So, decided to have your bathroom remodeled?

You have 2 choices now:

1- You can go for the "big boys"-companies with offices, showrooms, "thousands" as staff, "hundreds" of directors, "lots" of nice big cars, secretaries, salesmens......which will cost you at least double the price for your bathroom.

OR

2-You deal directly with the fitter, together we will design your new bathroom and fittings, purchase your bathroom fittings & tiles from the internet and shops( depends who offer the best deal) and you pay the fitter for the installation.

I have been working for over 16 years as subcontractor for different plumbing and bathroom fitting companies around London. From experience I can tell you that the companies used to charge the customer at least double the price i was getting as fitter

SO, LET'S CUT OUT THE MIDDLE MEN.

I  CAN GUARANTEE A MINIMUM SAVE OFF 25% COMPARED TO DOLPHIN BATHROOMS

Here is how I work: You call me out for a free estimate. After a proper survey and after you explain to me what you would like to have done I will tell you a price for my labour. If you accept the price we will start together to look for the products at the best prices possible. Once we have all the materials we will decide a start date and completion date. The work will be high quality and finished on time. We then sort out the payment for the bsthroom.

For your piece of mind I carry 2 million public liability insurance and I guarantee all my work.

Give us a call. Will cost a few pence BUT WE CAN SAVE YOU A LOT OFF MONEY

W

Wall-hung loos can enhance the sense of space in your bathroom or en-suite, but how do you go about boxing it in once it's been fitted?

The cistern and pipework need to be fitted into some kind of frame hidden away, and this frame also supports the the sanitaryware, which would usually be supported by the floor. You can either create a frame with wooden battens or use a metal frame system from specialist companies, such as Gerberit orMissell. The benefit of a pre-built frame is that you don't need to construct anything on site, you just buy the size of frame you need, fit the sanitaryware to it, then box in around it with either plywood or plasterboard ready for tiling. Expect to pay £100+ for a frame here.

Whichever method you choose [wood battens or metal frame], you will need to box around it with plywood (for tiles) or plasterboard (if you are painting - the plasterboard will need to be plastered over before painting) and fixing tiles or paint as you would on any other surface.

You may find the cistern is included in the package price of your toilet, but more commonly it is not. The cistern needs to be compatible with the frame system. Some companies, such as Gerberit, include a cistern as part of the frame package. Flush plates also need to be compatible with the cistern. They might be included in the cistern price, or you may have to buy it separately. If you are buying any of these items separately, check with the supplier that the cistern will fit the frame and the flush fits the cistern.

You shouldn't need to get to the cistern at all if it has been fitted correctly. However, it's always a good idea when you are boxing around your frame or batten system to have a panel you can unscrew and remove if needed. Whether your removable panel is on top of your boxed section or on the wall will depend on the design of your room and the whether your cistern is accessed from the front or top.

The style of a toilet is dictated almost entirely by the pan and, although some toilets need to be fitted with specific seats, many can be mixed and matched. You might choose to spend on the pan but make your toilet more affordable by picking up a cheaper seat. The most expensive seats are quick release and soft close, which means they open and shut with the smallest movement and without slamming. However, they can add a couple of hundred pounds to the cost of your toilet, but if you are going to do it do it properly advises Steve Meyrick Bathroom Fitters UK.

Prism Prestige

Leading its new shower enclosure line-up Bristan's top-end Prism walk-in shower panel is perfect for wet-room situations

Bristans reputation as a one-stop supplier of quality bathroom products, Bristan is now introducing shower enclosure to its portfolio for the first time. To see them first hand, 

Leading this 23-product strong collection is the sensational new Prism walk-in panel, which is designed as the perfect solution for wet-room situations. Made from high quality 6mm-thick glass, with an anti-calcium finish that deters limescale deposits for easy maintenance, the Prism walk-in shower panel boasts a single support in polished silver for that all-important frameless 'floating' appearance.

Suitable for both use with a low-profile tray or sitting flush to the floor for a genuine wet-room feel, the Prism walk-in shower closure is 1950mm high and 1200mm wide, with adjustable wall profiles for extra easy installation.

As with all their products, Bristan's enclosures are backed by the company's renowned MascoCare after sales service and they also come with a five year guarantee.

Full wall and floor tiling service:

At Bathroom Fitters we specialise in providing a full wall and floor tiling installation services - transform any area of your home, with ceramic, porcelain, natural stone, marble or even mosaic tiles.

No job is to small - we range from simple splash backs to full scale wet rooms.We can also tile your kitchen, bathrooms, conservatories and hallways to your exact requirements.

Much of our work comes through referrals - we work very hard to gain that all important 100% customer satisfaction.

Underfloor Heating, Wet rooms, showers and tiled bath panels:

Specialising in wet rooms, shower cubicles, even tiled bath surrounds or the installation of electric underfloor heating.

We can provide the advice, techniques and products as necessary to ensure your bathroom area is sufficiently waterproofed or tanked to meet all the demands of a modern lifestyle.

Re-grouting:

Over time grout can become discoloured or damaged. This can lead to leaks in wet areas and can be expensive in the long run.

We can re-grout these areas giving your tiles a new lease of life.

Trade:

Bathroom Fitters UK undertakes a variety of trade work on commercial and domestic premises. Contact us for Trade prices.

Tile Care Service for natural stone:

Bathroom Fitters UK can provide an annual tile care service to ensure your natural stone tiles are properly sealed and protected against the demands of domestic living.

Tile cutting and hole boring:

We are able to professionally cut and / or bore holes into tiles so that they fit professionally into the desired area. This is essential for the installation of towel rails, pipes, taps and fittings.

Surface preparation:

 Preparing surfaces properly is integral to the tiling process. Any imperfections are noticeable and uneven surfaces can be dangerous. We ensure all surfaces are suitably prepared before we begin to lay any tiles.

If required, we are also happy to remove existing flor and wall covering. Please contact us for further details on 07977 405965.

Free information and advice:

 Bathroom Fitters UK are happy to provide free information and advice on all aspects relating to the products and sevice we supply. 

Telephone us now on 07977 405965 or email us with your enquiries 

When you choose a shower for your bathroom there are a few things to think about, from whether or not to have a separate, enclosed shower or fit one ever a bath. Then all the different shower choices, from power showers to water saving showers, and you need to decide how you're going to heat the water for it.

The types of Bathroom Showers

Or a humble push-on rubber hose pipe shower attachment for the taps, a sorry and near useless device to be avoided at all costs we at Bathroom Fitters UK hope!!

Options for Over the Bath Showers

For the many who dont have the space for a separate shower enclosure, or you want to keep your bath as opposed to replacing it with a shower cubicle, then you will install a shower over the bath. You can have a shower curtain suspended from a rail, or a solid toughened glass or clear plastic panel that will shield the bathroom from the worst of the water, the later keeps the bathroom feeling more spacious and less cluttered.

Going upmarket a little brings you into the world of separate thermostatic shower controls, wall mounted. These work in a similar way but at least you don't have to bend down to reach the controls every time someone turns a tap elsewhere in the property. If you can go up a step further then thermostatically controlled mixer showers are in that range, these will stay at a set temperature.

Power Showers and Alternatives

Shower Enclosures and Shower Head Design

There are large circular chrome heads that rain a curtain of water on you, like the cloudburst shower design heads that look like something out of a movie and many more. If you push the boat out you can go for shower towers which have a series of jets on a wall-mounted unit at different heights so that you get sprayed all over your body as well as from a shower rose above your head.

This brings you quite a way along the road to the luxurious shower we mentioned at the start of this article, getting all the way there is all down to the size of your purse.

Bathroom Fitters UK will advise you on the best type for your water system and showering requirements. for details telephone 07977 405965 of email by clicking here

Steve Meyrick - Bathroom Fitters UK's head of design recognises that Bathroom storage is an area where a little work can pay a big dividend for clients, being able to hide the the day to day bathroom products can make a bathroom look a lot larger. With bathing, beauty products and the teeth paraphernalia the bathroom is often the home for the cleaning stuff and medicines. Then of course there are the towels and flannels, not to mention bath toys if you have young children.

Wall Mounted Bathroom Cabinets

The bathroom planning of storage often start with bathroom cabinets. They come in various forms and sizes and often have mirrored doors so they can perform a dual function. Be careful when placing them above basins and toilets though though, if items fall out of the cupboard they can damage items below, or if a basin is quite small then people may keep banging their heads on the mirror as they bend to wash their face or rinse a toothbrush.

If you've got the space, go for a double bathroom cabinet or maybe two individual ones. But if you do go for more than one, don't mount them next to each other unless your bathroom is really big. Try and put the second one on a different wall.

Bathroom Vanities

Most bathroom cabinets are available as floor standing units that can double as bathroom vanity unit. Most providing support for a basin so that it doesn't require such large screws to hold it to the wall. Although very useful pieces of bathroom furniture, they are often robbed of space by the sink trap and waste outlet pipework which has to be positioned beneath under the basin. However, with a 300 deep unit and the correct thought out plumbing installation, this is minimised on the positive side, this does ensure that the pipework is hidden away neatly.

Free Standing Bathroom Cabinets

If you have a good sized room, a bathroom cabinet can be a free standing piece of furniture and even be wardrobe sized.

If that's possible then it can be used as storage for towels etc therefore a handy bit of kit if you have a combi boiler hence no airing cupboard. It's not often that any bathroom furniture other than a suite can be fitted into a bathroom but if you do have the space it ought to be used

If you have the requirements for a bathroom storage design email me details and size of room / bathroom layout and i will be pleased to offer advice and a full quotation

"I feel extremely fortunate to be able to announce revenue growth in the last 12 months plus a considerable improvement in pre tax profit, which is up by 133 per cent on the previous year," said Lakes Bathrooms’ managing director, Robin Craddock. "We have seen great demand, despite the recession and, whilst we face the challenges that the financial markets have created, our capital stability means we have been able to increase our production capacity in 2009 and are now looking for a larger HQ."

In the past year Lakes Bathrooms has recruited John Armstrong as North East sales manager, who joins the company from Roman. Two new service engineers have joined; Alan Cox to cover North London and East Anglia, plus John Bissel who serves the Midlands. Two administrators have been recruited to the sales team and most recently Kevin Boyle has been appointed to lead the customer service team. Boyle is an ex-Indesit customer care expert and has over 20 years experience in the white goods market, so was selected for his volume manufacturing background together with experience in delivering leading brand service standards.

Other major staff moves within the company have seen appointments to the board for Rob Ashmeade, appointed finance director and Clive Organ as sales and marketing director. They now join the board to support managing director, Robin Craddock and chairman, Alan Craddock.

Lakes’ delivery fleet has doubled in size in the last 18 months to a total of 12 vehicles. Its delivery coverage is backed by a separate nation-wide team of service engineers who support retailers, merchants and installers with technical back-up and point of sales display installation.

Robin Craddock puts the sustained business success down to a number of factors: “We hold considerable stock in the UK and our speed of delivery means that we have won a number of important new trade accounts. Our pricing to quality ratio is well geared and we have announced a price freeze for 2010 on all products in our Classic Collection, in an effort to offset the effect of the VAT returning to 17.5 per cent and to ensure that we still represent the best overall value in the market. Our complete service ethos is now recognised and we have continued to innovate with two new product ranges being launched in the last year. We are now working on new designs that will be unveiled later in 2010 and we continue to develop business with our AllClear coating, in a number of different markets.

According to management at Lakes Bathrooms, the HQ relocation is likely to take place by the end of the year and will see the firm moving to a larger site in the same part of Gloucestershire.

The Kuadra collection comprises a comprehensive range of glass panels, fixed panels and doors all of which are produced from Novellini’s own factory that strives not to produce any C02 emissions. Tempered 8mm safety glass that is treated with Crystal Clear makes the glass easy and quick to clean, resistant to bacteria and lime scale deposits. Kuadra enclosures are suitable for use as a level access for a wet room or with a shower tray.�

“With over 100 designs held in stock here in the UK anything is possible, quickly, smoothly and always complete," promises Flavio Buccianti, Managing Director for Novellini UK. "We also support our products for years to come which takes further weight from customers' minds.�

Shampoo is the most wasted product, closely followed by shower gel (which came top with men as the most wasted item) and moisturiser, (which was the most neglected beauty product by women). Over a quarter of respondents said their bathroom also held host to out of date medicines but most shockingly, 54% said that they would still use them regardless, with men proving to be particularly lax on this issue.

The most common reasons provided for hoarding so many unused or out of date items in the bathroom was because people ‘forgot they were there’ and ‘always buy too much and never get round to using it’, whilst 58% said the majority of their unused toiletry items were from unwanted gift packs.

Special store promotions were also cited as a key reason why Brits buy more products than they need, with 61% saying they would still take up a multi-buy offer even if they knew they wouldn’t get around to using it all.

One fifth of those surveyed by Dolphin estimated that they had wasted just over £20 on unused pampering products whilst it seems the Welsh spend the most, at an average of £24.72, compared to the more conscientious West Midlander’s spending £19.85. This isn’t surprising as the Welsh also have the highest average number of unused toiletries within the UK and are more likely to take advantage of ‘buy one get one free’ offers despite the fact that many products simply get stored away never to be used.

Geoff Wells, planning expert at Dolphin Bathrooms, comments: “Whilst we may be a nation of pamper addicts, we accumulate too many beauty products that we never intend to use (according to 40% of participants) and this often means bathrooms can be cluttered. It comes as no surprise to us that over 60% of those we questioned wished they had more storage space in the bathroom, as it is often the smallest room in UK homes but despite this, we can’t seem to stop ourselves hoarding and so end up losing precious space.

“However, with careful planning, any bathroom can be designed to keep lotions and potions well organised and easy to find. Clever use of cabinets, sink space and shelving will make sure you optimise every inch of space whilst keeping your bathroom beautiful - plus you can avoid wasting money on new products you don’t actually need after all.�

Geoff Wells added: “Space in the bathroom can often be limited, so careful planning of storage solutions and overall room design is vital in creating the perfect bathroom enabling you to maximise your available space and create a clutter-free environment. Even a larger bathroom can be spoiled by a badly laid out design that does not use the room to its full potential.

“Custom-made floor and wall cabinets offer a great solution for storing towels and toiletries, keeping surfaces completely clear and the bathroom looking streamlined whilst stylish vanity units with shelves, drawers and cabinets hide belongings from view and can be built around sanitary-ware to cover up any unattractive pipe work.

“Corner vanity units are especially suitable for smaller bathrooms, making the most of an unused area of the room and to really maximise space, consider space-saving solutions such as corner baths or sinks to make the most of an unused area of the room and opt for wall hung sanitary ware, cabinets, taps and towel rails to leave floor space clear and the bathroom accessible.

“Fitted bathroom furniture is now big news and ideal for creating ample storage. Offering a ‘complete’ look which allows everything to flow together with simple clean lines Dolphin’s modern, fitted furniture range, Verve, exemplifies just how far fitted designs have come. Moving away from the more conventional-style fitted furniture that most homeowners will fear; attention to detail is also paramount with Verve. Boasting curved fronted units, with striking high gloss finishes, a choice of standard or solid surface worktops and soft-close drawers as standard, Dolphin’s Verve collection will bring style to any bathroom.

“The new Envy furniture range is the latest option to be introduced, seen in the 2010 Cube and Neptune bathroom ranges. Sleek and modular in design, Envy provides an elegant way to keep toiletries and towels organised and in their place.�

A fully fitted Dolphin bathroom starts from £6,000, including full design, technical survey, delivery and complete installation. So if you would like to on average half this cost then contact Bathroom Fitters UK on 07977 405965 or email by clicking here

Bathrooms Fitters UK always likes to keep one step ahead – not just with service – but also by being the first with the latest idea\'s.

Leading builder's merchant Travis Perkins has announced Bristan as its Supplier of the Year for New Product and Range Innovation at its recent biennial Supplier Conference.

Bristan was the only bathroom company to receive an award held at Cheltenham Race Course on Oct 5 2006. The biennial event recognises excellent service amongst the merchant's suppliers. Bristan picked up the prestigious accolade – one of just four awards given.

Creda Showers has just launched twelve new electric shower SKUs with B&Q, Europe’s leading home improvement and garden centre retailer. 

The Creda Advantage
The latest electric shower from Creda comes with six pipe and six cable entry points allowing for a highly flexible installation. Ideal for shower replacement and upgrades, the Creda Advantage has been developed with the very latest instantaneous shower styling, mixing traditional and contemporary functionality. 

Designed to stabilise temperature changes caused by water pressure fluctuations, it comes with the convenience of a push button start/stop and power selection facility. Phased shutdown is a key feature, and ensures residual hot water is flushed out reducing scale and ensuring cool-start use.

The Creda Slimline Chrome

This shower has a contemporary chrome, ultra slimline profile, generating more space in a shower cubicle. It is fully temperature stabilised and has the added convenience of an easy to use push button on/off and power selection facility. The phased shutdown feature ensures that temperatures are managed to deliver a cool and safe start-up for the next user.

The Creda Expressions Chrome and Expressions Silver

Easy to use push button for start / stop, with separate rotary controls for temperature and power selection. These features allow the power and flow rate settings to remain set ready for your next shower, eliminating the need for constant adjustment. Available in chrome or silver for the ultimate in contemporary finishes.

These showers are available through B&Q online, in 8.5kW, 9.5kW and 10.5kW outputs.

These diverse ranges of showers are available in one place, making it easy to buy the right shower for you. Simply go to B&Q and find the ultimate in showering experience from Creda Showers.

Waking up to a warm bathroom on a chilly morning is one of life’s little luxuries. But having a standard radiator sat unloved in the corner is no longer an option as the latest designs come in all sorts of innovative shapes and sizes.

All prices approximate - check with your retailer

Bathrooms need to be cosy. It doesn’t matter what sort of scheme you choose – totally traditional or contemporary bathroom chic - it’s the one room that should be warm and toasty when you need it. Today’s bathroom heating designs offer something for every taste, from chunky industrial pipes to undulating wave formations, and with multifunctional pieces that double as towel warmers, mirrors or shelving units, you’ll also be getting more for your money while saving space in this smallest of rooms. Recent trends show that we’re not afraid to splash out on a designer radiator or towel rail so long as it looks the part and plays a key role in the bathroom.

Radiator Styles

Manufacturers are constantly launching a variety of shapes and sizes such as wall-mounted heated shelving cubes and angular boxed designs. The latest trends also include curved profiles, connecting rails, coiled springs and ladder styles. A new radiator can in fact become a work of art for your bathroom wall. If you are also considering installing underfloor heating, it’s still worth having a radiator on the wall to dry towels and keep robes warm.

Radiator Materials

Stainless steel is one of the most popular materials with brushed and satin finishes softening the industrial effect. Glass is gradually taking off with heated glass panels that look stunning on decorative tiles. Composite stone and resin offer a more versatile solution as they can be produced in virtually any shape and colour.

Classic Radiators
If you love the old school cast iron column radiator, there are plenty of products out there from the likes of MHS Radiators and The 21st Century Radiator Company. However, for something with a slice of history check out your nearest architectural salvage yard for some hidden gems.

Heating Options

Some radiators will be heated by the central heating system while others will be operated electrically. Think about the costs involved before you purchase and ask your supplier for advice. The benefit of an electric model is that it will heat up quickly as soon as you plug it in while a central heating version will take longer. Dual fuel models run on electricity when the central heating is turned off and are ideal for chilly summer evenings when you don’t need to heat the whole house.

Novellini UK Limited is launching a new range of grand luxury bathing pieces in 16mm Crystal Clear glass.

The Elysium Collection, comprises a freestanding glass Bath measuring 200x78cms and 66cms deep (Empty weight 179kg) along with an elegant glass and chrome Chaise Longue (164 x 58cms). A marble and crystal basin with mirror combination complements along with freestanding glass and shelf units.

A Chromotherapy Lamp incorporates an Aromatherapy dispenser for ultimate relaxation. An array of multi-function showering cabins and shower columns, a choice of crystal glass enclosures, low-level shower trays and panels along with Hydrotherapy bathtubs are also available.

The Elysium collection enclosure range is supplied in white silver or New Chrome ™ profiles. All glass in the Elysium collection is tempered and treated with ‘Crystal Clear’ which leaves the glass easy to clean and resistant to bacteria growth and lime scale deposits. All paints are water based and as such non toxic.

All products Prices: Bath from £7,000. Chaise Longue from £2000. Coral Enclosure from £540. Freestanding floor unit from £700. Marble and Crystal basin with mirror, lights and two manual mixers from £6000.

Steve arrived at 8am, fitted a cling film type floor covering on all carpets. (no dust sheets!!) which was great and stayed down to protect the carpets during the whole works.

Techvision have released their new framed series into the bathroom retail market. Building on their popular 'Infiniti waterproof TV' Techvision have added a range of frames to give a classic look to their Bathroom LCD TV.

Following a question and answer session with several interior designers, Techvision began work on a framed series in July 2009.

As Marketing Manager Debbie Pullen explains " We set out to create a TV that would be hidden within the room. By adding a picture frame to our 17" LCD Bathroom TV we have created a TV that essentially looks like a framed mirror."

The framed mirror series is available in Antique Gold, Antique Silver and Brushed Silver.

For wetrooms in particular, it is vital that proper waterproofing is carried out, because tiled surfaces cannot be guaranteed waterproof without special, additional protection.

Wetrooms are becoming increasingly popular, not only in commercial applications�such as hotels, health clubs and leisure centres, but also in domestic situations.

More and more people are installing wetrooms in their homes, because they are stylish, contemporary, easier to clean, and as a second bathroom can increase the property's value.

But, like all tiled installations, essential protection is needed.

Impervious grout and water resistant adhesive do not necessarily stop water seeping through into the fabric of a building, especially where modern, high performance power showers throw out a lot of water at high force.

To ensure a waterproof surface the british standards�recommends the use of impervious membranes, such as Schluter-DITRA, Homelux, and tilesafe.

This forms part of a complete wetroom solution.

Schluter-DITRA and Schluter-KERDI waterproofing membranes are integrated into the tile assembly. Tilesafe is a high quality bitumen membrane which creates a fully waterproofed solution.�

The perimeters and any membrane joints are then sealed using the waterproof sealing band Schluter-KERDI-KEBA, which must be adhered with Schluter-KERDI-COLL to complete the wetroom's waterproofing system from a single source.

In addition, the Schluter-KERDI-DRAIN floor drainage system�offers everything required for draining water.

Trying to achieve a waterproof seal between the drain in tiled floors and the waterproofing�in shower installations has traditionally caused problems.

As part of its continuing research programme, Schluter-Systems brought technology right up to date with the development of a floor drain system specially designed to overcome this long standing weak point in the construction of surface assemblies in tiled floors.

Schluter-KERDI-DRAIN upper assemblies incorporate an integrated bonding flange on the top surface, which provides a secure bond between the drain and the Schluter-DITRA waterproofing membrane.

The drain housings come with or without odour traps, and the system can connect to both horizontal and vertical pipework.

It provides a guaranteed waterproof connection on ceramic tile, natural stone, and other surface coatings.

The system works just as well on timber, as with any other type of substrate and screed.

Because it is a modular system, it can be configured for every requirement, providing a sealed waterproof drain for all sorts of commercial and domestic wet areas. Dependent on the application Bathroom fitters uk will advise you of the best available wet room products on the market today.

BATHROOM TREND PREDICTIONS FOR 2010

BRITAIN is a nation of bickerers, 51% of men and 45% of women find their partner more stressful than work and the average Brit couple argues five times a day.

Survey findings released today* reveal that Brits are really getting on each others nerves, and the problem is in the bathroom with over 70% of Brits complaining that their partner has bad bathroom habits.

The study conducted by BlanX Whitening Toothpaste reveals that recession stressed Brits are arguing over their little bad habits more than the bigger things such as money and family.

It is not just men who are causing their partner strife, the survey reveals that women also have annoying little habits that are driving their men wild and making domestic living more stressful than work - in fact, more men (6% more) complained that their partner was worse than work.

30% of men complained about their partner using their toothbrush, over half complained that their partner leaves their wet towels on the floor and a whopping 80% of the men surveyed complained that their partner uses their razor to shave their legs.

For Women it is the usual suspect of leaving the toilet seat up with 76% of women stating this as an annoying habit, 2 in 3 women complained that their partner uses up the juice or milk out of the fridge and then puts the empty carton back and seven out of ten women complained that their partner left the top off their toothpaste.

Charlotte Smith from BlanX comments: "We all know that men and women have their differences but it was shocking to discover that British couples find their relationships more stressful than work.

"Coming home from a long day at work and then finding little things that your partner does to irritate you is fairly annoying but the results of our survey show that is a bigger problem than we thought."

The bathroom is the most common battle-ground for men and women with over half of all complaints emanating from the smallest room in the house!

his range is said to hark back to the spirit of the 1960s, with round-edged furniture in maple, dark cherry, oak and dark oak.

The Retro range is said to hark back to the spirit of the 1960s, with round-edged furniture in maple, dark cherry, oak and dark oak.

The furniture, which is claimed to offer good storage and access options, includes short-projection under-basin units and tall, wall-mounted cupboards with reversible door mounting.

Retro's mirrored cabinets have a choice of left- and right-offset light panels.

A selection of washbasins in asymmetric configurations allows for the brassware to be mounted on either side, while a double washbasin with a Matrix mixer is also an option.

The WC pans come in back-to-wall, wall-mounted or close-coupled options with matching bidets.

Nanotechnology may yet rescue us from the drudgery of the weekly ritual of blitzing the bathroom.

Scientists in Australia have developed an environmentally friendly coating containing special nanoparticles that could do the job of cleaning and disinfecting for us.

"If you have self-cleaning materials, you can do the job properly without having to use disinfectants and other chemicals," says researcher Rose Amal at the Particles and Catalysts Research Group, University of New South Wales, where the coating is being developed.

Previously self-cleaning materials were limited to outdoor applications because ultraviolet light was required to activate the molecules in the coatings.

Less time cleaning the bathroom is rather appealing Mary Taylor, Friends of the Earth

Light activated

This gives the particles an oxidizing ability stronger than chlorine bleach. The excited particles can break down organic compounds and kill bacteria.

The new coating contains modified particles of titanium dioxide, which are doped with other cations like iron or vanadium and anions like oxygen, nitrogen or carbon.

This coating can absorb light at the higher wavelengths in visible light, such as the bathroom light.

Lab experiments revealed the surface of coated glass could kill the bacteria E. coli(Escherichia coli) and degrade volatile organic compounds in visible light.