Really good shower recommendations?

[Pannacotta]

We're putting in a new shower room and have been without a decent shower for nearly 3 years, so am itching to choose a new one.

We have a pressurised heating/hot water system so can choose most types of shower - the DSs will probably use it so we need a hand shower on a rail.

I know Aqualisa Quartz is very popular, but I'm not too keen on the design, I find it a bit clunky looking.

Any recommendations? TIA.

Hans Grohe Raindance.

We have an overhead outlet (big round style) and adjustable up and down fixed to the wall, as DH and I have different showering requirements. It is absolutely wonderful. You get your hand shower bit as well as your big wondeful waterfall from the top, depending what you need.

Sorry, can't now find a link to it.

Not cheap though, we got ours in the end from Germany as considerably cheaper than UK.

Not quite this model, but similar.

Suspect our line may be discontinued. But you get the general idea!

Heaven in a shower.

Wow that looks amazing! I have looked into the Grohe Raindance as have heard they are good. There seems to be lots of choice of fittings though which a bit confusing. Did you get any advice when choosing your kit anonymous?

Are Grohe and Hans Grohe the same company? Very interested in this thread as need to order stuff for 2 bathrooms

Been advised, by our surveyor, to go for Grohe thermostatic as have monster combi boiler.

Pannacotta, did you find anywhere for discounted Matki stuff? I think you had a thread.

Again been advised to buy nothing but Matki shower door. Need a pivot one. I've not found much discounted but haven't tried Plumb Centre yet.

The advice we got was that a work colleague of DH's had just ordered one and told us exactly what to get, so we did! Sorry, can't tell you what exactly it was called or the names of the fittings...

And forget tiles, get Mermaid Wall panels. Ah-Maze-ing, as Craig would say. No grout to go mouldy, just use your squeegy to get the water (and limescale) off in two ticks.

They look as good now as they did when we put them in 3 + years ago.

We are about to add a new ensuite and I will use exactly the same kit this time as we did last time...

I have an aqualisa quartz and I am very happy with it.

Deux no I didnt find anywhere online selling cheap Matki shower cubicles, am still looking.

We're aiming for a 103-s feel so I dont think the Mermaid panels would work, we will have stone coloured grout though, which I hope will be easy to keep clean. Am thinking about Mermaid panels when we do the main bathroom though, is there a good choice of colours anonymous?

I do have some info on the Raindance showers so will do some research.

1930s even...

imagining your authentic 103AD bathroom Pannacotta. It would be v. original.

Hello Pannacotta!

We're in the vague process of bathroom replanning, and I've been recommended the Nordic Eco shower by an architect who has one.

It's more conventional in appearance than the Raindance, but apparently a very good shower and massively reduces your fuel bills as a byproduct.

see this thread

Pannacotta - I got my Matki shower cubicle from CP Hart

We have a new aqua lisa one and would only buy from them as their aftercare is bloody brilliant.

Our one you switch on by a remote button outside the shower and when it gets to temperature a light on it stops flashing so you never have to be standing under the shower to turn it on and put up with the horrid cold first bit.

We have Phillipe Starke suit called Happy D which is beautiful - even I got excited about it and normally it is just handbags and clothes that excite me!

OMG, Phillipe Starke . Must google. Have Phillipe Starke chairs which I totally adore.

Madame, what kind of boiler do you have? I hate that cold bit too so was thinking of having the controls on the opposite wall to shower head. But, well, remote control would be so much better.

.

Thanks for the replies.

Hello GrendelsMum how are you, havent see you here for a while? Will check out the Nordic Eco, thanks.

TDaDa I remember your threads re the Matki - we have talked lots on bathroom planning! Having looked into prices I don't think CP Hart is cheaper than a 20% discount from a local showroom, for what we want and I think it is prob easier to order it locally in case of any queries etc. I did see the other shower thread, I was on it in fact, but there weren't a glowing shower recommdations/must-haves, which is what I was hoping for.

MmeC which Aqalisa do you have? I like the HiQU but it is more modern, looks wise, than I was planning, nice idea to be able to control it with a remote.
I've seen the Happy D suite, I agree its very nice, have bookmarked it for the main bathroom.

Hi Pannacotta- yes, I recall that we were Matki buddies. I got mine with shower guard (anti-water stain coating) and forgot to tell my cleaner not to clean with the usual stuff and it looks like the guard has worn off [hsad]

Oh dear, do you need to use special cleaner on it? I didnt realise that...

No, you clean with gentle wipe occasionally, I think. No cleaning agent.

I find showers/baths so much exciting than kitchens [hsmile]. They are great sanctuaries?

Bathrooms are more glamourous in theory I agree, but with two small boys around I need to be more practical than I'd like!

Agreed. I didn't go for digital remote shower that the flash urbanites described so i am not that glamourous. A radio in the shower is a must.

We are thinking about that one TDaDa, but not sure its in keeping with the look we are going for, ie classic with subway tiles and basin on chrome stand (and Matki shower surround if we can afford it!). WHich shower did you choose in the end? Is it good?

Can I also ask your opinion about tiling?
I can't decide if we should tile mid height all the way round, or just do above the basin and in the shower.
Its a tall room, around 3.3m ceiling height and we have one wonky wall (old Victorian house), so would need to build a shelf/ledge to allow us to tile neatly.

Tiling would be easier to clean but perhaps bit clinical. On the other hand, plaster walls and skirting around a basin could be a bit yuck.

DH happy with less tiling (due to lower cost) but then he doesnt ever clean the bathroom!
Any suggestions?

This is the kind of look I'm aiming for (first pic)
www.katyelliott.com/blog/labels/tile