EKBB - Article - Shower Power

Splash out on an invigorating new shower packed with high-tech features and sleek, streamlined looks

Published: 17th May 2016

There’s so much to consider when buying a new shower. Will it be a big freestanding enclosure or neat over-bath model; high-tech controls or classic levers; a wet room set-up or conventional shower tray; a traditional shower rose or barely there, flush-fitted panel set into the ceiling? Before you decide on anything, the first step is to find out what sort of hot water system you have at home as this will determine your choice of shower. Gravity-fed water systems are common in the UK (especially in older properties) and have a cold tank in the loft and hot water cylinder in the airing cupboard – the greater the drop from the bottom of the tank to the shower head, the better the shower’s performance. If the drop is less than one metre, you can add a pump to boost the water pressure or choose a power shower with a built-in pump. Most other water systems are combi-boilers which heat your water as you use it; they offer a good water pressure and work well with mixer showers. Then, decide on your type of shower. Mixer showers take water from the hot and cold water supplies and blend to your ideal temperature (upgrade to a thermostatic model so the selected temperature doesn’t fluctuate even if a tap is turned on elsewhere in the house). Digital showers are luxe, high-tech designs which use a digital valve or processor to control temperature and flow, while electric showers are economical and easy to install as they simply connect to the cold mains water, heating up just the amount used each time (the greater the kilowatt rating the more powerful the flow of water).

‘Think about what sort of showering experience you’d like and who will be using the shower,’ says Joanne Savage design director at Aqualisa. ‘Do you want a fixed, drencher head for a spa experience or an adjustable shower for a quick splash before work and no wet hair? If you want both to suit every member of the household a divert system with a head and hand shower might be the answer, or even a shower and bath fill combined system.’ Wet rooms are still popular but if short on space you could also consider a wet room-style set-up with a slim, flush tray that is colour-matched to your floor for a seamless vibe – but with the added reassurance of a tray. Frameless glass shower panels are slick and timeless and look the part with wafer-thin shower heads. Finishes are big this year, be it rosy gold or retro pastel controls, a grey tinted glass enclosure or a black metal framework. ‘It’s a really nice way to mix up the colours and finishes in your bathroom and follows the trend for embracing new levels of individuality,’ explains Dan Cook, designer at C.P. Hart. ‘This year, one should remember that not everything has to be chrome – and dare I say it, not everything has to be the same finish!’ 

Shown from top to bottom and left to right:

Rainmaker Select overhead shower, £1,540, Hansgrohe

Nuvola glass shower enclosure, £2,144, Rexa Design. For similar shower designs try Hansgrohe

Elements thermostatic shower valve, £539; Head, £289; Shower arm, £99, all Vado

Art Triple concealed thermostatic shower valve, £310 with Square head, £438, both Hudson Reed

Article by: Lara Sargent