Bathroom bliss

April 2006

Bathroom, washroom, shower room, lavatory or even loo - call it what you will, there's no escaping the room which fashion once forgot. But finally, bathrooms are beautiful and Fishpools' Satish Jethwa looks at how the introduction of architecturally designed fixtures and fittings provide the modern-day home with a practical yet stylish and functionally intelligent bathroom.

There once was a time when bathrooms were all but the forgotten zones of a house. As far as fashion went, they were basic in style, basic in thought and neglected of attention. Bathrooms perform a variety of functions in our every day lives. They provide apt thinking places, an intimate space for relaxation, a ritual zone for pampering and a domain for daily refreshment. Our different moods mean that the function of a bathroom is beyond its basic conception; therefore the environment ought to cater for our needs and herein lays the difficulty of decorating it.

Expert staff

At Fishpools, our expert staff in our new refurbished bathshop department pride themselves in the advice they can give to customers, whether that's on the best finish for your towel holder or the installation of a complete bathroom suite.

Bathrooms should be places where you can indulge yourself and the fixtures should reflect this. There is a plethora of high-tech materials and designs on the market that create sheer style and speak volumes, so let them do the talking.

Small bathrooms

Thinking about the space you have to play with is the starting point. Many bathrooms are cramped, but this does not mean you have to skimp on style. Compact vanity units are perfect for the smaller smallest room in the home.

Glass seems synonymous with water - the transparency, the image of fluidity and of course cleanliness. In a small bathroom glass provides the illusion of light and space as well as reinforcing the nature of water.

Although not to everyone's taste, stainless steel is utilitarian in hygiene but oozes simplistic beauty. Fishpools' range of high quality of chrome accessories from Bond provide an air of minimalistic sophistication, while a transparent glass sink enhances mundane task of the day-to-day washing routine.

Modern details

If you have an acrylic bath but can't afford to go all out and buy a new suite you can add modern details by either boxing in the bath with mosaic tiles or making a wood-panelling surround.

Re-enamelling a reclaimed claw-foot bath provides a Victorian, yet contemporary look and the installation of a classical white ceramic suite provides purity and freshness - a great way to start any day. Brass or gold fixtures also give a feel of the established and classic, while granite and slate surfaces provide a sense of masculinity which is functional, chic and exudes opulence.

With your bathroom fixtures in place, decoration and touches should come instinctively. From lighting effects to tactile surfaces there are a variety of ways to create your perfect washroom (whatever size!) while confronting the difficulties inherent in bathroom space.

Bathroom 'furniture' has at last joined the trend train and all the excuses in the world are no substitute for having a vinyl clad, 80's acrylic shell. Gone are the days of tasteless toilets and boring basins, washroom furniture is now about choices - choices in colour, size, shape and material.

With time out from the daily hustle and bustle becoming even more scarce, the bathroom has become a sacred space for function, privacy and relaxation.

So, make your bathing environment both useful and calm and don't skimp on design. And of course, for the finishing touch to your newly modernised bathroom you can visit our accessory department for a look at our sensual candles.

Best selling designs

Some of our best-selling designs are by bathroom experts, Roper & Rhodes. Both the Valencia and the New England ranges are extremely popular with a broad range of customers. The Valencia is a crisp white complete bathroom suite which has the benefits of both a vanity unit with sink, mirror and storage and an extra matching cabinet for all of those bathroom accoutrements that can spoil the linear look of the room if left on display. Another popular style is the New England which is a stand alone beech vanity unit making it both stylish and perfect for the smaller bathroom.

Date published: April 2006. Please ask in store for the latest prices and details.

Back to top