Bathroom Design Ideas

Bisque radiators really are a stunning addition to any bathroom.  Whilst the majority of heaters are fitted to the wall, they have an air of being free standing and they look modern, contemporary and yet are also classic and elegant.

These are not standard, white rectangular radiators found in 99% of bathrooms across the country, these are iconic styles, designed to be bold and make a statement about the bathroom and your lifestyle.  Sharp, angular and rigid chrome towel radiators are available, or you can choose a seductively shaped winding, circular radiator for a softer, more feminine feel.

Some of the designs, such as the B² are a radiator designed in a mathematic style, offering an architectural feature in your bathroom.  Indeed, the architectural features of bisque radiators are their hallmark, which allow creative and free thinking individuals to express their individuality and creativity in the design and features of their bathroom, rather than just choosing something which everyone else has.

Freestanding radiators are also available and some of these have a real retrospective air about them, whilst incorporating the modern design statement which helps define the 21st Century.  This blend of old and new, retrospective and futuristic marks out bisque radiators as being timeless and yet, somehow, respectful of what has gone before.  So for those who want to really shape their living space and to demonstrate 21st living at its most ‘ultra cool’, bisque radiators really are a serious consideration.

Their price range is not particularly cheap, as you may now be realise from this type of designer, but the pieces are durable and individual, hence many feel, well worth the cost.

Choosing a pump to power your shower or water system, may not seem like a big issue. Perhaps not, but you need to find a pump which best meets your needs.  So you need one which suits your budget and your system.

If you have a water system which has poor water pressure, then you may need a pump to boost the water pressure between the shower head and the water system. Or it may be that you want to have more than one shower head, in which case you will possibly need a dual pump.

Pumps can vary in quality, size and noise levels, so try to acquire the best possible pump you can afford.  Whilst the initial cost may be slightly higher, you will find that you reap the benefits over time, with increased performance and the pump lasting for a long time. Cheaper pumps can soon burn out; can be noisy or even let air into the shower system, which affects the temperature of the water.

Stuart Turner pumps are generally regarded as efficient and they have been in existence for over one hundred years, enabling the company to enjoy an enviable position as one of the leading forces in the shower pump industry and one which deals with both domestic and commercial premises.

Pumps are available for a wide variety of applications and with Stuart Turner’s extensive experience their products have been designed to overcome most problems associated with either reduced water pressure or simply householders’ demands for increased pressure.

Wash hand basins are no longer about somewhere just to wash your hands; they now make a statement about you, about your taste and about how you like to live.

Recent design innovations have seen enormous changes being made to the traditional, slightly curved, wash hand basin. Now you have the option of curved, angular, square, dual or even asymmetric basins. So which do you choose?

Obviously personal taste comes into it, but there are some design considerations as well. If you have very small children, then don’t plump for the latest Italian geometric styles, with corners so sharp that they look as if they could be used for cutting.  Instead, you should opt for something that is curved and which will obviously still inflict a knock if a little head bangs against it, but which will do less damage than a seriously sharp corner. However, if you don’t have children, or the little ones are past the age where they seem to constantly bang into any sharp edges, then these styles will be worth considering, especially if you like modern, urban design. 

You should also think about the other rooms in your home. If it is a real shrine to the past and you simply adore old-fashioned styles of décor and furniture, then you won’t want your bathroom to be too much at odds with this. So remember not to think about your bathroom in isolation, for whilst it is perfectly acceptable to have contrast, creating too much of a clash will result in ‘dissonance’, which is basically disharmony!

The choice of whether to have curtains or opt for blinds really depends on your personal tastes, as well as budget. It may be possible to buy curtains more cheaply than blinds, but they can be affected by the damp conditions in the bathroom. Blinds are usually more expensive, but they may last longer. They are also particularly at home in very contemporary or modern bathrooms, whereas older, more period bathrooms will suit a set of curtains.

Blinds also help you to adjust lighting levels in the bathroom, which is very important when you want to use it for personal grooming. Roller blinds are very useful if you want to be able to block light out, or your window is an awkward shape.

Curtains can look quite dramatic in a large and grand bathroom, where you might have a very dramatic flow of crisp white linen adorning the windows. This can really help offset some of the starkness that many modern bathroom designs suffer from.

Whichever you choose, you need to make sure that you clean the blinds, roller blinds or curtains on a regular basis, otherwise they may start to attract mould. If that does happen then take swift action and replace them as soon as possible, because when mould gets hold it can spread very quickly.

Also consider privacy issues when choosing the soft furnishings for your windows and make sure that you pick something that is thick enough so that you are not silhouetted against the curtains or blinds when stood in front of them, especially at night.

A careful choice of light-pull can look very stylish and help your bathroom co-ordinate perfectly. Light-pulls used to be available in only a very limited number of fairly horrendous styles, usually taking the form of a plastic plug at the end of a piece of string. However, they now come in all shapes, colours and sizes, including rectangular, oval, skittle or egg shaped and even spiral. Given that the range is now so extensive, it makes perfect sense to tie together the whole look of your bathroom by finishing it off with an eye-catching light-pull.

If you have an ultra modern bathroom, with bisque style radiators, angular wash hand basins, bath and very bold taps, then why not finish off the effect by having a really chunky light-pull? 

Light-pulls are also available in a variety of materials, including chrome or chrome effect, glass, ceramic or even wood. The ceramic and wooden light-pulls are more suited to traditional or even period bathrooms, whereas the chrome models are an excellent choice for contemporary and modern ones.

Try to pick out at least one item in the bathroom and then choose a light-pull that is designed in the same style. This will draw the eye from the pull to other items in the room, thus offering a look that is complete and shows a real artistic and co-ordinated flair. For obvious reasons, don’t fit chintzy light-pulls in modern bathrooms, or very modern ones in period bathrooms, or they will simply look incongruous.

Reference is often made to minimalist bathrooms, which are frequently highlighted as being contemporary or ultra modern. But what is a minimalist bathroom? It is a design concept that is based around simplicity and being true to form. For example, pipe work may be exposed rather than being hidden by ornaments or vases. The whole bathroom will also be very crisp and not cluttered by anything that will either detract from the form of the room, or undermine its purpose.

The emphasis might be on very angular corners, with a very rectangular bath, which features quite sharp corners. This is the form of the bath; it is rectangular and it is for bathing. Therefore the minimalist ethos has been achieved. 

It is possible, within a minimalist bathroom, to have some accoutrements, but these have to perform some duty or have a role, not simply be there to decorate, since decoration detracts from form and function. Shelves are ‘allowed’, but only with clean and crisp lines and with the ability to perform a function. Clutter and trinkets are obviously not in keeping with this design philosophy.

Minimalism is very much a modern concept that has really evolved since the 1960’s and looks as if it will be with us for some time to come, since it becomes more popular with each passing year. It is also viewed as providing a very calm space for people, since there is little to detract the eye, just a feeling of calm and quiet and simplicity.

A designer bathroom is something that many people aspire to, since the opulence and sheer style that such a room possesses is truly remarkable and may give you the feeling of being transported into another world. Yet even importing your very own specified designer bathroom from abroad, or having it custom made to fit your specific needs by employing the designer yourself, may cause you some unexpected headaches.

Usually your designer bathroom will be installed perfectly and will look great, which is after all its purpose. To reduce the possibility of problems if things go wrong be careful, when making the initial purchase, that you have some kind of redress should your bath spring a leak, or the bidet stop working. It is true that purchasing a designer bathroom means that you are buying quality items, but they too can go wrong. The likelihood of this happening many be less than if you buy a very cheap bathroom, but remember that nothing is perfect, so don’t leave anything to chance.

You also need to establish whether you can obtain replacement parts if something does fail. When asking this, you should also check where the products are manufactured, since many items sold as designer are actually made in China and exported to Europe. From there they arrive in the UK, still under the guise of being Italian or French, ‘designer’ products. If you are importing a bathroom, you should also make sure that it is clear whose responsibility it is if anything is damaged during transportation.

Otherwise, just enjoy your beautiful new bathroom.

Painting your bathroom cabinets may be a way to give your bathroom a really great look for a very low cost, especially if some of your cabinets don’t match. Painting is also an excellent way of achieving a co-ordinated look to the room, without you having to replace all the units.

Before you paint them, remember to check what materials the cabinets are made from.  If they have a surface that is plastic or plastic laminated, then they can’t really be painted, since it won’t stick. If they are wooden, have a wooden veneer or are metal, then you can go ahead and paint them.

Prior to painting, the cabinet will need to be prepped and for this it’s usually easier to take the doors off. Both the doors and the cabinet structure will need to be sanded down, since this will form a surface for the paint to latch onto. Often this is referred to as ‘giving the paint a key’. If there is no key, then there is nothing for the paint to soak into and it will not be very long before it cracks and wears off.

Once you have finished the first coat, wait overnight before applying the second. As tempting as it may be to rush these things, it is actually better to wait a while and allow the first coat to dry thoroughly.

Finally, before you replace the doors, think about replacing the handles, and since these can give your cabinets a fantastic look for only a few pounds, this will really help transform them into up-to-date, modern and very stylish pieces of furniture.

If you are sick and tired of your bathroom and want to give it a makeover, but you don’t have a lot of money to spend, then don’t despair, there are lots of little things you can do to make sure that it looks great, without costing the earth.

Firstly and most importantly, you need to set a budget and stick to it otherwise the whole project can become a nightmare.

Next, prioritise what you would like to do. Do you want to have a new shower and bath, or simply fit new taps and panel to the existing units? You need to carefully assess which parts of the bathroom are the ones which you don’t like and then research how much it will cost to replace them. For example, it is easy to specify ‘new taps’, but then you may find that the ones on your bath are very old. This often means that it may actually be cheaper to replace both the bath and taps. You should also try to think practically, so instead of replacing the bath or shower, could you simply brighten them up by installing a new shower screen or bath panel? Taking this option can make a significant improvement, yet will not cost very much.

Since flooring can often date a room, replacing it can transform the look of a tired bathroom and help make it feel more modern and contemporary. Updating the lighting can also help and is a cost effective way of making quite dramatic improvements.

Non-heated towel rails may not be as luxurious as their heated counterparts, but they are still a very useful addition to any bathroom.

The towel rail actually serves two functions; firstly, it provides towels within easy reach, so that as you come out of the shower or bath you can immediately put your hands on one. Secondly, it enables air to circulate around the towels, with the result that they don’t have to be washed after each use. This is good for the environment, saves wear and tear on your towels and cuts down on the amount of laundry you have to do.

The humble towel rail also has a less obvious function, in that it helps to keep your bathroom looking at its best. A bathroom looks unsightly if there are piles of damp towels simply hanging over the bath. On the other hand, if they are hung over a towel rail then the bathroom will look tidier and more co-ordinated.

Towel rails should complement the look of the bathroom, so if you have a very modern and chic room, complete with chrome fittings, then you may well wish to choose a chrome rail. Alternatively, a more traditional looking towel rail will complement a traditional style bathroom.

The choice of towel rails available, both heated and non-heated, is actually quite diverse, with prices ranging right the way from bargain basement to high-end designer. The only constraints you have, when making your final choice, are what will suit your bathroom and what you can afford.