Bring some bathtime bliss into the New Year
The bathroom has come a long way in recent years and is no longer seen as a functional space, but as a relaxing haven where we can pamper ourselves.
Make storage a priority, as untidy rooms are rarely relaxing. Store unwanted clutter out of sight, so that surfaces can be kept clear of mess.
Invest in an attractive bathroom cabinet so that products can be kept in order.
Mirrored cupboards work well in small spaces as they provide a dual function as well as bouncing light around.
If you are lucky enough to have a spacious bathroom then built-in, concealed wall cabinets are a great design feature as they allow for masses of storage for towels and toiletries, but their sleek lines prevent them from intruding on the room.
A novel method of creating storage is to look for an old school locker or a metal office filing cabinet and give it a new lease of life with some spray paint.
The sky’s the limit when it comes to bathroom fixtures and fittings. If you can afford to splurge on high quality items, then take a look at the fabulous reproduction French ‘bateau’ baths from The Bath Works (www.thebathworks.com).

The bateau style tubs are very luxurious and range from £950 to around £2950 for the design in lustrous polished copper.
For the ultimate in style take a look at the striking range at Water Monopoly (02027 624 2636/www.watermonopoly.com). Their teak bath tub clocks in at an eye watering £6.700 - but it is beautiful.
It’s interesting how things come full circle. Having pulled out our baths in favour of walk-in showers, we are now reinstalling them at a rate of knots.
Attention to detail is important, so try and ensure that any intrusive plumbing is hidden away in walls to give a more streamlined look. It would be a shame to spend a lot of money on a fancy new bath just to have the effect ruined with lots of piping.
If you want to make a difference, but without spending a fortune, you could create a laid-back look with some rustic tongue and groove woodwork. This will turn the plainest bathroom into a cosy sanctuary.
Half tiled, half plastered walls always look pristine and are easy to maintain.
When it comes to painting the bathroom walls, make sure you use the correct paint as it will last longer in a steamy environment.
One of my favourite colours for a bathroom is terracotta - by using this shade on the walls, or in your tiling, you can create a Moroccan style oasis.

You could also create a coastal ambience with subtle blues and greens, and faded pastels.
Bathroom floors get lots of spashing so the first consideration should be practicality -- especially if you have a family.
If you want to create a wet room effect then you could consider tiling the entire space. Make sure you choose a warm colour and texture as wall-to-ceiling tiling can look quite cold.
As always, my key piece of advice is to make sure your new bathroom fits your lifestyle, the needs of a single person will be very different to those of a large family where the fittings need to be able to withstand wear and tear.
But wherever you can, please indulge your fantasies.
Andrew Burch is a director at Chameleon Interiors, and has been designing beautiful homes for two decades. Tel: 029 2037 1277. www.chameleoninteriors.co.uk
Bring some bathtime bliss into the New Year
The bathroom has come a long way in recent years and is no longer seen as a functional space, but as a relaxing haven where we can pamper ourselves.
Make storage a priority, as untidy rooms are rarely relaxing. Store unwanted clutter out of sight, so that surfaces can be kept clear of mess.
Invest in an attractive bathroom cabinet so that products can be kept in order.
Mirrored cupboards work well in small spaces as they provide a dual function as well as bouncing light around.
If you are lucky enough to have a spacious bathroom then built-in, concealed wall cabinets are a great design feature as they allow for masses of storage for towels and toiletries, but their sleek lines prevent them from intruding on the room.
A novel method of creating storage is to look for an old school locker or a metal office filing cabinet and give it a new lease of life with some spray paint.
The sky’s the limit when it comes to bathroom fixtures and fittings. If you can afford to splurge on high quality items, then take a look at the fabulous reproduction French ‘bateau’ baths from The Bath Works (www.thebathworks.com).
The bateau style tubs are very luxurious and range from £950 to around £2950 for the design in lustrous polished copper.
For the ultimate in style take a look at the striking range at Water Monopoly (02027 624 2636/www.watermonopoly.com). Their teak bath tub clocks in at an eye watering £6.700 - but it is beautiful.
It’s interesting how things come full circle. Having pulled out our baths in favour of walk-in showers, we are now reinstalling them at a rate of knots.
Attention to detail is important, so try and ensure that any intrusive plumbing is hidden away in walls to give a more streamlined look. It would be a shame to spend a lot of money on a fancy new bath just to have the effect ruined with lots of piping.
If you want to make a difference, but without spending a fortune, you could create a laid-back look with some rustic tongue and groove woodwork. This will turn the plainest bathroom into a cosy sanctuary.
Half tiled, half plastered walls always look pristine and are easy to maintain.
When it comes to painting the bathroom walls, make sure you use the correct paint as it will last longer in a steamy environment.
One of my favourite colours for a bathroom is terracotta - by using this shade on the walls, or in your tiling, you can create a Moroccan style oasis.
You could also create a coastal ambience with subtle blues and greens, and faded pastels.
Bathroom floors get lots of spashing so the first consideration should be practicality -- especially if you have a family.
If you want to create a wet room effect then you could consider tiling the entire space. Make sure you choose a warm colour and texture as wall-to-ceiling tiling can look quite cold.
As always, my key piece of advice is to make sure your new bathroom fits your lifestyle, the needs of a single person will be very different to those of a large family where the fittings need to be able to withstand wear and tear.
But wherever you can, please indulge your fantasies.
Andrew Burch is a director at Chameleon Interiors, and has been designing beautiful homes for two decades. Tel: 029 2037 1277. www.chameleoninteriors.co.uk
Bring some bathtime bliss into the New Year
The bathroom has come a long way in recent years and is no longer seen as a functional space, but as a relaxing haven where we can pamper ourselves.
Make storage a priority, as untidy rooms are rarely relaxing. Store unwanted clutter out of sight, so that surfaces can be kept clear of mess.
Invest in an attractive bathroom cabinet so that products can be kept in order.
Mirrored cupboards work well in small spaces as they provide a dual function as well as bouncing light around.
If you are lucky enough to have a spacious bathroom then built-in, concealed wall cabinets are a great design feature as they allow for masses of storage for towels and toiletries, but their sleek lines prevent them from intruding on the room.
A novel method of creating storage is to look for an old school locker or a metal office filing cabinet and give it a new lease of life with some spray paint.
The sky’s the limit when it comes to bathroom fixtures and fittings. If you can afford to splurge on high quality items, then take a look at the fabulous reproduction French ‘bateau’ baths from The Bath Works (www.thebathworks.com).
The bateau style tubs are very luxurious and range from £950 to around £2950 for the design in lustrous polished copper.
For the ultimate in style take a look at the striking range at Water Monopoly (02027 624 2636/www.watermonopoly.com). Their teak bath tub clocks in at an eye watering £6.700 - but it is beautiful.
It’s interesting how things come full circle. Having pulled out our baths in favour of walk-in showers, we are now reinstalling them at a rate of knots.
Attention to detail is important, so try and ensure that any intrusive plumbing is hidden away in walls to give a more streamlined look. It would be a shame to spend a lot of money on a fancy new bath just to have the effect ruined with lots of piping.
If you want to make a difference, but without spending a fortune, you could create a laid-back look with some rustic tongue and groove woodwork. This will turn the plainest bathroom into a cosy sanctuary.
Half tiled, half plastered walls always look pristine and are easy to maintain.
When it comes to painting the bathroom walls, make sure you use the correct paint as it will last longer in a steamy environment.
One of my favourite colours for a bathroom is terracotta - by using this shade on the walls, or in your tiling, you can create a Moroccan style oasis.
You could also create a coastal ambience with subtle blues and greens, and faded pastels.
Bathroom floors get lots of spashing so the first consideration should be practicality -- especially if you have a family.
If you want to create a wet room effect then you could consider tiling the entire space. Make sure you choose a warm colour and texture as wall-to-ceiling tiling can look quite cold.
As always, my key piece of advice is to make sure your new bathroom fits your lifestyle, the needs of a single person will be very different to those of a large family where the fittings need to be able to withstand wear and tear.
But wherever you can, please indulge your fantasies.
Andrew Burch is a director at Chameleon Interiors, and has been designing beautiful homes for two decades. Tel: 029 2037 1277. www.chameleoninteriors.co.uk