STYLISH SHOWERS

Creating an indulgent spa experience at home

1

STEP UP

Level-entry showers may be popular but there are advantages to traditional stepped entry, as seen in this elegant space by Banner Day Interiors. For one, it allows you to raise the shower tray enough to solve the common issue of insufficient space between floor joists for drainage. Stepped entry also makes it far easier to contain water and keep the rest of the bathroom dry.

Design by Banner Day Interiors. For similar tiles try (wall) Hoxton Bottle Green Gloss Porcelain, £46.67sq m; (floor) Carrara Honed Hexagon Marble Mosaic, £199.17sq m, all Mandarin Stone

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WONDER WALLPAPER

Looking for an alternative to mildewprone grout lines? ‘Wall&decò’s waterproof wallpaper can be installed directly inside the shower, providing a seamless surface that’s low maintenance, easy to clean and perfect for making a bold statement,’ says Kirsten Wain, designer at West One Bathrooms. ‘The wallpaper can also be applied over existing tiles, making it great for a quick update with minimal mess or disruption.’ Wall&decò Vivido waterproof wallpaper, £171.60sq m, West One Bathrooms →

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PATTERN HIT

‘Tiles with beautiful Arabesqueinspired motifs have a timeless appeal and so are ideal for both contemporary and traditional shower rooms,’ says Colin Roby-welford, creative director of Fired Earth. ‘They’re perfect for those who love mixing texture, pattern and materials.’ An open-plan shower area – thoroughly tanked of course – allows pretty tiles to be enjoyed without obstruction. The Bolonia encaustic tiles in Navy, £175sq m, Bert & May at Fired Earth. Empire Grande exposed

shower, from £3,750, Fired Earth

“TILES WITH GEOMETRIC LINES IN PRETTY BLUES OR VINTAGE PINKS OFFER

A FRESH, EYE-CATCHING BACKDROP’”

COLIN ROBY-WELFORD,

creative director, Fired Earth

4

DECENT DELUGE

Body jets are the first step to a truly indulgent all-over showering experience, and the Spine shower by Catchpole & Rye has got you covered – from head to toe. The second step happens behind the scenes with a water system that can deliver the higher volume and flow rates required to achieve decent pressure to all jets. Get professional plumbing advice before you buy to avoid disappointment.

The Spine shower system in nickel, from £7,200, Catchpole & Rye

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DOUBLE UP

Reduce queues for the bathroom during the morning rush with a double set-up that’s sociable and spacious. Double showers require sufficient drainage capacity to ensure higher volumes of water are carried away swiftly. ‘It’s best to base your calculations on all shower heads, hand showers and water bars used together in order to avoid potential flooding,’ says Tim Bowder-ridger, lead designer at Conran and Partners. Dornbracht’s Lulu shower systems, £4,068 each, C.P. Hart. Design by Conran and Partners →

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FIND YOUR NICHE

A recessed alcove provides sleek storage that won’t intrude on your showering space. ‘Here, we used the same 2cm-thick Carrara marble within the niche to provide a modern, architectural look, and the illusion that the shelf is carved into a solid slab of stone,’ explains Irene Gunter, director of Gunter & Co. ‘Alternatively, you could use contrasting colours or textures to create a dynamic statement shelf.’ A similar shower room by Gunter & Co would start from £20,000

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CLOAK IN DARKNESS

Dark surfaces have a cocooning effect that can help quieten the mind and restore harmony. ‘I love the use of darker marble surfaces inlaid with brass, which gives a modern, luxurious feel and styles well with brass accents,’ explains Fameed Khalique, managing director of luxury surface specialist Fameed Khalique. ‘For me it’s all about creating a beautiful spa-like space in which to retreat and relax.’ Chain Inlaid Siyah marble,

£792sq m, Fameed Khalique &