Will frameless plain glass eventually give way to patterns and profiles? Philippa Turrell questions

Interior fashions may come and go but one trend has remained a staple, and that’s the clean, coveted lines of the wet room. And the demand for frameless enclosures has no signs of waning. But in a market where less is more, how will the market for frameless enclosures continue to flourish? Will manufacturers look to add ‘detailing’ to differentiate their designs, adding more ‘value’ for consumers?

Height and thickness

Industry experts believe the market for frameless enclosure looks will continue to thrive, perhaps moving towards thicker glass and higher enclosures for points of difference. Andrew Bullingham of Kirby Sebastian adds: “In the next couple of years the height of the doors and enclosures is going to change from the current standard of 1900mm to 2m. This is reflected in the ongoing trend for shower trays and bases reducing in depth.” He continues: “I also believe in the mid to upper end of the market, 10mm glass will become the new 8mm, giving products that extra bit of stability and luxury.”  The ability to create bespoke spaces will also further the growth of the frameless enclosure in the premium sector. Managing director of Aqata, Jayne Barnes says, continuing: “In the future more attic spaces will be utilised in new builds and conversions and our Bespoke service can maximise the potential of these challenging spaces.”

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However, industry experts haven’t entirely ruled out updates to the frameless design with perhaps a return to pattern or colour. Commerical director of Kirby Sebastian Andrew Bullingham adds: “We saw an influx of stained and engraved glass to the market a couple of years ago, along with water delivery systems built into the enclosures, but these simply did not take off.” But he cautiously adds in conclusion: “If they can be adapted to be more affordable and appealing, I can see some of these ideas reappearing in the market.”

The full article appeared in the May issue of Kitchens & Bathrooms News