April Showers

APRIL SHOWERS

WHICH SHOWER SHOULD I CHOOSE?

Whether your bathroom is your personal oasis or at the centre of family life, there’s little doubt that your shower will be an important focal point. Choosing a shower that effortlessly meets your needs whilst seamlessly complementing your bathroom design can be a challenge, but when you get it right your bathroom will feel fresh and stylish for years.

We’ve put together a guide on how to choose a shower, the types of shower you should look for, and how to select one that complements your style.

Exposed or recessed showers?

These showers are exactly what they sound like – showers with controls that sit on your wall (exposed) or inside/flush with the wall (recessed).

If you’re styling a smaller bathroom, choosing a recessed (or concealed) shower will help give the feeling of more space. All you’ll see is the control and a plate that neatly conceals the shower, reducing visual clutter. Even if you have a vast oasis at your disposal, these types of showers lend themselves perfectly to minimalist and Scandi-style designs, where clean lines are a must. To make things a little easier, Heritage concealed valves are designed to fit into the smallest wall cavities, requiring only 35mm depth.  It’s still worth checking with your plumber before you purchase one though to ensure that it will be suitable for your wall.

Exposed showers are still a popular option, and in some instances can add something extra to a bathroom design. They’re also easier to install and fix in case something does go wrong, which may prove useful for busy family bathrooms.

Single or dual control showers?

Choosing your controls is a matter of personal preference. A single control shower will operate the flow and the temperature from one dial or lever. A dual control shower will have separate controls for each. Ask yourself where the controls would sit, what would be easiest for you to use, and which options come with the shower you want.

Which shower head: fixed, handset, or both?

When it comes to choosing a shower, the showerhead will be one of your most important considerations. As well as holding aesthetic appeal, the shower head you select should meet your needs and help you transform your bathroom into your personal haven.

Fixed shower heads are permanently secured to the wall or the ceiling. Alternatively, they may be attached with a rigid riser/fixed kit, where a pipe leads from the shower valve and control unit to the fixed head. Types of fixed shower head include rain showerheads, which are perfect for creating a home spa experience.

Handsets, on the other hand, are fixed to a rail and can be moved up or down depending on the height you want; it’s also very easy to control the direction of the water. They are attached to the shower control unit with a flexible pipe and can be removed for ultimate manoeuvrability. These types of showerhead may be ideal for families where everyone has a different preference. To help make sure you find the perfect match, Heritage handsets and rails are sold together as shower kits.

Styling your shower

Of course, choosing a shower that perfectly fits your needs is about more than function. If you’re renovating a bathroom you’ve probably put a great deal of thought into everything from layout to colour schemes, and while a shower may seem like a purely functional addition, the wrong unit can throw your new aesthetic out of line.
Designers are paying increasing attention to shower designs, opening the door to more choices. The growing trend for industrial chic is reflected in beautifully designed exposed outlet showers, while concealed valves will unobtrusively lend themselves to an array of styles.

Shower buying guide

To find your perfect shower, look for the following:

Good temperature control

When buying a shower, make sure the temperature is easy to control so you can find your perfect level. Heritage showers are thermostatic, and set at 42-53 degrees. Even in the event of a cold water supply failure, Heritage showers will maintain a safe temperature.

Make sure your shower is compatible with your system

All homes are different, and some showers may not be suitable for your hot water system. Before choosing a shower, ask your plumber which types of shower will deliver the best results in your bathroom.

Think about size

Larger shower heads won’t necessarily give you a stronger, or better, flow of water. If you have low water pressure a large shower head may result in a disappointingly weak flow. Choose your shower head based on your water pressure and your plumber’s advice to help ensure you get the perfect end result.

Check water efficiency

Heritage has joined the Bathroom Manufacturers Association’s Water Label Scheme to help people save water.  To check how much water our showers use, just click on a product and select Water Label.  If you see a high flow rate with a red background the shower uses more water but provides a drenching experience.  If you see a low flow rate with a green background, the shower has been optimised for water efficiency.  You can reduce water usage on most showers by installing a flow limiter - speak to your plumber to find out more.

For help and advice on shower products and design, come and talk to us at our Cranleigh store. You can also email us direct at craig@cranleighbathroomstudios.co.uk or call us on 01483 272727.

Featured Supplier: ROCA Bathrooms

A Rich History

Roca is a Spanish company that began by making cast iron radiators for domestic heating in its factories near Barcelona. They then expanded their portfolio with the production of boilers. In 1929, they entered the bathroom business by starting a production of baths.

• The company has a vast collection of awards to show for their popularity and quality. This year, Roca received the Best in Show award for the new Horizon basins collection, designed by the architect João Armentano, in the basins category. Last year, they accumulated 5 awards, the most notable being at the 2019 BKU Awards, winning Best Sanitaryware Brand for the second year running.

Innovation

Roca is big on innovation, and one of its premises is the conviction that technological innovation constitutes an essential element for achieving progressive development and permanent improvement in any activity. For this reason, the company uses state-of-the-art technology in every phase of the production process. Their technological innovation aims to give its customers the best possible service, as its R&D&I departments analyse the needs and tastes of society to adapt the company’s products to new market conditions, with the aim of improving people's quality of life.

Their passion for innovation and commitment to environmental protection has led them to the development of solutions for saving water and energy. One of these is the ‘cold start’ tap, which as their website explains: is an innovative tap system that turns on the faucet with cold water. The opening of the lever to the right is blocked, which is why water flows cold from the front opening position. If the lever is turned towards the left, water obtained will be gradually hotter. This way, there are not only water savings, but also in energy, since we prevent the heater from firing up the heater when it’s not necessary.

Looking to the future

Roca as a company always prides itself on its future innovative mindset.

Colour and texture at the service of the senses. Conceived by the Austrian designer Erwin Leo Himmel, the KRHOMA collection has opted for intense colours to imbue the bathroom space with happiness and a free-and-easy air. What is more, its harmonious forms and textured finishes appeal to the most demanding sense of touch.

Beyond design

The interplay of volumes defines one of Roca’s Beyond collection includes the most exclusive vitreous china collections, for those who wish to take a step further in the search for innovation and design.

The Bathroom Of the future

In-Wash® Inspira Vitreous smart toilet.

Its soft curves, minimalistic design and simple geometry make it an attractive product for dynamic professionals and families with children. In-Wash® has been specially conceived to adapt to the individual needs of users, regardless of their lifestyle.

In-Wash® Inspira is the ideal solution for anybody wishing to have access to the latest in personal hygiene without relinquishing the aesthetic, functional and safe commitment of traditional bathrooms, as it may be integrated in any bathroom space regardless of its style, size, features and interior design.

If you are interested in having a Roca product or design in your bathroom, come and talk to us at our Cranleigh store. You can also email us direct at craig@cranleighbathroomstudios.co.uk or call us on 01483 272727.

2021 Could It Be The Year For Adding Colour?

2021 could it be the year for adding colour?

New year, new colour trends!

We all hope 2021 will be a brighter year and what better place to start than with a refresh of colour in your bathroom? 

For those who are looking for inspiration, here are some ideas based on today's colour trends.

Start by choosing your favourite colours which evoke emotions and atmosphere in your bathroom . Consider carefully as, for example, yellow can be a great stimulant for one person, but something completely crazy for others. You may have read about how certain colours are “warm” (like reds, oranges and yellows) and other colours are “cool” (like blues, many purples and a lot of greens). However in practice, any colour that makes you happy can make a space feel more warm, and a dose of colour of almost any kind can make a space feel more welcoming. 

Take a look at your favourite colours in daylight and artificial light. Soft blues and greens can look slightly sad with incandescent light. Sometimes it is useful to correct the colour with fluorescent lighting.

Black walls and white accents create an elegant,  clean looking bathroom.

IGrey and white marble is set to be in the popular bathroom trends of 2021. It is timeless, as traditional and classic interiors easily move to modern design schemes. If you use these shades in the bathroom, you will achieve an environment that will emanate luxury and relaxation.

If grey and neutral aren't your thing then maybe adding colour is.

In terms of colour, there is no particular trend that stands out. However, we can divide the design choices into two styles: the simple and sober ones and the more dramatic ones. The simple trends involve the use of pastel colours, earth colours or neutral and light veins.

There are no rules when it comes to colours in a bathroom, but there are trends. Pink or peach colours look great combined with green tones. Green contrasts with wood tones and is a versatile option.

Saturated tones, metallic accents and glossy woodwork create an enticingly luxurious space for long soaks.

Whether you prefer gleaming tiles and sleek glass or the warm tactility of natural wood, there’s more than one way to create a beautiful bathroom. With deep, rich tones for the ultimate escape and the softest lived-in neutrals for a spa-like space, these enticing bathroom schemes offer something for everyone.

You may have read about how certain colours are “warm” (like reds, oranges and yellows) and other colours are “cool” (like blues, many purples and a lot of greens). However in practice, any colour that makes you happy can make a space feel more warm, and a dose of colour of almost any kind can make a space feel more welcoming. 

Colour is a very personal and individual thing. At Cranleigh bathroom studios we offer a personal service and are here to help you make the best choice for you and your bathroom. This personal service is not something you get from the internet;it needs that professional touch!

To discover more about the range of trends and bathroom ideas to meet your specific requirements, Cranleigh Bathroom Studios are here for you online and in person. Visit our Cranleigh showroom or call us directly on 01483 272727.

How To Spring Clean Your Bathroom In 2020

OK it’s that time of the year - how’s your bathroom looking? is it looking immaculately clean or is it showing signs of winter use with grime and scale around the edges?

How clean is your bathroom? According to recent research, your bathroom may be home to more germs than you think!

• The average plughole contains 120,000 bacteria per square inch.

• Your bathroom floor has about 764 bacteria per square inch.

• A bathroom counter top is home to 452 bacteria per square inch.

• The bathroom sink could be harbouring 2,733 bacteria per square inch.

• The humble light switch may contain up to 217 bacteria per square inch.

But here at Cranleigh Bathroom Studios, we’re here to help, with a guide to keeping that bathroom sparkling for ever more.

Ventilation

Extractor fans are a more well known way of taking care of a bathroom. They provide ventilation to avoid condensation from steam, preventing mould and damp forming which can cause health problems for your family. However, although many people have extractor fans installed, they may not use them if they are noisy and disruptive. EnviroVent Silent 100T is a highly rated extractor fan, quiet and effective, so you can enjoy your new bathroom in peace whilst knowing it’s being taken care of.

Scale

This can be a big problem in a lot of peoples bathrooms and can affect taps and shower valves. An effective way of removing hard water scale is by removing the cartridges and dipping them in a white vinegar and water mix for 20 minutes. Thermostatic shower valves can also be affected, but luckily the same method applies. Clean the wax cartridge with the vinegar and water mix, then re-insert and re-calibrate as per the manufacturer's instructions.

It goes without saying that cleaning your bathroom is very important, but some popular and large name brand cleaning products can actually be quite damaging. Highly acidic products such as bleach and other abrasive cleaners can damage bathroom taps, seat hinges etc. Instead, some of the best rated bathroom cleaning products that we recommend are usually light non-abrasive sprays and creams.

Further Ideas

Some other tips for cleaning and caring for your bathroom include daily dusting or sweeping of the floor. It’s easy for dust and hair particles to build up on a bathroom floor and sweeping it daily keeps the bathroom fresh for longer and makes the big whole-bathroom clean a bit easier.

When cleaning, don't forget any towel racks, shelves, baseboards, doors, blinds and window sills, as it’s easy to do but this will just mean dirt and grime builds up over time. Lastly, install a hair-catcher in your drain. Not only does it save you from doing the gruelling task yourself, but when water doesn’t drain properly, it leaves behind an ugly ring around the shower or bath.

So when you spend the money on your dream bathroom, don’t let small and easily-avoidable things take away the shine of a brand new, fresh bathroom. Small tasks like these and spending that extra few minutes on daily cleaning could help your new bathroom last much longer - and will help to protect your family from bacteria and other germs.