CrossTeam Properties Offers Advice on Home and Garden Improvements

If you decide to have a separate shower in your bathroom, you will need to consider what kind of shower tray you need. Size is important, because you have to consider the limitations of the room. Even if you are stripping everything back, you still have the restriction of the actual room size to consider.

Bearing this in mind, you have to decide on the largest tray the room can practically accommodate. A basic square shower tray is the simplest you can buy, so you need to think about where in the bathroom you want the shower to be. Mark out the size of the shower tray using lengths of tape or string so that you have a good idea of how the unit would actually fit into the room. If you think you can fit a bigger shower tray into your bathroom, repeat the exercise until you find the ideal fit. Be sure to lay out the exact dimensions, but don’t forget that you must take account the other items that will be in the room, such as sink, bath and toilet. Make sure you have sufficient space for all of them without the room being overcrowded.

It might appear that you can accommodate a large shower tray, but it may not always work in practice. If you would still like a bigger unit, remember that some shower trays have a corner that is cut off and this can make quite a difference. Consider all the options before choosing the right shower tray for your needs.

If you bathroom space isn’t as functional as you’d like, take a look at today’s bathroom furniture. Adding or changing even a small item in your bathroom can make a huge difference to the usability of the space. Adding finishing touches like designer bathroom accessories, a new bathroom mirror or even some artwork can totally change the space, as well as your outlook while using it.

Bathroom furniture should be functional, of course, but today’s designs are also sleek and beautiful. Your space will undergo an instant transformation with the addition of a new bathroom cabinet or even several bathroom cabinets. Mirrored cabinets reflect light and many of the newest models have pull-out shelving, allowing you to easily reach items at the back, rather than groping for what you hope is the spare tube of toothpaste.

Bathroom mirrors can also function as furniture. They open or slide to one side to reveal shelving and can even have lights around the edge to help you see. With bathroom space typically limited, every item needs to have purpose, so look for furniture that can do double duty.

Storage units are available that can hold items such as towels, medicines and cleaning supplies at the ready, yet out of sight. Add a stylish piece of hardware for an additional design element or paint the storage unit a contrasting or complementary colour to your bath. 

Take a look at the space you have and you are likely to see that a new or replacement piece of bathroom furniture will make the room a much more functional and enjoyable place to be.

Shower trays are simply the floor of the shower, also sometimes referred to as shower bases, shower pans and shower receptors. Shower trays come in two standard varieties, those of hand tiled and prefabricated. The prefabricated kind is by far the most common and popular, available in pretty much every country in the world.

Their popularity is understandable given that they are made from hard acrylic polymer, a very durable polymer which is also very practical for use in both home and work situations. As this acrylic polymer can also be moulded into almost any shape, it is therefore ideal and can come in either a smooth or a textured surface and in almost any choice of colour scheme. Individual choice will of course depend on the consumer’s taste and bathroom design.

Because these prefabricated shower trays are also incredibly simple to install, coming with drain holes that can be positioned to suit the bathroom configuration of anyone who installs it,  they are far more popular than the other variety, hand tiled shower trays.

Hand tiled shower trays are, as the name suggests, shower trays which are tiled by hand, with grout or mortar lined with tile. Tiles come in stone, marble, cultured marble (which gives the look of real marble but is far cheaper and is also stain resistant) and various other materials, and there is a virtually endless list of design choices, with the relatively inexpensive cost another feature which makes it very appealing to many consumers. Bathroom suppliers such as UK Bathrooms can help you design your bathroom and help you choose the right shape and style of shower tray.

Corner baths are an extremely popular item for those remodelling their existing bathroom. Recently the demand for corner baths has risen due to the fact a corner bath is often more practical and stylish in appearance than a standard bath.

Not only does the corner bath look good, it is also perfect for those with smaller bathrooms who do not wish to resort to losing their bath altogether by replacing it with a shower cubicle. A shower can be fitted over a corner bath, just as it can with a standard style bath, so there is no loss of versatility when choosing a corner bath over any other kind.

Bathroom cabinets can be fitted over a corner bath as an added feature. This means that there is no need to get out of the bath to access personal care items.

Bathroom accessories such as a shower curtain can also be fitted around the bath on a curved rail; this gives added privacy and also stops any splashing if an overhead shower is to be used.

Some very modern corner baths have Jacuzzi style outlets fitted which brings a unique feature into the bathroom area. Bathroom tiles can be placed around the side panel of the corner bath to give a ‘fitted’ appearance to the bath, alternatively, for the more adventurous, the corner bath can be sunk all or part way into the floor making it a very attractive piece of bathroom furniture that will impress your friends.

High quality designer bathroom suites are the height of luxury for any home.  The top quality suites are usually found in specialist stores, not the high street DIY stores that standard bathroom suites can be found in.

Designer bathroom suites come in many different styles. Modern designer suites offer luxury shower enclosures that double up as steam rooms, large baths, and his and her sink units with basins made from specialist glass or marble. Taps complete the look and these also come in a wide variety of styles. Individual taps or mixer taps give a simple look, but taps that look like waterfalls when turned on are amazing on large baths.

Vintage style designer suites can come with freestanding roll top baths and large shower enclosures with round outsized showerheads. Toilets with high cisterns and long chain flushes are very popular and look stunning in bathrooms that have tall ceilings. Sink basins are usually freestanding in a classic design. Large bowls look perfect in the designer bathroom, and floor to ceiling bathroom tiles help to keep the style.

A bathroom with designer radiators adds a touch of class. The designer radiator can suit all tastes, some look like a piece of wall art and are perfect for the modern home, while vintage style designer bathrooms would benefit from a designer radiator in a more classic design. The old style ‘hospital’ radiator design comes in several sizes and is the perfect complement to any vintage designer bathroom. Salvage yards are a perfect place to find genuine vintage bathroom accessories.

When it comes to a decision; the choice of bathroom tiles would appear to be endless, they are available in every colour under the sun, in every style, size and finish.  There are different types for floors and walls, are hardwearing and easy to clean, making them the ideal covering in most bathrooms.  

Your choice of bathroom tiles can really help you to give your bathroom the look that you want.  If you want to keep the look plain and simple, then you choose a plain and simple tile.  Tiles are also an ideal way to add a touch of colour to a bathroom, as many people prefer a plain white bathroom suite. 

They can also be as cheap as you like, with the most basic style of bathroom tile available for just a few pence each.  At the other end of the range there are several designer ranges which have bathroom tiles, such as Laura Ashley and Hemingway Design.  And luckily, it is not usually necessary to traipse around every tile retailer in order to get a good idea of what is on offer. 

Most will stock a good range of both designer and basic range tiles that will suit all buyers, and if you do find that there is not enough choice for you, an online retailer may be a better option.  They will have a much wider choice than you will find in any one retail shop, although the downside is that you do not get to see or feel the tiles personally and you also have to wait a few days for delivery. 

When remodelling a bathroom, selecting a shower screen probably doesn’t seem as important as choosing the shower itself or the tile for the floor. The right shower screen will fit nicely into your new bathroom, but the wrong one will stick out like a sore thumb. There are a few different types of shower screens available. Here are three questions to ask yourself before starting your search:

Do you want a single shower screen or a double? Not only do shower screens open up the design of a bathroom, they also keep water from the shower inside the shower. What width you choose simply depends on how much coverage you want from your shower screen. And also how much you want to spend; the wider the shower screen, the more it will cost.

Do you want a fixed shower screen or a hinged one? Opting for a hinged shower screen allows you more room to exit the shower. When answering this question, think about the size of those who will use the shower.

What shape of shower screen do you want? You can choose from straight edges, curved edges and the more elegant, sail style. Pick out your shower screen after you decide on your fixtures, and then select the style that complements their shape.

Many shower screens also come with optional shower accessories, such as towel rails. A towel rail right outside the shower can’t be beat.

To find a shower screen for your bathroom remodel project, simply search for “shower screen” or “shower screens” online.

One accessory that no bathroom is complete without is a mirror, but there is nothing worse than taking a bath or shower, then having to wipe steam off the mirror before you can use it.  Mirrors are therefore an essential part of the bathroom furniture selection process, so why not treat yourself to one of the new fogless mirrors?  These are designed not to fog up, and often incorporate lights and other features such as clocks.  Some of these mirrors can be permanently fixed to the wall, but there are those that attach with the use of suction pads, so that they can be moved as often as you like. 

Many people have invested in shower radios, but now there are shower speakers that can be connected to a portable device such as an iPod, so you don’t have to stop listening to your favourite tunes in order to take a shower. It is the ultimate shower accessory for those who love to sing in the bathroom.

It is also important to remember that there may be those who lack mobility, requiring help in the bathroom.  With this in mind, there are now a wide range of additional safety items which can be purchased.  Safety handles are a must, to help maintain balance when climbing in or out of the bath or shower.  Folding shower seats can be fitted to the wall, or stand-alone stools can be used for those who find it difficult to stand for any length of time. 

It is important to consider the needs of every member of the family when deciding on the right accessories for the bathroom.

When choosing the right bathroom suite for your home, there are many things that you will need to take into consideration.  For example, you may have your heart set on a Victorian roll-top style bath, but this is no good if you have a very small bathroom, and you may need to opt for a shower cubicle instead.

When you first go shopping for your bathroom suite, make sure you are prepared, having already taken the measurements of your room.  When you are shopping, the relevant sizes of suites will be displayed with the items, so you can easily tell if they will fit in your room. 

There are a range of styles on offer too; including ultra modern styles with sleek lines like Villeroy & Boch bathrooms, to vintage and Victorian style suites.  A good idea when you are shopping for a suite is to check if there are bathroom tiles that will work nicely with the design you are looking at.  It is also a good idea to think carefully about style if you are having a shower cubicle installed at the same time, as these tend not to fit easily into a vintage style bathroom. 

There are a number of specialist bathroom outlets which will sell shorter baths or corner baths for those who have a small bathroom and it may be worth getting a designer in to help you, if you find that you are having difficulty finding the right bathroom accessories, or getting the right look for your room.

The shower tray plays a very important role in the bathing experience, but it is probably never given a second glance, when entering or leaving the shower cubicle. The shower tray comes in various shapes and many different sizes so there is something to suit every size bathroom. Shower trays also come in different heights, some are even height adjustable making them ideal for any space.

Low profile shower trays have an average height of 40mm, making them ideal for creating a wet room type look in the bathroom. These are perfect for the less mobile as there is no ‘step’. With careful fitting they can also be made to be completely flush to the floor which makes access even easier.

Adjustable height shower trays have an average maximum height of 220mm. These are ideal for those who wish to make a statement about their shower cubicle area. They can be installed easily and the adjustable legs are suitable for safe installation on a slightly uneven floor.

Most shower trays are white but there are other colours available to suit any existing bathroom decor. There are various shades of grey available and for the really daring; a red or blue shower tray will really make an impact. It is a good idea to use a slip resistant mat in a shower tray to avoid the risk of slipping. Some shower trays come with an anti slip bottom but can feel a little rough on the feet.