Latest news with #SonasBathrooms
Belfast Telegraph
24-05-2025
- Health
- Belfast Telegraph
Home help: Should I replace my bath in favour of a super-sized shower?
Darren Kennedy asks bathroom expert Honor Curé for some advice There's something inherently comforting about the idea of a long soak in the bath — candles lit, playlist on, and the chaos of the day melting away. But let's be honest: how often does that ideal actually play out in real life? When time is tight (and space even tighter), many of us are left wondering if the beloved bathtub is still worth the footprint it takes up. To help weigh up the pros and cons, I turned to expert Honor Curé who, as the winner of the Sonas Bathrooms and TU Dublin 2025 Bathroom Design of the Year competition, knows a thing or two about how to make a bathroom work smarter, not harder.
Irish Times
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Irish Times
Bathroom upgrades: How to boost energy efficiency without sacrificing style
After a few glorious weeks of sunshine, the kind of weather we long for all year, the downside of this long dry spell is beginning to show. Hosepipe bans, dwindling reservoirs and calls to conserve water. While it's easy to blame thirsty lawns and wilting flower beds, the real water guzzler at home is often hiding in plain sight – the bathroom. Paul O'Neill of Sonas Bathrooms has some tips for making your bathroom more efficient without sacrificing comfort or style . Simple swaps 'Swapping your shower head is one of the quickest and most effective ways to reduce water usage at home,' O'Neill says. Modern water-efficient designs can cut consumption by up to 60 per cent compared with older models, without compromising on comfort. Many now feature air-infused spray technology, delivering a powerful flow while using far less water. And it's not just the shower head that matters. Thermostatic valves help to maintain a steady temperature, so you're not wasting water trying to get the settings right. Some systems also include eco modes or flow restrictors, reducing water use to as little as six litres per minute – about half that of a typical shower. 'With modern heating systems like heat pumps and other renewables, it can take much longer to reheat water compared to older immersion or gas boilers,' O'Neill says. 'So if your teenager takes a long shower, it might be hours before the next person has hot water again.' READ MORE Smart fixtures Taps are another easy win. Aerated models blend air with water to reduce flow while still giving a full-feeling stream. Many modern tap collections are designed to use as little as five litres per minute. Look out for taps that include cold-start technology, meaning cold water is the default when the tap is switched on. It's a small but clever way to avoid unnecessarily heating water. 'Reducing water usage doesn't just help the environment, it saves money too,' says O'Neill. 'A large portion of your heating bill goes toward heating water, not air. So when you reduce flow rates, you're also cutting your energy costs.' Attachments Guest WC designed by Optimise Design Toilets have also come a long way. Dual-flush systems are now standard, but even these vary in performance. Some eco-flush toilets use as little as four and 2.6 litres per flush, a significant drop from the older six- and four-litre systems. Over time, this small change can save thousands of litres of water each year in a typical household. It might surprise you to learn that manufacturing a single roll of toilet paper consumes nearly 170 litres of water. That's where shower toilets or bidet attachments come in. While these might seem indulgent, they're actually more sustainable, reducing toilet paper use by up to 75 per cent, improving hygiene and minimising waste. [ Diary of a retrofit: It cost €60,000 but it is worth every cent Opens in new window ] Toilet tech Water-saving can go well beyond fixtures and fittings. Leak detectors can automatically shut off the water supply if a leak is detected, saving both water and money in the event of a burst pipe or persistent drip. While commonly seen in commercial settings, touchless taps are becoming more popular in residential bathrooms. Because they only run when hands are detected, they can reduce unnecessary water use which is especially helpful in homes with children who tend to leave taps running. Other innovations, such as taps with built-in LED temperature displays, help reduce the habit of running water unnecessarily while waiting for it to warm up. Bathers beware Baths use significantly more water than showers, so if you plan to indulge, it's worth making a few smart choices. Start with the bath itself. Enamelled steel retains heat far better than acrylic, meaning the water stays warmer for longer and you're less likely to top up with more hot water. Oversized or deep baths may look impressive, but they require far more water to fill. If you're designing a new bathroom, consider whether a more compact bath could meet your needs without the excess water use. Simply being mindful about how often and how full you run your bath can make a big difference. If you enjoy regular baths, balancing them out with shorter showers during the week can help reduce your overall consumption without cutting out the ritual altogether. Thoughtful design Taps are another easy win. Bathroom designed by Optimise Design Water-saving isn't just about choosing the right fittings – it starts with how you plan the space. A well-designed bathroom can help you use less water. Start by positioning key fixtures such as the shower, bath and basin closer to the hot-water source. This shortens the length of pipework, reducing both heat loss and the amount of water wasted while you wait for it to warm up. Don't forget about preventing leaks, too. Wet areas such as showers and wet rooms should be properly sealed or tanked during installation to stop slow leaks that can quietly waste litres of water and cause costly damage. [ How does retrofitting your house pay off? Opens in new window ] Finally, consider whether grey-water recycling systems could be integrated if you're planning a full renovation or self-build. These collect and filter water from basins or showers for reuse in toilet flushing – a more advanced step, but one that's becoming increasingly relevant in sustainable home design. Whether you're planning a full bathroom renovation or just looking to make some simple swaps, water-saving doesn't have to mean sacrificing comfort.
Irish Examiner
16-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Irish Examiner
Wish List: Seven super home buys that are hot on the scent of summer
The sanctuary Irish brand Sonas Bathrooms tells us the "mindful wet room" is on the rise. The bathroom is no longer just a functional space, says Sonas, but "evolving into a sanctuary of self-care and tranquillity". This is exclusive subscriber content. Already a subscriber? Sign in Subscribe to access all of the Irish Examiner. Annual €120€60 Best value Monthly €10€4 / month Unlimited access. Subscriber content. Daily ePaper. Additional benefits.
Irish Independent
10-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Irish Independent
Home help: Should I replace my bath in favour of a super-sized shower?
When time is tight (and space even tighter), many of us are left wondering if the beloved bathtub is still worth the footprint it takes up. To help weigh up the pros and cons, I turned to expert Honor Curé who, as the winner of the Sonas Bathrooms and TU Dublin 2025 Bathroom Design of the Year competition, knows a thing or two about how to make a bathroom work smarter, not harder. 'A thoughtfully designed bathroom can genuinely impact your quality of life,' says Curé. 'A smart layout can give you back precious minutes in the morning rush, help you unwind in the evening, or offer a rare few minutes of peace during a hectic day.' And yet, despite its importance, the bathroom is usually one of the smallest rooms in the home. This means every fixture has to earn its place — and none more so than in the bath-versus-shower debate. Curé recommends starting with your daily routine. 'If you shower daily and only find time for a proper soak once a month (or less), a super-sized shower is probably the better investment. It makes moving around easier and can really elevate your experience of the space.' She points to Sonas Bathrooms's 1700mm-long shower tray — a personal favourite — because it fits into the same footprint as a standard bath. 'You can even add an internal seat — perfect for the all-encompassing 'everything showers' trending on TikTok right now,' she adds. Life stage also plays a role. Baths can be a godsend for families with young children, but as households evolve, showers tend to offer more long-term flexibility — especially for those with mobility needs or older family members. Height matters too: taller folks often find a tub too cramped, while a spacious shower can feel far more comfortable. Then there's the environmental and financial angle. 'Showers use significantly less water than baths,' Curé notes. 'A bath can use up to 60 more litres of water than a 10-minute shower, so the savings on your energy bill are real.' Ultimately, the decision comes down to lifestyle, space and how you see your needs evolving. 'If you're practical about how you use your bathroom and open to rethinking the norm, you can create a space that's both functional and indulgent, for now and for the future.' So, if your bath is gathering more dust than bubbles, it might be time to let it go in favour of a fabulous, full-sized shower experience.
