The latest updates for kitchens, bathrooms and big projects

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

Burnt Toast and Nicotine? A questionable breakfast, perhaps, but also two of 12 new paint colours unveiled by Plain English and interior designer Rita Konig. The brilliantly named hues are inspired by timeless kitchen rituals and cover soft neutrals to decadent darks. We’ve never been so excited about a Mouldy Plum.

DEBUT ACT

It wooed us with chic tiles and now Claybrook is back on the charm offensive with its first bathroom range comprising baths, basins and brassware. They are a perfect blend of classic and contemporary and, what’s more, the hand-polished baths and basins are 100 per cent recyclable. Pleasing to your eyes and the planet.

Ahead of the curve

Bathrooms have become the most fashionable spot to show off your curves, and this rounded design certainly got the memo.

Abstract art

Colour and pattern are sizzling trends for 2020, and surfaces have seriously got in on the act. Tile supremo Domus has just launched its retro-inspired Abstract collection,whichhasadistinctmid-century lookandfeel.Thegeometricpatternsonthe Sunset Decor range are inspired by the abstract paintings of Bauhaus teacher László Moholy-Nagy. Sold!

Shell shock

Inching its way onto every flat surface in sight, the in-vogue scallop shape shows no sign of abating. Praise, then, for Ca’ Pietra’s bold take across porcelain tiles. Inspired by the colours of the ocean and complete with a crackle-glaze iridescent finish, it’s bringing a wave-like feel to wet rooms.

FEELING SHADY

The rise of the statement tap continues and Kohler’s Ombré basin mixer might just beone of the prettiest sink-side accessories we’ve seen. Choose from two glossy finishes, each graduating from Ombré rose gold to Polished Chrome (pictured) or Vibrant Titanium.

A true gem

The latest Kelly Wearstler for Ann Sacks tile collection departs from monochrome into glorious technicolour inspired by the ‘earthy beauty’ of encaustic tiles and patterns that mimic the ‘nonconformity found in nature’.

French fancy

There’s no quicker route to a French-industrial aesthetic than by way of Sammode’s Borosilicate glass-meets-stainless steel Musset wall lights. First patented in 1967, they can be seen in the national library in Paris, so they’ll hold serious design weight in your bathroom, too.

MOODENHANCERS

Worried your bathroom taps don’t spark joy? Let us introduce you to the Meta Slim range from Dornbracht. Check out its ‘minimalist design language’ for Kondo-like practically, while four candy coloured finishes, including Pastel Green, Light Rose and Yellow, are, well, pretty joyful.

TAKE THE PLUNGE

Drummonds’ Bute freestanding bath fuses a traditional cast-iron shape and plinth detailing with bang-up-to-date acrylic sides hand-sprayed in your colour of choice. We’re smitten...

TRAD WITH A TWIST

Meet new kid on the block, Kitchen Makers, from heritage brand Burbidge. Its three designs are a modern interpretation of the classic Shaker and are available in 16 colours.

Optical illusion

Flat surfaces are a thing of the past, thanks to the rising trend of 3D tiles. And Iris Ceramica’s new collection, Bowl, has gone straight onto our shopping list. With an artisanal feel, Bowl is available in 10 x 20cm tiles and comes in 10 shades, including Old Rose and Grey (pictured). The tiles will give clever depth to walls, whether you’re after elegant modernity or vintage chic.

Light up

Stylish bathroom lights are notoriously tricky to find, so this mid-century-inspired pendant from Bert Frank’s new Rift collection is worthy of a mention. Simple but glamorous, it’s also available as a wall light with solid brass plates. The opal glass globe softens the light by diffusing the glare and creating a warm glow in your bathroom.

NATURAL BEAUTY

Artisan tile-maker Bert & May has carried through its love for natural pigments and materials to create a concrete basin collection. With four sculptural designs to choose from, teeth-brushing will never be mundane again.

Crushing on Reform

This Danish brand had us at hello when it burst ontothe scene in 2014, launching design-led, price-conscious cupboard fronts for Ikea kitchen units. Five years on and the Ikea ‘hack’ has never looked so good: check out new lines by David Thulstrup, Note Design Studio and Muller Van Severen, whose Technicolor-style fronts can be mixed and matched to suit.

Make weigh

Our homes are getting smarter and it’s the kitchen that’s rising to the top of the class. Following the recent trend for combination ‘extractor hobs’, Elica has gone one further with the introduction of integrated scales. Install the NikolaTesla Libra and ingredients can be weighed directly next to, or even within, the pan. Saves on washing up, too.

From £2,220, elica.com.

back to the future

The American diner is enjoying something of an interiors renaissance, so now’s the time to snap upa pastel fridge that oozes Fifties-cool. Fill with retro cola bottles, of course...

Helping hands

There’s a colourful toolfor every kitchen jobin Brabantia’s TASTY+ collection. We’re putting its magnetic twist-to-set timers and battery-free kitchen scales at the top of the list, all in tones of Jade Green, Terracotta Pink and Honey Yellow.

Top notch

Thought your Quooker boiling water tap was a feat of modern-day engineering? Then get a load of this; install the new CUBE extension (attached to the existing tank with a CO2 cylinder) and the tap will stream not just filtered, chilled and boiling water but a sparkling option too.

HOT STUFF

The biggest launch in Miele’s 120-year history has arrived. Called Generation 7000, the collection featuresmore than 350 new built-in models. The impossibly sleek lines are definitely the stars of the show, with new design VitroLine in Graphite Grey (pictured), Obsidian Black or Brilliant White offering a myriad of features across combination ovens, microwaves, warming drawers, sealing drawers and, most importantly perhaps, in-built coffee machines.

good looks

Pretty pastels, satin-finish brass and asymmetric shapes mean ex.t’s nouveau collection is endlessly easy on the eye. Yet that’s not to say practicality has been forgotten – check out the generously sized shelf areas on the vanities for stashing beauty products, while the slim metal elements double as towel rails.

Small surprises

These colourful little numbers by Matteo Thun and Antonio Rodriguez for Italian firm Fantini are new at CP Hart’s expansive Waterloo showroom. We think they’d make gorgeous paperweights, but they are actually mixer tap handles designed to sit alongside sculptured chrome spouts.

ORDERLY FORM

If you thought larders were the stuff of county piles and always came in neutral-hued shaker styles, take a look at Poliform’s Phoenix kitchen. The tall larder units feature retractable doors, shelves in embossed lacquered carbone and black elm back panels – and they’re completely devoid of handlesto bring a contemporary update to kitchen storage.

KEEP IT PROFESSIONAL

a good craftsperson never blames their tools, yet a home-cooked meal is unlikely to rival anything whipped up in a restaurant. Invest in the Mia kitchen range from Scavolini and things could be different. designed with Italian chef Carlo Cracco, it has kit worthy of any top cook, from keep-warm lamps to pull-out units with integrated chopping boards and cut-outs for peelings. ergonomic design at its best.

Clean sweep

Expecting guests on Saturday but loathe spending Friday tidying up? The Kobold VR300 vacuum is the next step in robot-tech, promising floor cleaning controlled via an app. Just programme its route, outline no-go zones and watch as it automatically heads back to its dock for charging.

side step

Wooden floors might be the default for high-end interiors, yet attach a big-star name like Michele De Lucchi (founding member of the Memphis group) and suddenly your parquet is a cut above. The standout feature of his Medoc design for Listone Giordano is an unusual laying pattern created with trapezoidal-shaped planks, each made using sustainable Fontaines oak.

SCREEN TIME

Could a rise in smart screens herald the end of the traditional TV-in-the-corner concept? If you are streaming through Amazon Prime Video or other media apps, just place Lenovo’s latest tablet, with 10-inch full-HD screen and ultra- clear audio, in its included dock to enter ‘show mode’.

YES PLISSÉ

There’s nothing basic about the basins in the Plissé collection from Italian manufacturer Artelinea. Its plinth-style units, each made entirely from coloured- glass, feature uniformed rows of pleats. The result is a surface so shiny that you needn’t bother with the show-stopping mirror above (from the Gemme collection).

See the latest kitchen and bathroom trends.