That’s Life Anew
WASHLET® and me

People renovate their bathrooms an average of one to two times in their lives. This means that the decisions regarding the design and functionality have a longer lasting impact than configuring a new car, which would end up in the junkyard after an average of 12-18 years. This makes it all the more important to have an expert partner at your side from the very beginning to ask the right questions, provide inspiration and handle every step of the professional realization from A to Z.

 

We interviewed Heike Schnepel at bathroom design firm HEKÖ in Voerde to learn how bathroom renovations work – from the initial idea to the finished product.

Ms Schnepel, which customers come to your showroom?

 

Usually, people come to us with one of two situations: Either they’ve recently purchased a new home or apartment, or they want to renovate. When it comes to new constructions, the bathroom is part of an overall package that we put together with the developer or architect. Customers who have bought an existing property or want to renovate their bathrooms after 20-25 years are the ones who usually come to us.

What happens during the consultation? Is there something that the customers should bring with them to their first appointment? What should they keep in mind?

 

We take time for our customers. The bathroom is a very personal place – which is why it’s important to us to create a trusted, relaxed atmosphere for our conversations. First, we take a seat in the showroom and talk for an hour to 90 minutes, carefully exploring their wishes and needs. We always ensure that couples and domestic partners both come to the appointment to ensure that everyone’s feelings are heard.

 

It's essential that we have the rough measurements of the bathroom for the first conversation. A couple of pictures or dimensional drawings are even better. Then we see if we have the same ideas regarding the budget or can come to an understanding.

We take time for our customers.

Can you tell us if younger customers plan different types of bathrooms than older customers? If so, how are their ideas and requests different?

 

Definitely. Younger customers that have recently purchased their first property and want to renovate the bathroom often have a smaller budget. The main focus here is on modernising the space. Depending on their needs, the bathroom is a space where people want to get ready for their day or even relax after work. For young families, it’s often a multifunctional space that must meet the needs of both children and their parents.

 

When it comes to elderly customers, well-being is also a key factor – but the focus is on planning for the future. Perhaps they have thought about replacing the bathtub with a walk-in shower. Or maybe ensuring enough freedom of movement in the bathroom is important, planning enough space for a walker or nurse.

 

Over the course of these discussions, we get to know our customers better. And this helps us anticipate and assess their individual needs. For example, I noticed a stoma device when visiting a customer’s home. The customer didn’t mention this during our initial conversation – but we did end up taking this into consideration in our plans.

 

How have bathrooms changed since the 1980s?

 

What bathroom trends have we seen in the past several years? In the 1980s, bathrooms were really just functional spaces. We’ll often see wet rooms that measure 1.40 m x 1.80 m, even in homes with huge living rooms measuring 40 m². People really only spent enough time in the bathroom to brush their teeth, shower or use the toilet. Today, we have a different idea of the bathroom: It’s an oasis of calm where people feel comfortable. People like to withdraw from their fast-paced everyday lives to find some peace and quiet. And there’s a lot of technology designed to support this effort: complicated lighting systems that can be changed to create different moods or shower toilets with heated seats and warm water cleansing for greater comfort.

 

Are there products or technical factors that you feel are essential for future bathroom designs?

 

Each bathroom is as different as each customer. We try to design solutions that are as individualised and proactive as possible. It makes no sense to put a semicircular 50 cm-deep washbasin with a mirror in a tube-shaped bathroom. It takes up too much room. And once this elderly customer can no longer stand, he won’t be able to see himself in the mirror. A better choice: a flat, 40 cm washbasin that is potentially also accessible, along with a telescope mirror with magnification. Otherwise, we always install an electrical outlet near the toilet. Even if customers aren’t ready for WASHLET®, this makes it easy to incorporate one later on.

 

If customers already have a bidet in their bathroom, we ask if they actually use it. This is a different conversation. Not only does WASHLET® save a great deal of space, but it also offers the confidence of knowing that they don’t need to move from one place to another. In addition to the comfort provided by the intimate cleansing feature on WASHLET®, the dryer also saves toilet paper – a major topic during the pandemic. The special glaze also makes it very easy to clean. The special flush also saves water. With so many environmentally friendly features, WASHLET® is definitely part of our modern age.

 

In the car, no one wants to do without automatic window regulators. Then comfort in the bathroom should certainly not be lacking.

What are the next steps in the bathroom design process? What happens after the first meeting?

 

After our initial conversation in the showroom, we visit our customer’s home to take measurements. We take a close look at the existing conditions, including the water and electricity connections in the bathroom and basement. We use these details to create an initial 3D drawing and meet back at our showroom to pick out specific products. Customers can look around and try WASHLET® in our customer restrooms. At our fourth and final appointment, we meet to finalise the plans, discuss all the details and go over the costs.

 

Once we finish planning, which includes three to four meetings each one week apart, we order all the products. It takes about two months for everything to arrive in our warehouse, and then we can get started.

 

 

A four- to five-week bathroom renovation is a very long time. What’s the situation with using the bathroom during this time – is it possible to use the shower and toilet? And how much dust, dirt and construction debris are involved in the process?

 

Unfortunately, it’s not possible to use the bathroom during this time. We usually end up taking pretty much everything out of the space and turning it upside down. A lot of different trades are involved over the course of four weeks: starting with the drywall builder to the tile setter, electrician and plumber. Of course, everything needs to be properly sealed in the bathroom, which requires a great deal of drying time. These are some of the reasons why it takes so long. A lot of customers use the guest bathroom, shower at neighbours’ or family members’ homes, or go on holiday. If it’s not possible, we set up a camping toilet, or have even built a temporary shower in the cellar.

 

When it comes to dirt and dust: It’s impossible to avoid. We try to protect the floors and other rooms the best we can. We cover the floors, hang sheets to keep dust from spreading, and use an exhaust system when working in the bathroom. These measures all work pretty well. One customer even told me that she would have done the renovation much earlier if she knew just how clean the process could be.

 

Ms Schnepel, thanks so much for your interesting insights and the conversation.

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