The perfect bathroom should be a great place to relax in; that functions efficiently, is a pleasure to use and looks amazing.
Whatever your budget, whatever the size of your bathroom and whatever your taste - there is a bathroom suite somewhere out there that you will love and buying a matching suite is the quickest and easiest way to achieve a traditional or contemporary look.
So, traditional or contemporary?
It all boils down to taste really. If you are lucky enough to be gutting your bathroom and starting from scratch you can choose whatever style bathroom-suite you like, because everything else will be chosen to match. If you are renovating an existing bathroom and won't be replacing all the fixtures and fittings, you may need to consider the style of what is staying put, and select items to compliment them.
So what does traditional mean?
Traditional bathroom suites and fixtures are styled with a range of classical features drawn from popular periods such as the Victorian and Art Deco eras.
Each of these periods has a recognizable style.
Victorian - this style features freestanding baths in curvaceous shapes with rolled tops and claw and ball feet. Double ended and slipper baths are typical of this style as are basins with up-stands (the raised edge behind the taps), decorative brackets and chunky brass taps. The toilets were often ornate with painted bowls and wooden seats and lids and decorative cisterns, with pull chains that were mounted high up on the wall. The overall look is ornate and detailed. Gold and brass fittings and highly decorative or embossed tiles, are typical of this style.
Art Deco - is all about elegance, and glamour combined with functionality. In the 1930's travel was all the rage and this was reflected in the style of the furniture. Art Deco bathroom suites are often very simple and feature angular and geometric shapes. Baths are deep and rectangular and often built in; or if they are freestanding, they sit flat on the floor without feet. Basins are large and angular and sit on pedestals. Toilets are simple and often feature wooden or black seats and lids. Rooms are accessorized with chrome fittings and bevel edged mirrors and tiles are either plain block colours such as turquoise, pale pink, black and white; or very ornate and decorated with a graphic, geometric flower patterns and Egyptian inspired designs and even animal prints.
So what does modern mean?
Defining what modern means isn't that easy to do - but in terms of a bathroom style it probably means any look that is not directly inspired by an earlier era e.g. Victorian.
There are so many lovely modern styles available that anyone wanting this look is absolutely spoilt for choice. Achieving a modern look isn't difficult - and the old adage 'less is more' couldn't be truer. Modern suites are simple, can feature geometric curves or bold lines, graceful shapes or angles - whatever the style the one thing that is common to almost every modern suite is colour. White is the colour to choose.
The other key feature of a modern bathroom is it's lack of clutter - everything has a place. Storage is key to achieving this look and if you lack storage space this needs to be taken into consideration when you pick your suite.
Modern baths can be large or small, round or rectangular, curved or straight sided - but what they do have in common is that they are simple and un-fussy. Freestanding baths are widely available and are often supported by a wooden frame instead of feet, or if they have feet they may be made of polished chrome or wood.
Modern basins come in an array of styles with full pedestals featuring less. Instead basins sit on space-saving semi-pedestals, are wall mounted, positioned under counters or semi-recessed over useful storage cabinets.
Toilets are simple in shape and many are wall hung to create an illusion of space beneath.
Fittings tend to be chrome; tiles are natural and include travertine and mosaics in glass and stone being very popular.
Natural materials and colours are key trends in most modern bathrooms. Also important is good lighting specific to the task.
The pros and cons of a contemporary or traditional bathroom
There really isn't a list of advantages and disadvantages to either style. All modern cheap bathroom suites are designed and made to very high standards so there is no difference in one style over another; it really all boils down to the look you like and whether it is a look that suits your home.
If a modern look bathroom is what you're aiming for, you might do well to consider purchasing a contemporary looking heated towel rail.
The perfect bathroom should be a great place to relax in; that functions efficiently, is a pleasure to use and looks amazing.
Whatever your budget, whatever the size of your bathroom and whatever your taste - there is a bathroom suite somewhere out there that you will love and buying a matching suite is the quickest and easiest way to achieve a traditional or contemporary look.
So, traditional or contemporary?
It all boils down to taste really. If you are lucky enough to be gutting your bathroom and starting from scratch you can choose whatever style bathroom-suite you like, because everything else will be chosen to match. If you are renovating an existing bathroom and won't be replacing all the fixtures and fittings, you may need to consider the style of what is staying put, and select items to compliment them.
So what does traditional mean?
Traditional bathroom suites and fixtures are styled with a range of classical features drawn from popular periods such as the Victorian and Art Deco eras.
Each of these periods has a recognizable style.
Victorian - this style features freestanding baths in curvaceous shapes with rolled tops and claw and ball feet. Double ended and slipper baths are typical of this style as are basins with up-stands (the raised edge behind the taps), decorative brackets and chunky brass taps. The toilets were often ornate with painted bowls and wooden seats and lids and decorative cisterns, with pull chains that were mounted high up on the wall. The overall look is ornate and detailed. Gold and brass fittings and highly decorative or embossed tiles, are typical of this style.
Art Deco - is all about elegance, and glamour combined with functionality. In the 1930's travel was all the rage and this was reflected in the style of the furniture. Art Deco bathroom suites are often very simple and feature angular and geometric shapes. Baths are deep and rectangular and often built in; or if they are freestanding, they sit flat on the floor without feet. Basins are large and angular and sit on pedestals. Toilets are simple and often feature wooden or black seats and lids. Rooms are accessorized with chrome fittings and bevel edged mirrors and tiles are either plain block colours such as turquoise, pale pink, black and white; or very ornate and decorated with a graphic, geometric flower patterns and Egyptian inspired designs and even animal prints.
So what does modern mean?
Defining what modern means isn't that easy to do - but in terms of a bathroom style it probably means any look that is not directly inspired by an earlier era e.g. Victorian.
There are so many lovely modern styles available that anyone wanting this look is absolutely spoilt for choice. Achieving a modern look isn't difficult - and the old adage 'less is more' couldn't be truer. Modern suites are simple, can feature geometric curves or bold lines, graceful shapes or angles - whatever the style the one thing that is common to almost every modern suite is colour. White is the colour to choose.
The other key feature of a modern bathroom is it's lack of clutter - everything has a place. Storage is key to achieving this look and if you lack storage space this needs to be taken into consideration when you pick your suite.
Modern baths can be large or small, round or rectangular, curved or straight sided - but what they do have in common is that they are simple and un-fussy. Freestanding baths are widely available and are often supported by a wooden frame instead of feet, or if they have feet they may be made of polished chrome or wood.
Modern basins come in an array of styles with full pedestals featuring less. Instead basins sit on space-saving semi-pedestals, are wall mounted, positioned under counters or semi-recessed over useful storage cabinets.
Toilets are simple in shape and many are wall hung to create an illusion of space beneath.
Fittings tend to be chrome; tiles are natural and include travertine and mosaics in glass and stone being very popular.
Natural materials and colours are key trends in most modern bathrooms. Also important is good lighting specific to the task.
The pros and cons of a contemporary or traditional bathroom
There really isn't a list of advantages and disadvantages to either style. All modern cheap bathroom suites are designed and made to very high standards so there is no difference in one style over another; it really all boils down to the look you like and whether it is a look that suits your home.
If a modern look bathroom is what you're aiming for, you might do well to consider purchasing a contemporary looking heated towel rail.