Cool new finishes for bathroom taps

Giving the lowdown on the latest trends in taps and their new prominence in today's contemporary bathrooms, Nathan Helms, director of luxury bathroom tap supplier Arte Form, chats to Foam & Bubbles

I remember my first day at my second job well. It was April 1988 and I was 20. That bathroom shop had 50 suites on display over two floors. It was quite a sight with rows upon rows of baths stood on end with their matching basins and loos perched on shelves next to them, alongside dozens of shower enclosures and taps scattered anywhere they would fit.

Although by then most of the Seventies colours like Sepia Brown, Sun King Yellow and the oft-bemoaned Avocado Green had gone out of vogue, there were still many colours available… Indian Ivory, Champagne and various 'Whisper' tints were the most popular. There were even some two-tone creations around – such as Lilas Jaspé pink and Zibeline Jaspé peachy-brown – which when I think about them now were pretty hideous.

So why were all these colours so popular? For me it was two things… Tile choice was extremely limited and what was available was pretty boring (most sales I made were for 6" Bumpy Whites as they were called) so consumers jazzed up the room with coloured bathroom suites. Secondly, the designs of baths and sanitaryware were also dull – making white bathroom suites on a backdrop of white tiles look too cold and functional.

Now of course, tile choice is vast with thousands of styles available. Although this has contributed to the decline of coloured suites, in recent years we have seen the introduction of coloured solid surface and steel shower trays in dark greys, black and textured finishes that blend in with the floor.
Bathroom furniture has moved from white louvred doors and melamine tops to luxurious units with stunning coloured finishes that help to create the mood-enhancing bathrooms we aspire to today.

But it is the taps that really bring a bathroom to life and draw compliments from guests and relatives. Given that white sanitaryware is here to stay, the obvious contrast is black and this finish has been gaining in popularity. Although black basin taps have been around for a while, the uptake has been patchy due to high prices and a lack of availability across the whole bathroom, for example with shower controls and accessories. Arte Form has all the options – right down to the loo roll holder – in our satin black finish, which is long-lasting and looks fantastic.

From top: (1) Maco tall basin monobloc in chrome with orange handle; (2) Maco shower column in orange; (3) Maco thermo valve in orange; (4) Maco shower column in black; (5) Maco thermo valve with lime back plate; (6) Cube ceiling showerhead in lime and Maco basin monobloc in chrome with lime handle; (7) Cube ceiling showerhead in lime; (8) Cube ceiling shower head white; (9) MIX 3 hole basin set with cross handles; (10) Toox two-hole basin mixer in brushed steel; (11) Maco two-hole wall basin mixer in chrome with black lever; (12) Rajia basin monobloc in gold. Arte Form can be contacted at info@arteform.co.uk and 07860 758541

Brushed stainless steel is another material gaining traction in the bathroom world. Although brushed nickel is available – a finish applied to a brass tap to mimic brushed steel – it is the durability of stainless steel that makes it so appealing. Arte Form has two complete ranges with more in the pipeline.

And finally, colour has made a comeback, although this time around it's tap finishes in bold, statement hues that will add a pop of colour in the bathroom. Arte Form offers colour options across the range, all of which are are designed and manufactured in Europe. (All Arte Form ranges comply with the latest US and EU directives on low lead and lead-free content in brass taps)

So while 1988 seems like a long time ago and I can't see the days of Whisper tints or two-tones suites returning anytime soon, the desire to express our individual style through colour hasn't changed over the years. Certainly the trend for standout finishes and colours on taps seems here to stay.