Bathrooms are big business. Not only do they add value to your home, but they are also becoming a place of relaxation and wellbeing for most of us who live pretty stressful lives. So investing in your bathroom is most definitely worthwhile.

To find out where to start and what's hot this season in the world of bathrooms we spoke to Anthony Mederer, MD of Hansgrohe.

What's hot this year? What are people putting in their bathroom?

Tap design is always a personal preference and generally matched to the style of the property. But in terms of overall trends, we have developed a number of products that cross many design frontiers from urban to retro chic. Rounded squares are all the rage, sleek and minimalist design, which are high on functionality with water-saving properties.

Large shower heads that have multiple functions from straightforward normal showering to whirling rain are also a preference, together with massage functions.

Body sprays for all over showering pleasure are also making an impact. The biggest overall trend though is individuality — the ability to design your bathing/showering experience to your own personal preference. Gone are the days when we just simply stood under the water to cleanse — bathing and showering is now a 'total' experience.

We have also seen an increase in renovations so have designed a number of cost-effective quality, retro-fit products such as the Raindance Connect. Plug the hand shower into the Raindance Connect to activate the overhead shower and without diversion the water is automatically directed through the shower bar. Raindance Connect fits into any bathroom and can be used wherever a hand shower is already installed.

What tips would you give someone thinking of redoing their bathrooms?

  • Firstly, go through various publications to get an overall idea as to your preferred design/look and feel, which should be empathetic to the style and period of your home.

  • Decide what it is you want to get out of your new bathroom. Do you prefer showering or bathing? Are you looking to sell at a later date? If so, a multi-functional design would be more appropriate.

  • Draw up a budget and stick to it.

  • Visit a number of showrooms to see the ranges within your desired design — you might find you will change your mind, more than once…

  • As bathrooms and kitchens are often the major selling point when putting your house on the market, an investment into recognised, good-quality products is essential.

  • Lastly, we recommend a reputable plumber. We work with a number of preferred suppliers who are familiar with our products and would be happy to recommend some. It is important when purchasing any sanitaryware item to check out the lifespan of the product and also take account of the service agreement — if any!

These days it's all about green. Can you tell us about your eco-friendly products and how they benefit not only the user but also the environment?

Hansgrohe as a company has a sound environmental footprint having implemented solar power in our manufacturing plant and head office since 1993 and spare no effort ensuring the safety and durability of all our products and meeting the health and environmental standards laid down by the strictest of protocols — conserving resources in the process.

Clear specifications during product development, extensive application testing and quality management at all production sites ensures that we support the environment and are committed to the sustainability of our surroundings.

Hansgrohe has broken new ground in electroplating, further minimising environmental impact, and we have a number of products that support water saving across our shower and tap ranges.

Our taps are fitted with a soft aerator — flow limiter — that injects air onto the water, making the spray comfortably soft while saving water. Our newly launched Crometta 85 shower series has both ecological and economical benefits with an 'Ecoflow' which produces six litres per minute at 300kpa.

The Hansgrohe products are also committed to water conservation and recycling projects with the use of the pontos-aquacycle. This system was developed by Pontos, a subsidiary of Hansgrohe, and successfully recycles and cleans greywater so that it can be used a second time, providing water savings up to 50 percent.

For more information visit www.hansgrohe.co.za