Where to buy a bathroom?

[Shangers]

I have just bought a new house in Northern Ireland but we're still living abroad and need to have a new family (and at the moment only) bathroom fitted before we get back in June (yes it is that bad!). I've been away from Europe quite a while now so I don't know where to start and I'm really struggling to know where to look. Have looked online at Bathstore, victoria plumb and better bathrooms but I'm not being inspired and really struggling to envision the suites in the setting without being able to see them in the flesh! I've been looking through magazines but they all look like the bathroom from the flake advert - all roll top baths and billowing curtains.... not really going to work with a 2 year old!

We're looking for contemporary and classic - not ultra modern but hopefully something that's not too fashionable so it won't age. We need a new bath, separate shower, bath and sink. Bathroom is 2.6 by 2.6 so it's not massive we really want a separate shower as well as a bath.

Does anyone have any recommendations of places/shops/websites/brands that I can look online which you have found are good quality (but not astronomically expensive!) - I don't mind a bit more pricey than bathstore etc if it's nice.

Any advice greatly appreciated!!

I was going to suggest, your already discounted bathstore, or the usual DIY stores, Wickes, B&Q and Homebase.

Try Ideal Standard here. Should be available in most bathroom shops. HTH

I have some ideal standard stuff. Get it from a plumbers merchants.

Here has loads of brands and pics for inspiration and covers all budgets.

We got a plain, simple, fairly cheap white bathroom suite from here and because I am particular about my shower a grohe shower with a Daryl enclosure and have been really pleased with it.

That really helps - thanks all - I've lived out of the country so long I don't know what the good brands are! ..... (goes to google grohe!)

No wickes or Homebase in NI apparently - Hadn't thought of B&Q though - are they good quality do you know NewHouse? will have a look.

Not B&Q. I had to replace a B&Q bathroom after only three years because it was such poor quality. The toilet flush was never right and the surface of the sink was such rubbish it never looked clean. I've just replaced with stuff from a local specialist bathroom merchant; spent a little bit more and the quality is orders of magnitude better. And they were open to haggling.

there are homebases in northern ireland?

homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreLocatorFlow?pcorts=Y&slpc=&sltwn=northern+ireland&authToken=&isJsEnabled=true&x=66&y=2

thanks Rhubarb - good to know. Have found a local place that does ideal standard, daryl and grohe which looks like it should do the job.

workshy - well that will teach me to take DH's word as gospel! thanks!

I got 2 bathrooms & a shower enclosure, taps & all plumbing fixtures for less than £1000 from Graham Plumbers Merchant x

we sourced all our stuff off ebay off different people all new.
all modern stuff
wall taps at £65,
toilet £159,
shower(therm) £99
shower screen £89
double bath £140
wall towel rad £65
even the porcelain tiles 60 x 30 £12 per sq mtr and adhesive off same people as £12 a bag for the flexible compared to the £25 in the diy stores.
but in saying that my DH has the time to source for this.

I'd go for Ikea, there's one in Belfast and they are good with small spaces.

(not sure if they sell baths though).

do Ikea sell bathrooms at all? i've got them pegged for pretty much everything else in the house though!!

I did our last bathroom (a good few years ago!) on ebay but don't have the time to do it that way this time - unfortunately as it was so much cheaper that way!