Guide to ROHL brands (Riobel, Perrin & Rowe, Shaws, and more)
House of Rohl or simply ROHL is an American-based brand famous for luxurious products and outstanding designs. Not many people know that it has a number of sub-brands, each with its own distinct identity. Let's talk about them in more detail.
Riobel
Founded in Quebec, in 1995 by Mario Bélisle, Riobel was created out of frustration with the quality of products and services available at the time. They started with distribution only, but in 1999 they also began to manufacture and design their own products. In 2016, due to overwhelming success, they became part of House of Rohl.
The brand is famous for its advanced engineering, which is always put first. As they call it, "we always build from the inside out", meaning that practicality and usability always come first. That said, you can't underestimate the Riobel designs. Stylish, minimalistic, reliable and easy to install, their faucets are a modern staple of the plumbing industry. It is one of the leaders in the plumbing market, and a company that is deservedly loved by both customers and professional plumbers.
Riobel Joli™ Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet
Perrin & Rowe
Founded over 40 years ago in Britain, by Bob Perrin and Greg Rowe, Perrin & Rowe is still largely a handmade brand. Attention to detail and their custom approach make them one of the most luxurious brands on this list. "We still make taps in small batches, pouring molten brass by hand into moulds of our own design," as stated on their website. This approach is unparalleled and guarantees outstanding quality of each piece.
Their products are what you call 'timeless designs'. It wouldn't be absurd to imagine their products in the Victorian era, as well as today's modern bathrooms and kitchens. Their designs, reliability, and custom approach are what made Perrin & Rowe one of the best handmade brands in the plumbing realm.
Perrin & Rowe Georgian Era C-Spout Hot Water Faucet
Victoria + Albert
Victoria + Albert is a British brand, founded in 1996, and famous for their luxury artisanal baths. Their special composite material, called QUARRYCAST®, is durable, lightweight, highly insulating, and easy to clean. QUARRYCAST® is made from so-called Volcanic Limestone™ rock mixed with quality resins to make an unrivalled material with a residential guarantee for 25 years.
The designs are not limited to artists' collaborations. You can further customize your bath by choosing from over 200 colours in gloss or matte finish. To cite the information from Victoria + Albert themselves: "A special catalysed paint is applied, and the surface is hand-polished between applications." This brand is totally exclusive, and their products are exceptionally beautiful, transforming any bathroom into a personal retreat zone.
Victoria + Albert Cheshire 69" x 31" Freestanding Soaking Bathtub
Shaws
Founded in 1897, Shaws of Darwen, or simply Shaws, is one of the oldest sink manufacturers in the whole world. Since that time, the techniques and secrets of manufacturing have passed through many generations, and now, as part of the House of Rohl family, they are bringing artisanal wisdom to a modern plumbing industry.
Handmade could be another word to describe Shaws of Darwen, because every sink goes through a very meticulous making process. Their molds are handmade, molten fireclay is poured by hand, and the rough sink is hand-finished. After that, the Master Craftsman stamps his name and year of production. Inspection is a part of the process at every step. After glazing, the sink rests, and after that it is inspected again, this time twice. If any imperfection is noticed, the completed sink is rejected. We deliberately simplified this description, to leave you the honour of checking the full process by yourself (here's a link to the full page). It is truly a work of art.
