Cersaie 2012 Recap: Day 3

Nov. 1, 2012
<span style="background-color: #ffffff;">If you&rsquo;ve been waiting for some bath coverage, today is your lucky day, as our third and final visit to the Bologna Fairgrounds was devoted entirely to fixtures and furnishings.</span>
If you’ve been keeping up with these dispatches, you’ve probably noticed that I’ve been referring to Cersaie as a “tile and bath” show, despite the fact that my recaps have been filled with the former and none of the latter. If you’ve been waiting for some bath coverage, today is your lucky day, as our third and final visit to the Bologna Fairgrounds was devoted entirely to fixtures and furnishings.

The first takeaway? Manufacturers continue to transform the bathroom into a natural oasis, filled with soothing colors, organic textures and soft edges. While some companies have taken this trend further than others, with shower poles mimicking the shape of trees and shower tubs blossoming out from the floor, even the more mainstream designs on display featured new wood looks and soft lighting. The bathroom has always been a place to escape, but it is quickly becoming a naturally inspired refuge.

The second takeaway? Philippe Starck is everywhere.

The following is a look back at some of our favorite bath designs seen at Cersaie. You can read our Day 1 and Day 2 recaps here. And remember to tell us about your favorites in the comments below, or at our Facebook and Twitter pages.

We had a nice surprise at the Hansgrohe booth, as Richard Grohe (grandson of founder Hans Grohe) gave us a personal demonstration of the company’s Raindance technology, which adds oxygen to its droplets to envelope the body without using more water. The Raindance 120 hand shower (shown) allows users to cycle through a range of both soft and hard sprays with one button.
Hansgrohe also had their complete line of shower options on display, including the majestic Raindance Rainfall. (Would make a nice Christmas gift for a certain editor…)
The Axor Starck Organic faucet launched in Europe shortly before Cersaie got underway. Designed “for the head and the heart,” it features a front nozzle with two positions: a 3.5 liters-per-minute normal setting, and a 5 liters-per-minute “boost” position for those real messes. The faucet’s shower stream saves water, while still allowing you to get clean. A green and orange ring on top of the faucet controls the temperature.
Hatria, a division of Marazzi Group, had a wide range of beautiful, organically inspired basin and storage designs on display—the Happy Hour line pictured.
Idea Group was perhaps one of our favorite stops on Day 3, due in part to the large number of striking bath furnishing lines on display, and the quiet ambiance surrounding each vignette. The styles ranged from the angular Cubik series to the long and curvaceous My Seventy Plus line (shown). Its streamlined style enhances modularity, while its rounded ergonomic design enhances practicality.
The reduced ceramic forms that make up Duravit’s Starck 2 line of sinks and vessels embody the flowing movement of water. Here, you can see a Starck 2 sink coupled with the Axor Starck Organic faucet.
Duravit’s popular Darling New line of bath furnishings, designed by Sieder Design, are now offered in pine and with some unique lighting add-ons. Choose lights in the color of your choice to create a subtle, relaxing mood in any bathroom.
Flaminia was single-handedly responsible for some of Cersaie’s most exciting and colorful bath products. The company’s Monowash “AZ” basin is a particularly bold take on the company’s Monowash line of square freestanding basins, which are crafted from one ceramic block. Designed by Alessandro Mendini and Giulio Cappellini.
Flaminia’s Leggera shower-tub, available in 11 striking colors, recalls the image of a folded tissue holding water.
The main structure in Flaminia’s Albero shower system, designed by Massimiliano Abati, evokes a tree, while the tiles underneath can be installed in a square or rectangular configuration and provide a non-slip surface.
We loved the shapely demeanor of the Libera basin from Nero Ceramica, designed by Emanuele Pangrazi.
The Stone series, designed by Creative Lab+ for Globo, merges soft corners with a thick, monolithic look. If durability can have a look, this is it.  
The Premium double sink from Catalano combines lightness and subtlety to create a clean, modern outline. Featuring towel bars underneath the basins, it is ideal for hospitality and other contract environments. It is also available as a single basin.
These gray basins, part of Simas’ Degradè line of basins and accessories, make use of softened angles and muted matte colors to bring a sense of laid-back sophistication to bathrooms. Designed by Terri Pecora.

See more photos from the #Cersaie tradeshow at the Interiors & Sources twitter page. 

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