PJH's Tanna Molyneux: Transforming a design trend into a bathroom sale

Tanna Molyneux, bathroom product manager for Bathrooms to Love by PJH, reveals how retailers can maximise the growing appetite amongst consumers for layering contrasting metallic finishes for a more curated and personalised look.

As bathroom design continues to evolve, there has been a move away from rigidly matched schemes towards spaces that feel more layered, individual and considered. Co-ordination still matters, but it is increasingly being achieved in a more nuanced way, with different metallic finishes used across the bathroom to create contrast, depth and character.

A good starting point is to establish one dominant metal and build from there. In many bathrooms, that lead finish will come through the brassware or showering details, because those elements tend to have the strongest visual presence. Once that main tone has been established, a secondary accent can then be introduced elsewhere to add interest and definition. In most cases, that works better than trying to bring in too many finishes at once.

The key lies in the undertones and the balance rather than exact matching. Warm and cool tones should sit comfortably alongside one another, with each one playing a role within the wider scheme. Gunmetal, for example, can bring depth and richness, while Matt Black often introduces a sharper, more architectural edge. Used together, they can create a bathroom that feels contemporary and refined, particularly when those finishes are repeated carefully across the space rather than appearing as isolated details.

That is why secondary metallics often work especially well on elements such as mirrors, lighting, niches, handles or framing. These details can help carry the design story through the room without overpowering it. Repetition and visual rhythm matter too. If a second finish appears only once, it can feel accidental, but if it is picked up in two or three places, the overall look starts to feel deliberate and visually resolved.       

We’ve recently introduced a range of Gunmetal pairings to our collections, a sophisticated finish with a beautiful metallic lustre and strong steely looks. This tone works perfectly with Matt Black, as seen above with our Iconix Wetroom Panel with a Gunmetal profile and support arm, teamed with Matt Black shower, head, wall niche, and tray waste cover.

What works well in that combination is that the finishes are similar enough in mood to feel cohesive, yet different enough to introduce contrast. The Gunmetal framing gives the wetroom area depth and presence, while the Matt Black elements help define the space more crisply.

Gunmetal is an interesting deep, dark metallic – also great in combination with chrome, so joining this range are new taps and showers in Gunmetal, courtesy of Abode, one of our exclusive partners. Abode’s Refine taps and Uno showers are effortlessly stylish, and the tap comes with 2 handles – one smooth, the other with a textured, fluted effect for added depth (above).

Brushed Bronze is another wonderful aged metallic finish, and here (above) the warm tones of the wall-mounted brassware and ladder radiator, balance well with the bold Matt Black lighting, accessories and window frame.    

The same principle can be applied when furniture becomes part of the wider design story. Bathrooms to Love’s Chic is a strong example of this (below), as its clean elegant form in an earthy Taupe finish, takes on darker metallic accents to help bring structure and contrast to the scheme.

Matt Black takes on the dominant metallic tone – as featured in Chic’s tapered metal legs, basin tap, ladder radiator and lighting, whilst complementary Gunmetal shows up in the wetroom.

This is often where the approach works best, when each element contributes something slightly different to the room. One multi-tonal metal maybe striking and bold, another maybe soft and sophisticated, while neutral or muted surrounding materials help anchor the overall look. The result is not a bathroom that feels busy, but one that feels layered, balanced and intentionally designed.

For retailers and designers alike, imagery can be especially helpful in guiding these conversations. Customers do not always find it easy to visualise how different tones and finishes will work together from swatches alone. Seeing a complete setting, with pairings such as Matt Black and Brushed Bronze, Gunmetal and Black, or Chrome and Brass – combined with complementary furniture, wall panels, and tiling, makes the concept far easier to understand.

Ultimately, this is not about moving away from co-ordinated design, but about approaching it in a more flexible and contemporary way. When one metal dominates, a secondary accent is introduced with restraint, and both are repeated thoughtfully, the space is instantly elevated adding warmth and personality – and more in tune with the way many customers want their bathrooms to look and feel.