Our Latest Bathroom Project In Studland, Dorset

We recently undertook a new bathroom and cloakroom project for customers in Dorset, as part of the renovation of their property. Mr and Mrs L purchased their property in Studland in April 2018, and the new bathroom and cloakroom were part of their on-going renovation of the house. At Room H20, we were thrilled to be asked to not only supply the furniture, fixtures and fittings, but also create the bathroom design. Our sister company, UK Tiles Direct, were also involved in the project, supplying and installing luxury Karndean flooring in the new bathroom and cloakroom.

Bathroom design technology

3D bathroom design for new project in Dorset

Our first task was to visit the property and assess the existing bathroom, in terms of space, and discuss with Mr and Mrs L what they envisaged from the bathroom design. Using our years of experience and the latest technology, we were able to create a detailed design proposal for our customers. Taking into account both style and functionality, we designed a new bathroom that perfectly utilised the space available, for a luxurious and highly practical room.

New bathroom fixtures and fittings

Woodstock Calypso fitted furniture with laminate beige worktop

In the main bathroom, we used Woodstock Calypso fitted furniture in Malvern White Ash, for a contemporary look, with a laminate beige stone worktop giving a chic finish. The large walk-in shower includes a Crosswater anti-slip tray and a showering package from Vado. The sleek fitted bathroom furniture is perfectly complemented by Waxman Dubai Pearl porcelain tiles. Following the same clean, modern look, we installed Roper Rhodes Plan 500 unit and basin in the cloakroom, along with Roper Rhodes Joy tap and Debut pan and the same porcelain tiles as the main bathroom walls.

Karndean luxury vinyl flooring

Bathroom cloakroom with Karndean wood effect vinyl flooring

The new cloakroom benefits from exceptionally stylish and durable wood effect vinyl flooring. The luxury Karndean flooring is an innovative and exceptionally high-quality alternative to ceramic, porcelain, stone or solid wood, making it the perfect choice for bathrooms. Digitally printed to replicate the beautiful effects of real wood, the textured surface offers authenticity with convenience and ease of care.

Walk in shower and fitted furniture in Dorset bathroom

To find out more about our bathroom design and bathroom installation, as well as the tiling services available from UK Tiles Direct, please visit our large showroom in Wareham, Dorset. Here, you’ll also be able to view our extensive selection of bathroom products, from leading brands, and gain inspiration for your own new bathroom design.

Bath Out, Shower In For Disability Bathroom Project

We were recently asked to replace a bath with a shower as part of the redesign of a customer’s bathroom in Bere Regis, Dorset. As an elderly and disabled lady, the client needed a bathroom that would offer ease of use and long-term convenience. By replacing the existing bath with a large shower, the design would work for the client now, and continue to meet her needs in the future.

Future-proofing with a walk-in shower

Replacing baths with large walk-in showers is becoming an increasingly popular choice for many people – not just the elderly or disabled. The convenience and practicality of replacing a bath with a shower gives a long-term solution for people looking to future-proof their homes, enabling them to remain independent as they get older. With the demand for these sorts of bathroom makeovers, manufacturers are now offering a wider range of large shower trays and doors with this type of project in mind. This opens up more opportunities to embrace style alongside functionality.

The disabled bathroom project’s challenges

Underfloor pipes in disability bathroom renovation
We were asked to remove the client’s bath and replace with a shower and tray to accommodate her specific needs. There were a few issues we had to overcome, which became apparent as the project evolved. To start with, we had to re-run radiator pipes under the floor and reconfigure the water supply and drainage pipework. Initially, we were only going to remove the tiles in the area of the bath, however the client then decided to remove all the tiles in the bathroom and replace with white tiles, which gave a nice sleek look. We also found that after plastering and re-tiling, the slider we’d quoted for (Simpsons Elite 1700mm) wouldn’t fit, so we had to find another with a different adjustment.

Bathroom installation considerations

Fiora shower tray in new disability bathroom
As with any bathroom design and installation, there are many things to consider to ensure the end results meet the customer’s requirements. With this particular project, we had to make sure the bathroom met the client’s needs as an elderly and disabled lady and would continue to do so over the coming years. For ease of access, we used a sliding shower door, so it wouldn’t protrude into the room and cause an obstruction and potential hazard. The walk-in shower needed a level-access shower tray and we made sure the drawers on the basin unit were easy to use too. We also had to consider the location of the seat within the shower, as well as the grab bars.

Materials used to replace the bath with a shower

Disability shower seat and grab bars in walk in shower area
We used the Fiora Silex Black slim shower tray, which was made to measure to fit the space. While Fiora do supply a 1700×700 shower tray specifically designed for replacing baths, this standard size wouldn’t fit for this particular bathroom installation. We used the Prestige 1700mm sliding door and a chrome-finished shower column from Vado, along with a Cassellie Bali Ash white unit and shower seat. To complement the black level-access shower tray, white suite and tiles, we finished the bathroom off with Karndean Opus flooring.
Easy access disability shower area with glass sliding door
Room H2o bathroom installer, Steve, sums up the project: “We removed the bath, toilet, flooring and all the tiles. We prepared the walls for plastering and tiling, installed the shower screen and vanity unit and painted the ceiling. In total, it took three weeks to replace the bath with a shower and complete the bathroom installation.”
The outcome is the client now has a highly functional and stylish bathroom that will continue to work for her in the years to come. The total cost of the bathroom installation was £8,000. Any customers who are registered disabled don’t have to pay VAT, which gives significant savings on bespoke disability bathrooms.
To find out more about our bathroom design and installation services, and to view our displays, please visit our large showroom in Wareham, Dorset.

Leaking Shower in Wareham Solved with Made-to-Measure Shower Tray

When Mr Smith approached us recently for help with a leaking shower base in his wetroom, we offered the perfect solution with a stylish and ultra-slim made-to-measure shower tray from Fiora.

Leaking shower solved with new flat shower tray and tiling

Built in the 1930s, the property in Wareham, was originally a bungalow and then the roof was raised around five years ago to make a chalet bungalow. Unfortunately, when the work was undertaken the beams weren’t put at the right height, meaning the wetroom had to be built as best as it could. Fast forward a few years and the shower started to leak through to the hallway.

Original wetroom floor that had been leaking water onto the floor joists belowDamage to floor joists caused by a leaking shower in a wetroom

 

Transforming the leaking shower

The Fiora made to measure shower trays can be custom made in widths of between 600mm and 2000mm, and can be angled and have square cut outs. So, we knew this would be the ideal solution to Mr Smith’s leaking shower tray problem.

Repaired bathroom floor following a leaking showerNew made to measure shower tray for a wetroom by Room H2o

 

Steve Armour of Room H2o took on the project, which took a total of five days to complete. Mr Smith chose the stunning Fiora Silex Extra Flat shower tray in the gorgeous Nature Cerene tone. The extra flat shower tray measures just 30mm thick and has a sleek, square waste grate. To perfectly complement the made to measure shower tray, we installed a fabulous Elite walk-in easy access shower enclosure from Crosswater. This stylish frameless enclosure helped to completely transform the tired, dated wet room, with its leaking shower tray, into a luxurious and highly stylish walk-in shower experience.

New Simpsons Elite walk-in shower enclosure installed in a wetroom by Room H2o

Bespoke shower trays are the perfect solution for awkward spaces

Made-to-measure shower trays are ideal for any wetroom, in particular those in tight spaces or with awkward angles. The beautiful ultra-slim shower trays from Fiora come in a vast array of fabulous colours and effects, including smooth, slate and brick, and the customised options allow you to transform any size bathroom into a place of style and indulgence.

Made to measure shower tray with cut away corner in caramel colour by Room H2o

The Kerakoll range of tile grouts and sealants

Mr Smith chose and supplied us with tiles for the project, so we selected the finest products from the Kerakoll range for installing them. We used the Kerakoll Fugabella Eco tile grout, which is flexible, waterproof and scratch resistant, in Jasmin colour, to complement the tiles. This grout has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, making it ideal for bathrooms and wetrooms, and has a high resistance to dirt. To seal the shower enclosure and made to measure shower tray, we used Kerakoll’s Fugabella AM silicone sealant, which is a solvent-free, anti-mould organic sealant, with high levels of elasticity, also in Jasmin.

Mr Smith was thrilled with not only having the problem of his leaking shower tray solved, but also the transformation of his shower enclosure and the quality of Room H2o’s work. He said on his Google review“Excellent quality work and service. Will use them again if the need arises.”

Can we help with your shower or new bathroom?

To find out more about the Fiora made to measure shower tray collection, and to view our bathroom displays and tile collections from some of the leading brands in luxury bathroom design, visit our extensive showroom in Wareham, Dorset.

We Need a Shower Enclosure Loft Project, Can You Help?

This is the year of the bathroom. No longer seen as simply a place of necessity, interior designers predict 2016 to be the year when bathroom design is given as much consideration as any other room in the home.

Playing a far greater role than just a practical place, bathroom designs are set to encompass the desire for ultimate escapism, relaxation, pampering and indulgence. Think bathroom – think luxury.

Inspired by nature

One of this year’s most prolific themes for all rooms in the home is ‘bringing the outside in’, and we’ll see this heavily influencing bathroom designs, colour schemes, furniture and sanitary ware.

Bespoke coloured Fiora shower tray with natural stone wall and dark rustic wood fooring

Made to measure coloured slim shower tray image courtesy of Fiora

With the effortless ability to incorporate nature’s rough and natural textural elements, wood and stone will both be prominent in helping to create the epitome of a restful space. Wooden and natural stone surfaces in the bathroom will be key, whether as flooring or a console for the washbasin, and will sit alongside sleek stylings and clean lines to create a sense of effortless beauty.

Ambience-creating colours and finishes

Last year saw the emergence of the must-have grey colour palette, and this will continue, with darker shades being particularly on-trend for the bathroom, for a tranquil feel of luxury and relaxation. Richer colour schemes including midnight blue, indigo, dark purple and rouge, as well as matte greens, are also set to feature strongly.

Stunning highly polished copper freestanding bath with Porcel-Thin black marble tiles

Image courtesy of Porcel-Thin features marble effect porcelain tiles

Metallic finishes are still on the rise, albeit the softer and warmer tones of rose gold, alongside brass and copper. Gold will be the way to make THE ultimate bathroom style statement in 2016.

Marble is predicted to be even bigger this year than last. The chicest bathrooms will be adorned with marble and marble-effect floors, walls, shelves and features.

But don’t think you have to go with one theme – mixing materials will be highly fashionable. This year’s most stylish bathrooms will boast marble with metallic and stone with stainless steel.

The personal touch

Product customisation will continue as a massive trend in 2016, as consumers increasingly look for designs with personalised touches to give unprecedented exclusivity. We’ll see a rise in demand for made-to-measure shower screens, with personality reflecting designs and unique hallmarks – from colours to inscriptions and bespoke prints.

A large frameless glass shower enclosure with wetroom floor and tiled shower seat by Room H2o in Dorset

The interior design keyword this year is ‘smacious’ – the transformation of small spaces to make them feel spacious. Designs are moving heavily towards creating luxurious living in even the smallest of areas, and we’ll see ingenious ‘space-saving’ ideas continuing their meteoric rise.

Statement-making solutions

Where space isn’t limited, indulgent and attention-grabbing freestanding baths will remain a popular choice in both traditional and contemporary bathrooms. And vanity basins with storage cabinets underneath will continue to be a sleek, stylish and practical furniture solution.

Porcel-Thin Off White leaf pattern 1200x600mm thin porcelain tiles from the Paris collection

Image courtesy of Porcel-Thin features Paris plain and pattern cream porcelain tiles

Porcelain and ceramic tiles will be prominent in creating a ‘wow’ factor in the bathroom – anything from high gloss mirror-like tiles to bright or boldly coloured or highly patterned designs. And extra-large format porcelain tiles will adorn both walls and floors, as the perfect complement to luxurious bathroom suites.

Shower indulgence

With wetroom areas, large walk-in frameless and semi-frameless enclosures, rainfall showerheads and digital controls, showers are now seen as a luxurious alternative to bathing, and this trend will evolve further in 2016.

Large luxury Impey wetroom with large frameless shower enclosure and stone tiles

Image courtesy of Impey

We’ll see a rise in supersized shower enclosures, enhanced by large-format porcelain tiles, for maximum impact. And the floor-level shower, with its impressive ‘walk-in’ experience, is looking to take this year by storm. Extra-flat shower trays that merge seamlessly with the floor will be the number-one choice for the design conscious, for their sleek style and practicality.

Luxury lighting and technology

Low-voltage LED lighting will be a key design feature in this year’s bathrooms, with numerous exciting possibilities for using strips of LED, from behind a mirror to nestling within an alcove.

Elegant twin wash basins with led under lighting and white Porcel-Thin Paris tiles

Image courtesy of Porcel-Thin features Paris pattern cream porcelain tiles

As technology continues to advance, we’ll see further cutting-edge solutions becoming bathroom must-haves. Showers, baths and taps that can be controlled with phones and tablets, Bluetooth-enabled musical mirrors and self-switching lighting are just some of the finishing touches we’ll see, as people seek to transform bathrooms into the ultimate luxurious sanctuary.

Bossini Twin coloured led shower heads in a large luxury wetroom

Image courtesy of Bossini

Why not let our team of specialist designers help you create the bathroom of your dreams for 2016?

Contact our Dorset bathroom design team on 01929 551963 or email wareham@roomh2o.co.uk

Room H2o Design Bathrooms For Grand Design

Last month regular watchers of the hit TV programme ‘Grand Designs’ saw Isle of Wight couple Bram and Lisa Vis set out on a project to build their dream beach-side home. Featuring the very latest in modern architectural design and materials their luxury build was eventually completed at a cost of £3.2 million.

What viewers may not have realised was that Room H2o, together with our sister company UK Tiles Direct, had played a crucial role in supplying the top of the range bathroom furniture and porcelain tiling used.

The Bunker is a luxury house on the Isle of Wight featured by the Channel 4 series Grand Designs

Image of The Bunker, a luxury house on the Isle of Wight featured by the Channel 4 series Grand Designs

Channel 4 show calls in the bathroom experts for luxury building project

In a building project where the quality and high specification needs of the clients were of paramount importance Room H2o were delighted to have been chosen to design the bathrooms and supply the furniture, shower enclosures, fixtures and fittings. Given the overall feel of contemporary luxury for the whole Grand Designs build project Room H2o’s range of showers, shower trays, doors, vanity units, wash basins, taps and toilets were the perfect choice to match with the theme of modern elegance.

Whilst the completed bathroom suites were only briefly featured in the aired episode this quick look has certainly whet our appetites for a hopefully more extended look in a future edition of the Grand Designs magazine.  However, this was still sufficient to amply demonstrate the breathtaking beauty of Room H2o’s stunning, sophisticated product range.

Room H2o were pleased to have been a part of this incredible 7000 sq ft+ contemporary build project – not least for opportunity it afforded us to showcase the premium quality and elegant designs prevalent across all the bathroom products and brands we stock.

Viewers looking to replicate or incorporate any of the bathroom design elements seen in this episode of Grand Designs can benefit from our digital bathroom design services and browse a selection of our luxury bathroom products and shower enclosures on our website.

Bespoke Washroom Cubicles For The Dog & Badger Marlow

When the owners of the Dog & Badger luxury bar and restaurant in Marlow decided to embark on an extensive refurbishment of the grade II listed building they approached Room H2o to create some bespoke frameless glass washroom cubicles and doors with a colourful twist.

Occupying a beautiful grade II listed building dating back to circa 1390, a visit to the Dog & Badger in the village of Medmenham is an experience in its self.  And that is before before you have sampled the fine wines and cuisine on offer at this luxury bar and restaurant in the heart of the Chilterns.

Luxury washroom at the Dog and Badger in Marlow featuring frosted frameless glass designer urinal partitions by Room H2o

Bespoke frameless glass washroom cubicles

The Dog & Badger reopened on July 29th following and extensive refurbishment in which Room H2o are proud to have been involved.  Looking for a stylish but robust solution for their washroom entrance doors and cubicles the owners of the Dog & Badger contacted Room H2o.  Following a site meeting layouts, colours and materials were agreed and our frameless glass enclosure team set about designing and building new frameless glass entrance doors, toilet cubicles and urinal partitions using laminated glass with coloured inlays.  Head technician James Foster lead the project and managed the installation of the doors and cubicles.

“The Dog & Badger was a really interesting and satisfying project to be involved with, although as is the case with all old buildings it was not without its challenges.  Everybody who was involved in the project is really pleased with the finished doors and cubicles”

From frameless shower cubicles and wetroom panels to glass interior doors and washroom cubicles Room H2o’s bespoke shower enclosure team will design, manufacture and install the perfect solution to your requirements.  Please contact us today to discuss you frameless glass project.

Stunning Bathroom For Disabled Lulworth Resident

We were recently asked to design and install a specialist wetroom and disability bathroom for a customer in Dorset. Having MS, our customer needed a bathroom that not only worked for her now, but one that would continue to meet her needs as they may change over the years.

Disability bathroom with raised height toilet and wetroom show by Room H2o

The original bathroom was stripped out to make way for the new wetroom

Installing the new wetroom shower floor former and tanking

Large designer bathroom sink with vanity unit

Shower valve

The wide opening to the wetroom shower provides easy access for a wheel chair

Virtual design for a disability bathroom in Dorset by Room H2o

Disability bathroom with raised height toilet and wetroom show by Room H2o

The original bathroom was stripped out to make way for the new wetroom

Installing the new wetroom shower floor former and tanking

Large designer bathroom sink with vanity unit

Shower valve

The wide opening to the wetroom shower provides easy access for a wheel chair

Virtual design for a disability bathroom in Dorset by Room H2o

Our customer’s old thatched farmhouse in Lulworth is her second home, and the bathroom consisted of a bath, sink unit, quad shower tray and enclosure. The layout presented many problems and wasn’t at all functional – there wasn’t enough room for her wheelchair and she couldn’t get in the shower. Originally, we were going to replace the shower tray and tile the whole floor with anti-slip mosaics. However, as the project began, challenges emerged that saw us re-work the design to create a wetroom that was not only stylish and practical now but was future proof for our customer’s changing needs.

The project’s challenges

Initially, the original tiles were to stay on, with us removing just the bottom course to tank and then put back on. Unfortunately, we were unable to source the same size or colour tiles, so we tiled all the walls with crisp 60×30 white gloss. We had to strip and plaster all the walls, as the levels were out and needed building up a lot – something that is often found in old properties.

Being an old building, the main issues were associated with the wall and floor levels, which present challenges for the tiling, and also with creating the correct falls for the wet room floor former – nothing that we’ve not dealt with before on many occasions and I enjoy the challenge of working with old buildings.” Room H2o disability bathroom installer, Steve Armour.

We also found we had to change the floorboards in the existing bathroom, as they weren’t the right size for a wetroom.

Disability bathroom design considerations

When designing a disability bathroom, we need to fully ensure it functions exactly how the client needs it to – not just now but in the future.

Using software called ‘Virtual Worlds’ we were able to create a floor plan and a 3D rendering of the wetroom, so the customer could not only visualise the room and the finishes of the design, but also move and look around the area in virtual reality. This meant she could see the bathroom in detail, understand how it would function for her and make any changes she wanted to before the work started. This is an invaluable software tool for users of disability bathrooms.

The products and materials used

Disability bathrooms do not need to sacrifice style for functionality. With stunning Harmonie Galapagos 25mmx25mm mosaics in blue, the wetroom floor was given a splash of colour, alongside essential anti-slip qualities. The sleek walk-in shower panels from Simpsons Design gave a practical and modern edge, and we spent a lot of time carefully sourcing grab handles and fittings that were in keeping with the contemporary finish of the wetroom – many of these items are highly functional but unattractive.

On top of the new floorboards we laid, we used Dukka Board, which is an innovative tile backer board system that turns the floor into a concrete base, allowing us to lay the mosaics. We used the incredibly strong Aqua-Dec wetroom floor former from Impey Showers, and Kerakoll products for the tiling, including BioGel No Limits white tile adhesive and Fugabella 0-5 antibacterial and antifungal waterproof tile grout.

This outcome of this project is the customer now has a stylish and highly functional disability bathroom that fully meets the client’s needs and will continue to do so in the years to come. And, any designs and installations for customers who are registered disabled are free from VAT, offering significant savings on bespoke disability bathrooms.

To find out more about disability bathrooms, or to view our bathroom displays and tile collections from some of the leading brands in luxury bathroom design, visit our extensive showroom in Wareham, Dorset.