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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.
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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.”
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