Smart luxury with Kohler

Bidets have a long history in various parts of the world but it is only recently that the technology has been developed to such an extent that bidets are being specified in top-end accommodation across Australasia, and in New Zealand, more frequently in residential dwellings.


In the 1970s and 1980s the United States’ market saw bidets surge in popularity in homes, but at that stage the technology wasn’t as advanced as it is now and they were installed side by side with the toilet.

As Kohler New Zealand’s senior product marketing manager Dee Hunter says, the technology around bidets has been developed almost unbeknown to the Western world over the last few decades, particularly in Asia and the Middle East where bidets have long been popular.

“Now, they’re completely integrated into the toilet and in the case of the most advanced product by Kohler, the Veil, it is also highly intelligent and a beautiful piece of bathroomware.”

The Veil allows a completely hands-free bathroom experience, meaning it’s not only a luxurious item, it’s also functional for older people and those with physical challenges.

From the moment you enter a bathroom with a Veil installed, it’s obvious that this piece of bathroomware is something special. Upon entry to the bathroom, a backlight inside the base of the toilet seat lights up, and when you near the bidet, a sensor activates and lifts the lid automatically.

The French curve seat is ergonomically superior to a standard toilet seat – it’s not only comfortable but slightly lifts and separates the buttocks when sat on, putting the user in the ideal position. And the moment a user sits down, a deodoriser is activated in the form of a discrete and quiet fan in the back of the bowl that sucks air out and pushes it through a carbon filter neutralising odours.

Once a user is finished, they can select which wash and dry cycle they wish by touching the smartpad linked to the bidet by bluetooth and located on the wall within arm’s reach. At this stage, a stainless steel wand emerges from the back of the bowl, concealed beneath a discrete flap, which will wash with warm water according the user’s preference. The wand will then retract and a blow dry cycle can be chosen.

“The whole idea with the Veil is that it allows a completely touchless bathroom experience,” Hunter says. “You never have to touch a piece of toilet paper or wipe yourself.” Because of this, using a Veil is a particularly hygienic experience. The stainless steel wand never comes into contact with the human body, but every 24 hours a UV light completely sanitises the wand for peace of mind.

When a user stands up, an automatic flush will occur, based on the amount of time the user spent sitting; if it is more than one minute, a full flush will occur, if less, a half flush.

“Once people have tried and understand the bidet experience, they are hooked,” Hunter says. “I know that for me, personally, I became quite unwell on a recent trip to Shanghai and using the bidet was just heaven.”

The Veil is constructed of vitreous china with a high grade plastic seat and retails at around $5,500. Hunter says the Veil has been so popular they are being sold in New Zealand at a rate faster than they arrive on our shores. “People are often buying two or more, one for each bathroom in their home,” she says. “In Australia in particular, bidets are also going into six-star hotel rooms, and all high roller rooms in casinos – basically everything at the top end of the market.”

Bidets, particularly the most advanced and intelligent bidets like the Veil are a development of smart technology, which is moving into the bathroom. Recent research has shown that around 70 per cent of people take their smartphone into the bathroom, and the future of integrated bathroom technology looks set to develop the intelligent functions of products like Veil. Kohler also has a new brand known as Kohler Connect, which incorporates various high-tech bathroomware, including the Veil and TouchMe, a mirror cabinet that is installed above the vanity and behind a mirror, effectively turning the mirror into a bathroom iPad. “This is all technology that already exists – Bluetooth and Wifi – and we are simply connecting it all together.”

Showering interfaces including heated tiles, rainhead settings, and spray settings can all be integrated and personalised. With this integrated smart bathroomware, it seems we are on the precipice of the future of the luxury bathroom experience.

The Veil is available through selected stockists nationwide. Click here to view a video on the Veil and contact Kohler for further information.