RIGHT: Energy basins with towel rails, £415 each; WC, £499; bidet, £479; all Twyford Pure.

With modern life becoming increasingly demanding for many, a personal haven in which to relax and indulge has never been so important. The range of hi-tech products is growing in response, and it's now possible to create a spa environment at home installing anything from steam cabins to luxury bath systems in a relatively small domestic space. Concepts such as chromotherapy (the use of light for healing and inducing a sense of well-being), digital shower systems (that can be turned on and the water warmed up before the user enters the bathroom), or even watching television from the comfort of your bath have now become reality. As Fiona Bowyer, marketing manager for Kohler, confirms: “Technological advances such as mood lighting and sound systems are becoming increasingly popular.” Nor is a small bathroom an obstacle to achieving a relaxing environment, as designers have focused on space-maximising solutions, with exciting results. Baths are sculpted to fit into awkward corners, or incorporate sizeable shower areas enclosed with glass, while new wall-mounted fittings neatly house cisterns and pipework behind shallow walls. Shower screens can be customised to create a separate shower enclosure in the most unlikely corners, and free-standing, totem-pole fittings, such as shower towers or floor-mounted bath spouts, further open up the design possibilities.

PLANNING A BATHROOM
Start by visiting some showrooms for inspiration, then analyse your existing bathroom to determine what works about the space and what doesn't and whether any of the fittings can be retained. Estimate how many people will be using the bathroom and if a shower, bath or both are required. Consider if the bathroom is large enough and located in the best position in the home. If the room is very small, it may be possible to use some space from an adjoining room, cupboard or separate WC to enlarge it.
Draw up a floor plan of the room to scale, noting the positions of existing plumbing, electrics, radiators, windows and doorways. This is relevant whether you intend to design the room yourself or to consult a professional. In particular, check the position of the soil stack (the large pipe around 100 mm in diameter that carries waste away from the toilet). Moving it may well be expensive or even impossible, so consider this when positioning the new toilet.
Many showrooms offer a full design and fitting service and your plan will be vital for initial discussions. Other showrooms simply sell bathroom products, leaving the customer either to employ a designer or architect or to design the room themselves. In both cases, installation is contracted out to a builder, plumber and electrician. When designing a bathroom, do consult the plumber or builder early on to establish any limitations of the space. Draw up the chosen fittings to the same scale as the floor plan (specifications are usually given in the brochure) and check their suitability with the retailer and your builder before purchasing. Finally, inspect the products when they arrive to check that all components are present and undamaged.

BATHROOM LIGHTING
Well-designed lighting adds atmosphere as well as illumination for tasks such as shaving and applying make-up and a softer ambience for bathing. In Britain, there are standards governing the installation of lights and electrical sockets. Lights must be operated by a pull-cord or a switch outside the bathroom. Switched electrical sockets are banned except those for shaving. Fittings are also regulated: the bathroom is divided into three areas: Zone 1 is within 600 mm of a bath or shower; Zone 2 is the area further than 600 mm; Zone 3 is any area that has no potential contact with water. Dedicated light fittings are given an IP rating of two numbers, the first indicating the protection from dust and the second from moisture. For Zone 1 a fitting must have an IP rating of 65; for Zone 2 the rating is 44. Standard fittings can only be used in a Zone 3 area.

BUYING SANITARYWARE
Keith Atkin, director of Alternative Plans, says, “Baths and shower trays come in many shapes and sizes and are generally now made from steel or acrylic. Spend as much as you can afford on these pieces as they will serve you better in the long run. Everyone will have their own preference as to which material they choose: good-quality steel baths have all the weight and durability of the traditional cast-iron bath, whereas a good-quality acrylic bath has a warm feel and comes in a wide range of shapes. It will also be more energy-efficient as the water stays hot longer.”

WHAT TO CONSIDER
Fiona Bowyer, marketing manager for Kohler, suggests: “Think about how you move around the bathroom and the spaces required, such as a place to dry yourself after a shower. This will stop you putting things too close together. Wall-hung toilets, basins and brassware create a clean, minimalist feel, but the pipework will need to be concealed in the wall, which is not always possible – check with your showroom or plumber first. You will also need access points for items such as concealed cisterns and waste pipes: removable sections of panelling are a good solution.”

BATHROOM TILES AND FLOORING
Rina Patel, bathroom designer at Humpherson at Heal's, has found that ceramic tiles with a matt finish in neutral colours, such as limestone or pale grey, are popular with her clients because they replicate the look of natural stone without the expense or weight. If a client does opt for stone cladding on the walls, Rina advises using a soft flooring, such as Amtico, to reduce the overall weight.
One of the most exciting recent developments in this area is a new range of timber flooring from Listone Giordano, which is suitable for use in a bathroom. It is constructed from hardwood backed with a base of marine ply birch so it is immune to changes in temperature and humidity and can even be used with underfloor heating. Alternatively, ceramic tiles now come in faux timber finishes, making it possible to line a shower with a convincing wooden effect.

HEATING OPTIONS
Underfloor heating systems are easy to install when an existing floor is re-tiled. They take the chilliness off tiled or stone floors and can eliminate the need for radiators. There are two options: warm water (wet) or electric (dry) systems. For wet systems, pipes are buried in the screed or run under the floor, and run from gas, oil or solid-fuel boilers. Dry systems are supplied either in a mat form or as loose cable kits and can be laid on an insulated concrete subfloor or a timber floor if it is overboarded first. They suit all stone and tiled floors; some systems can also be used with softer floors such as cork, laminates or carpet.
Radiators can double as towel storage, whether as a simple chrome ladder or a style that mimics a freestanding towel rail. Your retailer can give advice on whether a heated towel rail alone will provide enough heat. Electric towel rails are also available.

CHOOSING TAPS
“The latest basin taps rely on a single lever action,” says Keith Atkins, director of Alternative Plans. “Some are easy to use but others can be confusing, with a floppy joystick action that makes it difficult to know if you are getting hot or cold water and in what volume. A positive cross head that can be easily controlled is probably best for the children's or grandparents' bathroom. Also consider thermostatic controls for showers (and even baths) to regulate the water temperature. These often have a safety stop position at 38°C with a manual over-ride for those who like the water a little hotter.”

WATER PRESSURE
The taps and shower that you can install in your bathroom will be determined by the nature of the water system in your home. Showers that disperse large volumes of water will require powerful pumps and larger-than-average water storage facilities. As Keith Atkins, director of Alternative Plans, says: “Speak with your plumber about the type of water system you have in your home. Some modern taps are designed for high pressure and will not work with the traditional low-pressure systems that you still find in many homes.” It's also worth noting that pumps cannot be used with combi-boilers and that most are noisy, so best located out of the way in a loft or airing cupboard. Whatever your water pressure, however, you will find that there is an enormous range of taps and shower fittings available, from the classic to the contemporary.

CREATING A WET ROOM
A wet room is a walk-in showering area where the water drains through a small hole in the floor. It provides a contemporary solution in a tight space but it is essential to consult a professional designer or architect before installing one. The space must be tanked (treated with several coats of asphalt or fibre glass applied over a plywood base to create a waterproof membrane), there must be suitable drainage created by an adequate slope to the floor and, as Zak Reynolds of Ripples warns, “enough structural support to bear the weight of the heavy materials involved”. Rooms with suspended wooden floors present particular problems.
Fortunately, advances in technology for tanking rooms, along with new shower systems featuring reduced-depth trays, mean that it is becoming easier and less costly to create a wet-room look even in older homes. According to David Osborne, marketing director of Roman, “Until now there has been a lack of off-the-shelf systems for designers to use to create wet rooms. But the greatest problem has recently been eliminated, as waterproofing the floor can now be achieved with low-threshold shower trays, of just 45-50 mm high compared with the 150-200 mm height of conventional trays. The new shallow trays are moulded in an advanced plastic resin with solid surface technology. By setting the tray on the floor and laying the tiles up to it the step can be reduced to as little as 20 mm.” When designing a wet room, reinforce the contemporary feel with a wall-mounted basin and toilet and create storage to keep toiletries out of sight (and dry). Use a non-slip surface for the floor and consider a duckboard on which to stand while you dry yourself afterwards.

USEFUL NUMBERS
• The Kitchen, Bathroom and Bedroom Specialists Association (KBSA), (01905) 621787; kbsa.co.uk. Advice plus listings of members in your area.
• Alfix UK, (01462) 686611;
alfix.co.uk. Call for a free booklet, Creating the Perfect Wet Room, produced jointly with Roman.
• bathroom-design-magazine.co.uk. Resource for design inspiration with links to an independent bathroom advisor.
• The Tile Association, (020) 8663 0946; tiles.org.uk. Represents the tile industry; recommended tilers.
• National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC), (020) 7564 2323; niceic.org.uk. Protects the public from unsafe and unsound electrical work. List of approved contractors.
• The Building Centre,
(020) 7692 4000. Information on 3,000 products plus an exhibition.
• Council for Registered Gas Installers (CORGI), (01256) 372200; corgi-gas.co.uk. Register of qualified gas installers in the UK.
• Drummonds Architectural Antiques, (01428) 609444; drummonds-arch.co.uk.
Specialist vitreous re-enamelling service.

BATHROOM DIRECTORY
Alternative Plans, (020) 7228 6460; www.alternative-plans.co.uk. Cutting-edge showroom; design service.
Ambiance Bain, 0870 902 1313; www.ambiancebain.co.uk. Contemporary bathroom furniture from France.
Aquabeau, (0113) 255 6666; www.aquabeau.com. Hydrotherapy baths.
Aqualisa, (01959) 560020; www.aqualisa.co.uk. Showers and enclosures.
Aquavision, (0141) 332 1234; www.hollijonandphillips.com. Bathroom TVs.
Armitage Shanks, 0800 866966; www.armitage-shanks.co.uk. Full range of taps, sanitaryware and furniture.
Aston Matthews, (020) 7226 7220; www.astonmatthews.co.uk. Contemporary and traditional showers and heating.
Astro Lighting, (01279) 427001; www.astrolighting.co.uk. Quality classic and contemporary lighting.
B&Q, 0870 010 1006; www.diy.com. Complete design and fitting service.
Bathaus, (020) 7225 7620; www.bathaus.co.uk. Cutting-edge sanitaryware.
Bathroom Heaven, 0845 121 6700; www.bathroomheaven.com. Nationwide delivery service.
Bathrooms International, (020) 7838 7788; www.bathroomsint.com. Luxury styles.
Bathstore.com, 07000 228478; www.bathstore.com. 72 showrooms, design service.
Bathwise, (020) 8840 9313; www.bathwise.co.uk. VideoSpa, flat-screen bath TV.
BC Designs, (01206) 827100; www.bcdesigns.co.uk. Quality brassware.
Boffi, (020) 7228 6460; www.boffi.com.Contemporary style; design service.
Bristan, 0870 754 5555; www.bristan.com. Contemporary and traditional showers.
Catchpole & Rye, (01233) 840840; www.crye.co.uk. Period styles.
Ceramica Dolomite, 0800 138 0922; www.ceramicadolomite.co.uk. Traditionally inspired suites and brassware.
Chadder & Co, (01342) 823243; www.chadder.com. Classic baths and fittings.
Checkalow, (020) 8441 7070; www.checkalow.com. Classic and contemporary tiles.
Clearwater, (01274) 738140; www.clearwater-collection.com. Hand-made freestanding acrylic baths.
Colourwash, (020) 8944 6456; www.colourwash.co.uk. Showrooms plus a mail-order catalogue.
Corian, 0800 962116; www.corian.com. Versatile and durable material ideal for wet rooms and showers.
Cosyfloor, (01932) 866600; www.demista.co.uk. Electrical underfloor heating.
CP Hart, (01322) 422024; www.cphart.co.uk. Designer brands. Crosswater, (01322) 628270; crosswater.co.uk. Modern brassware.
D2View, (01200) 444356; www.d2a.co.uk. Bathroom audio-visual systems.
Daryl, 0808 100 1627; www.daryl-showers.co.uk. Luxury showers, design service.
Dolphin Bathrooms, 0800 626717; www.dolphinbathrooms.com. Over 200 showrooms; design and fitting.
Dornbracht, (01444) 473355; www.dornbracht.com. High-quality fittings, accessories and interiors.
Duravit, 0870 730 7787; www.duravit.com. Designs by Philippe Starck, Norman Foster and Michael Graves.
Fired Earth, (01295) 814300; www.firedearth.com. Tiles and showers.
Flotex, 0800 028 2161; www.flotex.co.uk. Flooring.
Focus, 0800 436436; www.focusdiy.co.uk. Shower systems and steam cabins.
Grohe, 0870 848 8877; www.grohe.co.uk. Taps and showers.
Hansgrohe, 0870 770 1972; www.hansgrohe.co.uk. Axor brassware, Pharo showers and spa baths.
Heritage, (0117) 963 3333; www.heritagebathrooms.com. Nationwide showrooms with a range of styles.
Humpherson at Heal's, (020) 7636 1390. Designs and oversees state-of-the-art bathrooms.
Hyperion, (01628) 475888; www.hyperiontiles.com. Tiles.
Ideal-Standard, 0800 590311; www.ideal-standard.co.uk. Contemporary and traditional suites including taps.
Imperial Bathrooms, (01922) 743074; www.imperial-bathrooms.co.uk. Suites, brassware and furniture.
Imperial Towel Rails, (01543) 571615; www.imperialtowelrails.com. Heated towel rails.
Jacuzzi Bathroom Collection, (01782) 717175; www.jacuzzi.co.uk. Whirlpool baths, suites and showers.
John Lewis of Hungerford, (020) 7371 5603; www.john-lewis.co.uk. Suites, flooring and planning service.
Kaldewei, 0870 777 2223. Steel baths and shower trays.
Köhler, 0870 850 5551; www.kohleruk.com. Luxury bathrooms.
Laufen, (01386) 422768; www.laufen.co.uk. Ceramicware and furniture.
Lefroy Brooks, (01992) 708316; www.lefroybrooks.co.uk. Traditional brassware, lighting and radiators.
Listone Giordano, (020) 7435 8282; www.tuttoparquet.co.uk. Timber flooring.
Manhattan Showers, (01282) 605000; www.manhattanshowers.co.uk. Modern enclosures and screens.
Marble Heating, (020) 7587 1361; www.marbleheating.co.uk. Unique marble radiator systems.
Matki Showers, (01454) 322888; www.matki.co.uk. Enclosures, trays and screens.
Metropolitan Showers, (01282) 606070; www.metropolitanshowers.co.uk. Luxury enclosures and screens.
MFI, 0870 609 5555; www.mfi.co.uk. Design and installation service.
M&O Bathroom Centre, (020) 7608 0111. Showers and hydrotherapy baths.
Myson, (01204) 863200; www.myson.co.uk. Heated towel rails and radiators.
No Code, (01962) 870078; www.nocode.co.uk. Leading European designs.
Original Bathrooms, (020) 8940 7554; www.original-bathrooms.co.uk. European designs; design service.
Original Style, (01392) 474058; www.originalstyle.com. Tiles.
Perrin and Rowe, (01708) 526361; www.perrinandrowe.co.uk. Brassware.
Pipe Dreams, (020) 7225 3978; www.pipedreams.co.uk. Bespoke design.
Porcelanosa, 0800 915 4000; www.porcelanosa.co.uk. Ceramic tiles and bathroom fittings. Design service.
Radiating Style, 08700 723 428; www.radiatingstyle.com. Innovative and classic bathroom radiators.
Ripples, 0870 750 1626; www.ripples.ltd.uk. Upmarket bathrooms; design and installation service.
Roca, (01530) 830080; www.roca-uk.com. Contemporary bathroom products; hydrotherapy shower systems.
Roma Marble, (020) 8361 7544; www.romamarble.co.uk. Stone tiles, cladding and basins.
Roman, 0845 0504 032; www.roman-showers.com. Shower enclosures including customised screens.
Showerlux, 0800 138 1658; www.showerlux.com. Sanitaryware, spa baths and shower enclosures.
Smallbone and Smallbone Stone, (020) 7589 5998; www.smallbonestone.com. Planning, design, and stone flooring.
Sottini, 0800 591586; www.sottini.co.uk. Elegant bathroom suites; brassware.
Stiffkey Bathrooms, (01603) 627850; www.stiffkeybathrooms.com. Restored antique sanitaryware.
Triton Showers, 0800 0644 645; www.tritonshowers.co.uk. Mixer, electric and power showers including towers.
Twyford Bathrooms, 0870 020 0099; www.twyfordbathrooms.com. Modern bathroom suites and brassware.
Vasco Radiators, (01543) 571615; www.vasco.be. State-of-the-art radiators.
Via Arkadia, (020) 7351 7057; www.via-arkadia.com. Sanitaryware and tiles.
Victorian Bathrooms, (01924) 267736; www.victorianbathrooms.com. Sanitaryware.
Victoriaplumb.com, 08707 607222. Online retailer of sanitaryware.
Villeroy & Boch, (020) 8871 4028; www.villeroy-boch.com. Modern bathrooms.
Vogue UK, 0870 403 0111; www.vogue-uk.com. Radiators and heated rails.
Vola, (01525) 841155; www.vola.co.uk. Contemporary styles.
Warmalux, (01422) 374801; www.warmalux.co.uk. Underfloor heating.
Warmup, 0845 345 2288; www.warmup.com. Underfloor heating for tiles.
Water Monopoly, (020) 7624 2636. Restored baths and repro showers.
West One Bathrooms, (020) 7720 9333; www.westonebathrooms.com. Five London showrooms; design service.

FEATURE WENDY UREN
JULY 2005