subject: Design Republic's Top 10 Tips for Choosing your Bathroom Design [print this page] Design Republic's Top 10 Tips for Choosing your Bathroom Design
Be realistic about what you want in your new bathroom.
It's incredible how many times clients would ask for a bath to be designed into their en-suite where there is only enough room to swing a mouse, let alone a cat. A good bathroom design companyshould be able to make the most use of the space but they can't magic it up no matter how talented they are!
Don't scrap the scrapbook.
Make full use of the vast choices of interior magazines. Whilst your bathroom specialist may not sell exactly the same items that you've seen elsewhere, this will give them a running start on the aesthetic design with the cut-out cues you give them.
Choose your bathroom designer wisely.
As well as the essential need to get on with your bathroom designer, there are high street bathroom companies who work under the principle of quick turnaround. Despite their reassurances, the likelihood is that you will be given a very limited selection of items that don't fit the criteria. Most are looking to do a like-for-like. If you want more than this, look for bespoke bathroom designers for contemporary or traditional bathrooms as they can really build your bathroom up from scratch.
Be aware of the skeleton.
Whilst there are many luxury brands out there whose brassware cost a small fortune, this is controllable. You can spend 50.00 on a tap or 500.00. It still costs the same to fit it in the same place. The bulk of the cost is the bathroom installation. In probably the smallest room of the house, you'll have plumbers, electricians, carpenters, tillers & decorators. These are the skeleton costs to getting the infrastructure prepared. You can then play with the budget for the brassware, sanitaryware, vanity furniture & tiles which you'll know the size for once the bathroom layout is complete.
Prepare yourself for costs you might not be expecting.
If yourbespoke bathroom design requires moving the WC from side of the room to the other, there will probably a fair bit of extra plumbing work to get the pipework to the new point. This is the same where you are installing a shower where there isn't one already. The labour could actually be more expensive than the kit you put in.
Storage or sleek?
Do you need a place in your bathroom for spare toilet rolls? Towels? What about your laundry? All these things have storage solutions that can be designed in. Alternatively, would you prefer a minimalist bathroom?
Integrate personalised solutions.
If there isn't something that fits in with the space or design of the off-the-shelf units you like, why not consider having some bespoke bathroom furniture manufactured just for your space? This can be designed to store exactly what you want in exactly the correct dimensions to fit perfectly. Only smaller bespoke bathroom companies can facilitate this as they can spend the time really fine-tuning your bathroom design. For example, the bathroom vanity furniture can be high gloss or natural wood veneer. This would be made-to-measure and work beautifully for you.
Love lighting.
Once again, this is the preserve of smaller bespoke bathroom design companies. It is possible to really create wonderful atmospheric effects with LED lighting in the bathroom nowadays with a modest budget. For example, have one switch for the standard recessed spotlights and one switch for hidden led lighting (maybe under a wall-hung vanity unit or in the plinth of a bespoke wooden bath panel. Turn the LED's on by themselves for a relaxing bath or night time experience.
Are you a Project Manager?
To co-ordinate many trades is an art and usually requires military precision. We all know how hard it is to find good, reliable tradespeople. Seriously consider finding a company that will do everything on your behalf, so that all you have to worry about is how to dress the room after it's finished. Unless you are in the trade yourself, it is a risk to assume you could organize this yourself and it will usually end up costing you more money than if you hired a professional team. Aside from this, the bathroom designer would be best to oversee the project as it's their baby and they know it inside out.
Be patient.
95% of the work is ripping out and installing the infrastructure. Only then will the gorgeous tiles go on, the smart sanitaryware and the shiny brassware (and keep their spirits up with a good cuppa when you can)."
