Bath Shower Home Design

Whether you use it in the bath or in the shower, most of us wash using shower gel or bubble bath every day. Particularly in the winter months, nothing could be nicer than settling back in a tub overflowing with soothing soapy suds . But when the average bottle of shower gel costs less than £2, it begs the question: what are you really putting onto your skin? Effervescent bath products have been around for an extremely long time , with the first fizzing bath salts appearing in the early 20th Century . Early bubble bath was made using soap flakes but by the mid-1930s, surfactants had arrived. Surfactants are a chemical compound, mostly made from synthetic materials (although some are derived from palm or coconut oils), which are usually found in industrial detergents, washing power and latterly, bath products. One commonly held misconception about bath and shower gel is that it is little more than a runny type of soap. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Not only are cheap sho...

A beautiful bath can take bathing to new heights of sophistication, as well as add elegance and a distinctive edge, whether your house is an architectural gem or not. “It is detail that makes the biggest statement when it comes to your home,” says interior designer Natalie Andre  of Cott. refurbs + finishes. “The bath has become a real statement piece in bathrooms in recent years.”  So which model to invest in – an inexpensive and practical built-in bath or a classic freestanding one? When making your choice, experts advise your inspiration to be practical as well as aesthetic. The freestanding bath Chic and contemporary, a freestanding bath is guaranteed to add longevity to your bathroom.  Without any wall support, it is a style that dominates and makes for a strong design feature , be it a traditional clawfoot or pedestal bath in any of its variations. “It is an incredibly elegant addition to a bathroom,” says graduate architect and project manager Clare Mengler , “but you do need ...

Celebrating its fourth year, Design and Construction Week is trading in the bright lights of Las Vegas for the bustling hub of the Sunshine State – Orlando, FL. For three days this month, the halls of the Orange County Convention Center will host some 80,000+ design and residential construction professionals and more than 2,100 exhibitors at the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show and the International Builders’ Show. KBIS and IBS, hosted by the National Kitchen & Bath Association and the National Association of Home Builders, respectively, are expected to fill more than 900,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space with a wide array of products, demonstrations, live presentations and more. Both show floors will be open Tuesday through Thursday, Jan. 10-12, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On these pages, Kitchen & Bath Design News shares some of the stunning and innovative products that will be at the center of this year’s show. James Martin Furniture ’s (Booth S3828) Brookfield Collection vanity sh...

The CharliChair 2-in-1.  Photo: Supplied Many of us know that bathing a baby can be backbreaking work, and the more babies you have, the more strain bath time can put on your back. Kneeling on tiles and bending over bath edges can really take their toll on us. Meray Yassa discovered she was experiencing a lot of back pain by the time her third child Charli-Rose came along, so she decided to invent a shower chair for babies and toddlers, to preserve back health of parents. "I was fine bathing my first two babies but after my third, Charli-Rose, came along I found that I was hurting my back bending over to give her a bath," said the mum, who appeared on Shark Tank with her new invention.  "When I couldn't find a similar product anywhere I said to my husband let's invent something, so the CharliChair was born. "I call it my fourth baby." The second incarnation of the chair has just been released - the CharliChair 2-in-1, which features a bath attachmen...

Natives know where to go for a real San Francisco experience : the city's neighborhoods. What better way to make family and friends comfortable than to have them stay close by in one of Noe Valley's guesthouses. While many local guesthouses and bed-and-breakfasts have been hit by the current economic slump --and by the competition from a drop in downtown hotel prices --the good news is guests no longer have to book six months in advance and can sometimes negotiate a lower room rate . Still, most guesthouses report business is steady, at least on the weekends. In Noe Valley we are fortunate to have a mix of lodgings that serve a wide range of needs. You can find a cottage with handicapped access for grandparents, several places that welcome children, or a quiet room in a house, for a friend. In this survey, which updates our B&B roundups in the June 1997 and May 1999 issues, the Voice uncovered a variety of hospitality styles: a European- style tourist home , a fully furn...