Frontline Bathrooms has launched 16 new metallic finishes to its painting services across its AquaKast freestanding bath collection. The move offers greater choice for bathroom retailers as they willnot need to stock or display additional bath models to offer customers bespoke options across existing collections.
Finishes include the rich warmth of Blackened Bronze, Copper and Antique Gold, as well as softer, more understated options including Champagne, Platinum, Old Silver and Silver Blush.
The launch comes as personalisation continues to influence bathroom design, with customers increasingly looking beyond standard colours and finishes to create spaces that feel individual to them. While metallics have long been a feature of brassware and accessories, Frontline is now extending that choice to the bath itself, creating new opportunities for retailers to add value to the sale while giving designers greater freedom to bring an entire bathroom scheme together.
Darren Allison, managing director at Frontline Bathrooms, explains: “Personalisation has become a much bigger part of the bathroom conversation, but there’s a practical challenge for retailers. Customers want more choice, more colours and more ways to make their bathroom their own, yet showroom space is limited and nobody can realistically display every possible variation of a product.
“That’s why we see this as such an exciting development for our AquaKast collection. We are not asking retailers to take on another 16 baths. We are giving them 16 additional ways to sell the baths they already know, while offering something that feels genuinely different to the customer.
“Metallic baths have traditionally been associated with the very top end of the market, but there’s no reason why that level of individuality should be restricted to a small number of specialist suppliers.”
Available across the AquaKast freestanding collection, the new metallic painting service uses specialist surface preparation techniques and high-performance coatings to achieve a smooth, durable finish. Each bath is finished to order, with the service operating through Frontline’s existing special-order process. The current lead-time is 14 days.
Retailers can also purchase a dedicated handmade metallic colour chart from the paint supplier, providing a physical reference to help customers explore the full choice of finishes.
Features by Diane Larner, founder and editor of Bathroom Review & Kitchens Review. Diane Larner launched both titles over 17 years ago and has been writing about the bathroom and kitchen interior design industries ever since, publishing regular features across both sectors.
Luxury bathroom design is more than just aesthetics; it brings together quality materials, thoughtful detailing, and practical elements to create spaces that feel elegant and timeless. From period influences to bold architectural statements, the latestproducts combine character with sophistication, creating bathrooms that deliver comfort and well-being.
Redefine with bold design and vibrant colour
TRONE – West One Bathrooms
A shift to more individualised bathroom schemes means we are seeing greater emphasis on materiality, finish and form. Rather than relying on the traditional hallmarks of luxury, designers are exploring sculptural silhouettes, tactile finishes, and vibrant colour to create spaces that deliver depth and character. Craftsmanship is central to this approach, with distinctive details and finishes giving each element a clear sense of identity.
Louise Ashdown, head of design at West One Bathrooms, explains: “Luxury ceramics are moving away from the bright, glossy white that defined bathrooms for so long. We’re seeing more demand for matt and satin glazes, soft colour in basins and even WCs, and handcrafted surfaces with natural variation, like zellige or textured field tiles. Clients want pieces that feel tactile and considered, almost like objects in their own right. Sculptural forms, rounded edges and warmer tones play into that, creating spaces that feel calm and personal rather than clinical.”
Founded with a mission to rethink 250 years of bathroom design conventions, Trone transforms everyday bathroom essentials into sculptural design statements. Combining bold geometry, fluid forms and considered engineering, its collections offer an alternative to conventional bathroom fittings, with pieces designed to bring individuality and character to contemporary interiors.
Classic styles that suit every interior
The Marlborough Basin – Thomas Crapper
Thomas Crapper’s heritage good looks demonstrate how traditional design can transcend period interiors; when classic fixtures are added to contemporary scenes, they bring character and depth to the design. As personalisation becomes increasingly important in luxury bathrooms, this enduring aesthetic offers a versatile foundation when creating spaces that feel both timeless and distinctive.
Paul Dwyer, managing director, Thomas Crapper & Co, comments, “One of the things I find particularly interesting is how well classic bathroom fittings work across different styles of interior. A beautifully made basin can sit against richly patterned wallpaper, decorative tiles or simple painted panelling, and feel completely at home in each setting. That versatility is important because it gives designers the freedom to create something genuinely personal.”
One example is the Marlborough Basin (pictured above); it can be paired with Thomas Crapper’s decorative washstand, available in chrome, nickel, polished or brushed brass, which introduces an additional architectural detail while providing a practical supporting structure. At 560mm wide, the basin is equally suited to generously proportioned bathrooms and smaller cloakrooms, and either traditional or contemporary settings.
Luxury brassware is a key aspect of architectural expression for high-end bathrooms. Well-chosen design details help create form and finish for the wider scheme, either by building contrast or complementing the surrounding composition. From sculpted contours to precisely engineered finishes, carefully selected taps and fittings can help make a statement without overwhelming the space.
James Lentaigne, creative director at Drummonds, agrees, “Some of the most interesting developments in bathroom design come from revisiting familiar forms with a fresh perspective. Traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design aren’t mutually exclusive; it’s often the combination of the two that creates something distinctive. There’s a growing appreciation for designs that draw on heritage while feeling entirely relevant to modern interiors.”
Drummonds Hudson Collection ticks all the boxes. The new brassware range was developed in collaboration with New York-based design studio Pembrooke & Ives and brings together British manufacturing heritage and a contemporary American design sensibility, with a focus on proportion, materiality and longevity.
The cross-head handle is designed as a central feature, with a sculptural, almost monolithic quality that reflects Drummonds’ established approach to brassware. In contrast, the spout adopts a more fluid form, introducing a gentle curvature that offsets the collection’s sharper lines.
Freestanding baths: from classic roll-top to modern minimalism
LUSSSO Ellington Bath
A recent report from Sanctuary Bathrooms demonstrates how younger generations view the role of the bathroom, placing greater emphasis on relaxation and personal well-being. According to the report, “The results show that among Gen Z and Millennials in particular, the bathroom is becoming a hybrid space of sorts – part self-care zone, part media room, part quiet retreat to practise hobbies away from the hubbub of the rest of the house.”
Against this backdrop, the freestanding bath is taking on renewed importance, offering more than a practical function; it helps create a focal point for a more immersive experience in the home.
Mike Whitfield, Luxury Interiors Expert at LUSSO, comments, “With the accelerated pace of modern living, making the bath a focal point in bathroom design reminds us to focus on bathtime as a refuge from the humdrum of everyday life. It’s why we’re seeing interior trends move towards design that plays with form, as an antidote to the sleek lines of modern architecture.”
The Ellington cast iron freestanding bath blends Art Deco design influences with the modern aesthetic synonymous with Lusso. Featuring a smooth surface, exceptional heat retention, and a comfortable roll-top rim, the bath is designed for relaxation. Its generous shape and symmetrical silhouette make it ideal for both single and double bathing.
Pictured top – Hero Image – Drummonds Tweed Bath
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The Ellington cast iron freestanding bath blends Art Deco design influences withthe modern aesthetic synonymous with Lusso.
Featuring a smooth surface, exceptional heat retention, and a comfortable roll-top rim, the bath is designed for relaxation. Its generous shape and symmetrical silhouette make it ideal for both single and double bathing.
Crafted from durable cast iron and finished with a matte white primer, the Ellington bath combines considered design with quality craftsmanship to create a striking focal point in the bathroom.
All Lusso matte white products are fully primed, allowing you to create your own bespoke finish.
For exclusive terms on your order call sales on +44 20 3370 4057 or email sales@lusso.com.
Kaldewei’ has received two “Best of Best” accolades at the ICONIC AWARDS 2026 for its refurbishment project at the 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin. Presented by the German Design Council, the awards recognised theproject in the Product – Special and Product – Circular Design categories.
Second Life as a Design Concept
The pilot project demonstrates how circular economy principles can be applied to refurbishment projects. Rather than replacing existing bathroom products, Kaldewei dismantled them and returned them to its facilities for refurbishment using a specially developed upcycling process. Sandblasting and re-enamelling restored the products, while shower surfaces were upgraded with Kaldewei’s Secure Plus slip-resistant finish. The refurbished products were then returned to 25hours Hotel Bikinifor reinstallation in the guest bathrooms.
The circular economy conserves resources
Refurbishing the shower surfaces and bathtubs extended their life and reduced the need for new raw materials. According to Kadewei, the process generated 65 per cent less CO₂ compared with the manufacture of new products. The project highlights the benefits of durable design and upcycling to support the circular economy.
“The project at the 25hours Hotel was a milestone for us,” said Christian Büttner, head of innovation and portfolio at Kaldewei. “By refurbishing and reusing existing products, we create lasting value and take responsibility for future generations.”
The two ‘Best of Best’ accolades recognise this approach, with the awards ceremony held at BMW Welt in Munich.
BC Designs has expanded its freestanding bath collection with the launch of Plazia, a generously proportioned acrylic bath designed to bring a strong focal point to contemporary bathroom schemes.
Measuring 800mm wide by 1780mm long, Plazia is one of the largest baths within the BC Designs portfolio, offering a 266-litre capacity and a wide, deep-edged profile. Its softly rounded form keeps the overall design simple, while its scale gives designers and retailers an option for customers keen to ensure the bath is the more dominant feature in the room.
Plazia is manufactured from Acrymite®, BC Designs’ seamless acrylic material, creating the appearance of a smooth, one-piece bath without the considerable weight associated with some solid-surface alternatives. Despite its size, the bath weighs just 38kg, helping to combine a substantial look with more practical installation and handling considerations.
Colour customisation also forms part of the offer. Plazia is available in Gloss White as standard, while its exterior can be finished through BC Designs’ Painted for You service. Customers can select shades from Little Greene, Farrow & Ball, or Fenwick & Tilbrook, specify a RAL or British Standard colour, or make use of BC Designs’ digital colour-matching service.
The flexibility gives retailers another way to personalise a freestanding bath specification, whether matching Plazia closely with surrounding furniture and finishes or using the bath itself to introduce a contrasting colour into the scheme.
The UK and Ireland’sshower brand, MERLYN, has introduced new bathscreens to extend their popular ARYSTO Sleek collection. The new over bath configuration consists of a frameless two panel 8 mm bath-screen with attractive hinge detailing and are available in 900 x 1500mm.
Offering practical options for installers, retailers and specifiers, these bathscreens are available in a choice of Chrome, Brushed Brass, Brushed Nickel, Brushed Gun Metal and Matt Black finishes.
Featuring a toughened safety glass of 8mm and Mershied Stayclear protected glass this new product delivers a quality finish and high-level specification.
The bathscreens are fitted with an intuitive quick fit system and are reversible, allowing for simple installation, and are supported by MERLYN’s lifetime guarantee.
Features by Diane Larner, founder and editor of Bathroom Review & Kitchens Review. Diane Larner launched both titles over 15 years ago and has been writing about the bathroom and kitchen interior design industries ever since, publishing regular features across both sectors.
Baths and basins lie at the heart of bathroom design, balancing functionality with consumer expectations around aesthetics and comfort. While the wash space is undergoing a period of creative freedom as we embrace double-basin designs, sculptural styles and built-in storage units, the bath is increasingly the subject of debate, with tubs being removed from homes in favour of walk-in showers, and some new builds omitting them altogether.
However, a recent report by Drench, The Great British Soak, revealed that 80% of homeowners with a bath still use it regularly, while 45% of those surveyed said ‘no bath is a dealbreaker’. So despite changing lifestyles, it appears the bath will evolve rather than disappear.
In this feature, manufacturers explore how these changing priorities are reshaping the market for baths and basins, with a focus on products that deliver expressive design, trustworthy durability, and space-saving solutions.
Space-saving baths for smaller bathroom layouts
Frontline Bathrooms
Whilst a freestanding bath remains, without doubt, one of the most desirable style statements in bathroom design, shrinking floorplans, changing lifestyles and a greater emphasis on practical needs make this option challenging for many projects. As a result, rather than focusing wholly on statement pieces, designers and homeowners are looking for design-led solutions that make the best use of available space while complementing overall schemes.
Darren Allison, managing director at Frontline Bathrooms, agrees: “The biggest shift in bathing is that the freestanding bath is no longer automatically treated as the aspirational choice. Homeowners are asking whether a bath earns the space it takes up, which is bringing compact, back-to-wall and corner formats into much stronger contention. Colour is developing too, but increasingly as part of the wider scheme rather than a standalone statement. For retailers, the opportunity is to start with the room and the customer’s habits, not with a single fashionable bath shape.”
Frontline Bathrooms is strengthening its bathing offer with a broader collection designed around the realities of UK bathrooms, rather than simply adding more freestanding shapes to the catalogue. At the centre is AquaKast, a nine-model collection developed with British bath designer Barrie Cutchie. It includes compact ovals, slipper baths, boat baths, back-to-wall and corner designs, giving retailers options for both statement schemes and more restrictive layouts.
Bringing playfulness into bathroom design
As bathroom design becomes more expressive, we see confidence flourishing when it comes to use of colour, finish and material combination. Rather than adhering to a spa-led aesthetic, designers are injecting a sense of curiosity into the bathroom space; the result is a more experimental approach to specification.
One collection that captures the shift is the new Ginza from BAGNODESIGN. Inspired by Tokyo’s Ginza district, it encourages designers to move beyond conventional bathroom schemes by offering coordinated product families for characterful interiors across residential and hospitality projects.
Extending the concept further, Ginza Junior introduces playful pink and grey finishes designed for family-friendly and inclusive spaces, reflecting a growing focus on balancing safety, functionality and aesthetics within the bathroom.
The rise of coloured baths
BC Designs Pink Bath
Once considered a bold design choice, coloured baths are becoming a bathroom staple. However, rather than being selected purely as a statement feature, colour is now being integrated more widely into bathroom schemes, which means designers and retailers can assist in creating spaces with more personality while maintaining a sense of longevity.
“Coloured baths are not a passing trend now; they have been part of the market for several years, and customers are becoming more confident about using them,” says Adam Smith, national sales manager at BC Designs. “The change is that colour is becoming easier to live with. It might be a soft peach, pale blue or muted green rather than something that dominates the room. Compact freestanding baths will continue to be important too, because people still want that focal point without giving up half the bathroom. The real test is whether the bath still feels right once the novelty has worn off.”
BC Designs has expanded its ColourKast offer with five new shades: Drifty White, Pale Peach, Rose Bloom, Aqua Blue and Minty Green.
Perfectly formed for elegance and efficiency
Duravit Balcoon Washbasin with Storage
Integral storage solutions play an important role in ensuring the bathroom space is effortlessly practical, as well as beautifully organised. In addition, increased self-expression means designers are exploring how these essential elements can also act as architectural features. The latest designs demonstrate a growing appreciation for standout forms and refined detailing that both create a focal point, whilst delivering a sense of calm and cohesion.
Martin Carroll, MD Duravit UK, adds: “A key trend emerging in bathroom design is washbasins created for efficiency, styled for elegance, and providing an additional sculptural centrepiece within the space. A key look is basins crafted as monolithic ceramic cuboids, seamlessly integrated into clean-lined furniture. A narrow rim traces the outline, creating a gentle transition from the flat vanity surface to the recess below. Generously proportioned surfaces create a calm, architectural presence, a true study in the interaction between different volumes and levels, providing each piece with its own sculptural identity and expressive form.”
Reflecting this trend, Duravit has extended its Balcoon bathroom collection, designed by Patricia Urquiola. The new collection now includes furniture washbasins, offering greater flexibility for residential and specification projects.
Building a more sustainable bathroom
Kaldewei Nuio Duo in Cool Grey
Against a backdrop of rising environmental awareness and increasing pressure on resources, sustainability is an essential consideration in bathroom design. Manufacturers are responding with a lifecycle approach, with products designed for longevity, reuse and recyclability.
One company that has championed this approach for many years is Kaldewei. With sustainability embedded into its manufacturing philosophy, the company views responsible production as an opportunity to grow whilst fulfilling environmental obligations.
“Sustainability is no longer optional in bathroom design; it’s now the standard. We’re seeing a shift towards circular economy thinking, where products are designed to be reused, recycled and reintroduced into production without losing quality,” says Adam Teal, country manager, Kaldewei UK. “Materials like steel enamel, which is 100% recyclable, lead the way, while independent certifications such as Cradle to Cradle set a new benchmark across material health, circularity, clean air, water stewardship and social fairness. Manufacturers adopting low-carbon steel and signing up to science-based targets show that environmental responsibility and commercial value go hand in hand.”
Kaldewei’s Luxstainability® ethos is the belief that luxury and sustainability can and do work in unison. Every product is crafted from steel enamel, is 100% recyclable, and more than 600 are Cradle to Cradle Certified® Silver. To demonstrate its philosphy Kaldewei spent the first half of 2026 on something akin to a modern Grand Tour, taking its steel enamel bathtubs across Europe’s leading design events and, setting out a clear position on where bathroom design is heading: toward colour, craft and genuine sustainability in equal measure.
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In recent months Kaldewei has embarked ona Grand Tour with its most recent destination the WOW!house at the Design Centre Chelsea Harbour. Family-owned Kaldewei featured the KALDEWEI CLASSIC DUO OVAL stone and tile brand, Ca ‘Pietra’s, “Mediterranean Bathroom by De Rosee Sa”.
The concept of using natural stone and tiles to craft a bathroom aligns with Kaldewei’s ethos of recycling and sustainability. All Kaldewei products are manufactured from steel enamel and are 100% recyclable. More than 600 of them are Cradle to Cradle C2C Certified® silver.
The key element of the collaboration was the partnership with De Rosee Sa, the vision they shared with Ca ‘Pietra was to create a room that felt quietly nostalgic, inspired by the receding glamour of Mediterranean seaside hotels. They imagined walking into a bathroom overlooking the sea, where early summer light washes across warm stone floors and the boundaries between inside and outside begin to blur, inviting visitors to linger and take in the details.
Italian chic brings Fuorisalone design collaboration
This the perfect place for KALDEWEI to continue its Grand Tour, a tour which started in Italy at Salone del Mobile 2026, when during Milan Design week KALDEWEI presented their first design collaboration at Fuorisalone Villa Crespi, with Bubbles of Time. The installation unfolded in the foyers on the ground and basement floors of Palazzo Crespi, Kaldewei presented a selection of product icons and innovations a particular highlight being the classic freestanding bathtub the Meisterstück CLASSIC DUO OVAL in Dusty Pink. Created by Parasite 2.0 and curated by Forgotten Architecture the installation was inspired by the cinematic drama of a Hitchcock thriller, Hollywood panache and Italian grandeur combined. The theatrical setting allowed for floating forms, light and reflections with the products appearing like fleeting moments in time.
Spanish style at Casa Decor
Kaldewei then moved onto Spain for Casa Décor Madrid, where leading interior design studio ilv* Isabel López Vilalta created a space for Kaldewei at Casa Decor as an exercise in balance and sensitivity.
This displayed a gentle strength between contrasts – the industrial and the feminine, the past and the present, the project proposed a new way of understanding the bathroom as a place of calm and connection. A key element of the space was the NUIO DUO Zen Edition bathtub, which introduced a multisensory dimension through heat, sound and light.
German design meets OYO DUO
There was a fleeting visit to Germany for Brand Space & Berlin Design Week Berlin, where the bold OYO DUO bathtub in Golden Sun was integral part of the KALDEWEI x e15 collaboration took centre stage, the tour will return to Berlin in September when the bath will be replaced by the Dusty Pink CLASSIC DUO OVAL.
Historic Clerkenwell is pretty in pink
In May the tour moved onto the UK to participate in Clerkenwell Design Week. Where Kaldewei participated for the first time, taking space in the remarkable Grade 1 listed building at the heart of Clerkenwell, The Charterhouse. Here amongst historic panelling and ancient works of art, they displayed their dusty pink freestanding bathtub CLASSIC DUO OVAL, new washbowls and the innovative CALIMA showertrays, which bring sustainability and stability in the form of recycled glass.
About: De Rosee Sa
Founded by Max de Rosée and Claire Sá, De Rosee Sa is an award-winning London-based architecture and interior design studio known for its quietly confident approach to space and material. (WOW!house Photos Credit: James McDonald Room Materials: Seven Ca’ Pietra materials.)
Kaldewei has added another major design accolade to its portfolio after its NUIO DUO ZEN Edition wellness bath was awarded the prestigious Red Dot Award: Product Design 2026.
Recognised by the international Red Dot jury for its exceptional design, integrated wellness technologies and sustainable material credentials, the luxury bath highlights Kaldewei’s continued commitment to innovation in premium bathroom design.
Designed by renowned industrial designer Stefan Diez, the NUIO DUO ZEN Edition combines organic forms with contemporary minimalism. Inspired by the natural contours of water-shaped basins, the bath features flowing ergonomics in the back and neck area, while its extra-deep interior creates a luxurious bathing experience centred on comfort, relaxation and wellbeing
The award-winning bath has been developed to transform the traditional bathing ritual into a holistic wellness experience. Combining infrared heat, ambient lighting and integrated sound technology, the NUIO DUO ZEN Edition creates a calming environment designed to support both physical and mental wellbeing.
Key features include Kaldewei’s Heat Wave technology, immersive sound integration and atmospheric lighting, enabling users to create a personalised spa-like experience within the home.
Alongside its wellness credentials, the NUIO DUO ZEN Edition reflects Kaldewei’s commitment to sustainable bathroom design. Manufactured from durable steel and elegant glass, the bath is 100% recyclable and aligns with the company’s LUXSTAINABILITY® philosophy, which combines luxury, quality and responsible resource use.
Winning the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2026 further strengthens Kaldewei’s reputation for design excellence and innovation, while highlighting growing demand for premium wellness products that combine luxury, technology and sustainability in the modern bathroom.
Victoria + Albert has expanded its best-selling Lussari collection with the introduction of new built-in bath options in 1600mm and 1700mm sizes, offering greater flexibility for contemporary bathroom design projects.
Joining the existing freestanding, back-to-wall and corner bath models, alongside coordinating freestanding and back-to-wall basins, the new drop-in and undermount baths retain the collection’s signature sculptural aesthetic and ergonomic comfort, while catering to a broader range of bathroom layouts.
Designed for compact, family and multigenerational bathrooms, the latest additions respond to growing demand from designers and homeowners for alcove bathtubs manufactured in a premium material. The built-in baths can be clad in marble, natural stone, antique mirrored glass or polished tiles to create a sophisticated, bespoke bathroom scheme.
Named after Mount Lussari in the north-eastern corner of Italy, the Lussari collection has been designed to promote relaxation and rejuvenation, while also delivering a comfortable showering experience. Featuring an elegant oval silhouette, the new built-in models coordinate seamlessly with the Lussari freestanding and back-to-wall basins.
The baths can be paired with traditional brassware, including collections from Perrin & Rowe, or contemporary fittings such as showers from Aqualisa. Designers can also specify a Victoria + Albert bath filler and overflow, removing the need for deck or wall-mounted bath taps.
Available in either a gloss or matt finish, the new baths are designed to diffuse light softly for a refined appearance. Levelling feet are also included to support precise installation.
Victoria + Albert pioneered contemporary freestanding bath design with the development of its proprietary Quarrycast™ material more than 30 years ago. Made using a blend of Volcanic Limestone™ and high-performance resins, the material is engineered for durability, strength and ease of maintenance.
More than twice as hard as acrylic, Quarrycast™ is resistant to scratches, stains, UV damage, hair dyes and bath oils, while preventing creaking or flexing. The naturally insulating material also helps retain water temperature for longer, enhancing bathing comfort while improving energy efficiency. Despite its strength, Quarrycast™ remains lightweight for easier installation on-site.
