| The bathroom has come along way in the past | | | | pot pouri, wire basket shelves and stylish wall |
| one hundred years. Once just a basic tub set in | | | | lamps. |
| front of the living room fire and filled with buckets | | | | Shabby Chic |
| of water, the bathing experience is now a luxury | | | | "Shabby chic", a relatively new phrase used to |
| in almost every western home. Back then, a | | | | describe room designs, is an obscure blend of |
| "bathroom" was something only the wealthy and | | | | neglect and style. It is one of the most difficult |
| privileged could afford to have in their house. It | | | | bathroom designs to create, and it takes a bold |
| was this trend which lead to the mass production | | | | decision to go for this bathroom style. It almost |
| of bathroom products. | | | | certainly achieves its full potential in a continental |
| The Edwardian and Victorian styles of the time | | | | house, either a French chateau or old Spanish villa. |
| are still a popular choice today. They look | | | | The absolute opposite of a fitted bathroom, the |
| exquisite in a villa or cottage bathroom, and never | | | | shabby chic look is a mismatch of styles and |
| loose their appeal in terms of design. | | | | products. You can even do the unexpected, like |
| Today, thanks to advanced plumbing and modern | | | | put a put a refrigerator in the corner. Nothing is |
| technology, the bathroom may well have evolved | | | | expected to match and pipework and plumbing |
| as far as it can. With luxury steam rooms and | | | | are on show rather than concealed. This style is |
| hydrotherapy baths, it’s difficult to imagine | | | | best suited to those who have inherited a |
| how bathrooms could get any more sophisticated. | | | | bathroom and want to update it a little rather |
| That said, the bathroom, like any room in the | | | | than fork out on a brand new bathroom suite. |
| house, is ever changing in terms of design trends. | | | | The key to decoration is neutral tones with a few |
| Here we look at the five most popular styles of | | | | dark colors. For the walls choose a matte or flat |
| bathroom designs. Traditional, Country, Shabby | | | | wall paint. Pale golds and yellows work particularly |
| chic, Contemporary and Fantasy. | | | | well as does floral or check patterned wallpaper. |
| Traditional | | | | As with the country and traditional bathrooms, |
| The Traditional bathroom can mean either | | | | cast iron baths are a must. Either a roll-top or |
| traditional in terms of Edwardian or Victorian style, | | | | slipper bath will do, and although you don‘t |
| or in respect to a standard white bathroom with | | | | want holes or rust, the more dilapidated it looks |
| basic sanitary ware and bath. Here, we’ll be | | | | the better. Even consider running sandpaper over |
| looking at the style of bathroom design where it | | | | the paint work and claw feet. It’s always |
| all started. The Edwardian bathroom. | | | | worth looking out for old fittings at antique shops |
| Over the past decade, with the popularity of TV | | | | and car boot sales. |
| shows like Changing Rooms, the trend for | | | | Counter top basins are highly recommended in |
| old-fashioned bathrooms has seen a real upsurge. | | | | this setting, and the look out for extremely |
| A rare gem of an old slipper bath or rusty | | | | unusual decorated designs. Place it on a washstand |
| traditional faucet may be found at a scrap yard | | | | or run-down vanity unit. Add unique ornaments |
| or in a skip, but thankfully manufacturers are | | | | and antique framed mirrors. |
| keeping up with demand with skillfully crafted | | | | Modern |
| traditional bathroom products. | | | | Modern bathrooms are all about what you do with |
| Certain rooms only work in certain houses, so if | | | | the space you have. Within many bathrooms |
| you’re living in a modern high rise apartment | | | | there is little room to work with, so making the |
| the traditional bathroom isn’t going to work | | | | most of the space is essential. This is why fitted |
| for you. If you have an old cottage or villa retreat | | | | bathroom suites are now so popular. Having |
| this style of bathroom is one you should definitely | | | | bathroom furniture made to measure is one of |
| consider. | | | | the most practical design solutions when |
| Almost always, the bath is the centre piece | | | | remodeling the bathroom. |
| attraction of the traditional bathroom. A | | | | How many of us have had a bathroom with a |
| free-standing roll-top or slipper bath sits proudly | | | | cluttered airing cupboard? With the modern |
| on a dark polished floor, and only if going for a | | | | bathroom there’s no need to cram your |
| traditional continental style bathroom will an inset | | | | toiletries, towels and cleaning fluids around the |
| or sunken tub hold appeal. Either a wall-mounted | | | | boiler. With fitted vanity units, storage units and |
| faucet or a free-standing one looks classy. Deep | | | | cabinets you‘ll have all the space you need. |
| ridges and curved angles are what makes the | | | | When examining modern bathroom design, |
| traditional sanitary ware what it is - bold and | | | | wall-hung furniture has to get a mention. White |
| masculine. | | | | gloss will never go out of fashion, but more |
| When decorating a traditional bathroom both soft | | | | recently furniture finishes such as wenge, beech |
| tones and bold colours can work well. Strong | | | | and maple have made a real emergence in |
| tones of browns, maroons and greens give a nice | | | | popularity. |
| warmth to the room, but be sure the bathroom | | | | As well as the furniture, wall-hung sanitary ware is |
| is well lit, maybe with a lavish chandelier. With the | | | | a great space-saving solution while giving the |
| right colours, antique gold can look better than | | | | bathroom a contemporary feel. Also, concealed |
| chrome. Go for curtains, never blinds. If going for | | | | cistern units are a more eye-pleasing look than |
| a vanity unit rather than a traditional basin and | | | | the standard close-coupled toilet. |
| pedestal, choose an oak or cherry finish; or the | | | | Showerbaths are a great practical way of |
| white Cynk vanity unit is a good look with | | | | optimizing the space, so that you have the |
| traditional baths and toilets. | | | | comfort of both bathing and showering. Walk-in |
| One of the most appealing things about the | | | | showers are also very popular in the modern |
| traditional bathroom is clutter gives it more of a | | | | bathroom, and if buying a shower enclosure for |
| lived-in effect, thus enhancing the traditional look. | | | | the modern bathroom choose one with a chrome |
| Don’t be afraid to put plenty of pictures on | | | | structure over white. |
| the walls - black and white family portraits in gold | | | | Chrome and stainless steel are the ultimate choice |
| frames are a good look. A chest of drawers or | | | | in the modern bathroom, and taps and bath |
| corner table with scented candles, aromatherapy | | | | mixers are available in a number of contemporary |
| oils or flowers will really bring the room to life. As | | | | designs, rather than the traditional style faucets. |
| a finishing touch an old style set of weighing | | | | Also, choose chrome towel rails over standard |
| scales, a large framed mirror or bulky traditional | | | | white radiators, as well as matching chrome |
| radiator will give the room that cozy old-fashioned | | | | accessories.. |
| feel. | | | | Don’t be afraid to decorate with bold colours |
| Country | | | | when tiling or painting, getting the contrast right |
| The country style bathroom is perhaps the | | | | with the chrome and the gloss. If using curtains |
| easiest type of design to create, and like the | | | | be subtle with the designs and colours, but |
| traditional bathroom only really works well within | | | | preferably go for stylish roller blinds. |
| the right house. The classic country look is best | | | | Fantasy |
| associated with floral wallpaper, high beams, basin | | | | Daring to be anything more than conventional, the |
| frills and a bath canopy. Following the traditional | | | | fantasy bathroom design lets you be truly |
| design, cast iron baths and deep ridged sanitary | | | | innovative with your fantasies and tastes. With |
| ware are what gives the country bathroom its | | | | the emphasis on futuristic, this style of bathroom |
| nostalgic look. | | | | is the antithesis of the traditionalist. |
| Check, floral or plaid curtains are preferred over | | | | The fantasy design is ideally exclusive to only |
| roller blinds, and shutters, though rare in England, | | | | larger bathrooms, as with all futuristic interior |
| offer a great form of privacy as well as adding to | | | | design large open spaces are what brings the |
| the country effect. Wood plays a big part in this | | | | room together. Steam cabins and whirpool baths |
| look, and almost all furniture works well in this | | | | are the ideal choice for showering and bathing. Or |
| setting, especially beech, maple, ash and oak | | | | combine the two will a well designed bath screen |
| vanity units and cabinets. | | | | and a glass shower panel. Because of their minimal |
| Either tiles or wooden floors can be used. Tiles | | | | effect, Walk-in showers also work well with |
| should be a rustic colour, and can be used to | | | | modern tiling, chrome shower fixtures and classy |
| create elaborate mosaics. Wooden floors should | | | | shower lighting. |
| be varnished to match the furniture. Decorating | | | | For the sanitary ware go with wall-hung or |
| may see a stenciled motif used as a border, and | | | | standard close-coupled toilet and basin with |
| the technique of rubbing paint on the walls with a | | | | pedestal with acute angles and a contemporary |
| sponge gives the room that worn natural look. | | | | design. Abstract towel rails and wenge wall-hung |
| Toilets with high level cisterns and pull chains are | | | | furniture fit well in the fantasy bathroom, giving it |
| very rare these days, but a must have for the | | | | that calm almost surreal look. |
| country bathroom, as are traditional taps for the | | | | The ultimate luxury in a fantasy bathroom would |
| bath and basin. Just about any kind of | | | | have to be a waterproof TV. You could even |
| free-standing bath will suit the country bathroom. | | | | think of doubling the bathroom up as gym, |
| If wishing to have a shower a tiled walk-in shower | | | | complete with exercise bike and rowing machine. |
| is the advisable option with a curtain to conceal | | | | Ornaments should be unobtrusive, so choose |
| the area. | | | | things like small piles of pebbles and modern wall |
| For the final touch add wicker baskets filled with | | | | prints over candles and nick-nacks. |