MILAN — Amid a challenging global outlook, the bath as a respite took center stage at international design fair Salone del Mobile.Milano.
The 64th edition of the fair, which opened at the Fiera Milano Rho trade grounds on April 21 and closed here Sunday, included two biennials — kitchen expo Euro Cucina and the International Bathroom Exhibition. The bathroom exhibition, which extended beyond the fair and into awe-inspiring exhibitions across town, conveyed the bath’s spa potential within the home and in hospitality spaces.
Milwaukee-based Graff unveiled Pantheon, outfitted in precious stone and metallic accents, and it echoed the serene atmosphere of ancient Roman baths, transforming the bathroom into what the company called “a personal retreat where water, material and light exist in seamless harmony.”
“It’s a collection that reinterprets the grandeur of classical architecture through a refined contemporary design language,” the company said.
Graff’s Pantheon collection.
Courtesy of Graff
A Personal Sanctuary
Latvian firm Paa tapped designer Karim Rashid to create a compact sanctuary for smaller spaces. The Alba line, which features a vertical bath, was envisaged for contemporary, single bathers and was designed to support lotus position. “The collection is the idea of a vertical bathtub…the water is at a height where you actually fill your body and have a really decent bath,” he said, noting that the simple surface prevents cold and mildew buildup and splashing. “It moves us forward and derives from function,” he added.
Laufen Vitreon Steel collection.
Oliver Helbig
This year, Swiss firm Laufen unveiled the integration of the Vitreon steel surface, which was introduced alongside Saphirkeramik, an ultrathin high-performance ceramic that has shaped the brand’s design identity for more than a decade. In town, Laufen presented a bathroom collection by German industrial designer Konstantin Grcic. Grcic also designed the installation “When Time Becomes Material,” conceived as an experiential space that reflects new routines of everyday life, Grcic explained.
“The challenge of designing a bathroom today is addressing very different people and very different environments around the globe…different cultures, different forms of living and that ranges from a small place to a large space and a quiet space to a very urban space. The challenge is offering the right kinds of surfaces and things and that includes comfort and that kind of simplicity, a flexible concept of things. The bathroom is a sensual space,” he said.
The Evolving Wellness Concept
Gessi’s Longevity ritual.
Courtesy of Gessi
Italian firm Gessi presented a system that envelops the body in steam from above, integrating into home showers without the need for dedicated spaces or structural modifications.
Gessi said it’s building on a private wellness concept and incorporates the value of ritual into the living space. The product is available in two versions: Pure Steam and Steam + Intenso Flow and allows users to adjust steam intensity and enrich their experience with chromotherapy and aromatherapy, using the Gessi Steam, Gessi Colour and Gessi Aroma commands.
For Adrian Duenas, chief executive officer of Houston’s home decor concept firm BeDesign, this year’s kitchen and bath showcases incorporated innovative solutions.
“The creativity around bathrooms was surprising,” Duens said, highlighting Gessi’s 2026 showcase. “Their collections from faucets to integrated spa solutions were brilliant.”
Duravit’s Balcoon bathroom by Patricia Urquiola.
With materials in focus, Duravit and Spanish architect and designer Patricia Urquiola continued their collaboration into 2026, redefining premium bathroom design as a cultural, spatial and experiential concept. Known for her solution-driven designs, Urquiola’s Balcoon bathroom suite was designed with pure, architectural forms, and clear lines created a unique aesthetic with high recognition value. The ceramics are available in white and white satin. For the Balcoon series, Urquiola also created an earthy color called Clay Terra Matt, which emphasizes the tactile or haptic and material properties of the sinks, toilets and bidets.
Downtown, Kohler made headlines for its collaboration with Los Angeles lifestyle brand Flamingo Estate for “The Flamingo Estate Bathhouse by Kohler,” an immersive, multisensory installation. The modernist reinterpretation of the bathhouse dialogued with the natural surroundings in the courtyard of the Padiglione d’Arte Contemporanea on Via Palestro, 14. Kohler CEO David Kohler said the bathroom as a wellness space is on the rise.
“Living spaces are becoming more intentional and wellness‑centered. Kohler continues to be at the leading edge of evolving the bathroom from a functional space into a place for restoration, reflection, wellness and even proactive health insights,” Kohler told WWD, highlighting the recent introduction of Dekoda by Kohler Health, an intuitive passive monitoring device that transforms an individual’s daily bathroom routines into an opportunity to better understand our health from home.
“Across kitchens and baths, the future continues to be about thoughtful design, smart technology, health and wellness, and sustainable use of resources, working together to elevate daily rituals,” he said.
The Flamingo Estate Bathhouse by Kohler.
Courtesy of Kohler
The Challenges Ahead
Looking ahead, the CEO of Italian firm Zucchetti, which expanded its Octo steel collection with David Lopez, said the year ahead will depend greatly on how the Middle East conflict evolves. Armin Broger told WWD that in 2026 the bath industry will be tested as prices for raw materials, shipping and energy will likely be inflated.
“Growth in 2026 will depend on adaptability, sustainable strategies, and addressing market-specific needs. While the Middle East faces challenges, its long-term stability and appeal remain strong. We hope geopolitical issues resolve soon as they greatly impact business,” he said.
On Monday, Salone del Mobile said it recorded more than 1,900 exhibitors and an unexpected rise in visitors to 316,342 versus 302,000 in 2025 from 167 countries. Sixty-eight percent of the attendees were from abroad, dominated by representation from China. The number of visitors from the U.S. was up 8.8 percent versus 2025. The number of operators from Canada surged 28 percent.
Claudio Feltrin, the president of Italy’s federation of woodworking and furniture industries FederlegnoArredo, said the rise in visitors from the U.S. demonstrated “interest and investment capacity, despite [U.S.] President [Donald] Trump’s tariffs.”
FederlegnoArredo said the value of the wood supply chain reached 52.3 billion euros in 2025.
The 65th edition of Salone del Mobile.Milano will take place April 13 to April 17, 2027, with its new project Salone Contract 2027 meant as a way to engage with a global market worth 68 billion euros.
Zucchetti
Rui_ T-Space Studio