No Interruptions: Bette

In recent years, the bathroom has been transformed from a functional location for personal hygiene to an area that is highly presentable in design terms and accordingly plays an important role in the ambience of the home.

It is a place of relaxation that is moving increasingly close to the living area and the bedroom. The transitions between these various types of space are becoming more liquid, at the same time as the desire for greater openness and scope for design grows. In this context, barrier-free showers have become increasingly attractive and for a long time now have no longer been reserved for the older generation or for hospitals. The shower-area adds space and convenience to the bathroom, and has done more than any other element to revolutionise its design.

Ten years ago, the firm of Bette, a specialist in shower trays, bathtubs and washbasins, had the idea of a floor-level shower that would meet these new requirements. In the form of BetteFloor, it launched the first steel and enamel, floor-level shower base on the market, featuring the natural materials of glass, water and titanium steel. In contrast to previous floor-level showers, the base of which consisted of the same tiles as the surrounding area, the enamel provides a seamless surface and is therefore especially hygienic. BetteFloor has since developed into a modern classic and is currently celebrating its tenth anniversary.

At this family company located in Delbrück in eastern Westphalia, traditions go much further back, however. The company started as a galvanising plant, before specialising a few years later in the processing and enamelling of steel for bathtubs and shower trays. This then led to the establishment of the firm of Bette in the 1950s.

Over the years, the company’s product range has been increased by a number of innovations, leading in 2006 to the BetteFloor floor-level shower design. This is made of titanium-reinforced steel, which receives a coating of enamel in three thin layers: the basic coat is followed by a protective layer and a colour finish in a wet-on-wet process. The result of this precision operation is a flexible surface that is gentle on the skin and is at the same time robust and impact-resistant. In order to guarantee this quality, production is to the present day implemented exclusively in the company's own high-tech manufacturing facilities.

A great deal has changed in our bathrooms with regard to the available materials and colours. The dominance of the classical tile has been broken, and natural stone, screed or wood are just as popular. Bette has therefore – to celebrate the tenth anniversary of its BetteFloor – been inspired by the current trends in bathroom design and has updated the range of matt colours it has itself created. The portfolio now covers 22 colour shades with warm or cold nuances. In addition to classical and timeless white, the spectrum ranges via various shades of grey, beige and brown right across to dark anthracite. As a result there are no limits to the design possibilities that are provided. The shower area can be integrated in a restrained, tone-on-tone style, or can contrast strikingly with the surrounding floor covering as a special design element.

A further special detail of the BetteFloor is its straight-line design, which enables simple and harmonious integration and reduces the silicon joint area. Accordingly, the shower becomes part of the floor and can be positioned individually. Whether it is integrated freely in the room, against a wall or in a corner, in visual terms the perfect fit and floor mounting create a generous impression of space. Small bathrooms in particular benefit from this.

Over the years the steel and enamel specialist has expanded its BetteFloor range: the five-sided BetteFloor Caro and rounded BetteFloor Corner enable corner fitting, while the BetteFloor Side with its wall-drainage point and larger surface area provides more room for the feet. Secure footing is provided by the BetteAntislip Pro surface coating, which can be applied as an option during the production process without affecting the visual qualities. The shower base is available in a total of 42 different dimensions.

The shower base creates a major effect: thanks to the wide range of options for integration and nuanced colour selection, BetteFloor adapts stylishly to every environment. It enables individual design of the ambience in the bathroom, and creates an impression of more generous space.

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