| It's probably the most common request a bathroom | | | | Place wall lighting either side of the mirror - |
| designer can get - I'd like to get a bathroom that's, | | | | fluorescent or low voltage 20w-ish halogen. This is |
| you know, like a hotel bathroom or spa bathroom! | | | | dependent on whether you want a warm, relaxing |
| First up, limestone or travertine tiling. This doesn't | | | | light or a brighter more refreshing and helpful |
| have to be natural stone. There are many decent | | | | make-up lighting at the sink. These lights should also |
| quality tiles out there that double as the same | | | | be on a separate switch so that they turn on |
| effect, mostly porcelain. Always go for a large | | | | independently from the ceiling lights. Ask your |
| format tile. 45cm x 45cm porcelain tiles are generally | | | | bathroom designer for a electric layout to help you |
| the best but feel free to throw caution to the wind | | | | plan your lighting. |
| and go up to 60cm x 60cm! If you have any | | | | A freestanding bath is always good to enhance the |
| awkward curves, or are intending to do a wetroom | | | | hotel effect but this depends on whether you can |
| floor, check out some botticino mosaics. They are | | | | get the plumbing to some wall-mounted taps or |
| more expensive but look around online - there are | | | | floor-mounted taps as these are the only options to |
| many decent offers around. The effect can be | | | | fill it. If not, look at putting in a normal bath but tiling |
| stunning in a wet room shower enclosure. If you can, | | | | the bath panel with the floor tiles rather than using |
| tile up to the ceilings or the pitch of an eve. Use | | | | the standard bath panel. If the shower has to be in |
| ivory grout as this will blend in better with the | | | | the bath as well, choose a nice minimal glass bath |
| limestone colour and not look like a white grid. If cost | | | | screen that can swing out of the way when not |
| is an issue, tile full height around the shower area and | | | | required. In this instance, aim to use a thermostatic |
| around a 45cm tile height above the bath edge. Finish | | | | valve and diverter so that it fills the bath when you |
| the edge of the tile in a decorators caulk painted | | | | turn it on or comes out of the shower when |
| room colour or use a nice chrome flat edge tile trim | | | | diverted. This means that all brassware can be kept |
| on top. You could leave the other walls to just be | | | | off the deck of the bath leaving more room for |
| painted and have a 15cm tile skirting around the rest | | | | smellies and candles! |
| of the room. Then paint the remaining walls or ceiling | | | | If you are looking to install a separate shower |
| in an ivory or stone colour. Dulux Neutrals range | | | | enclosure the obvious option is the wet room. Make |
| offers complimentary colours to this scheme which | | | | sure the installer has previous experience as we don't |
| will also set off the tones of the limestone. The | | | | want leaks downstairs. Also, you are limited to a |
| handy thing about these painted walls is that you can | | | | drench or rain shower head as a power shower will |
| add a personal touch with a framed picture which will | | | | fire out of the wetroom space into the rest of the |
| inject an interesting element to the space. | | | | bathroom. Unless you have a hinged or sliding door |
| Basin Vanity - something in dark wood tones. More | | | | which changes the complexion a little. Don't forget |
| expensive cabinetry will be made from Wenge or | | | | the chrome wire shower basket unless you are lucky |
| American Black Walnut whilst cheaper cabinetry could | | | | to have the space to form a stud wall to make a |
| be dark-stained oak. Either way, these are the items | | | | mosaic recess for your bottles! |
| to look for. Some will come in kits including the basin | | | | A few halogen downlights on their own dimmer |
| and waste but, if not, go for the following. Vessel or | | | | switch is are essential. One above the waste of the |
| deck-mounted basin - either stick to a minimalist china | | | | sink, one above the WC, two at either end of the |
| white or go for something spa-chic like glass or cast | | | | bath, one above the shower (make sure it doesn't |
| iron. Remember that glass needs cleaning! Leave | | | | go above the rain shower head or you'll get light |
| residue in there after each wash and after a while it | | | | bouncing off the top and leaving you in shade) and |
| will resemble the before item of an anti-limescale | | | | one slightly in front of the heated towel radiator |
| advertisement. You'll need a tall monobloc basin mixer | | | | (white or chrome). |
| to feed over the basin and there are many | | | | Lastly, try and get your toilet to float. A wall-hung |
| manufacturers who produce this extra tall version of | | | | WC does need to be encased in studwork but it |
| their normal basin taps. | | | | increases the space in a bathroom and looks 'lighter'. |
| The space around the base of the sink can hold your | | | | Don't forget to use a proper wall-hanging frame for |
| soap dispensers and hand creams whilst the cabinet | | | | this as toilets hung on stud alone tend to edge off. |
| itself could be a cupboard or handy drawer. This can | | | | Not comforting. Alternatively, go for another |
| either be wall-mounted (a bit more costly but more | | | | minimalist back to wall or close-coupled WC - |
| spacious) or have legs. Add a nearby hand towel rail | | | | preferably something curvier than square as this |
| and maybe a shelf (glass or matching dark wood). | | | | blends in with the soft atmosphere of the hotel spa |
| Hang a mirror above the basin with matching dark | | | | bathroom... |
| wood frame to tie in with the vanity unit. | | | | |