Since the launch of our new 3D Bathroom Design Service our design consultants have been busy creating dream bathrooms for our customers.

One of the very first bathrooms designed by us was for a London based customer.  The brief was to make use of the light and spacious 2nd floor space that offered great views from its windows.

Our design consultant chatted via Zoom with the client and our design consultant put together this lovely layout, maximising the space available.  The customer wanted a separate shower and a freestanding bath and our designer was able to hide away the pipework in the clever shelving behind the vanity unit.

The gorgeous Victoria + Albert Roxburgh freestanding bath makes a real statement placed in front of the window.

A walk in shower has been created with the Matki One Shower Screen which never fails to impress.  The customer had a penchant for traditional brassware and so we selected brassware from the Burlington range.

For only the second time in more than 20 years, Pantone’s colour of the year 2021 will be TWO colours: Pantone 17-5104 Ultimate Gray and Pantone 13–647 Illuminating.  

Two independent colours that show how different elements come together to support one another, a lesson learned by everyone in 2020 and hopefully one we can continue to practice in 2021.

These two colours give us practicality and solidness and at the same time warmth and optimism, the joining of Pantone 17-5104 Ultimate Gray and Pantone 13-0647 Illuminating is “one of strength and positivity” says Pantone.  Definitely a story of colour that catches a deep feeling of thoughtfulness along with a promise of sunnier times ahead!

Pantone 13-0647 Illuminating is a cheerful, bright yellow alive and brimming with vivacity. Pantone 17-5104 Ultimate Gray reflects solid and dependable elements, a firm foundation and everlasting qualities.  It is quietly reassuring, standing the test of time and resilient in its nature.

Two colours for 2021 – with a great deal of meaning for us all.

VitrA Voyage

The winning space of the inaugural UK Bathroom Design Awards has been crowned, a bold room designed to stand the test of time and passing trends, made up of monochrome tiles, tactile surfaces and, perhaps the year’s biggest bathroom trend, statement black brassware.

The space is one of the first rooms completed in the new home of textile designer Sian O’Doherty in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, which is being built so the family can live alongside to the herd of alpacas that contribute their wool to Sian’s sustainable modern knitwear business. Sian is an award-winning textile artist and designer creating beautiful and unique, ethically produced colourful fashion pieces, homeware and accessories with a modern Welsh twist.

Sian, her husband Mike, and three-and-a-half-year-old Ava have been living in a one room static caravan for two years while they wait for the house to be finished and baby number two to arrive in January. ‘The new bathroom is just amazing – especially after having had such a tiny shower for so long!’ Sian tells us. ‘I wanted it to be simple, timeless and practical, but also to have a designer edge.’

Large format white tiles meet a tactile slate floor and are finished with slick black brassware and accessories. ‘We kept things as simple as possible, with clean lines, and a monochrome palette – I was mindful of creating a space we could live with for a long time’ Sian explains.

The combination of longevity and effortless industrial style is what drew the judges to the space. ‘I love natural materials, and the slate floor is a wonderful contrast to the slick white walls,’ Sian says. ‘I paired it right back because I wanted it to last, but we pushed the boat out with the large shower head to make a modern statement and give it an industrial edge’

While the space looks beautiful, it’s based on the requirements of real life. ‘I chose each element to be as practical and easy to clean as possible,’ Sian explains ‘I kept referring back to what we needed as a family’. Thus, larger tiles mean less grouting, grout is grey for quick maintenance and surfaces are matt to show fewer small finger prints.

‘Pretty much everything came from UK Bathrooms which I hadn’t planned but just made sense – they guided me to good models in the price range I could go for, and because I bought so much, delivery was free,’ says Sian. ‘UK Bathrooms just made life more manageable, such as making sure I had the things that you don’t think about, like water traps and plugs. The bathroom includes luxury brands such as Crosswater and VitrA, and it was so easy getting them from one place.’

‘The bathroom is exactly what I was hoping for; clean lines, open space, and practicality; I take great pleasure in using it and will do for years to come’ says Sian, who won £500 worth of Love2Shop vouchers gifted by VitrA Bathrooms. ‘I’m absolutely thrilled to have won the UK Bathrooms Design Awards, and it’s been a massive help with finishing off our new home.’

Spotlight on: Lisa Watson, Design Consultant at UK Bathrooms

This month we’re chatting to Lisa Watson, Design Consultant, 3D Design Services at UK Bathrooms. Lisa lives in the North Yorkshire countryside with her children, dogs, cats and horses. Any spare time she has is spent drawing, painting and horse riding.

3D Design Service at UK Bathrooms

Q: How long have you been with UK Bathrooms and what is your role for the online bathroom store based in Ripon, North Yorkshire.
A: I’ve been with UK Bathrooms for nearly 2 years initially in Product Marketing before beginning my current role as a Design Consultant for our 3D Design Service. I work with customers on a one to one basis, guiding and advising from the planning and layout of their new bathroom to bespoke product sourcing if needed. I use over 20 years of interior design experience and architectural drawing skills to develop a 3D visual of their brand new bathroom, without them having to leave their home.

Q: How has your career path led you to this role?
A: Throughout the last 20 years I have worked in Interior Architecture. I have experience with virtual software and this coupled with my design skills allows me to offer our customers a service which brings their new bathroom to life – before they purchase!

Q: What specific qualifications and experience do you have for your role?
A: I graduated with a BA Hons in Interiors Architecture and have worked with architects, interior designers, bespoke manufacturers of kitchens and bathrooms and bespoke manufacturers of hardwood orangeries both in the UK and abroad.

Q: How do you balance your career with your home life?
A: My hours are flexible at UK Bathrooms and I have a peaceful art room at home which allows me time for myself when needed and gives an ideal environment to design and be creative.

Q: What do you find most challenging at work?
A: Ha-ha that’s really easy – time! The 3D Design Service at UK Bathrooms is a new service but a service that is already proving very popular!

Q: What do you like most about working for UK Bathrooms?
A: 2020 has been a difficult year for everyone. What I like best about my role at UK Bathrooms is that it is means I can continue to work with customers and continue to design new bathrooms which they love and which they will enjoy for many years. All from the comfort of their own home.

Q: Looking at ukbathrooms.com you have many brands, do you have favourites?
A: Most definitely, though perhaps I shouldn’t divulge! I love BC Designs baths and basins with their natural materials and design style combining organically sensuous shapes with contemporary clean lines. I also like Victoria+ Albert, Perrin & Rowe, Zehnder Bisque, Crosswater, VitrA, Villeroy & Boch and brands such as Trojan. That’s one of the other joys of working for UK Bathrooms, we have a plethora of brands from which to choose products, definitely spoilt for choice.

Q: When it comes to designing a new bathroom what inspires you most?
A: Nature mostly. I adore natural materials and combining these with organic shapes and a modern contemporary twist. Many of our brands combine these natural products and design styling with state-of-the-art manufacturing and technology producing the highest quality products.

Lisa Watson is a design consultant for UK Bathrooms, and provides advice, planning and a 3D visualisation service. For further details:
https://www.ukbathrooms.com/pages/bathroom-design-service.html
or email Lisa –  [email protected]

3D Design Service Now Available at UK Bathrooms

Buying a bathroom is a personal and important purchase, not something you do every day. Imagine if, just like test driving a new car or looking around a new home, your future bathroom renovation can be something you can experience before you buy it. This is now a reality at UK Bathrooms with our 3D Bathroom Design Service.

We have invested in the latest technology from leading software company Virtual Worlds and we have expert design consultants available to chat through your ideas, offer advice and bespoke product sourcing as well as take you though the process of planning and designing your new bathroom.  They will present you with a 3 D render of your dream space enabling you to purchase the products you need to make your vision a reality.

We’ll make this as easy as possible for you without even having to leave the comfort of your own home. If you’d like to find out more visit our 3D Bathroom Design Service page and book your consultation today.

Bathroom design is evolving, and VitrA’s expansive Voyage collection points us towards the look and feel of tomorrow.

Gone are the days when the bathroom was a practical affair, a room only to dash in and out of. In recent years the space’s functionality has melded with tactile materials, sensuous shapes and considered use of colour as it moves further and further from existing purely for cleanliness, to somewhere to enjoy, retreat to, and luxuriate in.

The design of the bathroom and the objects within it have adapted accordingly, in a trend that first saw freestanding baths take on ever more experimental shapes, and slowly trickled through into furniture, brassware and ceramics. As things get increasingly progressive, leading the way is Voyage by VitrA, a 130-piece range by renown Israeli creative Arik Levy, characterised by flowing, sculptural sanitaryware and adaptable wooden storage. 

‘VitrA’s Voyage collection breaks bathroom boundaries with its unique interpretation of ceramicware, and forward-thinking approach to space saving and flexibility’ says Graeme Borchard, Managing Director at ukbathrooms.com. ‘The range is a glimpse into the future, showing us that contemporary spaces will be imaginative, impactful and approached differently to today.’

Serene ceramics

The collection clearly plays into the bathroom’s new role as a room for relaxation. Sanitaryware is modern and elegant, circular or oval basins merged with round-cornered rectangular trays, which invoke a deeply calming feel, thanks to the smoothness of the shapes and the clear craft involved in combining the forms. These pieces speak of poetry, artistry and a soothing softness.

Wet or dry?

In a further challenge to the bathroom norm, Voyage basins blur the boundaries of the wet and the dry, with the tray surrounding the bowl creating a mid-point between the two and initiating a new dialogue between countertop and bowl. Will this extra area be used for product storage, to catch water, or in ways we are yet to discover?

Total flexibility

Voyage is entirely wall hung, an innovation which makes it incredibly versatile and entirely customisable to specific spaces and needs. Storage focuses on simple timber boxes – inspired by the time designer Arik Levy spent living in Japan – units and wall panels that can be placed horizontally or vertically, in five natural tones including light and dark oak as well as white, grey and forest green. 

Signalling a change in bathroom design, Voyage works in rooms big and small, crucially embracing individual needs and preferences, and inviting the user on a journey to build their own personal space to unwind in.

Creating a relaxing spa-like feel in your home can seem like a challenge.  But your dream spa-like bathroom can easily be achieved. By taking inspiration from luxury spas you can make a bathroom space that soothes your soul and helps you escape from everyday worries.

When planning you new spa bathroom design consider everything from small details such as including natural elements to create a tranquil feel, to items such as walk in showers and water flow.

Colour Palettes

Colour choice is very important when decorating a bathroom and when trying to create a new serene style, colour has a powerful effect on our emotions.  With a plethora of colours to choose from, we suggest opting for soft earthy tones, as they will convey a sense of comfort and warmth.  Try shades of white and soft brown as these work well with wood tones.  Add Crosswater MPRO brassware and combine with hints of greenery and metallic tones.

Bathroom Storage Solutions

Using wood-effect furniture embraces natural materials whilst keeping to an overall soothing look.  Furniture will keep surfaces clear and clutter free.  Crosswaters Arena in Modern Oak is a great choice.  If you need more storage space – be creative, use glass jars for beauty bits and baskets to store hand towels.

A spa-like shower

A walk in shower arrangement is paramount to a spa-like bathroom. Combine with a large shower head for a rainshower experience.

Finishing touches

Most importantly don’t forget those finishing touches. Whilst not key pieces they will make all the difference and bring your new design together. Check out the Crosswater MPRO accessories available on our site from toilet roll holders, towel rings to shelving units.  We suggest combining them with marble surfaces and a beautiful countertop basin – create your beautiful spa bathroom!

The smallest space in your home can become the most beautiful! Leading bathroom brand Crosswater are making life that little bit easier for us in their 2020 Bathroom Sale by putting together beautiful bundles for cloakrooms, ensuites and main bathrooms.

Crosswater Brushed Brass Cloakroom Suite

Choosing products for a new bathroom can be time consuming and very often we forget one or two essential items, such as the basin waste!  The Crosswater Sale 2020 bathroom bundles take care of that for us – including everything needed to create the most perfect cloakroom, en-suite or main bathroom.

One of our favourites is this beautiful Crosswater Brushed Brass Cloakroom Suite. Whilst we love the styling with dark blue walls we think it would look just as good with on trend forest green walls.

The bundle includes MPRO Brushed Brass Taps, Waste, Flush Plate, Brushed Brass Accessories, Infinity Vanity Unit in Storm Grey with Pearl Countertop Basin also in Storm Grey, seated on Windsor Oak Worktop. Infinity Mirror. Glide 11 Rimless Wall Hung Toilet, Soft Close Seat, Frame & Cistern.

All with a fantastic 40% saving on RRP!

hansgrohe Matt Black

Black is permeating the bathroom. As we enter the shorter months, we’re embracing dark tones and welcoming them into the wash space as we mirror the early nights and moody skies on the horizon.

Why black?

One of the biggest changes in bathroom design in recent years has been its evolution from a functional space, designed with efficiency rather than aesthetics in mind, into a room for enjoyment and wellbeing. The surge in time spent in the bathroom in 2020 especially, saw the bathroom become a place to unwind and enjoy moments of peace in; as other areas of the home became spaces to work, teach and multitask, the bathroom took on the role of a sanctuary. ‘Black has moved into the bathroom as homeowners are seeking a space for privacy and relaxation as busy lives get busier,’ explains Graeme Borchard, MD at UK Bathrooms. ‘Black is a wonderful shade to meditate to and allows overtaxed minds a moment of tranquillity, which is what today’s bathroom is all about.’

How to style a black bathroom

This trend is all about maximum darkness – for the greatest effect, opt for black across as many surfaces and objects in the space as possible to create a calming, cave-like cocoon that’s impactful without overstimulating the senses. Pay attention to textures; mix in different black finishes and materials, from glossy glazes to matt and brushed metals, to create a space which is indulgent and immersive while maintaining the feeling of shelter and protection.

Black fixtures and fittings

The newest launches from a host of luxury brands have been doused in darkness. Shower heads, taps, mixers, screens, panels and all of the fittings in-between, it’s clear that the finish of the moment is deepest black. Be it Matt Back, hansgrohe’s biggest finish of the year which covers the Metropol mixer range, and 53-piece Talis E collection, or the extensive range of Matt Black brassware and bathroom accessories of Crosswater’s MPRO range. Most of Abacus’s range can be covered in black via its Colour My Bathroom offering, and Saneux and Roper Rhodes both have extensive dark collections.

Large black bathroom pieces

Chunkier bathroom objects of all styles are also being coated in rich black. Victoria and Albert’s freestanding baths take on an edgy yet sensuous feel when their soft curves are realised in black. Along with its brassware, much of VitrA’s ceramicware and storage pieces comes in a slick black finish which transforms them into giant sculptural objects. Villeroy and Boch’s ultra-modern Avento vanity units are finished in glossy Crystal Black, the brand’s Antheus unit brings natural texture in black ash, and UK Bathroom’s Essentials Black Square Edge Bath Screen is a whimsical take on the trend, a semi-transparent slice of shadow hovering over the shower. In the traditional sphere, the Sarah Georgian basin and washstand by Burlington is composed of decorative black aluminium and black marble.

‘Black is incredibly versatile, contemporary and chic,’ says Graeme. ‘Black elements in the bathroom create an edge, making a statement while remaining timeless and enduring’. Finish the look with as much black flooring, tiling and paint as you dare, or try a black feature zone around either the sink, bath or shower to add more subtle wow factor.

Matt black comes to the bathroom with slick angles, shapely silhouettes and a modern industrial feel – combine it with bright white ceramics for a bold, contemporary contrast.

We love the new Matt Black brassware range from leading bathroom manufacturer hansgrohe.  hansgrohe has expanded its FinishPlus brassware range to include on trend Matt Black. This recently launched contemporary finish is across hansgrohe’s range of showerheads, basin and bath mixers, shower hoses and accessories.

The beautiful @hansgroheuk Matt Black

The new Matt Black is perfect for styling with white ceramics and black shower screens.  Matt Black offers a pared back elegant look whilst guaranteeing all the quality features that you can expect from hansgrohe.

Available now with minimal delivery times.