Form and function: design the perfect bathroom

No matter what design you are looking to achieve, the steps remain the same.

• First, create a budget and don’t be afraid to discuss this budget. Your designer needs to know what you can afford. You will be really disappointed when you are presented a design you can’t afford.

• Make a list of what features you want. Look online to see what’s new or visit a showroom. Of course, you may not be able to afford all the features you want, so prioritize them.

• Once you know what you want, make a rough pencil sketch of the room and where you'd like to place things. Here’s when a professional can really be of assistance. It's always best to take your sketch to a designer early on for advice, before you set your heart on a particular look. Too often clients allow the current configuration limit their view of what can be achieved. Conversely, the desired changes may be too costly. For example, you may want to move the toilet to expand the shower; however, the soil pipe needs a short straight run and moving it to the desired location would require spending a lot of money to move it.

• Invest in new technology. Radiant flooring and towel warmers are two of the most home owners regret not adding.

• For a spacious look, select semi-recessed basins and wall-hung toilets – look out for 'short- projection' fittings that don't intrude so far into the room.

• Using a run of slim-depth fitted furniture paired with a semi-countertop basin can give a small room a very streamlined look and is incredibly space-efficient.

• If you fancy a wet room but don't have the space, a good alternative is a low-level tray surrounded by a frameless enclosure or panel, creating a walk-through or walk-in shower for a barely there look.

#bathroom #design #modern