For all media groups
Balancing personal needs with everyone else:
Date: 10.03.2015
The new enthusiasm for the bathroom
VDS: Great company is preferable in the bathroom / Fittings
form the water / Individuality as furnishing concept / Mint and
ocean colours / Copper and chrome / Steel supports the bathtub
– and rose / More and more WC technologies for cleanliness /
Beautiful bathroom is proof of a healthy outlook / Barrier-free
design with chic styling / Back to bathroom basics – with the
best from adjacent rooms
Frankfurt/Bonn – (vds) “Welcome to your new bathroom. My name
is Alisa, and I’m your digital assistant.” An interactive bathroom for
users – for some that’s an intriguing thought, for others it’s
unthinkable. But this last group need not worry: real dialogue between
humans and bathtubs is still unheard of! At least, it wasn’t audible
during the “ISH” in Frankfurt am Main – the bathroom industry’s
leading global trade show.
Still, there’s plenty of talking in the bathroom. To make sure they’re
always contactable, many users even keep their Smartphones with
them. Also, via local data networks these mobile all-round devices
can control water flow into the bathtub and display the news in the
bathroom mirror. Or they just supply music. The speakers are often
concealed inside a mirror cabinet or even in the shower and bathtub.
Why not communicate in the bathroom? Ultimately, according to the
Vereinigung Deutsche Sanitaerwirtschaft (VDS) it’s like any other
place where a constant connection is cultivated and also enjoyed to
the outside world. Ceiling-high windows and plants bring nature
inside. Small furniture items also reveal the desire for comfort and
good company. Because nobody wants to do without these in the
bathroom.
Fittings form the water
On the other hand, there is also a strong desire to escape the daily
routine. Bathrooms are therefore anti-stress oases and the best
interiors are just about good enough. Fittings are also regarded as a
fundamental element of the interior design. While previously they
were exclusively for washing, today they form the water and supply it
– at times with a powerful surge, and at other times in a gentle jet and
using water sparingly. Alongside the technical experts, if designers
also get involved plenty of sensational looks and lots of sensitivity
emerge.
The new sources of water look light and delicate and combine hard
with soft contours. Handles for regulating the water flow need not
necessarily be near the outlet but can be integrated separately and in
a different position in the washbasin. Push-button technology
provides competition for the lever. Models with different outflow
heights are becoming increasingly common. They match the table-top
washbasins, which are still fashionable, and are available in various
designs and materials.
Without doubt, individuality is also one of the key words that is most
frequently used in connection with bathroom furnishing. As never
before, the offers are as wide-ranging and perfectly suitable for
combinations. An increasing number of brand manufacturers, as VDS
experts identified, mix the lines to create entirely new room concepts.
This continues the basic trend from previous years of turning one’s
back on standard conventions. The bathroom emerges as a design
collage that’s oriented towards users’ needs. It’s simple.
Mint and ocean tones, copper and chrome
Accent colours like mint, rose and apricot create a suitably open and
relaxed atmosphere. White and beige are easy to combine and make
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suitable base colours. Grey is at least on a par with them, as it’s also
easily combinable. Expressive, clear ocean tones are also playing a
part again. The entire palate of blue and green tones is available
along with teal for a statement look. Refined copper tones introduce
glamour into the room. Chrome celebrates a comeback on furniture in
the form of visually dominant handles.
Overall, softer forms and radii influence the design, making the
bathroom considerably more comfortable. Strict qualities should be
taken away from the purism of earlier years. The lighting provides a
sensual atmosphere. Where else can different moods be enjoyed, if
not in the bathroom? The lighting quality on mirror cabinets can be
adjusted using modern LED technology – from bright white daylight to
warm white light. Thanks to sensor-controlled heating, the mirror no
longer mists up.
The desire for comfort and a nature-oriented lifestyle is also
expressed in darker surfaces and an expanded colour palate for
genuine wood fronts as well as veneers with unusually large ‘patterns’
like walnut Cognac. But ‘shabby chic’ in light vintage oak is also in.
With so many natural qualities, the particularly durable, sustainable
material of steel enamel is a must. It is increasingly used in the area
around the washstand and opens new design options with an
independent design language.
Steel supports the bathtub – and rose
A fresh breeze wafts into the bathroom – in fashion terms it’s called
“graphic” style and takes its inspiration from building: skeleton
structures support the bathtub and washbasin. With delicate contours
and styling, these enduring elements have special charm. It’s a nod to
the industrial look. Steel as a support material plays a key role.
Beforehand, frames gleamed and glinted all over and support frames
were chrome-plated. Now, the support structure is powder-coated
and either monochrome or in a contrasting colour like rose.
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Given so much extravagance, the WC is no longer permitted to stand
out too much – even if there’s not enough space for its removal. This
explains why a growing number of models also look good when the
seat is raised. The latest innovation is a flush system based on a fully
glazed ductwork. It leads a continuous water flow from the top rim into
the toilet bowl and with two jets also makes the flush action even
more powerful. This technology is designed to provide optimum water
flow that flushes the entire bowl below the slot almost 100 per cent.
Such a clean and beautifully furnished bathroom has for a long time
not just been a status symbol, but proves that people spend a lot of
effort on their health and fitness. One example here is the change of
the shower head from the jet fixed somewhere below the ceiling to
wellness rain showers that are eye-catching and, during the ISH,
were spotted with a new surface made from white glass. On the other
hand, being healthy is essential for staying in one’s own four walls for
as long as possible. The other key component is interiors with as few
barriers as possible.
Barrier-free design and chic styling
According to Jens J. Wischmann, VDS Managing Director and also
co-initiator of the campaign for the barrier-free bathroom, people are
now willing to invest more money to enjoy life within their own four
walls. Additionally they start dealing earlier with this matter. Product
innovations and brand industry furnishing concepts partly helped here
and added a chic style note – but their main message was to
introduce comfort and safety for all generations. The new enthusiasm
for the bathroom is therefore based not just on pure enjoyment, but
also has a serious demographic foundation.
Since it’s already a case of reading between the lines, this view from
the VDS should also be mentioned: the bathroom has opened up
towards other rooms over recent years. Now, it’s slowly retreating into
its own four walls – yet not without including the best from the
adjacent rooms and adopting their sense for comfort and versatility.
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For the latest updates and trends please visit the website
www.gutesbad.de.
Captions
According to the Vereinigung Deutsche Sanitaerwirtschaft (VDS) the
bathroom is a place like any other where a constant connection is
cultivated, if not even enjoyed with the outside world. Ceiling-high
windows and plants bring nature inside. Small items of furniture are
also included as a mark of the preference for comfort and good
company. Because nobody wants to do without these in the
bathroom.
Photo: Vereinigung Deutsche Sanitaerwirtschaft (VDS) / Burgbad
Bild 4411
Alongside the technical experts, if designers are also involved there
are also plenty of sensational appearances and lots of sensitivity. The
new sources of water look light and delicate and combine hard with
soft contours. The handles for regulating the water flow need not
necessarily be near the outlet but can be integrated separately and in
another position within the washstand.
Photo: Vereinigung Deutsche Sanitaerwirtschaft (VDS) / Dornbracht
Bild 4412
Fittings with different outflow heights are becoming increasingly
common. They always match – from “normal” wall-hung washbasins
with fitting bench to table-top washbasins, which are still fashionable.
According to the Vereinigung Deutsche Sanitaerwirtschaft (VDS), in
this segment there are an immense variety of available designs and
materials.
Image: Vereinigung Deutsche Sanitaerwirtschaft (VDS) / Grohe
Bild 4413
5
Without doubt, individuality is also one of the key words that is most
often used in connection with bathroom interior furnishing. The offers
are as wide-ranging and ideally suited for combinations as never
before. An increasing number of brand manufacturers, as VDS
experts stated, mix lines to create entirely new room concepts. The
bathroom emerges as a design collage oriented to users’ needs.
Image: Vereinigung Deutsche Sanitaerwirtschaft (VDS) / Duravit
Bild 4414
Expressive, clear ocean tones also play a part again in the bathroom.
The entire palate of blue and green tones is available. Chrome
celebrates a comeback on furniture in the form of visually dominant
handles.
Photo: Vereinigung Deutsche Sanitaerwirtschaft (VDS) / Ideal
Standard
Bild 4415
Easily combinable white, beige and grey are ideal as a base colour
for bathroom interiors. Teal creates a strong contrast and is pleasant
and refreshing. Overall, softer forms and radii influence the design
and make the bathroom slightly more comfortable.
Photo: Vereinigung Deutsche Sanitaerwirtschaft (VDS) / Keramag
Bild 4416
Only the right lighting provides a sensual atmosphere in the
bathroom. Where else can different moods be enjoyed, if not there?
Using
modern LED technology the lighting quality can be
continuously adjusted on mirrors from bright white daylight to warm
white light. Thanks to sensor-controlled heating, the mirror’s surface
no longer mists up.
Photo: Vereinigung Deutsche Sanitaerwirtschaft (VDS) / Keuco
Bild 4417
The desire for more comfort and a nature-oriented lifestyle makes
people increasingly open for durable, sustainable materials. Steel
enamel is a must. It is increasingly used in the area around the
6
washbasin and opens up new design options with an independent
design language.
Photo: Vereinigung Deutsche Sanitaerwirtschaft (VDS) / Kaldewei
Bild 4418
Taking inspiration from building, skeleton structures support the
bathtub and washbasin. With a delicate form and styling, they are
enduring and have a special charm. It’s a nod to the industrial look.
Steel plays a key role as a support material. Beforehand, frames
gleamed and glinted all over and the support frames were chromeplated. Now, the support structure is powder-coated – additional
colours as well as black are white, rose and mint.
Photo: Vereinigung Deutsche Sanitaerwirtschaft (VDS) / Bette
Bild 4419
Given so much extravagance, the WC also has to hold its own. This
explains why the number of models is growing that also look good
when the seat is raised. The latest innovation is a flush system based
on a fully glazed ductwork. It leads a continuous water flow from the
top rim into the toilet bowl and with two jets also makes the flush
action even more powerful. This technology is designed to provide
optimum water flow that flushes the entire bowl below the slot almost
100 per cent.
Photo: Vereinigung Deutsche Sanitaerwirtschaft (VDS) / Ideal
Standard
Bild 4420
A clean and beautifully furnished bathroom has long since not just
been a status symbol, but proof that people invest and do a lot for
their health and fitness. One example here is the change of the
shower head from the jet fixed somewhere below the ceiling to
wellness rain showers that are eye-catching and have a new surface
made from white glass.
Photo: Vereinigung Deutsche Sanitaerwirtschaft (VDS) / Hansgrohe
Bild 4421
7
According to Vereinigung Deutsche Sanitaerwirtschaft (VDS) people
are now willing to invest more money to enjoy life within their own four
walls. Additionally they start dealing earlier with the theme “barrierfree”. Product innovations and furnishing concepts from the brand
industry partly contributed to this such as height-adjustable
washbasins that add a chic style note – but mainly with the message
of introducing comfort and safety for all generations.
Photo: Vereinigung Deutsche Sanitaerwirtschaft (VDS) / Viega
Bild 4422
8