Sort It: Bathrooms:The most important issue to address when tackling the fit-out of any bathroom or en suite is to make sure your room is completely water tight. Using a product such as Wedi board – a water resistant board that can be used in the same way as plaster board – is a very good idea. Fibre-sealing the area is also good practice.
I’m often asked what my opinion on wet rooms is. To be honest, I steer clients every time in the direction of a shower tray. Wet rooms look wonderful but you do need a very competent contractor. Shower trays are easier to install and there are some very shallow profiled trays on the market now that sit almost flush with the floor finish creating a wet room effect. Selecting the right sanitary ware and finishes for your bathroom or en suite can seem daunting because there is so much choice – it’s easy to get bamboozled and the price of sanitary-ware can vary quite a bit.
My advice, is “knowledge is power”, make it your business to become an expert. Get your hands on every bathroom or interiors magazine you can find and put together a wish list. Compile a scrapbook of inspiration clippings. A book like this is great to take with you to showrooms as sales staff can see what you are looking for.
Make a list of all the local suppliers and showrooms and visit them to see the products first hand. The stockist directory at the back of magazines is great for listing suppliers. Quality will vary so it’s important to see the goods before you commit to buying. They might look great in a catalogue but there’s nothing like seeing things in situ.
Get to know the styles and brands you like and ask the sales staff for similar more reasonably priced ranges.
Just like fashion, the high-end brands have imitators. It is likely you can achieve a high-end look without blowing your budget.
Wall-hung sanitary-ware is a great option. It frees up space in the bathroom but it is more expensive than the floor-mounted alternative. If your budget does permit you to go for a wall-hung basin and toilet, your wall will need to be boxed out to conceal the services. Think about using the space to create a recessed cupboard for storage. We often design mirrored cabinets recessed above wall hung sanitary-ware. The effect is huge amounts of storage hidden behind mirrored doors.
If budget is a real concern cut back on tiling. Tile only where necessary and paint everywhere else. There are some clever finishes that can save you money. Back-painted glass commonly used in kitchens as splash-backs is a great alternative to tiles. Not only is it a stunning feature but it’s also a lot less costly than tiling. It’s also really easy to keep clean because there are no grout joints.
