower features a relaxing Rain spray pattern, while the slim hand shower offers the standard spray – an all-rounder that revitalises and refreshes.
All shower models available in the promotion feature GROHE’s StarLight Chrome finish which has been designed to last a lifetime. The flawless, long-lasting surface is designed to be extremely resistant to dirt and scratches, making maintenance effortless and ensuring they look good as new for many years.
Customers can claim their cashback online via groherewards.co.uk and must submit information by 31st July 2023.
Proof of purchase is required. Terms and Conditions apply.
A familiar face to many in the kbb industry and bringing a wealth of experience to the role, Alex Cooper joins Sanipex Group as sales and marketing director for the UK.
Alex joins the business from The Shower Lab, where he progressed from area sales manager to sales director, a position he held for around seven years.
It was after completing an Advanced HND in Interior, Architectural and Spatial Design in Edinburgh that Alex moved south to take up his first opportunity in the kbb sector, with West One Bathrooms. From here he moved to take on a managerial role at Surrey-based independent retailer Lewis Charles Bathrooms, before moving on to a sales-driven role at Majestic Showers.
Speaking of his experience to date, Alex comments: “I owe a lot of my knowledge to my start at West One Bathrooms where I gained huge product knowledge and experience that set me off on a great foot in my 20 years south of the border in the kbb industry.”
Now, Alex is looking forward to his new role at Sanipex UK, using the skills he has gathered in design and sales to work with a brand that is full of quality and exciting product designs.
Alex is responsible for the Group’s activities in the UK market. His role covers the management of both the Bagnodesign bathroom brand and the Sanipex UK business, which has a wider offer including the Gymkhana outdoor living programme.
Alex says: “What excites me most about Sanipex Group and the Bagnodesign brand is the innovative nature of the company and its forward-thinking, progressive attitude it has shown to the sector. This can be highlighted by the huge growth in the MEA area, where I knew the company stood head and shoulders above other brands. It’s an exciting opportunity to capture that ethos and expand it here in the UK with my retail and contract knowledge.”
For more details, contact Sanipex Group on 01924 233977 or visit www.bagnodesign.it
