Amore: South African Bathroom Design | VANITI HOUSE

A bathroom designed for the future doesn’t need to look as though it was. That idea sits behind Amore, Vaniti House’s locally made collection of accessible bathroom pieces, created to bring support, dignity and good design together.

The story began in 2023, when a conversation between Vaniti House Creative Director Leigh and Richard Thompson of Inclu Group turned to inclusive design in hospitality. After more than 21 years working in the bathroom industry, the discussion prompted Leigh to consider how accessible products could become a more natural part of a beautifully designed interior.

It also brought back conversations with her father, Lance Goodale, who had long spoken about offering accessible bathroom solutions to his own clients. She had never pursued the idea, but the timing now felt right.

Amore – Italian for love – grew from there.

Drawing on her interior design background, Leigh began by studying South African standards and closely examining how people move through bathrooms, where additional support may be needed and, importantly, how to incorporate those functional elements without making the room feel clinical.

The resulting support rails are made from solid brass, with classic forms and considered detailing that allow them to sit comfortably within a wide range of bathroom styles. Six finishes are available in brass, nickel, and chrome, and the collection also includes the Amore wash basin and shelf.

Every piece is handmade in South Africa on a project-by-project basis rather than mass-produced, giving particular attention to craftsmanship and finish.

Amore has already found its way into hotels, villas and private residences, including the InterContinental Table Bay Hotel and Quay 7 Hotel at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront. More importantly, the collection makes a strong case for considering accessibility from the start of a project rather than introducing it only when circumstances change.

A beautifully designed support rail can be part of the bathroom today, ready to provide greater assistance later if needed.

Based in Cape Town, Vaniti House specialises in accessible bathroom products that support independence without compromising the surrounding interior. Alongside its own designs, the company works with architects, interior designers, hoteliers, developers and homeowners to source products from international manufacturers.

With Amore, that philosophy comes particularly close to home: a proudly South African collection designed not only for how we live now, but for the way our needs may change over time.