North Leeds Plumbing & Heating – Home Improvement and DIY Advice

Archive for the ‘Bathroom Fittings’ Category

If you have decided to update your bathroom, the chances are you will have trawled through DIY catalogues, visited home improvement centres and taken advice from family and friends. You will probably have been advised about shower curtains, fixtures and fittings, bathroom cabinets, various vanity accessories and towels and bathmats.

Chances are though, you will not have heard of the bathroom’s best-kept secret, skirting board renovation.

Skirting boards are extremely easy to fit, so you do not need to be a handyman or have a whole range of specialised equipment in order to achieve fantastic results.

Although there are various types of skirting board available on the market, a flat panel skirting board is the preferred choice of most interior designers and DIY enthusiasts. Following a few easy steps should result in a real and inexpensive improvement to your bathroom.

Most skirting board panelling is sold in white. You can of course paint it a different colour, but keeping it white allows you to contrast it with whatever colour you decide to paint the rest of the bathroom.

After removing the existing skirting board and measuring the amount of skirting you require, allow the new board a day or so to adjust to the temperature of your home. For this reason it is advisable to buy slightly more than the amount you had previously measured.

Whether or not you use nails or glue is a matter of preference, just make sure that you fix one panel at a time. This may seem obvious, but if a friend is helping you there is a temptation to begin at opposite ends of the room.

For most bathrooms, particularly those with limited storage facilities, a vanity unit is the ideal accessory. Space saving and elegant, functional yet stylish, a vanity unit can easily become the focal point of your new or existing bathroom.

However, many people seem deterred by the thought of installing a vanity unit. Perhaps they are worried about the cost of hiring a certified engineer, if so, they should not be, for if they follow a few simple pieces of advice they will soon realise that anyone can do it and save money in the process.

Firstly and most importantly, have a good look under the existing sink to see exactly what it is attached to. The chances are that the sink will be attached by nails, screws or some form of adhesive agent. Simply remove the nails or prise the sink away from the glue, it is as easy as that.

Before completely removing the old sink, remember to turn off the water at the mains, and then unscrew the water supply. A good tip is to have a bucket to hand.

Remove the sink; a friend will come in useful at this point. Previous damage will immediately come to light. If all is clear, ensure the floor on which the vanity unit is to be placed is flat.

Remove the drawers and doors of the new unit. Check that everything is square and symmetrical and slide into position. Reconnect the water supply, turn the water back on and that is all there is to it.

The bathroom is a great place to express yourself. Forget bland, functional bathrooms and instead think creatively. Above all, enjoy the bathroom. After all, you spend as much time there as anywhere else in the home. Where else can you be on your own, relaxing, contemplating the absurdities of life?

If you really want to be radical, then completely alter the layout of your existing bathroom. Maximise space by moving the toilet and sink units around. More room means more comfort; exactly what a bathroom should be about.

Accessorise; ditch the old taps and rip up the tiles. Choose a theme for your new bathroom and stick to it, even if it means waiting a little while before you can afford it.

Have a look around the paint shops. Mix colours until you find one that exactly complements your personality and theme. Contrast colours; painting the walls in different shades makes for a vibrant atmosphere. Choose prints of your favourite paintings and frame them.

Add some plants. Many ferns, in particular, thrive in humid conditions.

Have you considered combination showerheads? Imagine standing in the shower cubicle, having strong jets of water pour over every part of your body. Shower curtains now come in a multitude of patterns and designs. Even the towels and bathmat could be swapped for something you have always wanted.

Have a collection of your favourite objects placed around the bath, mingling them with scented candles. Festoon the bath in lights, creating your very own chromotherapy experience. Use fragrant oils, pipe music into the bathroom and above all, enjoy it.

For many, the bathroom is the most important place in the house. After all, we probably spend as much time in the bathroom as in any other room, with the possible exception of the kitchen

It therefore gets a lot of use and that, unfortunately, means having to refurbish it on a fairly regular basis.

Obviously, refurbishment means spending money, which for most of us, is in short supply. However, giving the bathroom a lift, from time to time, need not cost the earth if a few simple rules are followed.

Firstly, buy a new set of towels to complement the décor of your bathroom. Try mixing different colours together. Any contrast well done makes an attractive focal point.

Tiles are expensive, whether they are on the floor or on the walls. Tile appliqués are an inexpensive way to brighten up your existing fixtures. Again, look to contrast and create your own patterns.

Mirrors can be made to stand out by adding a frame or painting over the existing one. Use bold colours to create a stand out effect. Changing the dull medicine cabinet for a bathroom mirror is also often worthwhile.

Get a new shower curtain. These are cheap and readily available in a wide range of distinctive colours. Match it with your towels and bathmat for a sophisticated look.

Even changing your taps will create a totally new appearance. Choose different metals, perhaps brass and complement them with the toilet fittings.

Art Deco is one of the great design movements of the last century. It epitomises glamour, wealth and intrigue. Its clean lines and geometric patterns create an uncluttered environment of space and elegance combined with functionality. What better design could there possibly be for your newly refurbished bathroom?

The first thing is to clear your bathroom of any unwanted items. Art Deco is a minimalist design. Walls should be as free of shelving as possible. Hanging items will also have to go.

Geometric patterns, often in black and white are the order of the day. Tiles should be used both on the floor and walls. Experiment with different patterns. Lay the tiles at right angles to each other or create diagonals. A splash of a strong bold colour creates focal points all over the bathroom.

Try laying a different pattern around a black-framed wall mirror.

Light fixtures should be of a contemporary look. Rustic or Victorian retro is definitely out, as is wood. Chrome fixtures, slim, elegant and functional, are the order of the day. And this applies to the bathroom taps and towel racks. Even soap dishes should be in bright chrome or matt black.

Artwork should reflect the spirit of the age. Black and white photographs and prints could be framed in stainless steel. Slim crystal glass vases, placed next to black ceramic items, also work particularly well.

Lighting should be used to slightly soften the effect. By all means use a bright white light over the mirror, but try blue or even green bulbs to relax when taking a long, hot bath.

Children’s bathrooms need to be fun. Kids love splashing in the bath, playing with their toys and generally making a mess.

Their bathroom should reflect their sense of fun. While you may want it as a place to relax in and while the time away, this is exactly what most children loathe. So forget the neutral tones, soft lighting and complemented bathroom accessories and start thinking colour and themes.

A bold Caribbean blue is a perfect colour for a children’s bathroom. Forget the ‘blue is for boys’ nonsense, blue is an ideal colour for both gender, especially when accompanied by a glossy white painted skirting board.

Make it into a nautical theme, fit shower curtains with pictures of boats, maybe. Rubber bathmats in white would continue the theme. Striped towels of blue and white could complement the blue shelves on which wooden toy boats could sit after use.

Alternatively, a bright spring green would suggest a natural outdoor theme, with frogs and birds stencilled on the bathroom walls. Bathmats in bright yellow would enhance the look, with towels to match.

Another good combination is dark-orange on one wall and pillar-box red on the other. Charcoal-grey or deep azure-blue shelving would be the ideal complement.

Remember that a lot of splashing is involved; so laminated flooring is a must. Soft, warm and easy to clean, it is a far better and safer bet than bathroom tiles or stone.

Play around with colours. Even splash painting looks good in a child’s bathroom. Remember it is their bathroom, not yours.

Choosing a new bath is an investment, but what you pay for will be more than recompensed by the hours of pleasure it will give you. Think how much time you spend soaking away the cares of a busy lifestyle. Why settle for anything less than luxuriating in the bath of your choice?

There are many different types of bath to choose from. Naturally, what you buy will be dictated by the amount of space you have to work with. However, baths now come in many different sizes. If you have a very small bathroom, you could always purchase a vertical Japanese-style vertical soaking bath.

Even the most basic bath can now be found in a range of dazzling colours. There is no rule that forces you to have a standard white model. Match it with a brand new colour scheme. Make it the focal point of your bathroom and complement it with other accessories, such as towels and bathmats.

If you have a dual-purpose shower bath arrangement, don’t forget to factor in the shower curtain. These come in a multitude of colours, styles and designs and anyway, why stop at a plastic curtain? Buy fabric; hemp and cotton are relatively cheap. All you need is a shower curtain liner in vinyl to thoroughly waterproof it.

Scatter scented candles around the edge of the bath and perhaps add some plants. Many enthusiasts create miniature Japanese gardens in glass tanks and line the shelves next to the bath with fascinating creations.

Whether you are thinking of selling your house and want to maximise your profit or are just fed up with staring at the same tired fixtures as you lie in the bath, brightening up your bathroom should be a priority.

What’s more it need not cost a fortune. Have a good look around the bathroom. Isolate areas that need attention and then go to work compiling a list of trouble spots.

Top of the list is sure to be those boring fixtures. Things such as vanity unit doorknobs and hinges can be easily and cheaply changed. You will be amazed at how much difference such small items can make.

Give the room a lick of paint. Change the colour scheme. It will take a weekend at most. Think vibrant colour. Be experimental. Paint no longer costs the earth and it will be like having a completely new bathroom.

Painting not your thing? Then try wallpaper. Create a mural or alternate different patterns on each wall. Bathroom wallpaper is easy to hang and wrinkle resistant. Choose from a huge variety of patterns and designs.

Throw out those tired looking towels. Invest in some of the heavy styles in plush. Again, choose something colourful that complements your bathroom walls.

Don’t forget to have look at your shower curtain. When was the last time it was changed? Perhaps pick one in a fabric and line it with vinyl. There is really no need to keep buying the cheap and nasty plastic ones from the local supermarket.

After having finally installed that new bath or shower enclosure, bought new towels and bathmats, retiled the floor and painted the walls and ceiling, some final finishing touches will add your own sense of individuality and style to your perfect bathroom.

Why not display special memorabilia along a shelf along wall? This could take the form of anything, from framed family photographs to holiday souvenirs. Glass jars could be easily utilised as receptacles for bath salts or aromatic oils.

Fresh flowers or ferns make a wonderful addition to any bathroom. Hunt down some unusual vases in charity shops or market stalls. Even old window boxes make a delightful fixture.

Why not remove the door of the linen cupboard and replace it with a tapestry screen? Alternatively, cover it with a made-to-measure painting or embroidery.

Instead of paint, try staining bathroom cabinets. This way, you can recreate a genuine rustic feel. Wood stain comes in a myriad of different shades, so take your time while choosing.

Trailing light bulbs along a runner at the top of the wall produces a marvellously atmospheric tone. Perhaps add a table lamp, if you have sufficient space, with a specially designed lampshade.

Adding tiles around bathroom mirrors is another good way to highlight a focal point. Try painting the frame in a gold or silver finish or place the light so it reflects off the mirror.

Whatever you choose to do, make certain that the finishing touches do not let down the bathroom you have so lovingly and expensively created.

For some reason, interior lighting in bathrooms is frequently overlooked. When redesigning your bathroom, it is crucial to consider what kind of artificial light will best suit your overall vision.

A good bathroom lighting plan should take into account exactly where you need the most light. For example, a stronger light source is needed for shaving, putting on makeup, and showering. Indirect light is used to create an atmosphere, to enhance the general mood of the bathroom.

Vanity lighting is best to illuminate daily bathroom activities. Avoid recessed ceiling fixtures over the mirror. These cast shadows on the face and make shaving difficult. Instead, place the fixtures on either side of the mirror. A good rule of thumb is to place the fixture at eye level and separated by around half a metre.

If the shower has a transparent door, a direct fixture may not be necessary. Choose a recessed light with a glass bulb. Similar fixtures are also sufficient over the bath and lavatory.

Ambient light is most often supplied by a centrally-mounted ceiling light. Why not choose a pendant lamp or even a chandelier instead? Another idea are rope lights disguised by a moulding dropped several centimetres below ceiling height. This supplies a lovely soft glow around the perimeter of the room.

Dimmer switches allow for an easy, cost-effective way to light the bathroom. Just be careful to ensure that the appropriate bulb is compatible with the dimmer. A halogen light source will need a compatible dimmer.