Shower rooms

Wall-to-wall bench seating allows for ample space for friends and family to sit down and be together.

Kitchen chairs, Loaf. Existing farmhouse table top painted in Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball. Wall lights, Tinsmiths

Step 3

The colours

‘I considered the colours I chose very carefully, as I knew it would make a huge difference to the look and feel of the space. It’s amazing how swapping the wooden cabinets for brighter, lighter colours has lifted the room. To create an unfitted effect, I chose soft grey for the units and bluegreen for the island. I knew the pink tiles would work with that, and I love the visual variety. The white walls and worktops are practical and unobtrusive, so there’s no clash with the colourful tiles and painted furniture.

‘The lightshades above the sink were made from recycled egg cartons, and really affordable. They were a strong pink colour, but I toned them down by painting them white for a softer look.’ Step 4

The dÉcor

‘I love mixing different styles. Vintage and contemporary accessories reflect my passions, making the kitchen a vibrant, friendly and interesting space. I’m especially pleased with the pink tiles. They’re timeless but a bit of fun, and I like their not-quite-perfect character and solid, artisan feel. They make me smile every single morning, and they get a lot of compliments. I’ve collected bits and pieces from junk shops and jumble sales since I was a teenager. I’m usually drawn to colour, but I go for all sorts of different looks and don’t worry too much about things matching. Having tall shelves means there’s space for the biggest pots, but also for decorative and functional storage baskets.’ Step 5

the Learnings

‘One of the key things I’ve learnt is to not over-spend on swish appliances. I found a reconditioned range on Ebay, bought a basic but functional dishwasher and our fridge is secondhand. They all work perfectly fine and were a fraction of the cost of buying brand new. Clever design tricks have really made a big difference to our space. Wall-to-wall built-in seating has meant that we can squeeze as many friends as possible around our dining table, which really helps to pull guests towards the kitchen and make it the hub of the home. I’m also so pleased with the false chimney breast which frames the range. This conceals the extractor and adds so much character and personality to the room.’

Keep it light with glazed internal doors

Open up your home and let natural light flow through with Origin’s stylish door systems

Although you probably know how good glazed internal doors look in a home, you may not realise how transformative they can be. Swap out bulky frames and dull living spaces for light-filled rooms that feel more streamlined. Origin’s new OI-30 glazed internal doors make the perfect upgrade.

Exceptional design within reach

Built with premium-grade aluminum, Origin’s OI-30 glazed doors are designed with seamless operation in mind, with no compromise on their flawless finish. Starting from just £1,400, including the frame, glass and installation, you’ll be making a sound investment.

Sleeker than other designs on the market, the Origin OI-30 Internal Door system is completely customisable to better suit a variety of room shapes and household needs. Choose from four configurations: a French door, single door, fixed screen or a combination with a corner post. Then select your preferred door opening direction and more to make the most of the your space.

Whether you have a newly installed cloakroom that needs privacy, or want rooms to feel more connected without going completely open-plan, you can work with your installer to choose from clear, frosted or reeded glass, to find the doors to suit your space.

ENHANCING YOUR HOME’S AESTHETIC

Whatever finish you want – classic or modern – you can amend the glazing bar configurations to match your interior design scheme. You can even have kickplates or solid panels to aid with usability if you need to nudge open the door with your foot when your hands are full. With a number of signature handle colours and materials available also, it’s easy to define even the smaller details of your doors.

MATCHING YOUR LIFESTYLE NEEDS

Designed with practicality and décor in mind, a powder-coating gives a great finish, but also makes these doors more forgiving to light scuffs and scrapes from a bustling home environment.

From energising your interiors, to streamlining the functionality of your space, there are plenty of reasons why it’s worth exploring Origin’s OI-30 glazed internal doors. Visit the website, origin-global.com, for your local installer. Available with an industryleading warranty of up to 20-years, you’ll get peace of mind that you’ll enjoy your doors for years to come.

LET’S TALK… Shower rooms

Refresh your senses and your home with a revitalising shower design that will provide good looks and a fast track to freshness for all the family

Spacious family bathroom, neat en suite or downstairs utility washroom, chances are you have a shower in one or more of these spaces in your home. The power of the shower is evident; they provide us with easy, speedy cleaning. What’s not to love about this refreshing, pick-meup option? Many of us are choosing to ditch the idea of a traditional bathroom with a tub, altogether.

Available in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, finishes and configurations, showers are a truly flexible option that allows you to get creative with your design.

Being able to fit into almost any space, no matter how small, is something a bathtub can’t always do. What’s more, with a multitude of options available for brassware and fixings, they can work within any décor scheme of your choice.

They don’t have to be big budget to look good either. With some careful thought, you can create a shower room that’s practical and wallet friendly, too.

Top tip

You can save money and avoid the faff of tiling by opting for tile-effect vinyl flooring

Opt for a windowpane shower screen to give your room a cool, industrial twist. Crittall-style screens can be bought ready made, or go DIY and apply waterproof black tape to create your own panes. Broden wall light, £40; London mirror, £38, both Dunlem. For a similar shower screen, try the Arezzo grid wetroom screen, from £110.95, Victorian Plumbing Bring in some high-end luxury with gorgeously oversized, ultra glossy onyx-style tiles. The unusual colourway makes a powerful statement, and when used across walls, the large format tile size will help give a feeling of space – perfect in a smaller shower room. Ca’ Pietra California porcelain jade tiles, £128.16 for a pack of two (equalling 1.44m2), Hyperion Tiles

Small space showers

We often have to compromise when it comes to the size of our bathrooms, which means making the most of the space we do have and working out how to enhance it. A walk-in shower for a small bathroom is appealing because you can create an open-feeling, harmonious scheme while still being able to move about easily.

When exploring your shower design, you have three main points to consider: the space available to you, the look you want to achieve and the cost of materials and labour.

Once these are set, consider the style of your doors. This will depend on the amount of room you have. Explore all your options – with hinge, corner opening, sliding and pivot, there’s an option for any shaped room. For the ultimate open-plan space, consider a waterproofed wet room with no doors at all.

Creating a wow backdrop with decorative tiles behind the shower fixings draws the eye to really lift the space. If your budget is slim, only tile a small area with a patterned tile, using a plainer version for the rest. Or you can try a shower panel instead. Minimalist shower screen, £1,075; matt black rainfall shower and matching hand shower, £1,902, Ripples. Ca’ Pietra Lily Pad wall tiles, £27.84 for a box of 10

Sushma Samonini

@house_on_ the_way

When we moved in, the bathroom was very dated. There was a huge corner bath, a whole wall of built-in sink storage, a massive cupboard, tiny shower and no toilet! It just wasn’t functional. I designed the new layout, and the first decision I made was to make the shower space bigger by moving the wall of the cupboard. Reducing the amount of sink storage also allowed us space for a toilet. I wanted to be daring with colour, but wasn’t quite ready. So I chose a monochromatic palette, which I just love, and a reclaimed wood unit that adds just the right amount of warmth. The statement floor was where I got to be bold –and it really paid off.

I found the best way to save money but still get that luxe look was to put in the research and not scrimp on quality. I sourced all items myself and didn’t purchase everything from the same company. I went to different suppliers for the same brand at the lowest cost. We all love this space now. My four-year-old boy prefers a shower to a bath and my sevenmonth-old baby loves a bath, so we take one child each at bathtime and we’re all in there together.

Tile tactics

Tiles come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and they’re often the most decorative part of a bathroom. Clever use of shower tiles can make a small space feel much bigger almost instantly. Vertical tiles, like this, will work to make your ceiling feel higher, whereas horizontal tiles will make your room feel wider. We tend to default to square or rectangular tiles, but there are actually plenty more cool and vibrant shapes to choose from. Scallop-shaped designs, for example, are oh-so-pretty, and they’re guaranteed to give your shower a fabulous statement element.

Metro tiles are a popular, fail-safe choice for a shower space, and for good reason. There are many low-cost options out there, and they’re timeless. You can get creative with the layout – with linear, brickwork or herringbone designs to name just a few. Choose a high shine finish to bounce light around the room, or matt for a modern look.

Top tip

Add personality to your existing plain tiles on a budget by using a stencil to paint on a new pattern

Go for gold with brushed brassware – perfect for a luxe look. The oversized fixed head has hotel elegance and looks stunning set against pink tiles. Practical step-free access for this walk-in shower with low-level tray ensures ease of use for any age. EauZone hinged door with panel, £2,596; low profile Continental 40 shower tray, £302, both Matki

Give a plain tile extra personality with a coloured grout. Gone are the days where white was the only option, dark grey or black will make a strong impact — also look out for blues, pinks and creams. Arena 600 console unit worktop in steelwood, £620; Optix 10 pivot door shower enclosure with side panel, from £2,110, Crosswater Awkward space? No problem. This sliding shower door provides a perfect solution. With its sleek opening and closing action, it’s ideal if you don’t have the necessary room for a traditional hinged door. Oslo matt black premium easy clean sliding shower enclosure, from £499.99, Bathroom Mountain

A GUIDE TO Radiators

An essential part of many home heating systems, radiators can also be a stylish feature. Here’s what you need to know when choosing yours

WORDS SARAH WARWICK Terma Warp S designer towel radiator in Orange, £165, Radiators Online

Top tip

LOW-COST STYLE You can easily change the look of an existing radiator with paint. Clean thoroughly and sand before starting for best results. Use a specialist paint and apply when the radiator’s completely cold. If your room’s painted in a dark and dramatic shade and a white radiator is compromising the cocooning vibe, a simple coat of dark paint can make all the difference.

Top tip

LOCATION CONCERNS Traditionally, radiators were located under windows, and if your home is single glazed, it’s still a good idea. Got double or triple glazing? It definitely doesn’t have to be restricted to this position. Wherever a radiator goes, don’t cover it with curtains or a large piece of furniture – you’ll block the warmth.

Ionic two-column radiator, painted in Light Old Penny, £447, Foundry Cast Iron

The overwhelming majority of UK homes are fitted with radiators as part of their central heating systems, and they are an important feature because they both keep us warm and have an impact on the look of any room. Efficiency should also be front of mind when choosing a design for the home, with fuel prices reaching previously unimaginable highs.

While horizontal white panels are the standard radiator option (and will generally prove the most budgetconscious choice), there are a huge range of alternatives. Overall, designs fall into two camps: traditional Victorian-style column radiators, including classic cast iron; and modern radiators which encompass bathroom towel radiators, flat panel designs, sleek sectional radiators, and designer takes in different shapes, textural finishes and even looking like artwork.

Today’s radiators also offer a variety of sizes and orientations other than the conventional horizontal rectangle, which makes room design easier. ‘Vertical radiators don’t take up as much wall space as the most common horizontal ones, but will still offer the same amount of heat,’ says Jess Steele from Best Heating. Very low floorstanding radiators (think from around 200mm in height) can also be space savers, and you might also consider bench radiators for small spaces since they function as seating and heat source in one. And white is no longer the only colour choice – there’s an enormous range to select from, including subtler neutrals and bold standout shades.

Finally, if you’re planning on investing in an air source heat pump to reduce energy bills and your carbon footprint, you may wonder if you’ll have to invest in new radiators, too. ‘If you swap from a boiler to a new heat source, you won’t necessarily need to change to larger (or smaller) radiators,’ explains Simon Morris, marketing manager, The Radiator Company. ‘It all depends on the flow temperature your new heat source produces. To get an accurate indication, ask a plumber to calculate the flow temperature and any necessary conversion for you.’

Need to know

QWhat size radiator do I need?

ABTUs are British Thermal Units, and a BTU is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by 1ºF. While this might seem abstract, the bottom line is that the right size radiator is crucial for any space so it’s neither under nor overheated. BTU calculators, like the one at theradiatorcompany.co.uk, will allow you to see the BTU (as well as the Watts, which are the metric equivalent) needed to heat a particular size of room and therefore what size radiator(s) you need for it. ‘A BTU calculation assesses the amount of heat needed to keep a room at a comfortable temperature,’ explains Simon Morris, marketing manager at The Radiator Company. ‘Things like double glazing and whether the house is in a terrace or on top of a windy hill will have an impact, as will which room it is in the house you are looking to heat. Bedrooms are usually heated to two degrees lower than a living room, while a bathroom is heated to two degrees higher.’

Tide electric radiator in Pink, from £600, Fischer Frame in Pop Memory 01 designer radiator, from £1,468.43, The Radiator Centre

Top tip

MAXIMISE HEAT Air can become trapped inside radiators and prevent them from heating your rooms properly, wasting the money it costs to run them. Bleeding can release the air, and is a job you can do yourself with a radiator key from a DIY store or online. Scan the QR code on the next page for how-to instructions.

Athens Dove Grey triple column radiator, from £219.99, Bathroom Mountain