Choose your Style: Bathroom ideas

Bathrooms and Shower rooms. 

Do you prefer traditional or contemporary? Perhaps you'd like to accommodate both - for example, a traditional bathroom for a long relaxing soak after an energetic day plus a contemporary shower room to refresh your body and mind? Alternatively, go for a hybrid of the two.

Bathrooms.

The trend for traditional baths mixes styles from various Victorian to WW2 eras. The images below show free-standing baths near walls with wooden panelling to protect the plaster from bathwater splashes, especially from the 'hand-hose'.

  

The bath shown below is a nod to earlier times and probably costs a fortune but is gorgeous! Search Copper Bath for images to find simlar products in various shapes, including slipper baths.

The image below shows another free-standing bath, sited in a bathroom with traditional units. These baths have been popular for many years, off and on, subject to having enough space in a bathroom. Note the use of traditional wall lights.

Below is a more modern take on the above bathroom, yet it remains traditional with shaker units, panel and hidden cistern with wall-hung wc. The slatted wooden blinds are perfectly complementary.

Below is a no-no or possibly a no-no-NO! Coloured suites date so quickly. In the 1970s, the (very) popular colour was avocado; in the early 1980s, it was Bermuda blue or a couple of pink shades; later that decade, more subtle colours were preferred - ivory cream and whisper grey. By the mid-1990s, it was back to 'playing safe' again and most of the coloured suits have now been ripped out and replaced by standard white, which rarely seems to get dated.

Not all contemporary bathrooms are white, but many are. Black, deep neutrals and/or natural stone are often featured heavily, as shown in the images below.

Shower rooms.

There is a trend for shower walls to be printed with fabulous photographic images: beaches, waterfalls, pebbles, etc., either from the suppliers' collection of prints or using a hi-res photo of your choice. These can be used to amazing effect but there are two considerations:

• choice of image - ensure that it isn't too personal (for when you want to sell the house) and that it's an image that you won't tire of too quickly;
• choice of medium - most suppliers print onto glass and this can be tricky for installation, e.g. cutting round the wall-mounted shower elements and access for repairs if something goes wrong in the wall behind the glass shower panel.

The following images are a selection of glass and acrylic printed shower panels: 

 

 

 

 

https://www.showerscape.co.uk/custom-designs

Follow this link for more ideas for your bath/shower rooms

The photographs used in this blog post were found on Google images. We do not have any rights to them. Image owners - please advise if they should be removed or acknowledged, thank you.

Bathroom Wall Panelling

Using waterproof vinyl or laminated panelling for bathroom walls and shower enclosures is becoming more popular than ceramic tiles.

Advantages of panelling over traditional tiles include faster installation and no grount to maintain.

There are various suppliers of panelling and we have chosen two examples to compare. Use this link and scroll down the page to Multipanel collections, probably the market leader. There is also another option which is a soft touch, light weight option from Vilo Moltivo, which is cheaper.

Both are available in lengths of 2.4 metres (standard room height) and suitable for bathrooms. 

Multipanel is a solid option, available in widths of 1200mm and 900mm (great for shower walls) and also 595mm width (great for splashbacks).

Vilo Moltivo has a much thinner profile and has a hollow construction. It is suitable for areas where there is little chance of damage. It is supplied in packs of 4 x 250mm panels (i.e. 1 metre) that click together.

Both systems require edge profiles - check with the supplier websites. The end-caps are for straight tops, bottoms and sides; there are also internal and external corner profiles. It is recommended that the you order the correct adhesive from the panelling suppliers. Warning: if you need an external corner profile for the Vilo system, they are not easy to find.

Glass Shower Walls

A more expensive but very stylish alternative to these panelling systems is glass. You may have seen glass splashbacks? They are also available in larger sizes for shower enclosures, wet-rooms, etc.. There are some amazing images available and some companies will custom-print from your supplied photographs.

The downside is cutting the template to install the plumbing - so be sure to choose a company that offers a full service.

The glass wall Palm Tree image is available from Purple Frog Interiors.

Planning your Tiling Project

"How hard can it be to stick a few tiles on a wall?" Many first-time D-I-Y tilers are tempted to start at a corner and work their way along. An experienced tiler with pride in his work will plan the job better for a professional finish.

As you can see from the mis-aligned tiles, this job wasn't properly planned!

A few points to consider:

• Don't assume that any wall, floor or ceiling is perfectly straight, vertical, horizontal or flat. 
• Don't assume that a measurement across one area (e.g. left to right at skirting level) will be the same at another level (e.g. worktop height).
• Work out how many spaced tiles (i.e. allowing for grout) will fit across a space, both left to right and top to bottom. To avoid awkward cuts, determine whether it will be better for the centre of the visible area to be the centre of a tile of where the tiles meet.
• Using a spirit level (and, where necessary, a plumb line) mark straight lines on the wall/floor as guides to keep your tile lines consistent as you work.
• Use sufficient adhesive. If there are significant gaps, this can result in tiles cracking under pressure. It is especially important on floors.

Note that, sometimes, you will have to plan for pleasant sightlines when you prepare your project. for example, if wall tiles are at eye-level or above a work top, pay more attention to this area than where they meet the floor or ceiling.

An example of a well planned tiling project.
Note the half-tiles are cut to meet the floor.

One final thing - just because someone says he or she is an experienced, professional tiler does not mean that they are! Ask to see examples of their work and check their proposal for your tiling project before you say yes. If possible, when they start tiling, offer to bring them cups of tea so that you can check their work :)

Best of luck! Feel free to post comments and provide photographs of your projects, good or bad!

Re-grouting Tiles

Quick Fixes

Tiling around wash hand basins may have discoloured grouting in places, from various hand soaps. Floor tiles bedded on non-concrete or screeded floors may have moved very slightly during fluctuations in humidity or heavy treading over the years, and some of the grout may have chipped, dried or otherwise broken loose.

Whether it's for guests who are coming to stay at Christmas or a 'spring' clean at any time, the grout between tiles may be looking a little tired. What are the ways to give it a makeover?

Wall Tile Grouting

The simplest options are to clean the grouting with some whitening toothpaste, cream cleanser or sugar soap, depending on the type of stain (e.g. colour dye, oil, etc.) but always with an old toothbrush. When done, wipe with a clean, damp cloth.

If there are gaps where small pieces of grout are missing and you want a quick fix, these can easily be filled in with 'fix & grout' or general purpose 'polyfilla' from a local DIY or hardware store for £3ish to £7ish. A longer lasting job would involve removing existing grout and replacing all with new - much harder than you'd think.

Before the new grout hardens, smooth it very gently with your finger (in a damp cloth, if preferred). Wipe the whole surface a little later, once the grout has set. 

If the grouting is especially prone water damage, such as around a wash hand basin, an alternative is to use a waterproof mastic to protect the area. This is not an easy task if you haven't tried it before so it would be a good idea to practice first. Trim off unwanted bits of dried mastic with a sharp blade, otherwise it may cause a ripple effect, when pulled, and remove a significant amount.

Floor Tile Grouting

Often, for practical reasons, the grout between floor tiles is cement and, often, it is a grey colour rather than white.

Sometimes, bathroom floor tiles have white grouting and can take a temporary fix with filler, as above. However, in many cases, repairing floor tile problems requires a professional. A variety of tools may be used, from electric-powered to metal scrapers or just white vinegar. Never use metal abrasives on the tile surfaces, as many tiles are sensitive and will permanently mark (especially porcelain).

If you are constantly having problems with losing grout between floor tiles, it may be that insufficient adhesive was used to bed them down. This can be checked by gently tapping areas of the floor to see if a significant number of patches sound hollow.

Please feel free to leave a genuine comment!

Selling your house? First impressions count!

We don't often 'see' our home as others might see it - when we return from work or with the weekly shopping, we just go through the door and get on with our lives.

If you are thinking of putting your property 'on the market' it is important to convey a good 'first impression'. People will see a photograph on a website, in an estate agents' window or on paper details. Usually, the photograph will be of the front of the house and, even if it isn't, some people will use Google Street View or check out the location in person.

If you have a front garden, keep the lawn and foliage neat so that it looks nice and seems easy to mange. Paths and driveways must be seen to be low maintenance so they should be repaired, if necessary.

Paved driveways can look tired. Remember, when you first had your driveway paved, how good it looked? Paved driveways can be restored to look as good as new. They can also be sealed to look good for longer.

Don't panic if you have a tired old tarmac driveway - you don't have to replace it as these too, can be repaired, cleaned and sealed so that your old tarmac drive looks like new at a fraction of the cost.

When you've read this article, leave your house and stand across the street to stare back at it. Are the guttering and downpipes in good order? Do your wood-framed windows and entrance door need a coat of paint or varnish? Are the curtains or blinds attractive?

Come back in and look at your entrance hall - is it bright and uncluttered?

When you are moving home, you don't want to spend a lot of money of doing it up - the likelihood is that the buyers will change things anyway - but you should consider that a well presented home will sell much faster than one that is cluttered.

Most people expect to redecorate when they buy a new home but many will not have the extra budget to renew carpets therefore it is essential that the carpets you include in the sale are an asset rather than a liability. Ensure that each room looks as good as possible by having your carpets professionally cleaned. You can often have three carpets cleaned for the price of two.

Some people do not have good imaginations, therefore décor should be neutral, where possible, unless you have recently made bold statements when upgrading your home for a contemporary look and feel. If you are selling in winter or if there is is not much natural light in certain rooms, lighting can be important, too.

Present your home as a show-home, keeping ornaments etc to a minimum, otherwise your home might seem small. Keep work surfaces clear in kitchens and de-clutter bathrooms of personal items.

Finally, keep it warm but fresh. Subtle smells, such as fresh air, baking and a cleaned floor make a better impact than last night's curry, burnt toast or scented masking sprays.

Best of luck!

Bathrooms & Wetrooms: Non Slip Floors

Safety in the home is paramount in kitchens and bathrooms. Bathrooms and wet-rooms can be a particular hazard when feet and floors are wet, therefore it is vitally important to use anti-slip flooring.

Practical Bathing has a wealth of experience installing bathrooms, shower rooms and wet rooms in private dwellings, care homes and hospitals. Flooring is an integral part of the overall solution, and careful consideration is given to the needs of elderly, infirm or disabled bathers.

Anti-slip vinyl is available in a wide range of attractive colours and styles, with specific anti-slip qualities to suit different environments. For example, in an assisted wet room environment where the carer’s shoes might also get wet, a high grade anti slip surface will be required.

Installing anti-slip vinyl requires skill and attention to detail. The room must be properly prepared and the floor level and smooth. The vinyl will be glued down and sealed, creating a water resistant solution which will last for many years.