One aspiration of Designer Christian Werner-lately known for the haughty and high open wedge of the Zoe Shoe-is to help those of us west of the Atlantic to come to terms with the pleasures of the bathroom. Following the worldly trend of bathrooms as private havens, places of repose, and, yes, loci of sensual experience, Werner has created the Ketho Collection for manufacturer Duravit. The line is highly geometrical, but subtly so. Featuring cabinetry, mirrors, vanities, integrated consoles, and wall shelves, Ketho offers a streamlined approach to furnishing this intimate space, and, again, Werner's approach emphasizes the enjoyable aspects of bodily care: "Personal hygiene has become a pleasurable focus of attention and so, in turn, has the bathroom. It has become a sensory space for regeneration, somewhere that we enjoy spending time."

Ketho Collection. Designed by Christian Werner for Duravit.

As I see it, functionality tops the list of elements requisite to making the bathroom experience a pleasurable one. In this respect, Werner's Ketho is certainly dialed in. Everything about the collection aspires towards durability and ease of use: a ½" thick filigree frame gives uniformity and modularity to Ketho. The relatively diminutive frame is extremely strong, supporting vanity widths of up to 55" and thus helping to maintain symmetry among differently-sized elements. A horizontal aluminum strip is an attractive visual marker for the hidden recesses (above and below the strip) that facilitate handle-free operation. Five different vanity units ranging from about 16" to 47" enable integration into large and small spaces, as well as accommodating Ketho's wide range of washbasins. Mirrors and wall-mounted cabinets match the dimensions of the vanities, giving uniformity to the different components and emphasizing the clean, symmetrical look Werner is after.

Ketho also has an eye to longevity. The range is rife with water-resistant features: melamine resin sealants with waterproof edges; silicone dampers on drawers, ensuring a watertight closure; mirror cabinets certified with an International Safety Standard to prevent water entry. For Werner, these features are part and parcel of the objective to make the bathroom a place of sensual repose (for who can repose at all, let alone sensually, if you're worried about water de-laminating your vanity top?). "We tend to keep a bathroom even longer than the kitchen and longer than any sofa or dining table," says Werner, "this means there is a strong need for certainty. The certainty of knowing that we won't tire too quickly of looking at it."

If you're up for a long, lasting look at Ketho, mark your calendar for Duravit's New York Design Week, featuring the launch of "Ketho: The Bathroom as a Sensory Experience." Tuesday, September 21 from 6-9 at 105 Madison Ave.