The Alternative Bathroom Company is a new business - with an impeccable heritage.

For over 30 years, the people behind it have headed up leading bathroom companies and developed reputations for sourcing and designing great products.
 
Now they have formed The Alternative Bathroom Company, bringing together all their matchless expertise and design credentials.

Initially, the company is launching with two showrooms; one in North London and one in West London.
 
With everything from simple, no-frills ranges to high-end architectural products, which would do justice to a Schrager hotel, both shops offer an exceptional choice of quality bathroom ware and accessories.

Uniquely, there is a combination of The Alternative Bathroom Company’s own-label classic products ‘The Options Collection’ and big international names such as Dornbracht, Duravit, and Hansgrohe.
 
From baths, showers and basins to fitted furniture and brassware, there are looks and price points for every bathroom, with in-depth product knowledge to back them up.

Buying bathrooms can be complicated, but is made easy by the experienced staff at The Alternative Bathroom Company; their individualized customer service offers everything from general advice to a complete bathroom planning service.

Whether you need a complete bathroom rethink, or just a new set of taps, The Alternative Bathroom Company has all the products and all the answers.

Showrooms at:
165 Chamberlayne Road Unit 5, Phoenix Park
Kensal Rise Ealing Road, London NW10 3NU London TW8 9PL.

To view the distinctive bathroom and accessories ranges, visit the Alternative Bathroom website.

Tel:   (020) 3375 9001

To help you stay in shape and ensure a great figure, Brabantia is adding a stylish set of personal weighing scales to its stainless steel bathroom collection.

Minimalist, contemporary and practical, the new scales not only help you stay trim and look good, but enhance the look of your bathroom or shower room at the same time. And as well as an accurate, electronic weighing system, they also double as a useful bathroom clock:

• The scales feature a large, smooth and comfortable foot plate - suitable for big feet! - and an easy-read back-lit display with clear digital numerals.

• Accurate measurements are given in kilograms, pounds and stones with 0.1 kg, 0.1 lb and 0.1 stone graduations, up to a maximum capacity of 160 kg, 352 lbs and 25 stone.

• Easy to operate with a simple touch of the foot to start, power is provided by four 1.5 volt AAA batteries (included), and feature a battery saving function so power is switched off when not used for six seconds.

• Available in a practical Matt steel finish with Brabantia’s proven Fingerprint Proof coating to keep those annoying marks and stains at bay, the scales are easy to clean and made from high quality corrosion resistant materials, so ideally suited to damp, humid environments. Non skid as protective ‘feet’ help provide stability.

• For compact storage when not in use, the weighing scales are provided with a wall bracket, and can double as a wall clock.

As an easy and convenient way to measure body weight - accurately and on time! - the new weighing scales cost around £46.50 and are protected by a 5-year guarantee.

Brabantia products are available from leading retailers, including high street department stores, superstores etc.

Visit the Brabantia website for further information.

Tel: (0844) 873 5848

Hudson Reed has announced Soothe, the exciting new chromotherapy shower kit, designed to light up your life.

Soothe by Hudson Reed is different – in fact they think it’s the very first stand alone shower kit to feature Chromotherapy showers.

The LED lighting system contained inside the showerhead, is powered by the water flow, so no external electrical connections are needed.

Controls on the vertical riser allow the lighting to be changed from white to blue to red, or even to a soothing combination of favourite colours in the overhead shower.

In addition, the diverter on the shower column changes the flow from the overhead system to the unique chromotherapy hand shower.

Designed to operate on a minimum of 2-bar water pressure, the Soothe shower kit can be fitted with any Hudson Reed shower valve.

For a luxurious combination this could be with the Hudson Reed high performance body jets, using a three way thermostatic mixer.

Or for the last word in showering technology, pairing Soothe with I-Flow, the intelligent digital shower, with hand held remote control from Hudson Reed.

Soothe comes in either chrome or a stunning gloss black finish, with prices starting from £279 including vat.

Visit the Hudson Reed website to view their exciting range of showers.

French technology company Withings has announced the availability of its WiFi Body Scale in the UK.

Withings has combined sleek design and technology, to transform a regular bathroom scale into an accurate health monitoring system.

The world’s first WiFi connected personal weight scale that automatically records the user’s body weight, lean and fat mass, and calculated body mass index (BMI) to his/her secure web-page.

In addition, a free Withings iPhone application, WiScale enables people to follow their body weight, lean and fat mass on their smart phone.

With its extra-flat black and steel design, the scale is an ideal bathroom accessory.

Jam-packed with technology, while still remaining very simple to use, the scale is available now on the Withings website priced at 129 euros or £119.

“We strive to bring innovation, design and technology to everyday objects through a wireless connection to the Internet and we feel the WiFi Body Scale truly delivers on all fronts,” said Cedric Hutchings, Withings General Manager.

By using bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA), the scale calculates the user’s body fat composition, and displays it in actual weight instead of a percentage of fat in the body; this allows for more accurate tracking, because it avoids the daily weight fluctuations, due to things like water gain or loss.

The scale is the perfect tool and a useful motivator, for anyone concerned about their health and interested in monitoring the benefits and progress of their diet and exercise plan.

It’s also useful for tracking the entire family’s health progress, with its multi-user function.
The scale automatically recognizes up to 8 users the moment they step on the scale and adds the stats to their individual online tracking graphs.

With the convenience this scale provides, users don’t have to lift a finger to get their daily stats - just step on the scale then check your progress report instantly on the web, or on your free WiScale iPhone application.

The Scale measures: 0.90 inches/23 mm | 12X12 glass slab/ 32×32 cm.
Display: 62 X 40 mm with high white contrast lighting.

Visit the Withings website for more information.

Sound and Vision company DSE Digital, recently completed a multi-room installation in one of the finest new-build properties in Newcastle upon Tyne.

The stunning, contemporary house features all the luxuries and technologies you would expect in a house of the future – plus a few more, including an Aquavision waterproof television in the bathroom.

The owners of this chic home required security that could be accessed from anywhere in the world, discrete lighting with mood control, music throughout the house and a home cinema / games room.

Once this was achieved, they decided they wanted the added luxury of a television they could watch whilst soaking in the bath.

The 17” Aquavision in our picture is connected to Sky and has multi-room sound so the owners can listen to music, watch television or a DVD, which is distributed via a computer server to the bathroom.
The built in magic eye also allows the SKY and DVD to be controlled from the bath.

Aquavision has now launched the world’s first full HD Waterproof television -

• The S4 HD 40” in –wall / waterproof television features the RS232 control port, making it compatible with the likes of Crestron, AMX, iLight and Systemline, therefore enabling it to be controlled from a compatible touch panel anywhere in the home.

• The new model incorporates a true, full High Definition (1920 x 1080) LCD panel that delivers exceptional picture performance.

• Two remote controls (one master and one waterproof) are provided with the new waterproof television and a hard wired control panel is available to fix on the wall.

• The S4 HD 40” is available in the Mirrorvision finish, so that when the television is off, the glass becomes a mirror that is perfect for shaving, make-up etc.

For more information please visit the Aquavision website.

Tel: (01992) 708333

The bathroom uses 40% of all of the water in the home, so the shower is the perfect place to begin saving water.

The Efergy Showertime doesn’t just time you in the shower, it actually monitors how much water you are using and shows this in numeric and graphical formats.

It comes with a measuring bag, which calculates by flow rate, how long your shower takes to use one litre of water; this is programmed into the memory and once set, you decide the maximum amount of water you want to use for each shower.

The Showertime will enable you to set targets for water usage and will sound an alarm when that target is reached; this could help to save 1000’s of litres of water each year and save money on metered water bills.

The monitor is great for comparing volumes of water used between family members and is an important tool in teaching children the importance of saving water. Priced at £8.99.

Green Stamp was established to give customers a place to shop for the most innovative eco products and gifts for the home that cause less environmental damage, are fairly traded and produced in a sustainable manner.

Visit Green Stamp online to view the range.

Tel: (01637) 854717

With the vintage vibe still gripping us all, Milk & Honey have made sure there’s no shortage of must-have home accessories, guaranteed to transform your bathroom into bathing heaven.

Our kitchens have had a taste of it and our bedrooms are dreamy with vintage glamour. But now it’s the turn of the bathroom…

When it comes to creating that true vintage style, we can abandon the design rule books to make for easy-peasy interior decorating, adding the odd second-hand accessory with a smattering of carefully selected new additions, to give polished but eclectic, old-fashioned chic.

Whether your bathroom is big or small, the vintage look is perfect; just remember to opt for free-standing bathroom furniture for a modern take on the traditional, adding pretty accessories and decorative extras
for that perfect, laid-back luxe.

‘With this kind of relaxed style nothing has to match,’ says Milk & Honey founder, Emilie Evans, whose classic French style is evident in her carefully selected product range. ‘It’s all about easy elegance – combining a bit of what you love with exactly what you need.

That’s why I adore our brand new wood and zinc Vintage Toilet Roll Holder, £12.95. It’s authentic, slightly aged appearance gives it an antique look that’s perfect combined with crisp white walls and retro tiles.’

Pretty but practical, Wooden Heart Hooks, £5.95, provide the perfect place to hang bath towels and a White Ceramic Bathroom Set, £17.50, and artisan style Tissue Box, £8.95, keep mundane packaging concealed.

Team with the ultimate white Waffle Towels, from £8, and Lavender Scented Candle, £7.95, made from vegetable wax in the heart of Provence, and you have all the ingredients you need for the perfect vintage update.
Web:  http://www.milk-and-honey.co.uk
Tel:    (029) 20 026484

Now, more than ever, we need to watch the pennies and save money.

Bank holidays are traditionally a time for DIY and that’s why Ideal Standard, a leading provider of innovative and design-driven bathroom solutions, is shareing some expert advice to help you save both money and time, doing up your bathroom this bank holiday.

This is the last bank holiday before the summer, so it’s your last chance to make the most of the extra days to update your home.

Don’t worry if you can’t afford to totally redo your bathroom, most estate agents believe that a clean, minimal bathroom is what impresses and regardless of your budget, it’s the finishing touches that give a bathroom a completely polished look and feel.

The good news is that simply updating furnishings and giving it a splash of paint, can make a world of difference not only to guests but, in the long run, to potential house buyers too.

Here are Ideal Standard’s cheap, quick and easy fixes to instantly improve your bathroom:

• Add some accessories- 30 Mins - Mirrors - Ideal Standard’s Concept range features a number of interchangeable mirror and splash-back panels that combine to give a really smooth, uncluttered line.
• Keep the areas around your toilet tidy with some nifty, discrete accessories.
• Installing a new shower screen - 60 minutes -  Shower curtains are one of the most ageing statements in a bathroom, yet one of the simplest things to change.
  Most bath and shower screens come with a hinged screen that is ready to fix to the wall, with sealing strips at the bottom already fitted.
• Add Storage - Half a day - Store your bathroom necessities in a handy under sink compartment, or behind a mirror; or have a separate wall or freestanding unit.
  Ideal Standard’s Concept range includes slow close dampeners, so doors shut without a bang and self-close mechanisms making drawers close with just a gentle push.

Web: http://www.ideal-standard.co.uk
Tel: (01482) 346461.

Drummonds started out re-enamelling and restoring original cast iron bathtubs, antique taps and fittings in 1988.

Initially much restoration was done by outside suppliers, however quality and supply issues persuaded owner Drummond Shaw to establish his own production facilities.

Drummonds now produces exquisite collections of classic solid brass door and window furniture, in addition to bath and basin taps and specialist fittings such as basin stands and plunger wastes for baths – all made to stand the test of time.

Drummonds Range Of Products include:

• Cast iron baths and shower trays.
  Solid brass showers.
  Chinaware basins and water closets.
  Bath and basin fittings including bath plunger wastes, ‘H’ stands, bath and basin taps, basin stands, and fittings, cistern fittings, accessories.
  Door and window furniture in solid brass.

Featured in our picture is the Spey Classic Roll Top bath, which is their largest and most luxurious iron bath – this beautiful design is just right to provide the ultimate in comfortable bathing.

The bath and feet are hand polished and lacquered allowing the natural beauty of the cast iron to show through, while protecting the bath.
Priced from £3450.

Also available:

• Handsome and characterful reclaimed wood and stone flooring.
  Full planning and installation service.

The Drummonds bathroom experience is now showcased in Hindhead, Surrey and Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, which has become renowned to those homeowners who are seeking something unique, exclusive and special.

Web: http://www.drummonds-arch.co.uk

Tel: (01428) 609 444

With over 30 years experience, Bathrooms International is proud of its global reputation as a leading bathrooms company, selecting and sourcing the most exclusive range of baths, sanitary ware, fittings and accessories from Europe and America.

Cheryl Gurner, head of creative design at Bathrooms International, is a leading authority in the bathroom industry and predicts the trends for 2007:

• There is a definite movement towards quality in terms of design and material, people are prepared to pay more for something of lasting value, looks and performance, preferably from the UK or Europe.
• Pure white crystal is going to be big in 2007 – in our case it will be taps, and in a wide range of finishing touches; Bronze and Nickel will continue to be the most popular metals.
• Stone and wood and any natural ecological material will be in favour and recycling and the use of organic principles and materials will become the norm.
• Personal style and preference will be much stronger than what’s new or by the latest designer.– Individual and `made in small batches’ will be the key message.
• Bathrooms will continue to be the focal and private place for peace and quiet where nothing can intrude!

The bathroom featured here is a luxurious Tessa Kennedy design.

Visit the ’showcase’ on the web site for more inspiration:

Web: http://www.bathroomsint.com
Tel: (0207) 838 7788