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44 | Kitchen & Bath Design News | September 2015 Product Trend Report By Elizabeth Richards T oday's shower is taking center stage as design- ers strive to create individualized bathrooms with creative elements that refect the personality and style of the homeowners who use them. "Trends in the shower generally are focused on people wanting private wellness or some other type of unique experience in the shower," says Larry Allen, CEO/managing director for Gessi North America, Inc. in Anaheim, CA. Mul- tiple outlets with a body spray or a hand-held showerhead, for example, are preferred by customers to personalize their showering experience, he adds. Emily Holle, trend & design specialist at MS In- ternational, Inc. in Austell, GA says, "We are seeing people getting edgier and more adventurous and trying to mix it up when it comes to their shower de- signs." This is driven, she believes, by a move toward glass in the bathroom. Consumers are integrating texture, like pebble tile, as well as mosaics to add personality to their shower, she adds. "There are so many diferent options in the design world that you can create your own personality through your tile." While consumers and designers want a custom- ized look and plenty of visual impact, functionality and performance continue to drive a number of key trends, including enclosures with multiple components, digital controls and attention to water conservation. Larger-scale showers and a nature-inspired, minimalist style are also trending. That's according to manufacturers recently surveyed by Kitchen & Bath Design News. STAND OUT APPEARANCES The shower as a focal point is on the rise, whether tile or the fxtures are making the visual statement. No longer is the shower hidden behind a solid door or curtain – more and more often, an open look allows the shower to stand out. One of the best ways to achieve this impact is with a lot of glass. Holle says that whether the enclosure is large or small, glass is at the forefront. This trend is opening up a lot of wall space, al- lowing the tile to shine. "The tile can be the hero, because you're opening up visually and widening the space so you can see into those showers," she says. More and more frameless showers are in the market- place and showing up in homes says Ziggy Kulig, president and CEO of GRAFF in Milwaukee, WI. "Frameless shower doors allow a bathroom to feel spacious, bright and so- phisticated. Additionally, the clean, modern appearance of frameless doors can help ensure the shower is the focal point of the bathroom," he says. Exposed valves, popular in Europe, are becoming a design statement in the U.S. according to Cheryl Dixon, head of brand and trade marketing for GROHE America in New York City, and are often less expensive to install since they are installed on the outside of the wall. She adds that the design focus of the shower has shifted to the fxtures themselves rather than tile or other décor. "Frameless glass gives the bath a spa-like, open feel and perfectly highlights fxtures, and is thus becoming more popular, allowing for more light to be shed on their natural beauty." Finding unique elements to add to the shower also cre- ates interest. "Shower design is becoming more artful and imaginative. Consumers are investing in shower components that make a huge visual impact in their bathrooms," says Benja m i n Newcombe, senior product manager for Alpharetta, GA-based Hansgrohe. One example GROHE has recently released an 18" shower-only model with a Rainshow- er arm. The model shown is coupled with the Euphoria showerhead and hand shower, which ofer a wide, spa-like spray pattern. It is available in GROHE Starlight Chrome fnish. Circle No. 203 on Product Card Jaclo ofers both a round body and a square ofering of its 16" Rain Machine, available in more than 20 fnishes. With a 2.5-gpm fow rate, the round version has 234 rubber jets, while the square has 256. The all-brass show- erhead can be situated at a 90-degree angle or installed from a drop ceiling. Circle No. 200 on Product Card Hot trends in the shower include custom looks with plenty of visual impact, larger-scale enclosures, lots of glass, digital controls and attention to water conservation. Sonoma Forge's WaterBridge Shower System complements the designer faucet of the same name. The exposed shower system features an 'industrial chic' look, and ofers a choice of wall- or foor-mount installation. Made in America, the shower comes in Rustic Copper, Rustic Nickel, Satin Nickel and Oil-Rubbed Bronze, as well as special-order fnishes. Circle No. 205 on Product Card Cal-Green compliant StyleTherm, California Faucets' advanced thermostatic technology, features a two-outlet diverter that allows it to stay within 2.0 GPM water efciency, and operate up to two applications independent- ly. The Cal-Green version still allows exact temperature dial-in and full volume control. Circle No. 201 on Product Card The Rainfall Shower Head from Newport Brass provides a simulated rain- fall shower pattern. The traditional style fxture is constructed from solid brass and features rubber nozzles to facilitate easy cleaning. The unit is available in 27 distinctive fnishes. Circle No. 204 on Product Card The VOLA Round Shower Series of showerheads, available from Hastings Tile & Bath, take their proportions from the classic Arne Jacobsen tap specially designed for VOLA more than 40 years ago. With its technical parts subtly hidden from view, the shower uses the shape of the circle as its focus. Circle No. 202 on Product Card