Latest Designer Bathroom Ideas and How To Guides for your Home

An outdoor pool is a fun place to spend an ideal summer’s day, or to throw a party for kids or adults. A pool party can be even more exciting with an attractive pool and paved flooring.

One of the best ways to add appeal and comfort to a pool and the surrounding area is to use travertine pavers (travertine bring one of the best materials to use for pool paving). Travertine is a natural stone that is ideally suited for hot conditions since it stays cool, so that even if someone walks barefoot under the mid-day sun, they will still feel the coolness of the stone.

Travertine pavers and tiles also prevent efflorescence, a white deposit that sometimes appears on concrete surfaces. Travertine will also not fade, unlike bricks, nor will they rot, like other man-made surfaces.

During both summer and the freezing winter cold, travertine pavers will stand the test of time. They will not disintegrate, even when the ground freezes over and thaws out – travertine resists all types of weathering.

Travertine tiles that are used as a material for paving are typically thinner, and commonly set in mortar. This makes travertine stone pavers a wise choice to use as an outdoor paving material.

To make an outdoor pool even more attractive, travertine pavers come in a variety of colours and designs to make them look elegant and vibrant. And since they are made of natural stone, travertine tiles are infused with other colourful accents and shades.

Travertine tiles are both durable and cost-effective, which makes them the perfect pool-paving material.

Most people have experienced the discomfort of a damp towel at some point. Besides being unpleasant to the touch, wet towels are also a haven for bacteria. Heated towel rails provide a luxurious as well as practical addition to any bathroom.

Current towel rails range from traditional ball joint rail designs to contemporary and minimalist styles, with the majority being available to suit any heating system whether it be hot water or connected via the mains to an electric point.

Alternatively, an element can be supplied to rails fitted to a hot water heating system. This allows the rail to be used independently of the central heating system.

Ball joints and period-style cross head valves are classic elements of a traditional, Victorian design. Towel warmers are available in various sizes and fittings, including wall and floor mounted for maximum flexibility. Many are hand-crafted and available with a choice of up to three heat outputs.

Ladder-style towel rails are the ultimate in contemporary chic and will instantly add a cutting-edge designer look to any bathroom.

Many designs have a sharp, minimalist style with protruding rails at either end to give an added design appeal.

And be sure to check out columnar towels rails. These are freestanding and floor mounted, often consisting of as many as 10 chrome columns that not only dry the towels but keep the bathroom warm at the same time.

Also have a look at the variety of fuel options. These include a dual fuel function that enables you to warm your towels without switching on the main hot water supply, a useful function during the summer months.

Traditionally, bathrooms have always been one of the smaller rooms in the house. So it is important to make the most of what space there is available.

Pale, soft colours give an illusion of space. Keep bold, primary colours for accessories such as towels or bath mats. Instead, choose pastel tones, white or neutral colours. Add warmth by installing wall sconces or even a lamp.

Recessed lighting works particularly well by focusing on fixtures.
Mirrors add the illusion of space. Try placing as large a mirror as is appropriate over the bathroom sink. Or arrange a group of mirrors together instead of one large one.

Although a vanity unit provides storage, it can take up a lot of space in a smaller bathroom. Weigh up the advantages of replacing it with a pedestal or wall-mounted sink.

Choose a smaller bath. A lower-walled tub with a flat bottom is ideal for a shower and still provides adequate room for a relaxing bath.

Have you thought of replacing the traditional hinged door with one that slides open?

Exchange a frosted glass shower door for a transparent one. Or install a shower curtain that can be pulled back when not in use. Being able to see from door to back wall increases the illusion of space.

And remove clutter. Have only essentials visible. Organise storage areas in a linen cupboard. Keep it tidy. Corner shelves add height and therefore maximise space. Place the towel racks behind the door. That way, you will never have to see them.

Travertine tiles in mosaic pattern are suitable for a number of uses but particularly for both walls and floors. Most commonly used in bathrooms and wet rooms they offer a better option when a non slip surface is required or is desirable. They can be used as a wall covering or they can be simple splash backs, also suitable for kitchen walls.  The sheets of mosaic travertine tiles can be a selected shade or they can be random, combining different shades and variations in surface texture adding distinct characteristic features to the wall or floor, adding extra interest.

With mosaic tiles, these can be supplied in two distinct sizes, 48×48 or 24×24, but for something which is that bit different a brick pattern is available. Individual tiles are tumbled, creating a worn pebble like appearance. The travertine tiles are naturally unfilled. When grouted in the surface is still textured, whereas marble tiles are completely smooth. This range of tiles is increasing in popularity and because the colours can be mixed, they can be used with any other Travertine product.

The success of Travertine is demonstrated by the fact that it is one of the oldest building materials that are known to man and it was used extensively by the Romans. The Colesseum in Rome is the largest building in the world which is largely constructed using Travertine. There are many other examples of use of this natural product that can be found throughout Europe and America.

No matter what style you are trying to achieve in your modern bathroom there will be a wealth of choice when it comes to the bath taps. As well as other bathroom accessories and fittings, such as towel rails and soap holders, it is often bath and sink taps that will define the style of your suite.

Sleek and minimal design is the latest trend for modern bathrooms and you will find that the majority of choices will come in a chrome finish, with brass usually the second most common choice. Single taps (also known as single-bloc mixers) are easily the most sought after when it comes to bath taps as they save the hassle of mixing hot and cold water from different taps. However, if you are hoping to add one of these to an older-style bath, you may run into the problems if the taps were originally separate.

Of course, one way to overcome this is to purchase a split single-hole mixer – where the hot and cold pipes enter from where the original  taps were placed – but also well worth considering, especially if you want to go for the most modern look, is to install wall-mounted bath taps. Not only will it give a stylish finish to your bathroom, but there will also be less cleaning involved around the base of the tap.

If you want to add a showerhead to your bath taps, there will still be a wide range available to complement any style, and these can also come wall-mounted.

Continental underfloor heating can be used in both residential and commercial properties. This underfloor heating system is water based. No matter what your existing heating supply system is at present, the Continental underfloor heating system can be incorporated.

This underfloor heating system is easily installed. The heat is created by a circuit of pipes that is laid below your flooring. Heated water runs through these pipes to heat the area. Underfloor heating is becoming more popular in the UK as it has already been for some time across the rest of Europe.

With minimalist room décor being so popular, underfloor heating is ideal as it suits this style; you receive optimum heat without seeing the source. You no longer need to design a room to incorporate radiators that take up space and often don’t suit the style of the room. The heating thermostat is the only small item that would be required on display.

The Continental underfloor heating system is also more environmentally friendly than many other heating options. The room stays warmer for longer as the heat is provided from the ground up. The temperature of the water circulating round the pipes is not as hot as conventional radiators as the pipes cover a larger surface area. This means that your energy consumption will be less, which will in turn reduce your fuel bill.

The heat provided by underfloor heating is different from conventional radiated heat. The majority of heat from underfloor heat is radiant rather than convected heat whereas radiators are the opposite. Underfloor heating provides a more comfortable heat by heating the floor’s surface, which in turn then heats the air above it.

Toilets are important when it comes to determining the style of bathroom suites and there is a range of options to choose from on the market. As well as the traditional toilet bowls that are available, easily the biggest range is in the modern designs, with some offering very contemporary features.

Standard toilets will come with the base unit and a cistern. The average height for the bowl is set between 40cm and 41cm. They are either classed as ‘high-level’ or ‘low-level’ depending on the position of the cistern and it would be fair to say the more high-level designs are reserved for traditional bathrooms, but there are some modern options that also fit into this category.

You will find also that modern toilets will have a much more sleek and minimal finish and there is also the option of having a wall-mounted toilet, which is used to give your bathroom a stylish touch. Toilets like these are designed to give the impression of more space in smaller bathroom suites and the cistern is also hidden, usually being built into the bathroom furniture. Modern toilets can also come with two buttons for separate flushes, which will allow you to select the amount of water you use for each flush.

Traditional toilets however, will obviously come in a more old-fashioned style, with the cistern and flush sometimes fitted high above on the wall. These cisterns were originally made of metal, but today you will find the majority are ceramic.

When choosing underfloor heating for a wood floor there are several things that need to be taken into account.  Temperatures for wood underfloor heating should be kept low to prevent overheating, so a thermostat is needed to control the heat.  Some types of hardwood flooring are not suitable for underfloor heating, so some research may be required before deciding on which type of flooring or heating to use.  One type of wood flooring that is particularly suited to underfloor heating is solid oak.

One option for wood underfloor heating is a screed electric underfloor heating system.  Screed underfloor electric heating systems usually come with a heating cable, a cable fixing strip, and a digital thermostat that has a built-in timer.  Although installation for the screed kit is easy, a qualified electrician is required to make the final connections.

Insulation boards are another option.  These energy saving boards are useful for protecting the wood flooring from cold and damp.  They are particularly ideal as the insulation sheets are placed between the floor and the heating foil, creating a more effective type of underfloor heating.  Insulation boards are also useful, as they are resistant to mould.

If you want a cheaper option, you may wish to opt for electric underfloor heating for your wood floor.  Electric underfloor heating is much easier to install than a water heating systems.  Some types of underfloor heating, such as heating mats, may need to be installed by a specialist when placing them under a hardwood floor.

If you are installing a traditional bathroom suite, choosing the right tiling will be vital in keeping with the style you are trying to achieve. Unlike more modern bathrooms, older designs tend to use less tiling, but this is usually down to taste and budget rather than authentic accuracy.

Floor tiling is especially popular in traditional bathrooms as they can give a darker shade, which will be in keeping with older styles, such as Victorian and Edwardian and are ideal if you are unable to use the existing floor.

As the majority of traditional bathroom sinks, toilets and other bathroom furniture will come in a white ceramic finish, choosing a different colour for your tile work will give an all-important contrast. Again, darker colours will be most suitable, especially where there is plenty of natural light coming into the room, and dark blue or even black will always add a touch of class.

However, there will more often than not be less need for tiles in a traditional bathroom, and you will find many designs will only have tiling fitted around the basin area and inside the shower cubicle. Painting walls will also prove to be a lot more cost effective, and knowing exactly where and how many tiles you need to fit will help you stick to your budget. If you do plan to only fit tiles around the shower enclosure, white or cream colours are recommended as they will add extra brightness, and as they are more or less out of sight, won’t have a large effect on the colour scheme of your bathroom.

Choosing the right basin taps will be extremely important when putting the finishing touches to your bathroom suite. It is often small fittings like basin taps, bath taps and other bathroom accessories that add character, and trying to mix and match different styles, especially in traditional bathrooms, is never recommended. You will also find that, as these taps will be replicating an older style, there will be very few single-bloc taps available.

There is a wide range of traditional basin taps on the market, which can mean making a decision can be quite difficult, but most of these are separated into different categories, depending on the style – and time period – from which they have been designed. Victorian taps are ideal for a real 1800’s-style bathroom suite, but Edwardian fittings have proven to be the most popular, and are one of the more common traditional styles displayed in bathroom showrooms.

As well as the variety in different basin tap designs there are also plenty of different manufacturers offering an array of products. If you are looking for new bathroom accessories as well as bath and basin taps, it will be recommended to stick to the same brand, as even though they are all trying to replicate the same style, there will be slight variances between manufacturers.

Many people start off with one feature when designing their traditional bathroom, such as a roll top bath or bathroom sink, and it is important that you find the right basin taps – as well as bathroom furniture – to suit.