Some objects simply furnish a space; others define it. Royal, the new Flaminia collection of washbasins and sanitaryware designed by Giulio Cappellini, belongs to the second kind. Full forms, generous thicknesses and solid proportions turn ceramic into an architectural presence that gives character to the entire bathroom.

Presented by Flaminia at Cersaie 2026, Royal carries a clear message: ceramic becomes architecture once again. In this article we look at where it comes from, which pieces make up the collection, what colours it comes in and how to bring it into a contemporary interior design project.

A designer bathroom inspired by early twentieth-century architecture

Royal emerges from the meeting of architectural memory and contemporary sensibility. Its starting point is the monumental architecture of the early twentieth century: buildings with compact masses, clean volumes and reassuring proportions, made to stand the test of time.

Giulio Cappellini translates this imagery to the scale of the object. Rather than growing ever lighter until it almost disappears, as often happens in contemporary bathroom design, the ceramic claims its own visual weight. The result is a language that is modern yet deeply rooted in memory: a cultured reference that never turns into nostalgic quotation.

For designers, this means working with pieces that give structure to a space. In a designer bathroom, Royal acts as a small architectural volume around which materials, light and surfaces can be organised.

Full forms and generous thicknesses: ceramic becomes sculpture

Royal’s defining trait is its sculptural presence. Full volumes and substantial thicknesses give the ceramic a solidity you perceive at first glance, even before you touch it.

Seamless surfaces balance this strength. Uninterrupted lines and soft transitions temper the collection’s character, preventing monumentality from turning into rigidity. This balance between mass and softness makes Royal equally suited to a private bathroom and to a high-end hospitality space.

The Royal collection: washbasins, pedestal and wall-hung sanitaryware

Royal consists of five pieces: two countertop or pedestal washbasins, a freestanding pedestal, and a wall-hung WC and bidet.

Countertop washbasins. The round Royal 46 and the oval Royal 64 share the same thick rim and the same 16 cm height. Royal 64 suits larger countertops and double-basin compositions, such as the one on a Simplice vanity unit featured in the Flaminia catalogue.

Pedestal washbasin. Paired with the pedestal, the washbasin becomes a freestanding piece that can be placed anywhere in the room. It is the most monumental version of Royal, the one closest to early twentieth-century architecture, and its ideal complement is a floor-mounted tap.

Wall-hung sanitaryware. The WC and bidet share the same dimensions and a full volume with a rounded profile. The WC features Flaminia’s goclean technology, and the seat is available in the same colour as the ceramic for a monolithic effect.

Royal’s colours: Ossido, Melanzana, Latte and Avana

In Royal, colour is not a finish but part of the design. For Flaminia, colour has always been a field of research and an expression of design identity: Ossido and Melanzana are the result of ongoing experimentation with ceramic glazes and make their debut with Royal, alongside Latte and Avana.

The glossy finish enhances the sculptural quality of Ossido and brings out the reflections and chromatic depth of Melanzana. On full volumes like Royal’s, light flows along the seamless surfaces, turning washbasins and sanitaryware into presences that shape the atmosphere of the entire space. Latte and Avana offer a quieter reading, suited to projects with a softer palette.

How to design a bathroom with Royal

Royal is at its best in projects that leave room for its volumes. A few ideas for architects, interior designers and homeowners:

• Let the volumes breathe. Walls and floors in solid colours or with subtle textures enhance the sculptural presence of the ceramic.
• Choose warm metals. In Flaminia’s settings, Ossido, Melanzana and Avana are paired with Stil taps in PVD Gold; brushed steel works well with Latte.
• Play with tone-on-tone. Royal 46 in Melanzana on its pedestal echoes BrickSlim shelves in the same colour and a marble floor with purple veining.
• Create contrast. Two Royal 64 basins in Ossido on a Simplice vanity unit in Ceruleo, set against blue terrazzo walls, show how strongly the warm colour stands out against a cool base.
• Go freestanding. The pedestal washbasin with a floor-mounted tap frees up the wall and lets you organise the bathroom around a sculptural element.
• Work with light. Grazing light brings out the thicknesses and seamless surfaces, especially in glossy finishes.
• Think contract. Royal’s strong character makes it ideal for hotels, restaurants and public spaces where the bathroom is part of the experience.

Giulio Cappellini, the designer behind Royal

Giulio Cappellini was born in Milan in 1954. He graduated in Architecture and then attended the business management school at Bocconi University. In 1979 he joined Cappellini as art director and designer.

At the company he has worked with young designers from all over the world, many of whom he discovered himself, building a furniture collection now held by leading art and design museums worldwide. As an opinion leader, he has also contributed to several books on the history of design.

He is art director of a number of leading companies in the furniture and design sector, as well as of Istituto Marangoni Design Campus. He designed Cappellini showrooms around the world, Flaminia’s showrooms and the Lifestyle Design headquarters in Dubai. He teaches as a visiting professor at design and architecture faculties worldwide and has curated exhibitions such as the Temporary Museum for New Design at Superstudio Più in Milan, Italian Hospitality in Singapore, I Made at the Saatchi Gallery in London and Made in Italy in Moscow.

With Royal, Cappellini adds a new chapter to a body of work on bathroom ceramics that combines design culture with attention to everyday life.

Royal: a bathroom with a strong identity

Royal shows that bathroom ceramics can be much more than functional elements. With its full forms and intense colours, the collection designed by Giulio Cappellini for Flaminia brings the solidity of architecture and the freedom of contemporary design into the home.

Try Royal in your bathroom. With Flaminia’s online configurator you can design both the washbasin area and the sanitaryware area, choose models and colours, view the result in augmented reality on your smartphone and download the list of selected products.