From Bedroom to Bathroom

When looking for a luxury bathroom suite, you may trawl the internet or catalogues for ideas and often see bathroom furniture, freestanding baths etc installed in huge rooms; selling you that dream suite.

Generally, these huge spaces seem far from the ones inside your home, your current bathroom possibly much smaller or an entirely different shape to the rooftop New York apartments complete with Jacuzzi and sauna found in brochures.

Of course, this doesn't necessarily mean that your home cannot mimic these dream concepts. Your current bathroom maybe compact but what about the spare bedroom? Is there a room in your house that lays dormant? Maybe your children have flown from the nest or perhaps your home office is simply collecting cobwebs.

Just because a room has been labelled a bedroom or office doesn't mean that the space has to provide that function until the end of time, so why not convert it into your dream bathroom?

Firstly, before you start removing your carpet or wallpaper, in order for your new bathroom to meet with water by-laws and building regulations, you must first contact your water supplier and building regulation officer for approval and possible advice on your conversion: that completed, you can set to work on building your catalogue fantasy.

Secondly, find a decent plumber, you will have to re-route the water supply and waste pipes. Waste disposal can be cleverly adjusted by using a macerator and pump, again an experienced plumber is all that is required. 

Build up of condensation can spoil a bathroom within a relatively short period of time as it builds up damp and condensation which can lead to even worse problems. Ventilation is key, especially in rooms with no windows so make sure you invest in an extractor fan.

Finally, if you are looking to install a large cast iron bath, whirlpool or particularly robust units then make sure your floor can withstand the weight, especially in upstairs rooms and loft conversions – nobody wants to fall through the ceiling while in the tub.

Now it’s time to live the dream, with so much space on offer you can create the sumptuous (yet heavily ‘photoshopped’) look you desire. Bathroom City has a full range of high end products, perfect for filling those larger spaces, everything from Jacuzzi whirlpools to versatile Pelipal vanity units, so come and check us out!

www.bathroomcity.co.uk

Turn antique or old furniture into contemporary bathroom chic

Of course, our showroom is full to the brim with vanity units, storage cabinets and basin stands, for any bathroom suite, Bathroom City has a solution.

We understand though that certain bathroom designs deserve more attention, and sometimes a truly unique look needs a feature from outside the showroom.

Both traditional and contemporary suites can utilise this look, maybe a quirky vanity unit or magnificent mirror could be the key to turning your dream bathroom into paradise.

Is your house a treasure trove of ‘unwanted’ furniture? The garage often hides antique delights, perfect for giving an overhaul and sticking in the bathroom: you can turn furniture that you once hid away into the focal point of your bathroom suite.

Sound good? First things first is to find the right piece of furniture. Find something that suits your particular needs, whether its storage, style or size, the beauty of converting an older piece of furniture is that the possibilities are endless.

Not being limited by what you see in a showroom gives you the opportunity to pick furniture which may not necessarily be bathroom furniture. For example, an old dresser can be easily converted into a vanity unit with plenty of storage, while a bedside table could be the perfect solution for a cloakroom basin stand.

A converted dresser: traditional and practical

After selecting your furniture to convert, have a think about the colour scheme or features which will make it fit nicely with your current interior, take into account the bath, toilet, cabinets that you may have installed or plan to install.

Secondly, begin sanding! If you are changing the colour of the unit, you need to sand off the original finish. It’s monotonous and hard work but its well worth it to get the finish you desire, also consider sanding polished gold handles for a more rustic look.

Next up, are you installing a basin? Make sure you cut a whole that will fit your chosen basin snuggly with ample room for piping (this also should be taken into consideration when choosing your furniture).

Finally, make it unique! Think outside the box, there are thousands of ways to customise your furniture into truly original designs; try tiling the top of the unit for a hard wearing finish that matches your bathroom tiles. On the other hand you could completely change the finish with a brand new work top i.e. replacing wood with a stunning marble top.

If you have any ideas about converting your old furniture then please let us know, or, if you have done it yourself, send us some pictures and we’ll be glad to post them online.

www.bathroomcity.co.uk

Treat Your Partner with a Romantic Bath

They say romance is dead. We say romance is only dead if you kill it: so why not try and keep your love life alive by adding a small gesture in the bathroom area…a romantic bath.

Nobody wants to be seduced while surrounded by limescale covered taps, dirty marks around the bath or last weeks pants lying on the floor. To create the perfect romantic setting it is crucial that the bathroom is not only free of grime but also free of clutter, in the words of Jerry Seinfeld: “Tub is love”, meaning, if you’re cleaning the bath before your other half is coming round, you must be in love with them.

Not too hot and not too cold is the key ingredient. Nothing could be more of a mood killer then getting in a bath which makes you sweaty and uncomfortable or a freezing cold bath which gives you pneumonia. Make sure you don’t run the water too early and risk it getting cold: you don’t want to be standing in awkward silence desperately trying to get the water to optimum temperature.

So far we’ve covered the basics: clean, check, bath run, check. Now it’s time to add the romance. If you have an understanding of what aromas that tantalise your other half’s senses then add a concoction of bath salts and oils to suit there needs, by this we mean lavender and plant oils to relax; if the only aroma you know your partner enjoys is the smell of sizzling bacon please don’t feel the need to add it to your romance potion, think therapeutic. Also, add bubbles, bath beads, even the age old formula of rose petals to make your bath a visual delight.

It is not just the inside of the bath which needs decorating, try adding scented candles around the bath and switch off the lights for a truly romantic vibe. You could also add a bath pillow inside the bath to make it more comfortable, you can get a bath pillow for under £5 from a decent retailer: a small price to pay for such a nice gesture.

Sound good so far? Why not try adding a bit of music? Of course, the sounds of Motorhead is not an appropriate choice when sinking into a deep warm bath, but a bit of easy listening can go a long way, and you will have your partner in heaven until their fingers turn to prunes.

End on a high. Don’t leave your partner wondering aimlessly around the house naked trying to find a clean towel; make sure there are towels and a bathrobe waiting for them afterwards.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our brief guide: there is much more you can do to personalise your partners romantic experience, add alcohol, massage etc, just customise it to their tastes and put some thought into it and let romance blossom!    

Don't forget to like our Facebook page for news updates, pictures, videos and general banter: http://www.facebook.com/Bathroom.City?ref=hl

www.bathroomcity.co.uk

Bathroom Design Ideas

It is important to think about the bathroom design as much as the bathroom fixtures. If you’re thinking of remodelling your bathroom, consider adding elements of comfort and elegance. Think crystal chandeliers, gold plated faucets, marble flooring and a stained-glass window. Bathrooms are getting the royal treatment, elegance, softness and sophistication are the key words for bathroom décor these days. People are spending top dollar to get hand-made Italian tiles, custom-constructed and fitted hand-rubbed wood cabinets and its time you got in on the action!

Bathrooms are getting larger combined with dressing areas and walk in closets. Over sized bathtubs, separate showers, gym equipment and sauna rooms, the bathroom is quickly becoming a destination place in homes. Some homeowners are even tearing down walls and eliminating small bedrooms to create giant bathrooms that they can put their own design ideas into.

Eye appeal and convenience is just what you need, custom cabinetry is designed to provide maximum storage. Tall cabinets on either side of the sink area offer eye-level storage for bathroom necessities. A small bathroom will look larger with mirrored walls or cabinet doors. Consider having the cabinets cut shallower than usual and bump out the counter area around the sinks. It’s also worth considering having the countertop installed at two heights, the lowered area can then serve as a dressing table.

Ceramic tiles of all shapes and styles are the choice of the day. Many bathrooms have laminate or solid surface countertops, for any variety of looks and durability choose glass, ceramic, stone or metal tiles. There are many painted or embossed tiles to choose from, even in ceramic. These are especially useful to create a border around an area, a chair rail design or to frame a mirror or cabinet. Decorative tiles are sold by the piece so before you go shopping measure the space you’re going to tile so that you know how many tiles you’ll need.

Available at www.bathroomcity.com

The elegant bathroom you’re designing will definitely need two sinks. Block out a place on each side of the room for a single sink, each person will be able to use their sink without rubbing elbows. Some redesigned bathrooms have the sink in front of the window to take advantage of the natural light. Be sure to have cabinets handy if you’re thinking of using pedestal sinks, it will make the room more open. If you want to get the newest look in bathroom sinks, show a large bowl mounted on top of a bathroom counter. Artists and designers are using all sorts of materials such as marble hand-blown glass, gold-leafed glass or shiny metals.

Get rid of the large wall-size frameless mirror over your sink and replace it with a beautiful framed mirror. Chose frame modelling to enhance your space. With the traditional mirror dressed up in elegant frame, you might want to move the medicine cabinet out of the way or hang a mirror framed door over the cabinet.

The slightest amount of creativity and imagination can help to change a usually bare, cold space into a luxurious personal retreat.

Alex writes about home improvements and loves to make use of www.speedyservices.com tool hire to help keep costs down.

Guest Blog: A Pristine Bathroom Needs Pristine Water

You check the mirror above the vanity to make sure it’s straight and the final detail of your remodeling job is done.  You invested a lot of time and creative energy into improving the bathroom in your home. You did the research, picked out your favourite designs, and finally had the perfect fixtures installed. You are now the proud owner of the world’s most beautiful bathroom and all is well. Right?

From all outward appearances, you have everything you need, but there is one subtle detail you may not have considered. Now that you have a fantastically equipped bathroom, it’s time to treat yourself. Your bathroom is beautiful and you should be too. Unfortunately, the water that comes from your tap is treated with chemicals to kill bacteria and viruses. While those chemicals make the water safe to drink, it can also cause damage to your skin and hair.

If you have sensitive skin, chemical-treated water can cause itching or a rash, but even healthy skin will suffer from the harmful effects.  Most water treatment systems only add a small amount of chemicals to the water to disinfect it, but that small amount is enough to cause damage over time. These chemicals dry out your skin and strip it of natural oils which help keep your skin smooth and prevent wrinkles. Remember, when you have dry skin, you’ll probably have a dry scalp which means your hair has less moisture.  Without natural moisture, your hair won’t have its natural shine, bounce, or manageability.

So while you’re installing that perfect shower head, why not install a water filter at the same time. An activated carbon shower filter will reduce chlorine and other impurities from the water, making it safer and healthier for your skin. A filter reduces particulates and helps soften the water so you can feel the difference when you shower.  An added bonus- many of the shower filter systems can be installed on the water line so you don’t have to sacrifice your favorite shower head. 

Why should you have to live with anything other than the best water? Treat yourself to a more enjoyable shower experience and help keep your skin healthy.

Andrew Clement has been writing about water quality and treatment since 2009. He is a blogger for WaterFilters.NET and his interests include public health, water quality, and water treatment systems.

Creating a Bathroom on a Budget

Bathrooms can be a once in a lifetime purchase. Filling up shopping baskets with multiple properties is a past time left only to the rich and famous, and we understand that Joe public may purchase a bathroom suite a maximum of around 3 times in our existence.

At Bathroom City we also understand that this lifetime purchase can be an expensive one, and with the social pressures of installing a suite which will impress friends and family, it can be a tricky task to balance style and budget.

 As a little point in the right direction this blog will simply recommend a series of our bathroom products which we believe offer great value for money, with a great look, durability and functionality.

First off the ultimate bathroom essential is a toilet, and on a low budget we feel it best to stick to a ceramic white and nicely curved feature as they appear to match the majority of bathroom products; it’s no good buying a cheaper product of course if it doesn’t match your suite.

JAX Jaz Close Coupled Toilet and Seat, £97

The JAX Jaz Close Coupled Toilet and Seat comes complete with all the essentials in style and function, using a chrome finished push button, white finish and curvaceous modern style; the toilet is a bargain at just £97.

Moreover, the Karizma Close Coupled Toilet and Seat from JAX is a slightly different variation in style but still maintains the bold lines of the Jaz depending on which unit suits your taste; the idea is simplicity and class in order to gain a modern style.

Next up, another Bathroom essential is a bath or shower, and again, JAX provide a stunning minimal design in the form of their Hidrobox Intro 1600x700 Acrylic Bath which is just £200. The single-ended bath combines bold lines and is ergonomically manufactured for sublime relaxation with its moulded interior and exterior.

Countess Acrylic Bath with Feet [A208], £215

For a slightly different look another great bath at an affordable price is the Countess Acrylic Bath with Feet [A208] which provides a free standing solution for the larger bathroom, giving you a luxury look and focal point in your suite for £215: a look which is usually much pricier.

If space is an issue when creating the bathroom you desire then maybe a shower is more appropriate such as the 800 and 900 Quadrant shower enclosure which is a simple solution for the smaller interior.

Both showers offer a corner enclosure which is perfect for saving space in a larger room or fitting snuggly into a smaller en-suite. With only a slight difference in size, the showers provide just as much at a budget as most high end showers, with toughened glass, clip out slide guides, single self-adjusting rollers, full height magnetic closures and concealed fixings, not to mention the glimmering chrome frame and reduced price of £139.

Finally, what bathroom wouldn’t be complete without a stunning vanity unit. An eye-catching vanity unit can give a bathroom suite character as well functionality in the form of storage and a basin.

800 Quadrant Shower Enclosure, £139

For both small and large units we’ve got to recommend JAX again, JAX never fail to provide quality at a full range of prices, and their lower priced options are great additions to any bathroom suite.

For smaller spaces, the JAX Ecco 450 Vanity Unit with Basin (white) and JAX Nebraska 400 Vanity Unit with Basin are ideal; the white giving you a simplistic look designed to disappear in your bathroom with its clean look, and the Nebraska 400 to be more of a focal point.

Also, another excellent solution to the smaller space is a wall hung unit, as they provide space underneath which can be used for storage or to simply open up your bathroom.

JAX Opera 650 Vanity Unit with Basin Sink, £185

The JAX Trax 325 Walnut Wall Hung Vanity Unit with Basin and Phoenix FI001 Ilario Single Door Cabinet provide just that, and again, promise style which can either merge with your current furniture or stand out as an impressive piece, which is both robust in its materials and durability but contemporary and functional.

For larger rooms, the JAX Ecco 850 Vanity Unit with Basin (white)  is another unit finished in white to add simple clean style and storage while the JAX Opera 650 Vanity Unit with Basin Sink is a unit which captures the essence of natural wood furniture with a walnut finish, chrome plated handles and double doors which provide generous storage.

Of course this brief guide to bargain hunting covers the bare essentials required to create a brand new design or add style to an older suite. Our website and showroom has a whole host of products ranging from budget options, right through to luxury items, all of which one trend remains the same, top quality at reasonable prices.

www.bathroomcity.co.uk

We've been featured!

We've been featured on Home Improvement UK's blog! This time we are giving away a handy tip to tile your bathroom or kitchen shelves. Check us out!

http://www.ukhomeimprovementblog.co.uk/diy/a-quick-guide-to-tiling-elegance/

A Brief Guide to Relax Your Inner Athlete

2012 is certainly the year for sport. So far we have been treated to the Euros, Wimbledon and with the Olympics just around the corner; it’s hard to get away from images of athletes in peak physical condition to make us feel bad about our ever growing bellies.

We’re sure that at some point over the last couple of months you have gained some inspiration and attempted a jog to the corner shop, drank a protein shake or kicked a football so badly it would make your Nan blush.

Either way, the journey to your summer six pack may have been haltered by laying dormant over the winter months, having a crack at some exercise, realising you’re way out of your depth and ultimately picking up an injury.

It’s sure to say one thing we can all do the same as athletes is relax; and with so many scientific ways to get us back to our peak performance, it would be rude not to give them a go.

Ice bath

Firsts the worst, seconds the best and thirds a whirlpool bath and then another really nice one. Yes, the ice bath is the least appealing form of recovery, so we thought we’d get it over and done with.

Ice baths take around 15 minutes and are between 12 and 15 degrees Celsius. Once you have filled your bath with 2-3 bags of shop bought ice and ran the cold tap until full, the initial 2 minutes of submersion is the most horrifying.

After a couple of minutes of moaning, thinking of England and outright screaming you are finally on the road to recovery as the ice cold water tightens your blood vessels and reduces swelling.

Wimbledon star Andy Murray enjoying his ice bath

Stay submerged for around 15 minutes and on escape you will soon feel a difference in your muscles and also feel as if you have been hit by a tranquiliser dart, as the bath will help you fall asleep with in the following hour.

Epsom salt

Far less traumatic and a great alternative to the ice bath, adding Epsom salts to a bath provides our body with much needed Magnesium.

Here’s for the ‘sciencey’ bit. Magnesium is the forth most important positive ion in the body (hang in there) and we need it to help pas toxic material and increase muscle tone.

By adding Epsom salts to your bath after a work out, you will charge your body with a boost of Magnesium, which will aid recovery, prevent arthritis, decrease the chance of heart disease and doesn’t require 3 bags of ice you will be pleased to hear.  

Whirlpool bath

Moving on to more luxurious recovery aids, whirlpool baths are becoming increasingly more popular and affordable.

Jacuzzi Hexis Whirlpool Bath available at Bathroom City

No longer seen as a major extravagance and more a legitimate option for any home, the soothing baths give you a high quality hydro massage on tap (sorry).

If you are continuously spooning footballs, slipping on banana skins or are a genuine athlete, then the amount of money spent on ice, massages and Epsom salts per year could render this purchase a worthy investment and an enjoyable one at that.

Whirlpool hydro massage eases your muscles and increases you circulation, allowing cells to receive more oxygen (more science, sorry) and feels lovely (important bit).

 Jacuzzi

The market for Jacuzzis has began to span further than millionaires, dodgy night club owners and people from the 70’s.

Finally the Jacuzzi is being deemed a sensible purchase for family homes and why not? They’re relaxing, fun and great for the muscles of our inner athlete.

Perfect for concentrating on certain muscles, the Jacuzzis warm, vigorous bubbling can help people with arthritis, get the blood flowing (helping circulation) and help muscles slowly rebuild after injury, giving them a just enough movement to begin strengthening.

Why not come to our showroom and try out our huge range of whirlpool baths and Jacuzzis to see whether these products suit your lifestyle?

Jacuzzi's aren't just for holidays and health spas  

5 Uses for Your Unwanted Bathtub

Soon enough there will come a time when you’ll decided to rip out your weathered bathtub and replace it with a nice shiny new one. 

But what to do with the old tub? 

Recycle? 
Freecycle? 
Chuck it in the tip? 

Here are a few ways the team at Bathroom City have found for re-using their old tubs.

The bath tub fish pond- Beautiful and ornate.

The tub sofa- It's creative and inventive.

The bath chair- It's unique and functional.

The bass. It even works!

The booze cabinet. There's always one..

What's your project?

Whether your bathroom project is for semi detached, detached or terrace houses, villas, bungalows, student flats or hotels, cottages or holiday homes, at Bathroom City we have a solution for every bathroom and cloakroom.

For offices or surgeries, for revamps, restorations and renovations. Selling your property or making your house a home, we have something for every bathroom job.

Our domestic bathrooms, bathroom furniture and shower enclosures are ideal for every type of property period. We offer bathroom equipment for modern, designer, contemporary bathrooms to traditional,  Victorian and Georgian.

We have something ideal for your project, big or small and offer wholesale satisfaction (and trade prices) direct to the public.