New family bathroom - hints, tips and help required, please!

[TheShapeofYou]

Having a new family bathroom fitted, just have to choose it. It's a bit of a minefield. To give basics:

Large bathroom, 3 kids ranging in age from 3 - 16. Reusing bath so don't need a new one. Essentially just shopping for a vanity basin unit and back-to-wall WC, with extra storage if possible. New bath and basin taps, and a nice big LED mirror cabinet.

Question is: we have a gap of 935mm where the basin can go. Do we get an 800mm wide unit, and if so what do we do with the gap? I'm worried about dust traps.

Also, what flooring do you think would go with grey gloss furniture like the ones in the picture?

Lastly, if you've had a new bathroom recently, where would you recommend (or not!) getting everything from? We're going to look at Bathstore, City Plumbing and Wickes tomorrow.

Thanks for any help

I can recommend City Plumbing, and they knocked 20% off list prices without us asking.

Not all baths are created equal, you really do get what you pay for, and check the depth, too.

Duh, just reread your op, ignore the bath comment.

PigletJohn, we were thinking about a boxed-in cistern in another room. Are they more prone to problems or is it 'just' an access issue? I'd assumed there was a way in if needs be...

I had a new bathroom fitted last year.

I have a dark gloss units like your first pic.
I also have a gap between that and the shower.
I also have dark grey matte tiles.

Dark gloss unit is nice. It's does easily show drip marks etc. White double probably be more practical but I understand you don't want white.

Gap- does attract dust definitely.

Tiles - my suggestion is under no circumstances go for dark grey slate tiles. I have massive regret over choosing them. They are way too dark and show every drip mark. Every single time I go in the bathroom (it's my only bathroom!) I wish I'd got lighter tiles on the floor.

Ooh PigletJohn hello! (Quietly chuffed that I have a famous MN-er join my thread !). Thanks for tips, though many don't apply to my project I'm sure they'll help others

Re: the back to wall WC, we were hoping to get one like the one pictured. Will it be a bugger to maintain plumbing-wise then? I do prefer a handle, but all the modern ranges just have those natty, unreliable push buttons .

Squidgey we've been to City Plumbing but couldn't find anything that we loved. Good to know about the discount though if something does come up - thanks.

3boys yeah, I'm worried the boxed in toilet will look odd next to the curved end of the p-shaped bath. Not much we can do though? And the gap will be big enough to put bins or, dare I say it, a loo brush in I keep looking at pics of bathrooms and wondering where those essential items are.

Finally thanks for the heads-up re: high-gloss. Think I'm leaning more towards the textured avola grey now. Don't want to be plagued by drip marks haha. Do you have slate tiles on the floor? I think we might stick to our wooden floor as I love wood, and it's so warm (and practical...PigletJohn will approve of the easy access to our heating pipes underneath a board with screws in, I'm sure ).

If you have a decent space to put stuff in that should look ok, I just meant I wouldn't spend time trying to find a cabinet to fit exactly because even if it fits you will be left with a little gap where the bath curves away.

Shamelessly marking place in the middle of the night...

This is similar to the back to wall toilet we have (from a local plumbing merchant)

Very plain so no nooks and crannies for the dust to gather

We have ordered from Victoria Plumbing (shower cubicle) - we found it ok but it's had mixed reviews

Have you considered swapping the bath for an L shaped one - it might sit better with the type of cabinet toilet you're looking at

Chish we're keeping the current P-shaped bath, as there's nothing wrong with it. Nice idea though!

I like your toilet - have been looking at Victorian Plumbing and wondering about quality. Thanks for letting me know.

I also have a gap between that and the shower.

I have a sink unit next to my bath - there is about a 10cm gap down both sides. Basically enough to get a hand and cloth comfortable down. It looks fine, it doesn't appear to be an issue with dust or anything.

I would have got it all boxed in but the bath is a P shaped and the sink is by the P and didn't want it to look unbalanced by boxing in one side.

Kiroro thanks for that- it's really helpful! I don't suppose you'd mind posting a pocket please? (or PM-ing if you'd rather). The lady in Bathstore said a 10cm gap either side is just enough room to get your hand down and dust. Just don't know if it'll look odd or be annoying (or actually make more of a feature of the vanity unit!).

We used kitchen cabinets for ours (Howden) as it gave a lot more flexibility with cabinet sizes etc. It also means that we have cupboards all the way to the ceiling, rather than having that annoying useless dust collecting gap between the top of cabinets and the ceiling. We went for black golds-quick wipe over with a microfibre cloth and there are no water marks

*black gloss!!

If you think the small gap (130mm so 65 each side if you are going central) is going to niggle, a cabinet on legs might help - you can get right under

IKEA do legs (couple of styles) for the Godmorgon cabinet and the sleeve lifts up for more detailed cleaning so a build up doesn't occur round them

Photos for comparing a narrow gap

Clever legs!

TheShapeOfYou, if you dont find what you want and you're near a City Plumbing again ask for the Eastbrook brochure, it has some nicer/better bits in.

Yes dark slate tiles on the floor. Awful.

Might not be of relevance (not sure how old your children are) but we got a Duravit toilet where the toilet seat unclips to it to be thoroughly cleaned....