Bathroom Suites | SuiteBathrooms.co.uk

Bedrooms with ensuite  bathrooms are increasingly popular.  The luxury of being able to step from the privacy of one room to the other is an indulgence many people now take for granted.  Linking the two rooms can provide extra space, which may be used for a related purpose.  For instance, this area is ideal for a dressing-room, wardbrobe and storage area, or boudoir in which to dress and undress, or just relax.  However, it is important to remember that  bathrooms that double as dressing-rooms, or are part of a bedroom where clothes are stored, should be well ventilated to prevent clothes becoming damp and musty.

Turning a small spare bedroom into an extra bathroom often provides the kind of room that gives enough space for activities other than bathing.  For instance, such a room can become a study or a den, with armchairs and stacks of books or magazines. However, it is dangerous to use electirical equipment  such as PC’s or printers in any area close to water.  To create a room within a room or to shield an area, a screen or group of screens can be used to make a movable wall.

Those bathrooms with large areas of wall space can be transformed into a picture gallery with paintings or family photographs.  Displays of collections such as china, fans or other artefacts can also provide an interesting feature.

With the current interest in keeping fit a large bathroom with plenty of floor space is an ideal place to keep equipment such as rowing or cycling machines.  The floor area can also be used for doing sit-ups and other exercises.  After building up a sweat from strenuous activity it is ideal to  be able to strip off and step straight into the shower.  If the bathroom is used for exercise and activity, the area may be tiled – both walls and floor – and the windows covered by a roller- or slat-blind, exphasizing the sense of industry and energy.

To create a traditional bathroom it is the finishing touches that will make it look authentic.  For instance, light fittings should be in keeping with the period and the current trend for Tiffany lights with their coloured glass designs will add an interesting effect, or wall-mounted brass brackets with opaque flame- shaped shapes will create grandeur.

Traditional bathroom floors are often wooden or marble.  Of course, real marble tiles are not only costly but are also very heavy, but it is possible to create a similar effect using marble-effect linoleum or tiles.  Victorian, Edwardian and country-style bathroom floors should be wooden, which can be painted, varnished or polished in accordance with the scheme.  Persian rugs, capet mats or colourful rag rugs will add comfort underfoot and heighten the authenticity.

Decorative accessories and collections such as china shaving mugs and mirrors, collections of antique brushes, combs and perfume bottles can all be arranged and displayed.  Ladies’ travelling cases, pictures, books and even china plates can be displayed on walls and shelves to give a lived-in and comfortable atmosphere to the bathroom.  Old hat boxes, linen bags and baskets will look attractive and provide invaluable storage space.  Old mirrors, such as Victorian hall or ornamental mirrors, can be revamped.  It is possible to buy print wallpaper from specialist companies to suit the period, for example a Willliam Morris design, but it is just as simple to paint a wall with emulsion, then create a pattern using a rubber stamp with an appropriate motif and gold paint.  A peg rail, which can run along the whole wall will provide hanging space for dressing-gowns and large bathsheets, and old linen bags can store sponges, face cloths and sundry items.   Wooden and ceramic pull-handles for light fittings will make sure the room is correctly decorated down to the last detail.

The bathroom is one of the most intimate rooms in a house and the one in which people are most likely to indulge their imagination when it comes to decorating.  A bathroom can have 2 purposes: first, for the practical task of cleansing the body and second, as a sanctuary in which to relax and unwind at the end of a busy day.  These days bathrooms have a third possible use, if they are of adequate size, as a keep-fit area where an exercise bike and gym equipment can be installed, or as a dressing room, if it is ensuite to a bedroom.  Many home owners choose to transform a spare bedroom into an additional bathroom.  With 2 bathrooms in the same house, one may be assigned to the children or guests and the other to the parents.

Showers are popular and commonplace in new houses built today.  A shower is a quick, invigorating way to start the day, as well as a refreshing cool-down after sport. Shower rooms can be fitted into small spaces, such as the area under a staircase or in a wardrobe recess in the bedroom.  Moreover, showers are economical on water and power making them an ideal cost-saver in a family household.

The therapeutic pleasures and benefits of bathtime can be traced back to Roman times, when, after bathing slaves would dry, oil, and massage their masters’ bodies.  Nowadays aromatic bath oils and the gentle massage from jet sprays in showers and jacuzzi fittings in a bathtub re-create a similar effect in the privacy of your own bathroom.

When planning and decorating your own bathroom it is fun to do some thorough research.  Look through magazines and brochures for inspiration, visit showrooms and DIY outlets to gauge prices and styles.

There are many styles to choose from when decorating a bathroom, but it is best not to mix styles. For example, a Victorian panelled bath will look odd if combined with high-tech chrome lever taps, and metal blinds will look out of place in a country-style floral bathroom, and a bright, primary-coloured, geometric tiled floor will be unsuitable for a pastel-coloured, traditional bathroom.  However, it is between the 2 extremes of contemporary and traditional that most bathrooms take shape.

The contemporary style, for instance, can be divided into 2 areas – modern and ultra-modern.  Modern bathrooms have the new shapes of bath, shower cabinet, toilet, basin and mirrored units that are decorated with a clean and uncluttered style.  The modern bathroom is sometimes all-white, clinical looking, while others may have a hint of colour, such as ice blue, pale yellow or the zesty shades of orange, lime green and citrus yellow.

The ultra-modern bathroom is usually architect designed and may feature a custom-made bath and units with chrome or steel fittings.  Inspiration for this style can come from Eastern countries, such as small tile mosaic walls and floors from a Turkish steam-room.  The clinical look with lever taps is similar to those in science or medical laboratories.  The surroundings in which the high-tech bath fittings are installed are often minimally decorated in monotone colours.  It is possible to change the mood of contemporary bathrooms from a functional, efficient cleansing early morning bathe to a restful haven of tranquility at the end of the day.  This mood change can be achieved by using a dimmer switch to control the lighting strength, or by simply using different towels: soft, deep-pile towelling bathsheets will make drying more leisurely and relaxing than a quick, brisk rub down with a white cotton towel.

In the modern bathroom practical objects such as radiators can be made into a decorative feature.  A number of radiator companies now make unusually shaped and coloured varieties and these, as well as having a useful function, can be the focal point of the room.  The ladder radiator for instance, is also space-saving, as its narrow frame can be fixed high on the wall where it not only heats the room but dries wet towels.

Splashbacks behind hand-basins and baths can also be made from materials other than the more conventional perspex or ceramic tile.  Sheets of fine steel can be cut into imaginative shapes and polished to produce smooth edges.  The steel can be lacquered or varnished to prevent rust forming in damp and steamy bathroom conditions.

Contemporary bathrooms are often comprised of metals such as steel and chrome, as well as reinforced glass fittings.  These reflective and transparent surfaces can be used to create a spacious feel and the design of many of the fittings is minimal, adding to the uncluttered look.

Bathrooms can look like business places with items such as clinical trolleys, magnifying mirrors on expanding zigzag wall brackets, industrial chrome wastebins and single-support mirror and shelf units.  However, under a low-voltage bulb the modern bathroom can still have a relaxing charm.  Creating a contemporary-style bathroom can be accomplished on a tight budget by mimicking the designer look.  For instance, plain standard units, or white or wood cupboards  from stores such as Ikea, Habitat, Tesco and Homebase can be transformed with the addition of modern chrome or steel handles.  It is simple and easy to remove an embellished, decorative frame off a mirror, then fix the mirror to the wall with capped screws.  This creates a minimal, chic appearance.