How to organise interior designers and bathroom suites

Years ago, most people were happy to have any watertight roof over their heads and it was mainly the rich or newly emerging middle class who indulged themselves by having homes that reflected their status. For these often newly wealthy people, it was important to follow the fashion in homes to distinguish themselves from ordinary folk and prove that they had truly arrived in society. Even the landscape outside their homes did not escape the artful hands of a designer, with people like Capability Brown literally reshaping the British countryside to meet the endless wishes of clients. However, the interiors of homes remained the main focus of the designers of yesteryear, though they were not called that at the time. Improved travel and overseas colonisation brought with them many new artefacts and ideas from around the world that had to be blended into the established scheme of things. After all, who needed fancy teapots until a consistent supply of tea from China and India became readily available? And abroad is exactly where the original idea for having warm baths in the home came from.

The Roman invaders brought to chilly Britain more than straight roads and olive oil: they also brought with them the first properly designed bathrooms complete with fancy hand made mosaic tiled floors and walls that would grace any modern home. One of the best preserved examples can be seen in Bath although this was sited on a natural hot spring used by ancient Britons. So, bathroom suites have been with us now for over 2,000 years and essentially still consist of a bath, sink and toilet. The success of this formula in the bathroom is that it caters for our most basic needs but there have been a number of improvements that have taken the original Roman concept forward. For a start, most people today can afford these basic facilities whereas the Roman household almost certainly required slaves to heat the water. Tiles too are now mass produced and are equally affordable plus the sewerage system is more effective.

One thing remains the same though: we have to decide on the look of our bathrooms and today’s choices are bewildering in their complexity. Suites can come in a wide range of colours, though white is now generally preferred after decades of avocado or pink! But when it comes to, say, floor or wall tiling, then you have literally thousands of options. Even ironmongery such as taps comes in a wide range of styles and prices, while showers can give users a problem deciding on temperature and type of flow from champagne to virtual waterfall. If you simply don’t have the time or inclination to research the marketplace and plan your bathroom, then various design companies will do all the hard work on your behalf. They can be found online as well as in dedicated bathroom showrooms and can save you money by avoiding poor choices as well as coming up with a bathroom to spend quality time in.