Bathroom Suite - where to source

[DavinaSmith]

We have a builder we trust to install our bathroom once we have picked it.
I am looking online and in brochures at Kartell, Tavistock, Victoria Plum and Howdens.
Does anyone have any experience fitting a bathroom from these or similar companies who can advise on quality? I do not want to be looking at cracked, swollen or chipped bathroom furniture in a few short years, would rather pay more upfront as long as it is actually better quality.
Also need to pick tiles but assume Topps is fine for this, I think our kitchen tiles came from b&q.

@DavinaSmith How you getting on? We pressed the button on ours today. We are ripping everything out and starting again … under floor heating and humidity ceiling fan no less. Gone for Ideal Standard i.life basin and wc, Carronite integra eco bath and further future proofing with a walk in shower tray. Stopped short of high rise wc.

We have finished phase one so have a toilet and shower over bath. The whole wall behind the bath is tiled so we can take the bath away in future if we need to. We would be more likely to put a wet room in downstairs though.
Slight pause while the sink/cupboard unit is delivered. Nice to have a break from the noise and dust at the moment.
We are using the bath taps to wash hands and brush teeth. Luckily they are at the end of the bath so easy to teach.

Following

Damn it. I’ve just had a new bathroom and did not think to consult that none of practical information that is @PigletJohn. Had the flush redone twice in the first month.

How on earth do you know that the items you choose will fit properly? That's my fear. I have a small en-suite. I have been looking for a bathroom company that will do it all because no idea how to find a reputable fitter or builder . What is the best way to plan it all yourself?

The bathroom showroom manager at my local City Plumbing gave me the names of three people to get quotes from. I just checked their reviews and one stood out.

So to update the thread, the bathroom is finally finished, had to wait a little bit for decorator but now all done. All of the advice on this thread was fantastic and I am so pleased with the finished result. Hopefully I will get many, many years of use having invested in good quality.

The only thing I kept from the old bathroom was the shower, which is fine but the hose to the shower head has split. So of I go to the diy shop and buy one, which turns out to be rubbish, can’t get it tighten up so the water is going everywhere other than out of the shower head.

So is there a particular type of shower hose that will actually work?!

I always buy Mira shower hoses. I've never had a problem.

Sounds like you have lost the rubber washer that fits in the end of the hose end socket and is compressed against the wall spigot when you screw it on.

Can't remember the dimensions but it is probably listed as "shower hose rubber washer" or something like that.

Illustration.

They are about a pound each in DIY sheds or you could buy a thousand wholesale and make £995 pounds profit or thereabouts.

You have to click on that photo to go full screen and see the washers

Good thread. Just finished our bathroom install with wicked and an independent fitters. Vitae ceramic sink and toilet. Britan taps.
Lux vinyl floor and white tiles.

The finished look is incredible. Mirrored cabinet with anti steam mirror and back lighting. Can't fault wickes.

Screwfix outstanding for shower screen anc victoria plumbing for towel rail.

Thank you @PigletJohn one rubber washer inserted at each end of the hose and I have a functioning shower again. You don’t know what you don’t know!

I will have your avocado or peach fittings please!
I am starting my bathroom next Monday so have just read this thread in preparation. The builder is coming round on Wednesday to choose tiles, fittings and sort out any last questions I have. I am going black & white tiled floor, white metro tiles with black dado. The bath is coming out and we are putting in a shower. Can’t wait