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Consistent Design in your Bathroom

January 18th, 2012 by admin

Consistent Design

Planning to redesign or remodel your bathroom by adding new features, colours or appliances can prove to be a fantastic way of bringing a new feel to the room. Residents are bound to notice a change in the rooms look and practicality when a small change is made, but if you are planning to completely overhaul your bathroom then you are going to have to look at making a few more significant changes.

One thing you should always consider before you start ANY redecorating or refurbishing is the overall style and them you are looking to create; it’s important that your decide on the right colours and features for the room before you begin tearing it apart. Try sketching out (or have someone who’s nifty with a pencil sketch for you) a rough draft of what you would like the room to look like upon completion, whilst considering how you would like the furnishings to look. This will show roughly the sort of furnishings you should be looking for; for example, if you prefer the free standing, classic style baths then consider adding one of these with some well-matched accessories and bathroom furniture.

This is where paying attention to details can really help bring the design of your bathroom together; smaller features that express the same design, theme of feel are sure to show a consistency in design throughout the house. You can effectively continue to add style to the room through features such as radiators, towel rails/heaters, soap dishes/dispensers, vanity units, mirrors and storage units. All of these features can be bought in a wide range of styles and designs, allowing you to strategically match each object with the overall design of the room.

Try to consider the colour of each object before purchasing; think about how the tone will look when added to your new bathroom and how that looks in contrast to the colours that already exist within the room. Carefully choosing objects and products that complement the room is a simple yet effective way of adding character and life to a newly decorated/refurbished.

Remember, consistency in colour, design and style is the most effective way of showing your new bathroom is the product of a carefully thought out plan. If executed properly, the finished product can truly be something to wow friends, family and other visitors to your home.

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Bring Festive Cheer to Your Bathroom

December 14th, 2011 by admin

During the course of December the vast majority of UK homes undergo some sort of a transformation in aid of promoting Christmas cheer. The living room gains a tree and most other rooms are adorned with festive flourishes…with the common exception of the bathroom. Given our bias towards beautiful bathrooms; we think this needs to be addressed. Whilst, a tree may be a little inconvenient and lights are to be avoided at all costs- there are an abundance of other options to bring some Christmas flavoured charm to your bathroom:

Holiday Bathroom Linen

From novelty bath mats through to slightly more tasteful coloured towels – there are a wealth of different bathroom linen items available to add a festive flourish to your bathroom. Dependent upon the style of your bathroom and the extent of other festive decorations; an array of co-ordinated, deep red and dark green towels and bath mats can really add a festive feeling to the space without a risk of tackiness.

Plastic Wreaths and Decorations:

Plastic decorations such as wreaths, pine branches and holly sprigs may lack the fragrance and tradition of their authentic counterparts – but they are ideal for use in the bathroom. Whilst wood, wicker and paper may get damaged or rot due to the increased humidity in the bathroom: plastic is exceptionally resilient and can provide a festive feast for the eyes whilst lounging in the tub – and through the steam you won’t be able to tell the branches and wreaths aren’t the real thing! Steer clear of tinsel though as the metallic fronds can get everywhere and the string core may suffer at the hands of shower spray and condensation. Just a smattering of decoration can make all the difference; particularly in more minimalistic styled bathrooms.

Festive Fragrance

It isn’t just the sights and sounds of Christmas which imbue us with a sense of seasonal cheer – smells are an essential aspect of ‘that Christmas feeling’. Look to incense, essential oils and scented candles rich in cinnamon, cloves and other festive spices.  These smells will invoke a sense of festivity which can be compounded by visual Christmas decoration to bombard the senses with holiday sensations. To take this a stage further you could add Christmassy essential oils to your bath and literally bask in festive cheer – be sure to check that any oils you add to your water are fit for the purpose and free from allergens.

By adding subtle treats for the eyes and nose you can create an all-round sense of seasonal charm within any bathroom. Just make sure to only ever use electrical items which are certified bathroom safe (so certainly not standard fairy lights) and try to keep prickly holly away from the toilet seat.

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Quadrant Showers

December 3rd, 2011 by admin

Quadrant Showers

Adding a shower to your home bathroom is a great way of adding new life and energy to your home; waking up and getting into one of the fantastic quadrant showers available to you is a wonderful way to start any day. Quadrant showers are fantastic for so many reasons; the first and most obvious reason is certainly their modern and stylish shape and design. As older shower models are generally rectangular in shape the quadrant shower models give off a fresh sense of style and add work well as a modern feature in all suitable bathrooms. Another great benefit of quadrant showers is that they are designed to fit into corners perfectly; their shape uses this to an advantage as they fit seamlessly into the corner of any bathroom. As quadrant showers are available in a range of shapes and sizes you are sure to find the model that is right for you. The variations in glass make the showers versatile to mixing and matching which tones you would like to match the showers with; clear glass is well suited to all colours and tones but frosted glass is more useful when looking to compliment light shades.

Quadrant showers are also great for those wanting easy access to their shower, with a large sliding door that opens wide making for an easy step in and out of the enclosure. The large doors are just as appealing because of their visual appearance as well as their practicality; the curved doors have the look and style to contribute nicely to any modern bathroom. The quadrant shower enclosures are also available with hinged doors for those who prefer a classic style of shower.

The large, spacious enclosures allow for a larger, more powerful shower heads and therefore a more enjoyable and relaxing shower experience. Stepping into a hot shower which emits water at a higher pressure is a sure fire way to relieve tension and relax muscles; quadrant showers are perfect for this as they give you more room with which to add a more modern and effective shower head.

These shower enclosures are a great way of adding a modern and stylish touch to your bathroom. If you are planning to remodel or renovate your bathroom and are considering adding a shower enclosure, the quadrant shower is sure to bring you the style and practicality that you and your family most desire.

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Designer Bathroom Furniture

November 17th, 2011 by Steph

In years gone by, bathrooms were merely a room dedicated to personal hygiene routines and sanitation, now in the 21st century they’re so much more. They now have connotations of relaxation, pampering and even romance. As bathrooms evolved from their functional routes, more accessories and furniture emerged. Nowadays, designer bathroom furniture products are incredibly sought after as homeowners strive for a bathroom laden in luxury.

If you’re determined to have a bathroom which resembles a spa, you need to pick the right designer bathroom furniture to suit your home. This can be a task easier said than done, as space may compromise how much choice you have in terms of bathroom furniture and suites.

Vanity Units and Furniture Runs

vanity units

Vanity units add a new depth of luxury to the bathroom whilst boasting practicality. They often include storage space above or below the basin, which is incredibly useful for stowing away unsightly cleaning chemicals, medicines and cosmetics. If you have a small bathroom you may benefit from a vanity unit which your sink sits on, this saves space as you have a bathroom sink and cabinet in one!

Furniture runs are an incredibly modern and popular piece of furniture for larger bathrooms. They generally sit behind a back to wall toilet and underneath a basin. This is why they’re not suitable for smaller bathrooms, you require sufficient wall space to have the sink and toilet on the same wall, with cupboard space in between the two. Designer bathroom furniture runs in a wood finish can add a new level of colour and texture to the bathroom, creating a warming or modern feel depending on the shade of the wood.

Luxurious Tubs

whirlpool baths

Your designer bathroom wouldn’t be complete without a luxurious bath tub that’s perfect for relaxation and pampering. Corner baths are extremely modern and perfect for a long soak in, although you’ll generally require a considerably large bathroom to fit a corner bath in as they’re somewhat wider than their original counterparts.

Whirlpool baths are the most luxurious kind of bathtub and are very sought after. As you soak, you can turn the jets on and allow the water to pulsate and massage your skin. Their resemblance to spa retreats makes them the number one bathtub for glamorous bathrooms.

Double ended baths are a romantic bathing option. If you enjoy sharing intimate time in the bathroom with that special someone, you may have experience the problem of having a tap digging in your back whilst sharing the tub. Double ended baths have a tap in the middle, so relaxing is made possible at both ends of the bath.

Designer Accessories

illuminated mirror

Designer bathroom furniture would appear rather incomplete without accompaniment from some designer accessories. Illuminated mirrors have high-end luxury connotations as they’re generally associated with film star’s dressing rooms. Place one of these above your vanity unit to create an incredibly glamorous appearance.

Soap dispensers are tremendously underrated, they can be just the accessory needed to complete the designer look. Handwash containers can hinder the appearance of your bathroom with their plastic body and coloured liquid. Pouring your handwash into an attractive soap dispenser makes handwash more of an accessory than a mere toiletry.

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Waterfall taps – introducing a new tap range

June 24th, 2011 by Jilly

Waterfall Bathroom Taps – latest fashion update!

Bathroom taps are definitely moving towards being a ‘fashion accessory’ and add the final finish to a bathroom – a stylish set of taps can transform a modest bathroom or create the final touch for an uber modern renovation.  City living and 5 star hotel developments are seeking the waterfall look which has undoubtedly become the latest must have.

Recent developments in manufacture mean that design is no longer held back by practicality which has led to a wide choice of shapes and finish coming onto the market.

The new revolution in brassware has now evolved into ‘waterfall taps’ these have open spouts and as the name described the water pours down the open spout to create the waterfall look.  At Bathshop321 we have sourced a full selection combining mono basin mixers, bath fillers and bath shower mixers. They are manufactured to a very high standard and finished with high levels of chromium to bring the ‘bling’ to your bathroom suite. The stunning open spout collection is shown below and we are sourcing direct from the manufacturers as new designs are released.

Waterfall taps are installed in the same way as a standard tap and the patented cartridge design allows the water to be mixed for a constant water temperature.

Here is a quick introduction to our waterfall collection:-

Our Marco Farelli tap has several clever features including an ecoflow system which can help reduce the amount of water used during every-day tasks such as teeth-brushing – the first click reduces water flow by 50%, the second click offers full flow.  This clever tap helps to avoid drips down the tap body with a clever ridge located underneath the spout

The Marco Farrelli tap range is available for a mini mono basin (ideal for a cloakroom), mono basin mixer (cloakroom and basin unit), a tall basin mixer (for a washbowl look on a vanity unit), a freestanding bath mixer and a bath shower mixer.   Prices range from just £79 to £299.

The Mayfair Dream range is a contemporary range of angular designed taps which have the waterfall spout as central to the design.  This range is available in mono basin mixer for a washstand, cloakroom or standard basin, bath filler, bath shower mixer, floorstanding bath set (including the hose and handset), the three hole and 4 hole bath set (including the hose and handset).   This range is priced from £262 and comes with a 15 year manufacturer’s guarantee.

The Mayfair Lila Waterfall range is new for 2011 and features a wider waterfall effect.  Lila is available as a mono basin mixer (which includes a finger push waste), bath filler and a bath shower mixer.  This range is priced from £129 and comes with a 15 year manufacturer’s guarantee.

This is just the start of the waterfall revolution – keep checking our site for further listings as we source more taps.

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Gold bathroom taps – Are they a thing of the past?

June 1st, 2011 by Jilly

Here at Bathshop321.com we spend hours listing new products from many different manufacturers and increasingly we find no-one is selling anything gold finish.
In the latest brochures from Sagittarius, Tre Mercati, Bristan, Home of Ultra, John Sydney, Mayfair there is nothing but the cold brush of chrome.  I’m wondering why this is?  A cursory search of the Internet reveals a few sites selling some odds and sods but not the same comprehensive selection that chrome offers.
According to our oldest serving member the demise of gold began over a decade ago when the thirst for chrome finish
began.   A few manufacturers (Tre Mercati for example) offers a service where an existing tap from the range can be dip died to the required gold finish – a more expensive option but probably opens up a much wider choice for you.
Typically, we find the customer in search of the elusive gold tap is trying to match with an existing suite – great if you can find your tap’s mate – not so great if you get lost in the world of internet search engines!
Gold looks great if you are going for a certain style in your bathroom – generally with an emphasis on opulence, flamboyance and complimented by warm earthy tones.
His and hers vanity units are nicely complimented by an overmount worktop and stylish accessories.
Compare this to the uber modern, almost clinical finish on this bathroom you can see the two are at opposite ends of the style spectrum.
Things come and go out of fashion – at the moment gold whilst looking nice is way off the style-o-meter, it is well and truly chrome’s day.  I’m not too sure we won’t be seeing gold making its way into our bathrooms once more in the not too distant future.

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How to accessorise your bathroom

May 6th, 2011 by Jilly

To Accessorise or Not to Accessorise, That Is the Question?

Ok so maybe a bit of a cheesy start, but it’s worth pondering when installing a new bathroom or updating an existing space.  Are you after a stark clinical finish or something more inviting?  The accessories you choose can accentuate whatever theme you choose to apply in your bathroom, they also ensure you get the most out of your space.
Cabinets
It’s now widely recognised that a mirror cabinet in the bathroom is an essential accessory, to perform tasks like shaving but also to reflect light and look aesthetically pleasing.  For a smaller bathroom or a busy area this useful item can also help hide a multitude of sins (and products).  As you may expect there are several choices available from clinical steel finish cabinets like the Home of Ultra Consul cabinet.
Home of Ultra Consul Cabinet
To something like the Tavistock Aspen Cabinet with a white gloss finish Tavistock Aspen White Bathroom cabinet
These accessories can be accessorised even further with your choice of accessories such as collectibles, nick-knacks, ornaments, anything you want to add to personalise your space.
Mirrors
There are a variety of different shaped mirrors, some with ambient lighting, some super-dooper with LED’s such as the Hudson Reed Lucio LED Mirror
Although it sounds like an obvious statement just because you require a mirror for your bathroom doesn’t mean you have to buy a bathroom mirror (unless you are having lighting in which for safety reasons you need to look at IP ratings).  You may choose to buy a more ornate, gilded finish mirror for example to set off a Victorian themed bathroom.
Hudson Reed Lucio LED Mirror

Hudson Reed mirror with LED's

Floor and Tiles

If you are going for the sleek minimalist look then the overall look should be bare floor – possibly tiles or polished floor boards – perhaps consider the addition of under floor heating if you are concerned about the cold feel of tiles underfoot.  Alternatively, splashes of colour and texture can be added by rugs and bath mats.
Laundry and Storage Solutions
There is a dazzling array of choices available from rattan, wicker, wood look to wash bins that can be integrated into your existing suite for example the Tavistock Evolution Linen Bin (300mm wide)
Again you needn’t be slavish to the bathroom department – bargains can be found in department stores or why not show off your artistic skills and create your own using fabric offcuts.
Tavistock Evolution Linen Bin

Tavistock Evolution Linen bin

Textiles

Soft furnishings can add the finishing touch to any bathroom and make something quite cold and clinical seem much more inviting.  The options are limitless from fluffy towels available in a dazzling array of colours, patterns and textures, to bath mats, toilet mats, rugs and throws.  These are a great way to brighten up a standard white suite whilst not breaking the bank.  The options are limited only to your bank balance and imagination.
Accessories
A blog about bathroom accessories would be incomplete without reference to where you are actually going to put your toilet rolls and tooth brushes?    As you may expect there are a number of options available which help set off the theme of your bathroom perfectly.  For example, my personal favourite is the Home of Ultra Traditional Accessories set available for just £79.99, perfect for a variety of looks including traditional bathrooms.

Home of Ultra Traditional Accessories Set

There are many bathroom accessories available from Bathshop321.com and out on the open market, they can help to add the finishing touch to a new bathroom or help spruce up an existing space to something more inviting – especially when the bank balance won’t stretch to a full new suite.  Accessories are the final piece of the bathroom jigsaw offering a multitude of spaces to hide stuff (a la the minimalist look) or alternatively they make a room look finished, like the complete article rather than a commercial/ impersonal space.

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