Something for the ladies

[oxalto]

This afternoon I pursuaded my wife that she should begin planning the layout of the bathrooms in our new house as the builders would need to know where she wanted things to go for the waste pipes etc. I would have helped her with this but she is certain that she is best at these things and I have to admit that my layout tends to be rather masculine and unimaginative. She has, however, hit one major stumbling block. Where is a lady of taste to source baths, showers, sinks & toilets? I was stumped but have offered to ask here, knowing that there are a large number of such ladies (and gents espoused to the like) on this forum. She has already been very greatly taken with the link to Biffvernon's windows. Don't let me down PPUK!

 

[Feltwell]

I would tactfully suggest that Mrs Oxalto joins the discussion for such things, else you shall become the sandwich in a very large and long girly bathroom debate.

Mind you, I usually throw a spanner in the works afterwards with Mrs F by saying "Can't do that - waste pipe / soil pipe runs can't go there" :wink:

It would be nice to have a bathroom where a variety of layout where possible - ours is so small that only 1 layout can be done, and the bath is so narrow that those of us who are not-so-narrow cannot fit in it comfortably.

 

[JoceAndChris]

My current favourite for timeless and beautiful products is:

http://www.albionbathco.com/free-standing-roll-top-bath/rolltop-free-standing-bath.html

Though this is also great fun:

http://www.thomas-crapper.com/

and this is the proper antique stuff, if you are both daintily built

http://www.stiffkeybathrooms.com/

and if you like modern you can't go wrong with Villeroy and Boch bathroom fittings.

What fun! Be very very careful what you take out though, pretty please promise that.

 

[Juju]

We collected all the brochures from local and national bathroom showrooms but ended up buying most of it from City Plumbing (I think they're national although there's one in Witney) but then we wanted modern fittings for our bathroom. We also went to Buildbase in Oxford and talked to a very nice lady in a bathroom showroom in Kidlington. I found it really hard to tell what I liked from websites and catalogues and needed to see the stuff.
Juju

 

[oxalto]

What fun! Be very very careful what you take out though, pretty please promise that.

I wish that there had been something left to make a decision whether to take out or not. It all used to be owned by the council and one half was social housing. The council had made the decision years ago to remove everything inside and replace with the cheapest possible modern version! Currently we have nothing except 1 toilet and 2 sinks in the house, no bathroom, no kitchen, no nothing! At least we still have the shell, though, and a very grateful house that is enjoying being rescued, I hope. And the garden.....

 

[JoceAndChris]

Oh dear, sorry to hear that. I hope you find something interesting though, a nice old floor, or wonky ceilings, or some old lime plaster (underneath the lurid colour schemes).
If all the historic features are gone then I guess you have to make the decision about whether you'll go contemporary or antiquey - exciting times.

 

[oxalto]

Oh dear, sorry to hear that. I hope you find something interesting though, a nice old floor, or wonky ceilings, or some old lime plaster (underneath the lurid colour schemes).
If all the historic features are gone then I guess you have to make the decision about whether you'll go contemporary or antiquey - exciting times.

We have half a kitchen worth of flagstone floor and almost a whole house of old lime plaster as well as some lovely roofs and a upper cruck roof construction so we have much to be happy about. The bits of wall which are exposed are all held together with an earth and straw mix which I really love as well. I imagine that the bathrooms will be gentle contemporary rather than antiquey though, as we've nothing original to match to and it would feel a little bit naughty to start raiding the antique suppliers!

 

[Pford75]

If you are looking for something on a budget (but still reasonable quality), then you could do worse than look at bathstore.

Depending on the style you are looking for, it can be worth considering a reclamaition yard. You will find unique pieces and can have them re-enamelled. We've used a mixture of pieces that were already here, reclaims, bathstore, jacuzzi, Porcelanosa and V&B. Quite a wide range of prices on all of the above.

If you want contemporary...then Bathstore are worth a look. Once we'd chosen the 'brand' pieces we wanted (Jacuzzi steam cabin etc.) we purchased from Bathquest (www.bathquest.co.uk) and they beat any price we found. Pleased with their service overall.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

as well as some of those mentioned above ,I have been very impressed with www.bathrooms365.com

 

[Moo]

Ooh, I am so lucky.
I have Stiffkey and Albion practically on my doorstep,and Bathstore a five-minute walk away.

 

[Nigel Watts]

Most houses built before the early 20th century would not have had anything resembling a modern bathroom so I dont think one needs to get hung up about the style of the fittings. My preference is for modern minimal, but with my current bathroom project I am experimenting with mixing modern fittings with traditional decor. I sourced the fittings from CP Hart, and the paints and wallpapers from Farrow & Ball. These are not the cheapest suppliers, but if you work out what you like it is often possible to find something similar at a lower price from another manufacturer.

 

[JoceAndChris]

My feeling on the contemporary/ period design is that it really needs to be in keeping with what else is going on in the house. If it's a largish house, then the decision, like Nigel's, to have very contemporary modern spaces in kitchens and bathrooms works well. But here it would be just so odd, as the bathroom is right by the front door, and small. You can see that it's a 30s creation with the panelling - it will have to be a gentle nod to the thirties I think, when I get round to it. So my advice is think of what's around and how one bit flows nicely into another.

 

[AMc]

Ooh, I am so lucky.
I have Stiffkey and Albion practically on my doorstep,and Bathstore a five-minute walk away.

Albion in Norwich have been closed for sometime - ironically due to damage from a burst pipe

 

[JoceAndChris]

:lol: :shock:
Glad I haven't wasted any time going there, then. Though there are other significant attractions to Norwich, oh, I wish it were a bit closer.

 

[oxalto]

Update -
One very happy wife looking at all the sites that you all kindly recommended!
One worried me as I've been obliged to go and look at some in the flesh tomorrow....

 

[robgil]

I have managed to source an entire genuine victorian/edwardian bathroom from e bay for shillings.
You just need to do some research and know what you are looking at.

Here are a couple of sites i like to drool over (i have a thing for antique bathroom fittings)

http://www.antiquetaps.com/

http://www.drummonds-arch.co.uk/

http://www.mongersofhingham.co.uk/sanitary.asp

http://www.crye.co.uk/category/antique-baths

http://www.lassco.co.uk/app/browse-products-list-view/category_uid/78/

 

[AMc]

:lol: :shock:
Glad I haven't wasted any time going there, then. Though there are other significant attractions to Norwich, oh, I wish it were a bit closer.

Stiffkey are still worth a trip but only if you have a fat wallet - I presume they also have a shop in Stiffkey which might be more accessible - at least you could eat at the Victoria at Holkham nearby and admire their exterior gloss (cough).
Norwich also has a big Bathstore but that held no appeal for us
Nearest Albion is in Colchester according to the sign in the window.

The Library restaurant next door to the close Albion in Norwich is good though - which is the only reason I know the shop is closed.

If you're looking at real antique cast iron baths be very careful about one that need re-enamling. Ours looked like scrap metal when we looked at it in the back of Stiffkey and £2300 later it looks nice - I think the enamelling was the bulk of that.

 

[oxalto]

Update -

I took my wife (not wide) to look around a local bathroom emporium - not as glorious as the ones recommended in other counties! We now have a houseful of catalogues and I have enjoyed seeing all the available options nowadays. With her websites to browse as well, I have rarely seen a happier lady! We won't be installing for a year but we should at least be able to have informed discussion about aesthetics, waste pipes and plumbing!

We have just discovered a macerator - are they a good thing? I imagine noise might be an issue but it would only be in the guest bathroom which won't be used as often. Anyone else used them and have any advice?

 

[MdB]

We have just discovered a macerator - are they a good thing? I imagine noise might be an issue but it would only be in the guest bathroom which won't be used as often. Anyone else used them and have any advice?

Personally I hate them as they make too much noise. I would treat them as being a very very last choice.