Bespoke Bathrooms

Enhancing the bath experience to the uber luxury level, is the objective of bathroom brands in India as they launch premium products with advanced features. By Seema Gupta

If you have it, flaunt it! This mantra is more than evident in the bath space, which has come to resemble a private spa, complete with head, ceiling-mounted and side showers, waterfall and jet sprays, customised bath tubs, mood lighting, favourite music playlist, coordinated fittings, furniture pieces and accessories, and personalized digital controls and interfaces. Add-ons like hands-free toilets, free-standing baths, waterfall showers, statement taps, automated seats, and glass basins, add to the overall luxury experience. The consumer is now spoilt for choice given the plethora of branded products in the market.

Grohe’s SmartControl 360 Shower System with its lozenge-shaped XXL head shower in 360 mm of width, offers 100% control of the bath. User can opt for the preferred spray pattern, water temperature and flow, volume setting and memory, thanks to its SmartControl technology. It’s simple, smart and prevents usage of more water than necessary. The other technology backing this is the GROHE TurboStat® thermo-element that delivers water at the desired temperature within a fraction of a second and keeps it steady for the entire duration of the shower.

Grohe’s F-digital Deluxe offers light effects for chromo therapy, music and a steam shower. Its interior design flexibility means that the modules of the F-digital Deluxe can be installed as per personal preferences. A docking station with an Apple iPod Touch 4G connection permits easy control of all module functions – that is, coloured and dimmable LED lights, music and the intensity of steam - using the GROHE SPA™ app.



Hindware’s intuitive and intelligent Rain Spa is a multi-functional showerhead with a therapeutic massage column, mood lighting, and gentle mist spray. Features include a 7-coloured LED shower with three different water flow options such as rainfall, massage column, and gentle mist spray, all of which are controlled and operated by a diverter to choose water flow and colour. In dimensions of 680 x 430 mm, it is made of stainless steel, with a mirror surface chrome plating.

HSIL’s luxury sanitaryware brand QUEO from UK, a leading British purveyor of bespoke bathrooms, is offering La Musique Wet Beatz – an avant-garde music shower with a rain shower head and facility of receiving phone calls while bathing. The in-built magnetic wireless speaker can be paired with Bluetooth(R)-enabled devices and is compatible with Windows, Android and IOS. Combining forms of ceramic and metal to complement the lifestyle of the privileged, the brand’s product range is designed by reputed European designers. CERA has brought in Italian luxury designer sanitaryware ISVEA. Established in 1962 in Italy, ISVEA has bagged many design awards including the prestigious Red Dot. Technologically advanced product features include CleaRim WCs (rimless WCs); Aquaplus WCs (uses just 2.7 litres of water); DecorPlus (printed wash basins); SmartPlus (has built-in personal hygiene); Softclose (noiseless seat closure); SterilPlus (bacteria-free); and e-Motion (height-adjustable WC and wash basin).

Classic Marble Company’s (CMC) has built an elite, custom-made free-standing bath-tub crafted out of Grigio Billiame, a newly introduced KalingaStone marble. Carved out from the highly durable engineered marble, with leather or silken textured finishes or nature-inspired motifs, the bath-tubs can be made available in any designs, shapes, and colours. With radically new texture and surface designs, the product renders a stylish and spectacular look to the bathroom. The installation exemplifies beauty of the engineered marble with uniform flow of dark black veins on the sandy marble surface and makes for a bespoke bathroom. Grigio Billiame can be used in a variety of applications such as wash-sinks, countertops, flooring, wall clads, etc. Available in standard dimensions of 304 X 125 cm and thickness of 12 mm, 16mm, and 18 mm, the engineered marble is highly durable and strong, less porous, more resistant to denting, chipping, abrasion and staining than natural marble.

Indo-German company Dr. Wiesner has launched a series of automated closet seats under the brand name SmartWash. A fusion of precision German engineering and local manufacturing in Bangalore, it features an automatic water bidet, pulse and water massage, in-built dryer, seat heater, odour control, and adjustable water temperature. This hands-free, hygienic seat can be attached to any existing commode, and comes with easy instructions for quick installation. It is available in three different variants.



Asahi India’s coloured lacquered / black painted glass under its AIS Décor range, has the potential to create stunning interiors and transform spaces. Lacquered glass especially, makes the bathrooms look fresh and clean. Functionally, it is easy to clean and maintain, is durable and remains unaffected by moisture, humidity and scratches. AIS Décor range of colored lacquered glass is available in 10 shades - Venetian Red, Black Pearl, Snow White, Sterling Silver, Chrome Yellow, Stone Grey, Turquoise Green, Hazel Brown, Sparkling Beige, Sparkling Snow White, and the latest Sparkling Regal Gold - the color of success, luxury, and triumph. In bathrooms it can be used for making partitions, cabinet doors, partitions, etc. Duravit’s L-Cube furniture range brings style, function, and a structured look to create personalized washing areas with its custom storage solutions with self-closing, handle-free drawers. The range comes in 30 different surfaces, 3 high-gloss finishes, real-wood fronts and interiors in diamond black. Also available are mirror elements with an integrated dimmer function. Glare-free LED illumination on all four sides gives optimum illumination up to 480 lux at a pleasant 3,500 degrees kelvin.

Use of authentic materials, solid real wood and an innovative high-strength ceramic formula have enabled construction of especially thin and delicate wash bowls with curved forms in rim thickness of only 5mm. They are robust, impact-resistant, and easy to clean. Ceramic wash bowls in the Cape Cod range, designed by Philippe Starck, have distinctively thin edges and come with coordinated bathtubs and bathroom furniture.The SensoWash Slim shower-toilet seat features precision hinges that are easy to remove, which means that the ceramics can be thoroughly cleaned with ease. The ME urinal also boasts of the innovative rimless technology. The open design of the flushing rim ensures a powerful flow of water that rinses the entire inner surface of the urinal, while allowing for a fast and hygienic cleaning of the ceramics.

Somany Ceramics has entered the smart and intelligent toilet market with its premium French Collection. Inspired by elements of French heritage, it has over 28 products, ranging from water closets, urinals to wash basins. Each series follows a particular theme with key features like Dual Flush mechanism, Wash-down system, seated sensors, user-defined energy save mode, etc. The star product is the Ace IQ toilet; it comes with a meter long fully customized remote control for complete cleansing and controls such as adjustable water and seat temperature, dryer, deodorizer, night light and flush control, soft close mechanism for automatic opening and closing of the lid, seat rim with temperature control, seated sensor and automatic flushing, night light, warm rear and bidet wash, warm wind drying, sanitizer and deodorizer, user-defined energy save mode that saves water through efficient flushing and powerful water flow, minimal touch points to avoid spreading of germs, and stronger flush technology for efficient flushing. In the luxury shower sector, Graff’s Aqua-sense is a full sensory shower program with additional multimedia functions like chromotherapy, music and video facilities, created for a spa-like experience with its mix of water, colors and sounds. The electronic system with ceiling-mounted shower-head creates an intense central rainfall effect as well as a waterfall jet, while the RGB LED changes color, shaping diffused chromatic lines. The system is controlled by a touch-screen with a simple, intuitive interface controlling water functions, color changes, music and videos. Music can be uploaded by connecting an i-Pod to a wall-mounted USB port, while the speakers are ceiling-installed. The system is equipped with hand-shower and adjustable side body-sprays.

Demand for premium quality sanitaryware products is on the rise owing to higher income, growing awareness, and a shift in lifestyle aspirations, driving domestic sanitaryware manufacturers to increase their focus on developing innovative products. While International companies in India have been catering to the luxury bath segment with their high-end products, Indian sanitaryware companies are also manufacturing products with enhanced features, functions, and looks. The luxury real estate sector, looking for the premium look in the projects, is investing in high-end products too. Remodelling of homes is also driving demand as it entails upgrading to better/latest products.



We offer a comprehensive range of internationally inspired sanitaryware, bathroom furniture, acrylic bathtubs and faucets. We believe in promoting a complete bathroom culture rather than individual products by offering every component of the bathroom products that are developed with leading designers.

Serhan Ateş Yağız, India Country Manager, Eczacıbaşı Building Products Division

For professional bathroom design, it’s crucial to include surprising and relevant solutions. That’s why we need to develop products that enhance the quality of living and help to express individual styles. Flexibility in terms of design and installation possibilities, multi-functionality, and maximum comfort designed to the last detail are the prominent characteristics of Grohe products whose aim is to add an all-new dimension to the bathroom experience.

Renu Misra, Managing Director, Grohe India

CERA decided to bring in a luxury range due to demand by architects and developers looking for a niche product range and with the distribution and service back-up of CERA.

Vikram Somany, CMD, CERA

The luxury sanitaryware market has been witnessing an exponential growth over the last few years. The driving forces in the luxury space have been primarily technology which is enabling innovation and customization to meet personal needs with elegant product designing.

Manish Bhatia, President, Building Products Division, HSIL Limited & CEO, Evok Retail

Our research shows that the Indian market is ripe for a smart bathroom. The growing urban elite are behind the tremendous demand for improving living standards as they have been exposed to global sensibilities. With our products, we aim to usher in a distinct shift in the daily bathroom experience by redefining the hygiene, convenience and luxury benchmark in Indian bathrooms.

HK Nagbhushan, Head of Operations and Director, Dr. Weisner India The smart bathroom market in India is expected to grow rapidly as smart bathrooms offer increased functionality with optimal integrated solutions such as smart toilets, automatic flush systems and faucets, and minimal touchpoints, as standards of hygiene and cleanliness increase globally. We are seeing a return to sleek, sophisticated bathrooms which can be a personal retreat or spa at home. They are now designed for relaxation and rejuvenation and not just utility. These smart bathrooms give consumers a taste of luxury and people don’t mind paying a premium for them.

The luxury bathrooms category has risen from single digits to double digits already and industry reports indicates this category will further grow impressively in India. Another noticeable trend is the gradual move of consumers towards Smart Homes with features such as smart bathrooms to adopt sustainable living and efficient energy management. To meet this growing demand, real estate developers are making a shift from functional to plush homes. Automatically, to match the demands of these homes, there is a definitive rise in demand for smart toilets and super luxury bathrooms.
Abhishek Somany, MD, Somany Ceramics People have started considering the bathroom as an integral aspect of the interiors. Changing consumer preferences are boosting development of new product lines like private spas, shower systems, saunas and larger baths, etc. The trends in India, especially in the lifestyle domain, have taken a leap towards luxury bath products with the finest finish, and also an inclination towards international standards. This has inspired us to achieve technical innovations and practical developments such as Sensowash, Hygiene Glaze ceramic and rimless toilets, all of which are a testimony to the strength of our brand.

Asutosh Shah, MD, Duravit India

Over the last few years, the Indian market has been a protagonist of an increasing attention towards the bathroom as a whole and towards the sanitary ware and fixtures in particular. Parallel to the country’s economic and cultural development, the consumer target for luxury and super luxury bathrooms has expanded. Bathroom and shower products are more and more perceived not only as functional elements but also as design and architecture elements.

Emanuela Tavolini Director of Sales Europe, Graff