But what makes a house a home?

Storage from BathEmpire

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately as I’ve just moved in to a new property and am struggling to make it feel like my home.

In particular I don’t feel at home in the bathroom I have at the moment – the bath isn’t comfortable, and the whole room is a bit cold and unwelcoming – and because I’m just renting, I can’t install a new one, as much as I’d love to.

I’m dreaming of having a gorgeous white roll top bath and enormous walk-in shower. I think if I could have a bathroom like that then this place would certainly feel more like home.

When it comes to the bathroom, the things that make it feel like your own seem to be:

1. Great storage and work surfaces so there’s somewhere to put all your belongings, and everything’s right at hand, just where you expect it to be.

Constance freestanding bath from BathEmpire

2. A comfortable, clean bath that’s positioned well so you can get in and out easily and can totally relax while you’re taking a soak (so that means no mildew on the grouting and no dripping taps!)

3. A spacious, powerful shower – with places to put your bottles while you’re washing.

4. A clean, efficient toilet that flushes well and looks good.

5. Attractive décor – nothing too ‘corporate’ or faceless, but nothing too loud either.

6. A warm reception. Draughts are definitely not welcoming, a cosy bathroom is essential and towel radiators are the perfect finishing touch.

It’s pretty easy to get all of these things right if you’re installing a new bathroom in your house or flat, so take some time to really get it right.

After all, as much as people talk about the kitchen or the living room being the heart of the home, if you think about the place you go to relax, have privacy and just ‘be’ then the bathroom comes top of the list, so it’s really important that you make this room feel like your own.

Prespa L-shaped Shower Bath, by BathEmpire

Benefit both worlds

The trend in recent years has turned mainly to showers, with baths being seen as more of a luxury treat at the end of a hard week at work. Yet, when considering the resale value of our property, we are constantly reminded that a modern bath is needed to sell the idea of a ‘family’ home. Therefore, why not gain the benefits of both worlds, and merge the two in a shower bath.

However, if space is really at a premium, then a wet room presents a solution. With a stylish glass screen sealing the shower area, a wet room allows maximum use of the central space in a room, as other essential items can be placed around it.

Space Savers

Holt Counter Top Basin, by BathEmpire

As mentioned in our earlier post on large bathrooms, dark furniture is definitely making a comeback.

You can finish the contemporary look with some Lassen Wenge furniture, such as this floor standing cabinet. The integrated basin stands securely above the deep drawers, which benefit from soft-close technology meaning the sharp sound of slamming cupboards is now a thing of the past.

As an alternative, should you fancy a more open look, then you may be suited to this Holt counter top basin. Combined with the powerful angular design of the Canim mixer tap and the Virginia tower radiator, this look will be equally elegant.

For further products suited to urban bathrooms, be sure to check out the range at BathEmpire.

Now Wills and Kate (or Catherine as we are now meant to call her) are married they’ve left behind the pomp and ceremony of London and returned to their rented farmhouse in Wales to begin married life.

Victoria roll top bath, BathEmpire

We love that they are so normal in some respects, living in a farmhouse rather than a castle – although we expect their property is rather swanky inside.

No chipped baths or mildew for them, we imagine.

We wonder whether Kate’s taste is traditional and formal or relaxed and modern.

Judging by her wedding dress we’d say she like to keep things fairly traditional but isn’t into anything overly fussy or ornate.

We think Kate and Wills would love the Victoria roll top bath – it’s definitely classy and the high end makes it a great bath for relaxing bath in with a glass of wine and a book, just what’s needed after a day official engagements.

Sliding door shower enclosure

When William gets home from his duties as a search and rescue pilot though, we think he might like something a bit more practical.

This sliding door shower cubicle will fit into an alcove, and is really roomy.

If you fancy getting a little royal style in your home, there are lots of roll top baths and shower enclosures to choose from at BathEmpire.

When the hotel was refurbished recently the rooms were reorganised and the en-suites were put further back in the bedrooms, restoring the bedroom views but meaning the en-suites didn’t have views at all any more.

This got me thinking… if the bathrooms at the Savoy are no longer in the running for the best hotel bathroom views award (which doesn’t actually exist, but we think it should!), which bathrooms are still contenders?

I’ve found some pretty amazing ones!

For example, check out the urban views from New York hotel The Standard.

The Standard, New York

The Standard, New York

Some of the suites and rooms have views out over the Empire State Building, others over the Meatpacking district and Hudson River – in all of them you feel like your really part of the city while you’re soaking in the tub!

(By the way, if you want  a freestanding bath like the one in the picture, take a look at the ones from BathEmpire.)

If you prefer your views a little more natural, then the St Regis Princeville Resort in Hawaii might be more to your taste.

St Regis Princeville Resort in Hawaii

The bathrooms in certain suites have unbelievably good views over the Pacific ocean, so you can chill out watching whales, surfers and boats. Plus you can see the green hills of the hinterlands in the distance.

Parco Dei Principi Grand Hotel, Rome

And if you like a world historical sight to gaze upon as you bathe, then you don’t get much more impressive than the Parco dei Principi Grand Hotel in Rome – yes, that is the Vatican you can see out of the window.

Have you visited a hotel where the views from the bathroom have been the talking point of your stay? We’d love to hear about it.

More and more of us are trying to get that hotel look in our own properties, but what’s the key to getting it right?

I’ve considered the elements of hotel bathrooms that make them so great – make sure you include a few of these when you’re planning your bathroom renovation, and you’ll be the envy of all your friends.

In fact they’ll probably ask you if they can book in for the night.

Hotel chic idea 1

Make it glossy – hotel bathrooms tend to feature high gloss surfaces on the floors and walls, which helps to give a smart, contemporary feel – although they can take a lot of maintenance as you’ll have to make sure they aren’t streaky or grimy.

Cahora freestanding bath from BathEmpire

Hotel chic idea 2

Draw attention to the bath – making the bath the centre of attention makes a bathroom seem like an indulgent place, rather than a functional place.

You can do this by installing a freestanding bath, perhaps positioning it at an angle and making sure that it’s gently lit using spotlighting.

You can also use tricks such as putting contrasting wall tiles behind the bath, which will draw the eye towards it, or positioning under a window, which will make it a natural focal point.

With the range of freestanding baths available at BathEmpire, this is one element of a hotel bathroom you can get at home relatively cheaply.

Hotel chic idea 3

Make sure the shower is AMAZING – firstly, the shower should be in a cubicle of its own if you have room, rather than over the bath.

Secondly, just as a good mattress is a must in a top hotel, a rainfall shower or at the very least a powerful shower is a staple of desirable hotels the world over, and something that’s easy to get in your own home.

Walk in showers are essential for hotel chic

Hotel chic idea 4

Use colour creatively – painting walls in a shade you’d not normally consider a typical ‘bathroom’ colour is another easy way to create a contemporary hotel vibe.

You could also choose to highlight a feature wall with coloured tiles – either really large or really small, mosaic tiles look the most luxurious.

Hotel chic idea 5

Add art – don’t forget to dress your bathroom as any good hotel would.

Hang pictures above the bath and loo, put vases on shelves, choose an attractive bath mat – any details like this that you add will turn a functional space into one that’s decorative

Large mirrors are another feature of hotel bathrooms. The more mirrors you have, the bigger the bathroom will seem and the better the light.

Twin basins in the Park Plaza in Budapest

Hotel chic idea 6

Double up – if you have the space, fitting twin basins (preferably with some storage below) to give your bathroom instant grandeur.

Don’t make the mistake of squeezing them in – ensure there’s enough elbow room for two of you to use them comfortably side by side.

Hopefully this has given you some food for thought, and inpired you for your bathroom project.

Can you think of anything I’ve forgotten that helps to give a bathroom the ‘hotel-factor’?

* Image top left courtesy of Holm House, Penarth, a boutique hotel with amazing bathrooms (did you spot the TV over the bath?)