10 of the Best Bathroom Trends From Salone Bagno 2016
Take a look at these fresh ideas from the International Bathroom Exhibition in Milan this year, showcasing the top end of the industry
Salone Bagno, also known as the International Bathroom Exhibition, is held biennially as part of iSaloni during Milan Design Week. This year, the bathroom halls were packed to the rafters with beautiful fittings and fixtures, stunning displays, interesting concepts and unusual, thought-provoking new products. Here are 10 standout trends as seen at the show. Could you imagine any of them in your bathroom?
2 Challenging thinking
Is it a lamp? Or a showerhead? Lots of major manufacturers are playing with ideas of how functional objects should look and, in the process, coming up with some great products that challenge our thinking. This is the Closer showerhead from Zucchetti. Created to resemble a lamp, Closer utilises the moveable arm to provide the functionality we require from a showerhead, in the matt black that’s not surprisingly very popular this year.
Designer Diego Grandi started with the idea to reinvent a normally static bathroom item into a dynamic, modern fitting. Cleverly, a cylindrical counterweight ensures the showerhead is stable in any position and at any height.
Is it a lamp? Or a showerhead? Lots of major manufacturers are playing with ideas of how functional objects should look and, in the process, coming up with some great products that challenge our thinking. This is the Closer showerhead from Zucchetti. Created to resemble a lamp, Closer utilises the moveable arm to provide the functionality we require from a showerhead, in the matt black that’s not surprisingly very popular this year.
Designer Diego Grandi started with the idea to reinvent a normally static bathroom item into a dynamic, modern fitting. Cleverly, a cylindrical counterweight ensures the showerhead is stable in any position and at any height.
3 Pink gold
I was expecting to see lots of matt black in tapware (and I did). What I wasn’t expecting was an explosion of pink gold finishes seen on the stands of many major manufacturers. A slight change from the rose gold we know from jewellery design, this pink gold finish is brighter and almost more playful.
When applied in the bathroom setting, it works surprisingly well, particularly when paired with natural wood. It’s a warmer finish, and more contemporary than the rose gold – and I’m tipping this will be a major trend across most tapware brands in the coming years. A great example of this finish is pictured here: the Webert Opera collection in Pink Gold.
Discover how to pick the best metals for your taps
I was expecting to see lots of matt black in tapware (and I did). What I wasn’t expecting was an explosion of pink gold finishes seen on the stands of many major manufacturers. A slight change from the rose gold we know from jewellery design, this pink gold finish is brighter and almost more playful.
When applied in the bathroom setting, it works surprisingly well, particularly when paired with natural wood. It’s a warmer finish, and more contemporary than the rose gold – and I’m tipping this will be a major trend across most tapware brands in the coming years. A great example of this finish is pictured here: the Webert Opera collection in Pink Gold.
Discover how to pick the best metals for your taps
4 Soft cell
The Bounce basin by Ever Life Design, designed by Monica Graffeo, looks like any other ceramic basin, right? Wrong. It’s made from a soft polyurethane material, which is pliable and so creates an intriguing, silkily tactile effect. To complement Bounce, there’s also a collection of accessories, including supporting shelves, plus towel and object holders in natural beechwood.
The Bounce basin is indicative of a new trend in using materials in innovative ways, while not sacrificing the functionality required in our bathrooms.
The Bounce basin by Ever Life Design, designed by Monica Graffeo, looks like any other ceramic basin, right? Wrong. It’s made from a soft polyurethane material, which is pliable and so creates an intriguing, silkily tactile effect. To complement Bounce, there’s also a collection of accessories, including supporting shelves, plus towel and object holders in natural beechwood.
The Bounce basin is indicative of a new trend in using materials in innovative ways, while not sacrificing the functionality required in our bathrooms.
5 Art in the bathroom
Driven by the idea that art can exist in even the most functional of spaces, Azzurra Art is a new concept by designer Alessandro Mendini. Utilising the Nativo model sink by Giovanni Levanti for Azzurra, Mendini set out to give everyday objects an artistic representation.
This design, called Atmosfera, superimposes the body of the sink with sets of tiny dots, either in polychrome or blue, to create the impression of star constellations. This continues the current trend of bringing aesthetic pleasure into the private spaces of our homes in new, interesting and exciting ways.
Driven by the idea that art can exist in even the most functional of spaces, Azzurra Art is a new concept by designer Alessandro Mendini. Utilising the Nativo model sink by Giovanni Levanti for Azzurra, Mendini set out to give everyday objects an artistic representation.
This design, called Atmosfera, superimposes the body of the sink with sets of tiny dots, either in polychrome or blue, to create the impression of star constellations. This continues the current trend of bringing aesthetic pleasure into the private spaces of our homes in new, interesting and exciting ways.
6 Concept designs
Many designers and manufacturers use the exhibition as the place to launch concept designs in order to gauge interest from the international design community. German steel/enamel specialist Bette showcased this interesting idea on its stand with the view to presenting a bath in a new and surprising way. The bath is actually clothed in fabric and was designed by Bette and the Tesseraux + Partner design studio.
This idea is only possible because of a new generation of fabrics that are extremely robust, easy-care, and water-, mould- and climate-resistant. The fabric finish provides a warm, tactile sensation for the user and is certainly a departure from the usual bath finishes. It will be interesting to see if this idea takes off and goes into production any time soon.
Many designers and manufacturers use the exhibition as the place to launch concept designs in order to gauge interest from the international design community. German steel/enamel specialist Bette showcased this interesting idea on its stand with the view to presenting a bath in a new and surprising way. The bath is actually clothed in fabric and was designed by Bette and the Tesseraux + Partner design studio.
This idea is only possible because of a new generation of fabrics that are extremely robust, easy-care, and water-, mould- and climate-resistant. The fabric finish provides a warm, tactile sensation for the user and is certainly a departure from the usual bath finishes. It will be interesting to see if this idea takes off and goes into production any time soon.
7 Back in black
Black tapware in the kitchen has been around for a few years and I’m seeing it work its way into the bathroom, particularly in a sleek and sophisticated matt finish.
The Graff Ametis ring is a multi-functional showerhead with rain and waterfall functions, plus six-colour chromotherapy lighting options thanks to a high-tech, integrated LED lighting system. Note the shape of the ring, which creates different waterfall effects depending on which function is chosen. This is another example of aesthetics being enhanced without sacrificing functionality. With its matching hand shower and taps, the Ametis ring is a stunning addition to a bathroom.
Black tapware in the kitchen has been around for a few years and I’m seeing it work its way into the bathroom, particularly in a sleek and sophisticated matt finish.
The Graff Ametis ring is a multi-functional showerhead with rain and waterfall functions, plus six-colour chromotherapy lighting options thanks to a high-tech, integrated LED lighting system. Note the shape of the ring, which creates different waterfall effects depending on which function is chosen. This is another example of aesthetics being enhanced without sacrificing functionality. With its matching hand shower and taps, the Ametis ring is a stunning addition to a bathroom.
8 High-tech colour splash
It wasn’t all subdued matts and ceramic finishes in the bathroom hall – there were some lovely splashes of colour, too. Pictured here is the Cerasa Moon collection – a collaboration between Cerasa and designer Marco Poletti that sets out to challenge our idea of linear objects in the bathroom.
The arched legs echo the circular shape of the moon (hence the name), while the base units are available as open structures or with a large storage drawer, as pictured. Two different basin designs are available: Diamante is square and geometric to off-set the shape of the base units; Eclisse is rounded and more sinuous to complement the volume. A series of mirrors and wall-hung cabinets complete the collection.
It wasn’t all subdued matts and ceramic finishes in the bathroom hall – there were some lovely splashes of colour, too. Pictured here is the Cerasa Moon collection – a collaboration between Cerasa and designer Marco Poletti that sets out to challenge our idea of linear objects in the bathroom.
The arched legs echo the circular shape of the moon (hence the name), while the base units are available as open structures or with a large storage drawer, as pictured. Two different basin designs are available: Diamante is square and geometric to off-set the shape of the base units; Eclisse is rounded and more sinuous to complement the volume. A series of mirrors and wall-hung cabinets complete the collection.
9 Visual illusion
Everyday objects are given a designer finish with the new Rapsel Collapse collection, developed in collaboration with SPD or the Polytechnic School of Design in Milan. The designers have played with basic volumes, but have created the visual illusion that the basin and toilet edges are sliding away. The collection also includes a matching bath (not pictured).
This is a continuation of the trend in bathrooms to look at ways to update everyday objects to make them unique, but still contain strong design and functionality elements.
Everyday objects are given a designer finish with the new Rapsel Collapse collection, developed in collaboration with SPD or the Polytechnic School of Design in Milan. The designers have played with basic volumes, but have created the visual illusion that the basin and toilet edges are sliding away. The collection also includes a matching bath (not pictured).
This is a continuation of the trend in bathrooms to look at ways to update everyday objects to make them unique, but still contain strong design and functionality elements.
10 Colour match
We know our bathrooms need a little bit of colour to offset the sometimes clinical nature of these rooms, but we’re often stuck using accessories, such as towels or candles, for that spot of brightness.
This collection is a great idea for the design-minded who want a coordinated colour solution. The Geda Nextage Maco collection features taps, showerheads, toilets and accessories that come in a variety of colour finishes (such as the green pictured here). What makes this so effective is the colour is subtle, yet coordinated, with each piece of the collection having its own design aesthetic.
TELL US…
Which trends would you like to adopt for your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
We know our bathrooms need a little bit of colour to offset the sometimes clinical nature of these rooms, but we’re often stuck using accessories, such as towels or candles, for that spot of brightness.
This collection is a great idea for the design-minded who want a coordinated colour solution. The Geda Nextage Maco collection features taps, showerheads, toilets and accessories that come in a variety of colour finishes (such as the green pictured here). What makes this so effective is the colour is subtle, yet coordinated, with each piece of the collection having its own design aesthetic.
TELL US…
Which trends would you like to adopt for your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
The freestanding bath trend continues with a definite preference for the statement bath, designed to take centre stage in any bathroom. Pictured here is the Cielo Cybele bath that features a clean, contemporary exterior. It’s part of the Arcadia collection, which is the latest range designed by Studio APG and is 100% made in Italy for Cielo. This design includes a matching freestanding washbasin cabinet and a line of mirrors.
The bath itself is made from LivingTec resin and can be customised with external coverings in smooth or slatted wood, either lacquered or in oak, with bleached or stained finishes.
See the kitchen storage trends spotted at EuroCucina 2016