Water Looks Good in Black!

If you are a committed traditionalist, it is natural to avoid black in the bathroom: it has a reputation as a dark, gloomy colour that makes a room feel smaller and more masculine. Yet design authorities say it is time to put these assumptions aside, especially in accents such as taps and fittings.Used well, black can bring an entirely different aesthetic and sense of style to even an unassuming bathroom. Black accents in a room awash with beige, for example, can transform it into an elegant Zen setting. Black balances a bathroom composition made bright with chrome, adding elegance and distinction.

There are, however, certain rules to using black in the bathroom. Cover everything in it and you may end up with the small, intimidating room described above. If you choose black tiles, opt for textured designs that play with light, direct it into the room from different angles and create a dynamic appearance. If your furniture is black, pair it with a soft natural tone such as mink, ecru or pale terracotta.

One of bathroom designers’ greatest discoveries in recent years has been black taps and fittings. To make the most of the sophisticated aesthetic they bring, design the room in ash grey and anthracite, and choose textures such as stone or marble for the basin. Matt black taps combined with a matt stone basin are forgiving of fingerprints and water marks while bringing an authentic natural appearance to the room. Whether matt or glossy, black taps also conceal water marks easily. However, water can leave visible mineral deposits. We therefore recommend regular cleaning to avoid damaging the finish and keep your fittings looking their best.

Let us turn to some of the most distinctive examples of the black tap trend. The concealed bath mixers in Kale Banyo’s Zero series combine matt black with minimalist forms. Featuring a 40 mm ceramic cartridge and push-button diverter, this mixer allows two functions to be selected from an overhead shower, hand shower, bath spout and body jet. A single-function version is also available. The exposed Zero bath mixer stands out with a lockable shower diverter and a honeycomb flow regulator that saves 40% of water. The matt black Zero series’ concealed and tall basin mixers also offer 40% water savings through their flow regulators, forming a capable, environmentally conscious product family.