Bathrooms Reimagined

Bruno Mendolini

Ah, buongiorno everybody—welcome back to Tile Choices, where your bathroom gets to be more than just that, eh? I'm Bruno, and here with me, as always, is the marvelous Maria. Today, we're diving headfirst into how bathrooms in 2026 aren't just for brushing your teeth and running out the door anymore.

Maria

Ciao, ciao! Yes, the bathroom as, you know, an actual living space—that’s the big shift now. It’s not about that bright, cold light and the clinical feel anymore. Think of those honed stone finishes—travertine, even soft limewash walls—making things feel warm, like a cozy alcove, not a doctor’s office.

Bruno Mendolini

Exactly! You don’t wanna feel like you’re in the hospital. The new idea, it’s sculptural—freestanding tubs with those, uh, gorgeous rounded shapes, monolithic vanities that look more like sculptures you’d see at, what, Milan Design Week last year, si?

Maria

I love that you brought that up. Actually, I had a client—she wanted to get rid of these flat, cold, clinical white tiles. We swapped everything for this beautiful, honed travertine tile, all warm beiges and soft finishes. She joked her bathroom was suddenly the most popular room in the house! Guests stopped just rushing in and out, they’d, like, linger—just standing there taking everything in.

Bruno Mendolini

Ah see, that’s the goal. It makes the bathroom a living environment—a real space to relax, not just… you know, “get in and get out.”

Maria

Building on that, what I love right now? Texture. Bathrooms full of tactile surfaces are huge. Remember in the last episode, we talked 3D tiles for drama? Well, in 2026, those hand-formed clay or stone tiles, with a lot of profile, actually create these ever-changing shadows as the light moves—every part of the day has a different feel.

Bruno Mendolini

Si! In Rome, years ago—maybe a decade, eh, or more?—I worked on a tiny bathroom, we used hand-crafted Italian clay tiles on the wall. The tile had this muscle, this depth… so light would dance and move, make even a small space feel like a work of art. Mamma mia, that’s what good design does—brings depth out, even on the tiniest wall.

Maria

Absolutely. Even those matte stones are smart—they react to water, to how you touch them. Give your wall a little pat and you can see the texture pop. The whole space ends up feeling less flat and more personal, like you want to reach out and touch things. Not just look at them from a distance.

Bruno Mendolini

And these materials—clay, stone, plaster—eh, they just bring the whole atmosphere together. You get texture under your fingers, the light shifting, the feeling of something that was made, not just produced.

Maria

Let’s talk color! People are finally moving away from the all-gray, all-white, a little bit sterile bathrooms from just a few years ago. Now, it’s warm palettes—think beige with a hint of vanilla, rich caramels, even mossy greens. Some folks are getting bold, too, throwing in blocks of rose or tangerine. It’s playful but, I don’t know, still feels curated, grown-up.

Bruno Mendolini

Oh yes, and you know what ties it all together? Real comfort features. Those heated stone floors? Once you have them, you'll never go back, trust me. And the lighting—now, it shifts through the day, matching how you wanna feel in the evening versus the morning. Subtle, not like you’re in a, eh, stadium or something.

Maria

Right, it’s all about that balance of beauty and, you know, above-average quality. People want bathrooms that last, not something super trendy that looks tired in, like, two years.

Bruno Mendolini

Maria, you see many folks still stuck on those standard subway tiles, open shelving with no protection, or those—eh—super minimal spaces that have, what, no storage? That’s what’s falling out. These choices, they just don’t hold up, visually or with everyday life. You gotta think about how you live, not just about what’s trending online.

Maria

Exactly—and I keep telling clients: those ultra-clinical all-white rooms, they may look fresh now, but they age so quickly, and it’s hard to make them feel cozy. Warmth, a bit of rich tone, even a pop of something unexpected—that’s what’ll still feel good years from now.

Bruno Mendolini

You know, something else that’s totally changing the bathroom? Technology. It’s, uh, not just fancy lights anymore. In 2026, we see voice-activated lighting, temperature, even mirrors that don’t fog up unless you want them to—and all automatic. I—sometimes I struggle with the commands, but the younger homeowners love it.

Maria

Yeah, and it isn’t just about showing off gadgets—it's really about using tech to make daily life easier. Like, just imagine: you step in, the lights know it’s morning and they’re soft, not blinding, the floor’s already warm, you don’t have to fiddle with the thermostat. And of course, things like moisture sensors and automated exhaust fans mean no more worrying about mold behind the walls. The technology manages air quality without you even thinking about it.

Bruno Mendolini

But the smart stuff can blend right in. You don’t wanna walk into a bathroom and feel like you’re in a spaceship, si? Find systems that sit behind the design, not in front of it. That’s my rule—functionality married to design, never one overpowering the other.

Maria

Exactly, keep those integrated panels hidden, so you get all the comfort and control, but the eye still gets that, you know, warm, relaxing vibe. If it feels like a science lab, you’ve gone too far!

Maria

We can’t close today’s episode without mentioning sustainability. This is big—people care where their materials come from, and how their choices impact the environment. In 2026, it's recycled wood, bamboo, low-VOC paints, even rainwater harvesting systems and dual-flush toilets everywhere. It’s not just a checkbox—it’s core to the design.

Bruno Mendolini

Yeah, and for me, picking good, durable materials—stuff you don’t have to rip out in five years, eh?—that’s real sustainability. Think about timeless design—marble, long-lasting ceramics, things that age well, so if you renovate, you just update instead of demolish everything. Good for your wallet, good for the planet.

Maria

It’s about planning for the long haul—not just hopping on every trend. Design your space to be flexible, pick things that’ll last, and you can refresh with a new mirror or, you know, towels—instead of redoing your tile every decade.

Bruno Mendolini

But you know, that’s what we love about tile—you get beauty, practicality, and if you plan well, real longevity. I could talk about this for hours, Maria, but—

Maria

—but the next episode is waiting! Grazie mille to everyone listening. If you enjoyed today, make sure to follow and share the show. Bruno, always a pleasure talking design with you.

Bruno Mendolini

Ah, sempre, Maria. Thanks, friends, for joining us on Tile Choices. We’ll catch you next time—arrivederci!

Maria

Ciao, ciao! And remember—make your bathroom a space worth lingering in. Until next episode!