Wetrooms

There is no doubt that wetrooms are becoming more popular. While traditional bathrooms with a shower cubicle are still the norm, the trend is moving towards multi generational use areas which are practical and safe.

There are some fantastic materials on the market which will ensure that your room remains watertight - regardless of whether you have a concrete or a timber floor.

Why are wetrooms practical? In smaller spaces a wetroom is the ideal solution, maximising showering space without the need to close off an area with doors.

Where there are elderly family members, a wetroom allows a larger showering area that can allow seating, or wheelchair access. There is no tray to trip over, and in some circumstances it can promote greater independence for the user.

Often an elderly person will require some assistance in showering, and a carer can assist more effectively. While it can be difficult for some people to get in and out of a bath, a shower remains a more preferable experience.


Aesthetically a wetroom can look very stylish, the flooring inside the shower area can remain the same as the rest of the room, or have contrast tiles

While some people may feel nervous about how effective the floors and walls can be - be assured that reputable products, and a good installer, can ensure that the room is "tanked" therefore making it watertight.

The key is also good drainage. A professional  installer will make sure the form (or tray) is level with the right amount of fall - and that the drain can accomodate the output of flow of water from the shower.

Watertight wall panels are a fantastic alternative to tile and grout, and can be adhered to many existing surfaces. They are stylish, easy to install, and do create a very neat finish.
In fact the wetroom panels can be used throughout the rest of the room, as splashbacks, or surrounding a bath.

Porcelain or ceramic floor tiles are a very practical element - and of course electric underfloor heating can be installed under these type of tiles in the area not covered by the shower "tray". This is a great idea where space is at a premium, and there is no wall to attach a radiator.

The idea of a wetroom design opens up a great many design ideas.

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Cersaie 2015

Cersaie 2015 was as busy as ever. While it is predominately about the best in ceramics and tiles,  there is still a lot more to see.
With 1000 exhibitors and over 100,000 visitors over 5 days it is one of the must see design shows on the calendar.

The Cer-Stile exhibition was a must. A journey in design made easier by the mock up of the imaginative idea of a luxury interior of a train, complete with changing landscape through curtained windows.  There was a modest bunk, comfy private seating, open benches, and even an antique boxed sink that folds up. Only in Italy!

While the Bologna Cersaie was certainly not an Express Train, there were undoubtedly some significant products expressing themselves in the best way - as part of a design scheme. Glass 1989, Duravit,  Cordivari,  Vitra,  Cristina Rubinetterie all had great products on show as part of this taster exhibition.

It was outside in the main halls where design became even more interesting.

There was much to see in 3 dimensional large scale ceramic wall surfaces. Some of the suppliers creating ranges which allowed greater choice and more flexibility for designers to create a more unique look. While there was some colour, mostly for commercial, there was definitely the core shades of safe neutrals across all ranges.

While designs may have taken a large leap, manufacturers were playing safe with colour palette.

Fiora

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There are always a lot of brick style ceramics in the show. The puritan brickie will appreciate the difference between imperial, metric, and American bricks.They will even explain to you the methods of how bricks are stacked - stretcher and Fleming bonds to name but two brick laying techniques.  Personally I thought some of the random colours fun. Why we don't use more tiles on walls in homes is just my opinion.
I was taken with a lot of the grunge, graffiti styles.Equally some really excellent pastels too.

Brem

Again some great ranges consisting safe plain tiles, coordinated texture, and feature tiles. This makes a designer's life easy in a bathroom or wetroom.
Last year seemed to be about hexagonal and introducing lava. This year there were concrete looks, larger tiles, pared back colours, and raised texture designs.

Away from the tiles, I was impressed with Rubinetterie 3M brassware taps and showers.
From a design perspective their products are stunning.

The taps and shower heads are completely different to anything else I saw at the show.  The quality of the materials exceptional. The flow and economic delivery of water ticks boxes.  I must say really taken with their designs.

Fiora had an amazing stand and some new products. While we love Fiora bathroom furniture and shower trays, they now do wet walls. A new range of furniture and excellent display electric radiators and we are hooked.

I had to go check out Zucchetti Kos. I first saw them at Bologna water festival last year.
As expected they had their own fantastic stand, and also popped up in the Day Off exhibition. Some great basins,  but love their showerheads.

Villeroy and Boch seemed to be having a good show too. We loved the rose gold floor mounted bath mixer.  I know this is a finish that is not as popular as the chrome and brushed steel finishes - but it looks gorgeous on display.

Flaminia

Washbasins came in all shapes and sizes.  They were moulded in mineral cast, porcelain, glass, concrete. They were recessed, sat on top, or moulded as one with surface. They had an overflow,  no overflow,  exposed traps, were freeflowing or not.

Really one could narrow down a favourite once you had seen over 1000. Oh, and there were some great colours too.

Wetrooms have become much more the norm over the last few years. It was great to see so many manufacturers really looking at wetroom walls and floors as part of their portfolio.

I'm not sure emerging trends. What I can say is I love good materials - and no manufacturer or designer will waste a good material on a bad design.

"Style is a simple way of saying a complicated thing"
Jean Cocteau

Related post Wetrooms 

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