• Handyman | Home & Garden
• Luxury for less

Luxury for less

Update hardware to revive a bathroom and avoid the cost of a full renovation

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Feeling flushed
New toilets engage water-saving technology, such as suites that reuse water from integrated washbasins for flushing, while wall-hung pans with in-ceiling cisterns save on space. Bidets are also back in vogue, meeting demand for old-style fittings.

Create a retreat
Enhance natural light with a skylight, bring in low-maintenance greenery with ferns and ivy, and consider a wet-surface basin and concealed taps. For luxury, go for a new, wider showerhead that is water-wise but produces more than a dribble.

First base
Round, oval and rectangle shapes are less likely to appear dated in the future, with benchtop basins still popular and wall-hung basins with exposed chrome piping leaving clear floor space. Custom-made basins are unique and pedestal basins offer classic style, although they are limited in storage. Go with the flow
Updating accessories and tap fixtures makes a big impact. Chrome taps modernise porcelain basins, and mixers are increasingly replacing traditional hot and cold taps. Freestanding taps update an
ordinary bath, and wall-mounted taps allow for more space around a benchtop basin.

Towel talk
Fluffy towels folded on a shelf or slung over the lip of a tub look inviting and convey cleanliness. Colour-coordinate with matching bathmats and face washers.

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From Handyman Magazine - March 2008