Bathroom - mid-range sanitary ware ideas please and whether to mix & match

[Uponthewhiteveranda]

I haven't planned/bought a bathroom for over 20 years and seem to have decision paralysis. I've got a quote from a company, but I'd like to get the price lower if possible.

Could anyone recommend mid-range but decent quality brands to look at?

Also, should I get the whole loo/sink/bath from the same make or range? A plumber once warned me about different tones of white porcelain - I was just replacing a cracked sink - and he was right, the new sink had a much bluer tinge than the old bath and loo. Is this a thing? I'm sure for my last bathroom, I got the sink and baths from different places.

What style do you like? I’ve used Lusso, Aquaroc, QS Supplies for a few bathroom renovations. Personally I mix materials, and mix some metals, and just buy bits I like. Tile wise, Lusso, Mandarin Tone, Boutique Stone have been good for me. I generally start at the discounted tiles, and if nothing there I like, I look at the others

Thanks, @january1244 , I'm looking at fairly classic with pale tiles, faintly modern bath etc but not too square. I'll have a look at those brands, thanks. At the moment we've just had an 'all in' quote from a bathroom company but some of the fittings aren't what I would choose.

Do you not worry then about buying say your bath and loo/sink from different places?

I really love Houzz for inspiration, you can search for bathroom stories to see what types of things you like. It depends, I’ve done six bathrooms in the last few years, and I like mixing materials. However I tend to go for a stone composite for sinks, wood for vanities with a stone top, acrylic for freestanding baths (I find the stone ones weirdly too hard). Metals are harder to match - I’d say go with the same brand so the colours are the same tone and sheen. But I tend to add in a different metal (ie handles of the vanity) so it’s not too matching

Do you not worry then about buying say your bath and loo/sink from different places?

No, that's absolutely fine. What i do do is run it past the fitter to check it's ok before buying.

I like Mira for showers, Grohe for taps and fittings. I bought from Screwfix, B&Q, Plumbworld. My wall tiles were from Topps, floor tiles from Original Style.

We've recently renovated and ended up buying most things from a local, independent tile/bathroom/plumbing shop. They were brilliant with colours, let us take tiles home and came to our home to measure and advise. They didn't fit anything at all, we only bought the bits from them.

-Our tiler said not to buy tiles from B&Q/topps tiles etc. He'd found that many aren't square nor flat and there would be much more waste from cheaper ones.
-Our taps are grohne and sinks Rak brands. I have no idea if these are mid range though?
-I too would be buying from the same shop. Not only porcelain colours can differ but taps also. Brushed steel, chrome, nickel, bronze, brass, gunmetal etc. Its a minefield.

Thanks everyone. I'll definitely look into all these brands. I am tempted by going with the bathroom company just to get it all done in under 2 weeks - in which case I think I'd need to buy at least the majority of stuff from them?

But it seems from all of you that the better approach is to source stuff yourself and contract the individual trades - is this what you do/did? What trade is the fitter - is it a joiner or a plumber? (You can tell I'm clueless.)

If using individual trades I'd need to find a plumber, joiner, tiler and poss electrician wouldn't I, then coordinate them myself?

But it seems from all of you that the better approach is to source stuff yourself and contract the individual trades - is this what you do/did?

We were doing an entire house renovation and generally the tradesmen recommended other local trades to use. That is how we found an excellent tiler and carpenter.

So yes, we sourced the tiles/sanitary wear with guidance, mainly from the shop, but also from the tradesperson themselves. For tiling, we have a resin rather than grout. It was pricier, but apparently lasts much longer and won't grow mould. One thing to check is exactly what the tradesman will/won't be doing. Maybe it was just our plumber, but he put in the pipes and toilets but there was a list of things he refused to do! He didn't install the actual shower surround, bath nor the vanity units. Luckily the carpenter we'd used had also fitted some bathrooms so he put those bits in. I wrongly assumed those were plumbing type jobs- but maybe they do stop at toilets and pipes? THB- the plumber was the only trade that was the most difficult to work with. 🤷‍♀️