Hue and cry: ISH 2019 goes full-colour

One of the most prominent themes at ISH 2019 is sure to be the subtle application of colour in the bathroom as nowadays when it comes to bathroom design, traditional white is no longer the only option. This development is an integral part of the trend towards homely bathroom design. In today's increasingly hectic world, for many people the bathroom, in particular, is becoming a personal space in which they can relax and recharge their batteries.

At the same time architects, designers and interior decorators are well aware that decisions on the subject of colour are always delicate. The choice of coloured tiles, fittings or bathroom furniture needs to be carefully thought through as it has a long-term effect on the overall appearance of this special room. In the past, it was mainly accessories such as vases or bowls and textile features such as curtains and towels that added touches of colour to the bathroom - generally in combination with neutral white. Such elements can, of course, be replaced quickly and inexpensively by anyone looking for a change of colours in the bathroom.

Another important aspect of more homely and personal bathroom design is the need to harmonise the room aesthetically with other parts of the home. For example, those who go for muted tones, minimalism and clarity in the kitchen and living room will also wish to apply this style to the design of their bathroom. After all, the rooms we create are a mirror of our personality, and the selection of specific colour combinations is a very individual and sometimes emotional decision.

This is precisely what many leading companies in the bathroom industry have recognised and accordingly, they are, for example, offering fittings not only in a wide range of styles, but often also in a distinctive spectrum of differently coloured surfaces and metals or alloys. In the process, their designers are following current colour trends in other industries.

For example, Michael Seum, Vice President of Design at GROHE, stays up to date by keeping abreast of trends worldwide: "We look for inspiration in the latest developments that the design world has to offer. We then respond to these in selecting our own range of colours and surface finishes. With our colour palette we aim to show that our collection sets no limits to the design wishes of our customers". Seum is describing what applies to many product categories and industries today: trends are no longer formed by a single colour or a single material - instead such individual trends are being replaced by freedom of individual choice on the part of architects and end customers.

With this development, the global players in the bathroom industry are reacting to the highly diverse colour preferences which characterise the world's different markets. For a long time now customers in London or Paris, for example, have valued entirely different colours, alloys and materials to those preferred by customers in Moscow or Dubai. Manufacturers wishing to make an impression on intercontinental customers need to take these culture-specific differences into account. The aim is to further develop the individual product spectrum and successfully integrate new colour shades and alternative surface finishes into existing ranges.

Colour accents in the bathroom can be set not only with tiles, paint or artificial surfaces, but also with natural materials such as marble, slate and various fine woods which have their own colour identity. Duravit's bathroom furniture ranges, for example, come in a wide variety of woods and colours. But that isn't all. Even glass partitions don't always have to be clear or frosted glass, because subtle shades of green, blue or grey can be achieved with smoked glass. And the subject of adjustable coloured light in the bathroom is also becoming increasingly relevant. SENSORY SKYATT from Dornbracht, for example, features four LED spots and a surrounding frame of light with colour channels which can be continuously regulated and mixed.

For Mike Meiré, the multiple award-winning art director who with his Cologne agency shapes Dornbracht's communication and brand image, colour in the bathroom is a central design element: "We think differently about colour today: we regard it as a surface that can be modified at any time. Colours enable us to charge an object with poetry and, if you like, make it more approachable and appealing. They are central components - in particular in such a private space as the bathroom."

© Architonic