Magali Tocco moved to Montreal in 2009 and joined the Batimat team as a receptionist. Six years later, the passionate team player rose to the top and has been the general manager ever since. Her rapid rise and enduring leadership are something to be admired and definitely have a lot to do with her commitment to the luxury brand, her ambitious vision for it, her focus on the human element, and the importance of community in the professional arena. We recently spent some time with the savvy design professional (who is also incredibly passionate about mentoring future generations) to dig deeper into this compelling philosophy and, yes, see what’s trending in her design corner of the world (it is the nesting section of the mag!).
Magali, if anyone knows what we can look forward to when creating our own home spa and wellness oasis, it’s you. What are the trends right now? Despite the hotter summer months on the horizon, steams and saunas are both very beneficial for overall health and remain extremely popular for rejuvenating moments of pleasure and relaxation. In terms of colour schemes on the spa front, we’ll see a lot of greens and lush hues in sync with nature’s own soothing and calming hues, as well as neutrals and nudes.
My next question is a little bit more focused on design. What’s new and exciting on that front? As with everything, kitchens, bathrooms, and plumbing generally respond to global trends. I just came back from Milan, where, in addition to the more neutral hues for spas, we’re also seeing a lot of gentle curves and rounded designs. There’s that ongoing connection to nature and wellness, with a preference for stone textures and more natural surfaces. Some companies have embraced the trend with stone faucets. People are enjoying the soft and smooth touch in a chaotic world.
These days, we can’t go anywhere without hearing all the buzz surrounding AI. How has it impacted your orbit? In many ways, AI has been having an impact in our realm for the past decade. Trending now are electronic showers that offer the ultimate smart cleansing and spa experience. Also in the works are prototypes for Alexa-style faucets designed to heed voice commands automatically. There’s even a variation with the potential to incorporate coffee and sparkling water options. So, kitchens will become very user-friendly!
“ONE OF MY GREATEST MOTIVATORS HAS ALWAYS BEEN
TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO EXPERIENCE A SENSE
OF COMMUNITY, WHETHER IT BE MEMBERS OF THE TEAM, CUSTOMERS, SUPPLIERS, OR OTHER PARTNERS. I WANT EVERYONE TO FEEL WELCOME AND A PART OF THE BATIMAT FAMILY. RELATIONSHIPS ARE TRULY AT THE BASE OF EVERYTHING GOOD, AND IT’S THE ELEVATION OF THESE RELATIONSHIPS THAT DRIVES ME.”
We don’t always associate plumbing with parties, but I know that Batimat is known for its welcoming and celebratory culture against the backdrop of this exceptionally beautiful space. Any events coming up? That is absolutely the case and was a big part of my decision to relocate the showroom to this space six years ago with a view to fostering community for our customers, designers, and partners. Clients can enjoy a snack, coffee, or glass of wine at any time of the day, and we also maximize the connective potential of the 10,000-square-foot space for training conferences, launch events, and more. That was the original intention behind the move. In fact, we’re about to add another 6,000 feet so that we can continue to create and offer beautiful experiences to our design-loving community on an even larger scale.
I love that you make reference to connectivity because, as you know, that’s the theme of this edition and something that we desperately need more of in today’s disconnected landscape. Exactly! One of my greatest motivators has always been to bring people together to experience a sense of community, whether it be members of the team, customers, suppliers, or other partners. I want everyone to feel welcome and a part of the Batimat family. Relationships are truly at the base of everything good, and it’s the elevation of these relationships that drives me.
For more on Magali and Batimat, visit batimat.net.