This summer is all about the bold and the brave. Using bright orange in bathrooms makes a real statement, that's hard to ignore.  Here are some of the places we've seen orange used to great effect....

We have seen our cast iron baths in some absolutely stunning luxury bathrooms. But something else has really caught our eye: our cast iron baths installed in bedrooms. No longer the reserve of boutique hotels, baths in bedrooms are a luxurious alternative to an en-suite.

Let's kick off the Bathroom Palette 2016 series by embracing the promise of early spring, with its eye-popping vibrancy...

Contrasts are key in a Spring bathroom

Try contrasting sunshine yellows against the naturally dynamic Stiffkey Blue by Farrow and Ball to emulate late winter backdrops.

Stiffkey Blue is named after the north Norfolk beach where the mud, along with the cockles, is this particular blue hue. Although traditional in feel, it is often used as an alternative to Down Pipe

Choosing a cast iron bath for small bathrooms is not an uncommon problem. Many houses, especially in Europe, are designed with the bathroom as a ‘functional’ room. This allows for precious space to be used where, in theory, it will be more useful. However, if you are a fan of beautiful cast iron baths, you’ll know that limited bathroom space is an issue.

Thankfully we have the perfect solution. The Petite Millbrook Roll Top Bath has been specifically designed for smaller bathrooms – without compromising on classic styling. Measuring 770mm wide, 1530mm long and 600mm high, this cast iron bath is the epitome of bijou.

However, it’s not just the compact design that makes the Petite Millbrook Roll Top Bath ideal for smaller bathrooms – the fact that it is mounted on elegant ball and claw feet means that more of the floor space is revealed, which helps make the room appear larger.

And the Petite Millbrook

So, you want to make your own soap? Good call. There’s nothing quite like homemade soap to add a genuine touch of luxurious individuality to your bathroom. And the good news is that it’s easy to do.

The biggest challenge is deciding what kind of soap you’re going to make. The possibilities are quite staggering. From Cucumber and Shea, Ginger and White Tea, and Honey Almond Oatmeal, to Chia Latte, Lavender and Rosemary, and Ylang Ylang and Frankincense… when it comes to making this choice, you’re on your own.

But it might be worthwhile thinking about the colour you want. Choosing something that will work with your bathroom palette, or that will set off the colour of your cast iron bath is a good idea.

We are going to look at making Grapefruit and Lavender Soap. The smell is divine, and the grapefruit zest acts as a gentle exfoliant. What’s more, lavender is in season right now so there should be plenty of it around – get it from your florist or simply pick it yourself.

Think of this blog post as a caveat to the last one – the one in which we waxed lyrical about the wonders of the reclaimed bathroom.

Let us state right at the outset that nothing has changed. We still think upcycling and reclaiming materials can lead to an incredibly unique bathroom that will leave your friends feeling furiously jealous.

But the reclamation route is not all plain sailing, especially when it comes to anything that includes plumbing.

As you know, roll top baths are our thing. And being an architectural historian with a lot of experience in sourcing original cast iron baths for clients, our founder Lee Hunwicks is keen to ensure you know the potential pitfalls before you start your reclamation project.

So let’s start at the bottom.

1. Check the feet. If you are considering buying a reclaimed cast iron bath,

We all want a bathroom that reflects who we are and what we love. And while adding a cast iron bath is a great start, there are lots of additional ways to achieve this goal.

We are particularly excited about reclaimed bathrooms at the moment. This is all about sourcing and upcycling materials and objects that will turn your bathroom into an idiosyncratic sanctuary that can never be repeated.

You need two main ingredients: the reclaimed materials themselves, and your imagination. Once you have these in place, nothing can go wrong. (Well, almost nothing.)

So let’s start with the basics – the building blocks, if you like. Reclaimed wood, bricks and stone can form the foundation for the perfect bathroom. Reclaimed floorboards can be used where you’d expect to use them – but what about on the walls, as a vanity countertop, or even as a caddy for your cast iron bath.

Reclaimed tiles are also a marvellous material to work with. You can achieve some incredible looks

Anyone who works in luxury bathroom design is reluctant to describe something as ‘cool’. However, when it comes to bathrooms that have been given the New York treatment, no other word quite captures the essence. In fact, we’ll go one step further and say ‘classic cool’!

At the heart of the style are the metro tiles. Inspired by the New York City Subway, these tiles are set in a brick style and grouted in contrasting black or charcoal. This dividing colour becomes an effective design element that you can use to reinforce the overall pattern.

The distance between the tiles can significantly affect the look of the room. Narrow grout lines result in a very crisp looking wall, while a wider gap (4-5mm) lends an intense graphic effect, drawing the eye to a distinct grid.

The

We spend so much time thinking about which paint colour, tiles, shower curtains, fittings and, of course, cast iron baths would work best in our bathrooms. But what about art?

The bathroom is either the perfect place for hanging art, or the worst. It’s all about what you want to get from it.

If you love to spend hours of your life soaking in the luxury of your cast iron bath, then hanging some of your favourite art on the walls is a great idea. It gives you the opportunity to really appreciate them while you are fully relaxed.

What’s more, the right art in the right place can have a transformative effect in your bathroom. Whether you go for a gallery-style wall with lots of artwork, or a large painting, or a small piece that holds a special place in your heart, art can help you reinvent your bathroom and enhance the overall composition, guiding the eye through the room.

One downside to putting art in the bathroom is that it is a private room and your guests won't

Every year we are overwhelmed by the popularity of the Millbrook cast iron bath. We know why we like it – after all, we spent a long time perfecting its design and manufacture. But we thought it would be a good idea to ask some of our customers why they love it so much. Here are their top five reasons:

1. The classic shape.
The Millbrook is what many people imagine when they think of the words ‘cast iron bath’. Mounted on elegant claw feet, and available with or without tap holes, it is the quintessential roll top bath.

2. Make it yours.
The Millbrook roll top bath gives you the flexibility to enhance the overall style of your bathroom. We prime, undercoat and finish the bath with a silk white topcoat. You then have the option to easily change the colour by applying a paint that’s suitable for wood and metal with a mini roller. You can achieve excellent results