Ideas for incorporating both contemporary and vintage designs in a scheme
WORDS PAULA WOODS
Built to last
When buying an acrylic rolltop, invest in a reinforced or double-skin design. This is where two thick layers of acrylic are sandwiched together to ensure extra durability and keep the bathwater warm.
Penny acrylic slipper bath, L1,360xW750xD780mm, £1,986, BC Designs (bcdesigns.co.uk). Moonlight Shadow cement tiles £192 per sqm, Otto Tiles & Designs (ottotiles.co.uk)
Classic centrepiece
A rolltop bath made from a composite, acrylic or solid surface material is a lightweight alternative to cast iron. Team with a pared-back vanity unit so the tub is the focal point.
Cheshire Quarrycast double-ended bath, L1,744xW798xD646mm, £1,779.52, Victoria + Albert (vandabaths.com)
Heavyweight contender
If you want the durability and heat retention of cast iron, ensure the floor can take its weight and that there’s ample room to manoeuvre the tub into place. This design weighs 160kg.
Saracen cast-iron bath, L1,600xW720xD685mm, £8,400, Catchpole & Rye (catchpoleandrye.com)
Find a reputable source
When investing in antique or vintage items, such as this trough basin from a reclamation yard, buy from retailers displaying the Salvo code (salvoweb.com), which ensures they adhere to ethical sourcing practices.
Qualis Rice porcelain tiles in three sizes, £94.80 per sqm, Lapicida (lapicida.com)
Contrasting styles
Set a contemporary bath or vanity unit against a classic backdrop such as tongue-and-groove timber panelling or heritage pattern tiles.
Bathroom by Studio Lunet (studiolunet.com). Viado bath, from £1,885, BC Designs (bcdesigns.co.uk). Senska bath-shower mixer, £750, Cast Iron Bath Company (castironbath.co.uk).
Panelling in Crimson Red, Farrow & Ball (farrow-ball.com). 10200 cement tiles, £103.20 per sqm, Mosaic Factory (mosaicfactory.com)
When more is more
Period schemes often feature several patterns. Try the 60:30:10 rule when designing in this way, so the main pattern takes up 60 per cent of the room, a second 30 per cent and 10 per cent for the accent designs.
Bathroom by Wolfe Interiors (wolfeinteriors.co.uk). Boat bath, £2,060, BC Designs (bcdesigns.co.uk). Hoxton tiles, £50 per sqm, Mandarin Stone (mandarinstone.com). Safari Soirée wallpaper, £150 per roll, Divine Savages (divinesavages.com)
Smart substitution
Low-maintenance sintered stone and quartz surfaces replicate the appearance of vintage marble and granite countertops. Suppliers include Caesarstone (caesarstone.co.uk) and CRL Stone (crlstone.co.uk).
Bathroom project including bespoke quartz countertop vanity unit, mirrored cabinets
