December 14th, 2011 by admin
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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.
Tags: Christmas
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December 3rd, 2011 by admin
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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.
Tags: enclosures, home decor, quadrant, remodelling, renovation, shower
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December 1st, 2011 by admin
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As winter is quickly setting in, our homes are dropping in temperature day by day and each room of the house is going to require extra heating if we intend to keep a comfortable level of warmth. One room in particular where we feel the cold chill of winter more than other rooms is the bathroom. Spending time to yourself relaxing in a bathtub or unwinding in the shower is a great way of relieving stress and tension after a hard day, but clambering out and feeling the effect of a freezing cold room is a sure fire way to destroy your bathroom experience.
There’s nothing better than spending some quality time in a hot bathroom in the middle of winter; being safe in the knowledge that you have a toasty towel and a warm bath awaiting you at your house as you tackle the wind and the rain is enough to pull anyone home just a little quicker! Here are some simple ideas and suggestions to help you consider what methods you could take to create your own personal hot bathroom.
Add luxurious features and fixtures throughout your bathroom; a heated towel rail can be a fantastic way of heating your bathroom as well as providing you with a toasty towel to dry yourself with. Features such as this serve more than just one purpose; impressing family and friends as well as warming your bathroom and being a modern luxury. Heated flooring is another modern feature that not only adds to a luxurious bathroom experience but also heats your bathroom. This produces a hot bathroom and a warm floor to step onto after a long soak in your new tub.
Keep in mind that style is just as important as practicality; consider adding stylish, modern fixtures such as designer radiators, and heated steam proof mirrors. These accessories look great in any modern home, whilst simultaneously being of great use in your new hot bathroom. Bathroom mats are another great accessory that are just as practical as they are luxurious; a soft surface onto step on with bare feet a can absorb moisture, stop slipping and feel wonderful.
Having double glazed PVC windows installed in your bathroom in another great way of keeping out the winter breeze, this is a fantastic means of insulating heat and providing added security when applied to every room in the house. There are frosted PVC windows available which many people feel are more suitable for a household bathroom as it maintains privacy and helps to relax.
Tags: bathroom tips, energy saving, home decor, insulation
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November 26th, 2011 by admin
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The bathroom is the one room in our homes in which we can truly have some time alone, run a hot bath or fire up a steamy shower and unwind after a long day. It’s fair to say that most people value their time in the bathroom, quiet time to wash and think is therapeutic both physically and mentally; this is why choosing appropriate colours is hugely important when looking to redecorate and remodel your bathroom. Whether you are looking to change the colour as part of a larger remodelling project or you’re just looking to add a new lick of paint and a new feel to the room, picking the right colour for you and your home is a decision you will not regret.
Changing the colour of your bathroom can have a number of great effects on you and your home. Taking a small, compact bathroom and adding lighter colours and a source of natural light can truly bring new life and a sense of spaciousness to a room. Combine this with some carefully chosen accessories in matching tones and colours such as new curtains, washcloth + soap sets, towels and bathmats and you will have successfully changed the appearance and feel of your bathroom by simply altering the colour of your walls and accessories.
If you are looking to create a more modern bathroom then consider adding darker, more stylish colours with some added textures to have the ultimate overall effect. Black or grey granite tiles on the floor and walls are a sure fire way to play it safe and have a bathroom that looks fantastic on completion. Combining these darker colours with stainless steel taps with a quality polished effect your bathroom will have a modern appearance with a touch of class that speaks volumes.
Many people prefer to express their individuality a little more when they redecorate their home, and for those people the bathroom should be no different. Taking care to apply your chosen colours with care and consideration will result in a great looking bathroom that you can be truly happy with, but ensure you don’t go overboard. Apply colours that are bright and vibrant in smaller doses that you would with pale are darker colours; too much florescent green is not easy on the eyes in large amounts so try and apply this colour in the form of tiles, towels and accessories. Contrast this with a more neutral colour for maximum effect without having to compromise on your dream colours!
Tags: bathroom colour, bathroom decoration, colour, home decor
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November 21st, 2011 by admin
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Our bathrooms are capable of providing us with much more than just a place to wash; they can act as an impressive home feature in which we can relax and unwind after a hard day. Many people know all too well just how appealing a relaxing bath or hot shower is after a long day at work or caring for energetic young ones, and having some time alone to de-stress can do your mind and body a world of good. As well as being practically beneficial, bathrooms are just as capable of being visually appealing and impressive, and if you are considering starting a bathroom renovation you’re on the right track to achieving this.
Bathrooms are one of the few rooms in the house in which we can experiment and express our taste and individuality through different colours and textures. Applying granite and marble surfaces can be extremely effective where it may look a little out of place in the boudoir and living room. Consider the style that is right for you, create a place you would be happy to spend time relaxing in, planning far in advance will make for a much better overall result when planning your bathroom renovation.
Consider the units and fixtures you would like to include and ensure you have enough room to add any new features without sacrificing too much walking space. A small bathroom crammed with fixtures and features won’t make for comfortable relaxation time; measure the space you have and keep this in mind when picking out new shower and bath units.
When starting your bathroom renovation, take time to view the modern features that could make your bathroom extra luxurious. A heated towel rail can add that ‘extra something’ and make a real difference when you step out of a hot bath and wrap yourself in a soft, warm towel. Shop for stylish additions for your new bathroom; a well-designed, modern, backlit mirror is a sure fire way to impress newcomers to your home and add a warming glow to the room.
Be sure to coordinate colours throughout your entire bathroom renovation, including too many vibrant shades can create a real eyesore and cause your new bathroom to lose its ‘wow factor’. Pick two primary colours that sit well together and stick to this colour scheme as closely as you can, this will have a terrific effect and be sure to impress both guests and family!
Tags: bathroom decor, bathroom design, bathroom renovation, bathroom suites, diy
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November 17th, 2011 by Steph
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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 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
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
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.
Tags: Bathroom Accessories, bathroom furniture, designer bathroom furniture, designer bathrooms
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November 14th, 2011 by admin
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Redecorating and remodelling our bathrooms can prove to be a great way of making some stylish and practical changes in our houses. Whether you are looking to build around a particular new feature you have your eye on, (commonly a larger walk in shower or hot tub) or you’re hoping to produce a much more stylish and impressive result after remodelling, there are aspects of today’s modern bathroom that everybody should try to include. When looking at modern bathroom ideas try not to fixate your mind on one particular image when you think of the word ‘modern’, instead look at the new designs, fixtures and styles that are available and well suited to you and your home.
There are many types of modern bathroom ideas for you to look at and consider, from vintage looking bathtubs to modern looking black granite wall and floor tiling. There are thousands of possible combinations to help and encourage you to create some unique modern bathroom ideas of your own. With this in mind, let’s look at some ways you can create the ultimate modern bathroom suite in your home!
Coordinating modern stylish colours in your bathroom can look fantastic when done correctly. Planning ahead and finding shower enclosures, bathtubs and sinks that match your chosen colour scheme can help ensure you produce consistency in colour throughout your bathroom. Choosing two primary colours in advance can help contrast the shades in your bathroom nicely, without them clashing and creating an ugly eyesore for you to bathe in.
Once you have finally decided on a colour scheme from your new bathroom, you can start to think about some modern bathroom ideas when purchasing bathroom appliances. People who are looking for a more relaxing experience in the bathroom may be interested in a luxurious whirlpool bathtub; making a welcome addition to any modern bathroom these bathtubs can help you relax and look fantastic. Alternatively for the ‘get up and go’ homeowner, a modern looking shower enclosure may be more suitable. These enclosures are available to fit most bathrooms; the quadrant enclosure for example is curved and fits perfectly into the corner of bathrooms to save space in your bathroom and yet have a sleek modern design. Freestanding and inset basins look great, and will surely stand out when entertaining family and guests. These washbowls work wonderfully when looking to make changes that really have that ‘wow’ factor.
Tags: bathroom DIY, bathroom remodelling, modern design
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November 9th, 2011 by admin
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Redecorating and remodelling your bathroom is a great way to prepare for upcoming seasons by adding colours to bring the desired effect. Removing old fixtures and furnishings can make room for a complete overhaul of your bathroom, allowing you to make some substantial and effective changes. Some homes however, have very limited space in the bathroom and take a little more thought when planning to redecorate and remodel. So with that in mind, let’s see how we can optimise these rooms and look at some bathroom ideas for small spaces.
Measure Up
When working with limited space, measuring the area of the room and the dimensions you have to work with should certainly be your first move. This can contribute to what furnishings and fixtures you buy when looking at bathroom ideas for small spaces; for example, measuring the area of your walls is important when looking to buy packs of tiles as it gives you a good idea of how many you will need. The same applies when installing shower, sink and toilet fixtures; knowing how much space you have (and how much free space will remain after installation) can be useful when looking for new fixtures, and certainly save a lot of trouble in the long run.
Choose Colours Wisely
While considering new bathroom ideas for small spaces, think about how you can enhance the appearance of the room as well as the practicality. By adding lighter colours to the walls, curtains and colour coordinated decoration you can make your bathroom appear more spacious. Let in as much natural light as possible, if you have the budget and time to add a skylight or window then do so. If you are hoping to purchase fixtures (toilets, sinks etc.) that are not in a traditional white colour then be sure to compare your desired paint or wallpaper to your chosen fixtures; if done properly these two can nicely accompany each other.
Space Saving Fixtures
Here’s something definitely worth taking into consideration when planning bathroom ideas for small spaces; most of the vital bathroom fixtures available to you can be bought as a corner feature. This is a fantastic way of saving room in your bathroom. Instead of obstructing a door or taking up too much space in the centre of the room they are positioned in the corner of the bathroom to save maximum amounts of space.
Tags: bathroom decoration, remodelling, small bathrooms
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June 28th, 2011 by James
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Just a quick note to inform everybody that Bathshop321 will be supporting a new television show called ‘Britains Ugliest Rooms‘ We are all very excited about this and seeing our products on television.
The series is being fronted by top designer Gordon Whistance who will search for some of Britain’s most hideous, dated, odd, garish and embarrassing interiors and in turn, transform them into rooms the owners can be proud of. The show is being produced by Red House TV, founded by John Silver, the man behind hit TV series MasterChef Goes Large, Celebrity MasterChef, Grand Designs and Jamie’s Kitchen is now creating this new fun format for UKTV.
Lets hope the show is a huge success and be sure to look out for it. We will keep everybody posted when we find out that it is going out.
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June 25th, 2011 by Jilly
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Underfloor Heating – a review
We recently moved house and as part of our improvements we installed underfloor heating in our kitchen and conservatory areas. We started with a plain concrete floor and had to cut the mats to the right sizes, we had to buy several mats and join them together which didn’t create any problems for the fitter and this is how the system is designed to work. Once this was fitted the area was tiled as normal with large format gloss tiles. My tiles are quite thick so I was surprised how well the heat radiates through – it takes a while to heat up but holds its heat very effectively. It’s tempting when you seem to be spending left, right and centre to try and cut out areas of expenditure – I’d just advise – don’t!
Installation of underfloor heating on existing tiles, the new surface is being prepared with an adhesive before new tiles are laid down
Underfloor heating is so worth it! Once it’s installed it’s a cost effective way to create a nice ambient room temperature. In my conservatory area I just turn the temperature up to about 21°c to make up for the heat loss (due to huge windows) in the evening we have the main central heating on too which is perfect when you are lounging around. In our kitchen we rely solely on the underfloor heating system, we thought it would be enough, particularly when we have the oven on full, and it is. In the conservatory where we only have a 3ft dwarf wall we have also fitted a quality chrome radiator (Arturo by MHS) which complements the look and contributes a nice level of heat. We have two systems running in the two separate rooms and aside from 2 small thermostats (and a nice toasty floor) you wouldn’t have a clue, there aren’t any unsightly wires or pipes on view. It’s still a surprise to bare footed guests who notice the radical difference between the normal tiled floor in the hallway and the cosy kitchen and conservatory!
I bought my underfloor heating system from: http://www.bathshop321.com/bathroom-heating/underfloor-heating/underfloor-heating-mat/
- you just have to remember to buy the right one for your floor type – whether it’s concrete, wood sub-floor or an existing tiled area. When you are working out the size you need remember you don’t need to cover the whole floor space just the areas where you use, for example in the kitchen we worked around the units rather than doing the whole square feet of the room. You also need the Vysa-ThermTM 3000 Thermostat available in white or silver.
In addition I purchased the MHS Arturo Radiator from http://www.designoradiators.com/modern-radiators/all-modern-radiators/mhs-arturo-stainless-steel-radiator/.
All in all if you are looking at renovating your property then underfloor heating is a definite way to enjoy your home. I have only fitted mine in the kitchen and conservatory; however you may choose to use underfloor heating throughout your home in place of radiators or as I have in addition. It is a versatile system that can be used in wet (bathrooms and kitchens) and normal rooms such as lounges and bedrooms.
Tags: designer radiators, home heating, underfloor heating
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