Bathrooms today should provide both, the aspirational qualities guests now expect from their hotel rooms, and also the comforts of a home, says Sapna Kulshrestha
Over the years bathrooms have evolved to become an extension of a hotel room’s living space. No longer purely a place to wash and refresh, a bathroom can make or break a guest’s experience. And, in that respect, hotel bathrooms are more and more often inspired by trends and products available for the residential home. “If you ask me what the trend is in building houses, then I’ll say it’s definitely in doing up the bathrooms,” says Ashok Kumar, architect and designer.
The Indian market is full of sophisticated fittings, both imported and indigenous scoring over conventional products in ergonomics, efficiency, ease of installation and maintenance. According to David Kohler, president at Kohler Co: “Bathrooms today are fast emerging as an extension of one’s personality, lifestyle and taste. With the ever increasing pace of life, more and more people are treating their bathrooms as stress- relieving zones, catering to their innermost desires”.
Practical considerations
The most important aspect in bathroom planning is the arrangement of fixtures defined by the layout of plumbing connections, convenience of use, and visual appearance. Concealed plumbing lines needs attention too, as, if the system fails, a design meant to give comfort and style is rendered useless.
As CV Dilipkumar, head, India operations, Gebin-Geberit, puts it – “Mere use of a high-end bathroom product alone is not effective unless it is combined with implementing the right plumbing practice. A combination of innovative products and the right plumbing practices can go a long way in saving the scarce water resources in our country.”
Sufficient care should be taken while selecting the sanitary fixtures to ensure water-saving methods, non slippery surfaces, easy-to-clean contours, and noise-free flushing. Safety is an important aspect to be considered while arranging a bathroom for children and the aged.
Bathtub: There are four basic bathtub styles; the old type enamel cast-iron bathtub that is extremely heavy, the moulded plastic bathtub that usually lightweight and great for bath remodelling, the enamelled steel tub that comes finished with a ceramic-glazed material – although in limited styles – and the high-priced fibreglass tub which comes in different shapes and sizes, some with spa features. Freestanding bathtubs are ‘in’ once again, admired for their style.
Shower stalls: Shower stalls come in several styles such as a pre-built shower base, fabricated shower stall, and the fibreglass enclosed shower stall. Tempered glass stalls are the most popular, as glass lets the light in, creating an ‘open’ feeling. Acrylic bathroom shower stalls with sliding doors are convenient for small bathrooms. Adding a shower stall can save on water and reduce steam, preventing mould build up.
Toilet: The most critical aspect of bathroom planning is the water closet. Opt for a water-efficient toilet that flushes 1.3 gallons per flush rather than the usual 1.6. There are also dual-flush toilets that offer two flush buttons – one for liquid waste removal that uses less water, and the other for solid waste removal. Cantilevered water closets are popular, as that leaves the floor unobstructed. Says PK Shashidharan, general manager, marketing, Cera: “It’s time for everyone to talk ‘green’. We are the pioneers in water-saving products; we have produced WC’s in six as also four litres capacities. We offer full-flush and half-flush measures.”
Bathroom sink: There are five styles of bathroom sinks. The sink that is installed into a cabinet and provides storage underneath, the console sink that has an open feel, the pedestal and wall mounted sinks suitable for smaller spaces, and lastly, vessel sinks that sit on top of the counter. There are also bathroom vanities with built-in sinks for easy installation.
Faucets: Faucets come in many shapes and styles. Some trendy finishes for faucets include brass, brushed nickel, and oiled bronze; however as per Uday Garg, MD at Essel Bath, chrome finish remains the most popular in India. There are various types of mixer units in the market, ranging from linked faucets on which you can adjust controls to supply water at a pre-determined pressure and temperature, to more sophisticated units incorporating a temperature controller. According to Marcus Sieranct, group CEO, BathLine India, the preservation of water is vitally important for India and her people. “Eco-friendly taps, which restrict the free flow of water, are essential to assist in water conservation. Although they are marginally more expensive than the standard taps, the Indian manufactured ones are cheaper than the imported ones.”
Trends
Bathroom spa: A room spa is made possible with the advent of new additions like whirlpool tubs, steam showers, and shower jet panels, as also air baths which feature tiny, effervescent bubbles instead of targeted jets. Then there are custom showers that combine a series of showerheads mounted on the walls and ceiling of the shower space, resulting in a unique rainforest-like experience. Benito computerised multifunction steam cubicles, spas, and massages bathtub, have successfully converged functionality and artistic styles for the new bathing culture.
Furniture look: As bathrooms are getting larger the popularity of furniture look is increasing. Instead of filling the space with an all-countertop look, handsome bath furniture from the traditional to the contemporary,is creating a niche. A freestanding vanity, portable bath furniture, small table, plant stand, or wooden chest, helps create a cosy atmosphere. Entertainment systems, recliners, chaises, decorative armoires, and TV’s, are among the added features. Villeroy and Boch is a European brand available in India, that offers an amazing collection of bathroom furniture.
Jewel sparkle: Faucets as accessories complete the design vision; coordinated with lighting, the style of fixtures and accessories can change the whole look of the bathroom. The choices include a smorgasbord of silver-tone finishes, as well as gold, bronze, and mixed metals options. Polished chrome and nickel is a classic finish, while brushed nickel has a warm appearance. Bronze, hammered nickel, French gold, polished brass, or black, provide a dramatic and elegant note. EssEss Pvt. Ltd has even introduced bath fittings with semi precious stones in Indian market.
WC makeover: The toilet has certainly graduated from an unsightly fitting to a fixture with the potential for a strong visual design statement. Wall-hung fixtures are popular due to their flexibility, space saving and easy cleaning features. To address comfort, hygiene, and safety, there are heated, self-closing seats, inbuilt systems for venting odours, and tanks that disappear into the wall, or even tank-less toilets, with powered flushing action. Parryware Roca offers perfumed or glow-in-the-dark toilet seat covers, an electronic flushing system, and a water-economising ‘Niagara’ flushing system.
Think green: Since 75% of all household water is used in the bathroom, there’s a growing trend towards eco-smart fixtures such as water-efficient taps, showers, low-flow toilets, and faucet aerators. Choose from the latest ultrasound welded leak-proof faucets from Crabtree-Frattini, or sensor taps from Jacquar Pressmatic. Renewable materials such as bamboo, wheat, straw, or cork work great for cabinets, while countertops are being designed from recycled materials like glass, rubber, paper, and linoleum.
Divide and rule: The latest trend in upscale bathroom designs is to install an open bathtub and separate, enclosed shower stall. Double sinks are a popular addition for bathrooms shared by two or more people, as are toilets physically separated from the rest of the bathroom, either by a wall divider, or in an alcove with a door. In some cases, master suites are falling back on the concept of separate water closets for each partner using the suite. HR Johnson bath cabinets, and Kajaria shower and steam rooms are some of the many brands available in the market.
Vessel sinks: One of the newest trends is vessel sinks that’s actually based on old Chinese washbasins. A vessel sink is a free-standing sink that sits directly on the countertop or furniture on which it is mounted. With vessel sinks, rules of matching bathing fixtures no longer apply. Available in cast iron, glass, natural stone, wood, decorated vitreous china, and bronze, they tend to be the focal point of the bathroom and are leading the way in fixture and countertop design. Indian manufacturer Simpolo’s metallic and handcrafted basins are one-of-the-kind in this segment.
Nature’s warmth: This reflects a renewed appreciation of nature, as homeowners are showing strong interest in natural materials such as granite, quartz, and marble for countertops, because they soften hard edges. Close-grained woods such as maple and birch give a calming effect, while warm woods such as cherry in cabinetry provide natural aesthetics. Shower systems offering a rainforest like experience, and faucets mimicking waterfalls complete the nature theme. HansGrohe’s ‘Axor Water Dream’ collection with organic and geometric forms drawing a correlation with natural elements, is one such product range.
Chromatherapy: The latest trend along with the spa theme is that of chromatherapy. Whirlpool bathtubs integrated with fibre optic coloured lights positioned within the tub’s inner walls, sequentially transmit the colours, or one particular colour that best fits the user’s mood, gives a multisensory experience, while being therapeutic mentally and physically. Kohler’s ‘sk Overflowing Bath’ with chromatherapy is the ultimate sensory experience as the melodic sound of falling water relaxes and comforts the mind.
Digital mania: In sync with the digital craze one can now control bathroom showers and, in effect, can even preset them. The ‘ioDigital’ system from Moen enables the control of water temperature and flow from anywhere in the home; this product will soon be launched in India. The ‘Intelligent Toilet’ system, created by Japan’s largest toilet company, Toto, can measure sugar levels in urine, blood pressure, body fat and weight.
