Fiora

 "Touch Your Bathroom". While it can be difficult to write about bathroom fittings, to find yourself looking for an inspirational starting point can be as hard.

But we are talking about Fiora  , a company based in Spain with a formidable reputation on the continent for quality designed bathroom furniture and more.

The hook "Touch Your Bathroom" might have puzzled me a few years ago, not now. I have never felt the desire to run my fingers over a basin in one of the UK diy sheds that sell bathrooms. However when you see mineral cast basins, glass,  and textures such as manufactured by Fiora the urge is there.

The feeling of good material is obvious. The warmth is almost like a kiss on the skin.

 Fiora now design the full wetroom experience. Beautiful wall panels unveiled at Cersaie 2015. Shower trays of different sizes and styles, all available in every RAL colour, even white.

There is furniture in different styles, wall mounted, free standing, different shapes and sizes - and colours from green to purple to orange and blue. Dimpled, floral, linen look...

Fiora also do radiators - plumbed, and electric. There is the option to attach a towel rail or two.

We love their basins. Again these are tailored to suit the furniture and flat white is not your only option.

There are gorgeous mirrors, cabinets.

The range of styles is  enough to satisfy any discerning client.

 The choice of materials is key to how Fiora are so confident within the bathroom/ wetroom market.

Don't worry that they don't do taps - complimentary brassware from Maier Griferias and Samuel Heath looks fantastic, again more accounts we have.

Up there with Burgbad, Fiora have nailed quality bathroom furniture. They have the edge with their wall panels and shower trays.

We love them a lot.

Touch Your Bathroom - if it's not as comforting as you now think, then have a look at Fiora.

On show 80 market St Hoylake

Cersaie 2015

Cersaie 2015 was as busy as ever. While it is predominately about the best in ceramics and tiles,  there is still a lot more to see.
With 1000 exhibitors and over 100,000 visitors over 5 days it is one of the must see design shows on the calendar.

The Cer-Stile exhibition was a must. A journey in design made easier by the mock up of the imaginative idea of a luxury interior of a train, complete with changing landscape through curtained windows.  There was a modest bunk, comfy private seating, open benches, and even an antique boxed sink that folds up. Only in Italy!

While the Bologna Cersaie was certainly not an Express Train, there were undoubtedly some significant products expressing themselves in the best way - as part of a design scheme. Glass 1989, Duravit,  Cordivari,  Vitra,  Cristina Rubinetterie all had great products on show as part of this taster exhibition.

It was outside in the main halls where design became even more interesting.

There was much to see in 3 dimensional large scale ceramic wall surfaces. Some of the suppliers creating ranges which allowed greater choice and more flexibility for designers to create a more unique look. While there was some colour, mostly for commercial, there was definitely the core shades of safe neutrals across all ranges.

While designs may have taken a large leap, manufacturers were playing safe with colour palette.

Fiora

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There are always a lot of brick style ceramics in the show. The puritan brickie will appreciate the difference between imperial, metric, and American bricks.They will even explain to you the methods of how bricks are stacked - stretcher and Fleming bonds to name but two brick laying techniques.  Personally I thought some of the random colours fun. Why we don't use more tiles on walls in homes is just my opinion.
I was taken with a lot of the grunge, graffiti styles.Equally some really excellent pastels too.

Brem

Again some great ranges consisting safe plain tiles, coordinated texture, and feature tiles. This makes a designer's life easy in a bathroom or wetroom.
Last year seemed to be about hexagonal and introducing lava. This year there were concrete looks, larger tiles, pared back colours, and raised texture designs.

Away from the tiles, I was impressed with Rubinetterie 3M brassware taps and showers.
From a design perspective their products are stunning.

The taps and shower heads are completely different to anything else I saw at the show.  The quality of the materials exceptional. The flow and economic delivery of water ticks boxes.  I must say really taken with their designs.

Fiora had an amazing stand and some new products. While we love Fiora bathroom furniture and shower trays, they now do wet walls. A new range of furniture and excellent display electric radiators and we are hooked.

I had to go check out Zucchetti Kos. I first saw them at Bologna water festival last year.
As expected they had their own fantastic stand, and also popped up in the Day Off exhibition. Some great basins,  but love their showerheads.

Villeroy and Boch seemed to be having a good show too. We loved the rose gold floor mounted bath mixer.  I know this is a finish that is not as popular as the chrome and brushed steel finishes - but it looks gorgeous on display.

Flaminia

Washbasins came in all shapes and sizes.  They were moulded in mineral cast, porcelain, glass, concrete. They were recessed, sat on top, or moulded as one with surface. They had an overflow,  no overflow,  exposed traps, were freeflowing or not.

Really one could narrow down a favourite once you had seen over 1000. Oh, and there were some great colours too.

Wetrooms have become much more the norm over the last few years. It was great to see so many manufacturers really looking at wetroom walls and floors as part of their portfolio.

I'm not sure emerging trends. What I can say is I love good materials - and no manufacturer or designer will waste a good material on a bad design.

"Style is a simple way of saying a complicated thing"
Jean Cocteau

Related post Wetrooms 

Ora italiano

Zucchetti

The Perfect Bathroom

There is nowhere else in the home that needs to have so much technically going on that also needs to be a relaxing space.
While it is important to engage the services of a qualified, and competetent bathroom fitter, there are a few pointers worth knowing.

Understanding how the room is to be used is key. How watertight do the surfaces have to be? Many homes are including wetroom style areas. These are a great idea for smaller bathrooms and can replace the standard shower enclosure making a room feel larger.

The preformed shower wall panels are ideal in place of normal tile and grout. These boards are tongue and grooved with finished edges and can easily be cut to fit.

There are also a range of worksurfaces, and in some cases shower trays, to match. At this point it is also worth considering an extractor fan to promote ventilation of the room.

There is nothing worse than a cold bathroom. While many rooms may have existing radiators it is worth considering other options. Underfloor heating is a great addition and works particularly well under tile flooring.  There are also some fabulous designer radiators available in a variety of sizes and colours. Stainless steel radiators are more efficient as they conduct heat, rather than the  chrome ones which feel hot but do not radiate the same amount of heat.  Many of the designer radiators include towel rails or even shelving - ideal for where storage required too. Of course it is easy to replace a cumbersome, old, white radiator for a new one which may be more efficient.

There are online calculators which will take your room sizes and advise how many BTU's you will require (British Thermal Unit). Check with the manufacturer of your radiator, as 1 kw = 3.41 BTU.


Lighting is another area where some thought and imagination can create a comfortable environment.  It is worth checking out the zones which require lighting and ensure that what is sourced is safe and practical. While downlighters are popular, it is worth considering where practical other sources. There are some great zone 2 chandeliers and uplighters which might suit a more traditional bathroom. LED backlit mirrors are also an excellent source of functional lighting.

Practically it is worth understanding the impact of low water pressure before choosing showers and taps. Additionally some sinks will have no overflow hole and will require a different waste system.

Then the fun starts!
There are some really excellent ranges of vanity furniture available with very generous storage. And don't think the unit has to be white, light oak, or wenge only! Colours are definitely in, with oranges, purples, floral effects, and linen looks.  Radiators too can come in a multitude of colours and finishes.
And did you want swarovski crystals on your taps?

Children's bathrooms can be fun! Funky colour basins and taps, co-ordinated with a coloured radiator can be fabulous.  Styled with an unusual flooring, this room can really make a statement.

There are no limits to how stylish a bathroom can become.  In fact if you want any help then email me or come visit us at 80 Market Street Hoylake Wirral.

Bathroom Furniture

Who says bathroom furniture has to be white?

Burgbad 1

Burgbad 2

Burgbad3

Burgbad 4

Fiora1

Fiora2

Fiora 3

Fiora4

Fiora5

Fiora6

Posh Bathing

Posh Bathing is a bathroom specialist showroom unlike any other I have visited. Owner Gary Walmsley has created a fabulous resource boutique, with an impressive display of quality products by some of the leading European designers.

While some of the suppliers may sound familiar, there are are also some little known brands that are sure to be popular with private clients, interior designers, and architects.

 If you think that Gary has the usual array of sinks, taps and showers - think again!

There are steam showers, quality mineral cast basins, bespoke furniture, wall panels, designer radiators and funky taps.

On display are taps by Maier Griferias which have swarovski crystals, stylish radiators by K8 and Brem, furniture by Burgbad, steam showers, mirrors from Zierath. The list of suppliers is quite staggering.

 Gary is no stranger to the key European design shows and his interest in locating and forging relationships with innovative suppliers is key to the success of this showroom.

There are faux brick and stone wall panels, marble tiles with led lighting, mosaics, and much, much more - all beautifully arranged and complimented by a huge selection of basins and taps.

 One of the more exciting developments has been in his enthusiasm for designer radiators.

I was fortunate to be able to meet up with him in Italy this year where we visited Italian designer Brem. Quite simply their selection of both electric, and plumbed radiators are breathtaking.

Another supplier of note is Tubes Radiatori . The Scaletta shown here is available in a wide range of sizes and colours.

Zazzeri have a unique range of taps with interchangeable coloured heads and impressive eco credentials when it comes to saving water.

Furniture is supplied by Burgbad and Fiora to name but two. However there are bespoke pieces in multiple finishes with glass, wood or marble inserts.

This haven of inspiration is well worth a visit. Gary's eye for developing his product range is matched equally by his expertise in installation. A perfect blend of style and experience.

For opening hours or to book an appointment contact him here.

Reassuringly Expensive

Sometimes you just have to splash out to get what you really want. While the jury may be undecided on what counts as "luxury" in terms of interior design, one thing is pretty clear - you get what you pay.

Not only do Farrow and Ball have some of the hottest colours, but their paint is gorgeous. As you dip your brush in the tin, you can feel the quality of a thickly pigmented paint which just makes you feel like an artist. The quality and coverage are incomparable to the cheap own branded paints, and even some popular names. Three coats of paint will normally give you that luxurious colour - I usually just finish off the tin. From the elegant Bone, to the unusual Smoked Trout and ever popular Pointing there will be a shade that will work in every room.

 It's no secret we love our bathroom furniture, and it doesen't get much classier than Burgbad, well there is Fiora- but that's saved for another blog!

In fact bathroom furniture is having a great time right now. The old boutique hotel bland style of white and limestone with the obligatory chrome  is being replaced by some pretty decadent pieces. Quirky tiles, funky fronts, gold, copper, chandeliers, silk finish fronts, swarovski - it's all there.

And don't get me started on the radiators! Brem, K8, Tubes Radiatori - just wow! You can clearly see the passion our European neighbours have when it comes to design.
We love Brem Lame, utterly stylish and very architectural as well as being efficient.

 No one quite does sectional furniture quite like Roche Bobois. A great range of patterns and designs, let your imagination run riot here. We love the simplicity of style, with a great 70's hippy vibe which we are sure to see more in future.

Griferias Maier have an absolutely stunning range of taps being released, including these swarovski embellished. Now the difference between cheap and luxury =quality.

Yep, you get what you pay.