Kohler’s five leading trends in bathroom design
In a recent address to Australian audiences Mark Bickerstaffe, UK-based Director of New Product Development, Kohler Co, outlined five leading trends in bathroom design – WELL-BEING, ENHANCED EVERYDAY, COMMUNITY, ENGAGING and CLASSIC TECH.
Well-being
There are two strands to the WELL-BEING trend leading new architecture and design – CONTEMPLATIVE and PRO ACTIVE.
CONTEMPLATIVE WELL-BEING prioritises emotional restoration and carefully selects a harmonious collection of natural material, colour and texture. Think natural finish, satin metals, linen, pale pastels and bleached naturals.
PRO ACTIVE WELLBEING is grasping one’s own destiny by building confidence in oneself through physical and mental fitness and working and applying the latest understanding and technology to achieve this. This is being expressed through modern and purposeful design – expect polycarbonate tints and tones, stoneware, technical fabrics and the avant garde.
Enhanced Everyday
The ENHANCED EVERYDAY is more about ‘we’ than ‘me’, embracing new technology and solutions to make life easier and better. Again there are two strands – the SEAMLESS whereby oaks, light brushed steel, white on white and black come to the fore. OVERSTATED, on the other hand, embraces walnut, raw concrete, tan leather, satin steel, biomimetic architecture and iridescence.
Our Community
OUR COMMUNITY represents personal connection and relates to crafts. In many ways this is a traditional lifestyle whereby we happily focus on and utilise what is within local reach. Expect local ply, concrete, black, blown smoky glass and smoky iridescence. And lots of DIY.
Engaging
ENGAGING is the new post-modernity – a worldly eclecticism, individual expression – seen in warm wood grains, texture, leathers, surrealism, pattern clashes and augmented 80s influence.
Classicism
And finally, CLASSICISM endures. Luxury rooted in the traditions of exclusivity, rarity, glass and glamour is evolving. Expect to see polished metals and metallics, oily finishes, ebony and crafted leather.
These trends demonstrate that technology is everywhere and will continue into our bathrooms. The most profound effect of technology – beyond controlling water, light and sound – will be in wellbeing. The bathroom will become the place where we monitor and enhance physical and emotional health. Looking ahead, we expect to see sensors, for example, embedded in products and the environment that will allow us to measure vital health statistics and secure communications will allow us to use the environment as a portal to our chosen healthcare provider.
Our next blog will talk about what Mark believes are the top 5 new products and/or categories in the bathroom space.