More bath talk (clean me up, someone)

Oh, now I think this bathroom is ALSO like the men I adore ... white, clean and easy to dive into. This is the new Toulouse bath tub, available in Australia from 1 November through local distribution partners Plumbing Concepts and Designs and GRO Agencies. The AUD RPP is $5,500. You like?

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Black is back in bathrooms

I like my bathrooms like my men. Black, dark and swarthy. Unfortunately my bathroom is white and clinical. Oh, and so is my man. One day ... one day.

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Pictures: About.com

HINT HINT: Keep your bathroom mirror fog free

My own special way of de-fogging my bathroom mirror after my steamy shower is to blast the mirror with my hairdryer until I can see my face well enough to apply mascara without poking my eye out. But I do believe there are a virtual flotilla of hints out there to ensure a bathroom mirror remains de-fogged even in the steamiest of bathrooms.

Apparently you can spray your man's shaving cream on the mirror, wipe it around until it's disappeared and give the foam new life as a de-fogger. It must work a bit like spitting in your own scuba mask to stop the fog.

A thin (and spare) layer of WD-40 is said to do the same thing! Hey, grease up, baby. An ABC forum says rubbing half a potato on the mirror can also work, but that sounds like a food crime. Have you tried to find a de-fogger that works for you?

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Pictures: Domino

The open ensuite: good or bad?

I refuse to believe that weeing in front of your loved one can be good interior design. Your thoughts on ensuites open to the bedroom, please?

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Q&A Preventing mould in the bathroom

Q: Eek – my bathroom turns into a mould monster.

A: If it’s not your bad housekeeping skills, then it’s likely your bathroom has waterproofing failure. Once a bathroom turns into a black monster that not even harsh bleach can keep at bay, then it’s likely your old bathroom needs some repairs. In old houses and apartments, it’s common that water gets behind the old tiles and wets the wall, creating a mould-tastic breeding ground that cannot be cleaned. There are new waterproofing solutions that involve cleaning out the old mouldy grout, re-grouting and spraying over a clear waterproof coating, sometimes for less than $500. Some in the bathroom industry are dubious that these solutions can last a long time, but it’s cheaper than stripping out all the tiles to renew a waterproof membrane.

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BATHROOM: Tapping into bathroom love

Oooh, aaah. There’s nothing I like more than a shower, especially one that you can meditate in while denying eco-guilt for wasting water. This Tahi shower is available in Australia through Reece Bathrooms – but it is for those who like a touch of luxury with a $1999 price tag. The big bonus of the Tahi is the three-star WELSrating, a water-efficiency ranking that shows this showerhead ain’t too bad on the water wastage front. The other bonus of the Tahi is the special shelf it has at the bottom which is a footrest to shave your legs! So you can meditate and de-forest your own body all at once.Very eco, no?

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Pictures: Reece bathrooms

Bathtub you don't want to be caught naked in

Now that's the kind of bathtub that looks gorgeous ... but I wouldn't want anyone to catch me soaking within those see-through walls.

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Pictures:  Bagnasso

NEWS: PVC shower curtains release toxins in your bathroom

I already knew that shower curtains have Psycho-like ways ... what with trying to stick to you while you shower and all.
Now I KNOW those wafty, mouldy curtains are up to no good -- especially if made from PVC. They are poisonous. Truly.
United States research shows " Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic shower curtains purchased at Bed Bath & Beyond, Kmart, Sears, Target, and Wal-Mart all contain avoidable toxic chemicals including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), phthalates, organotins and metals. Some of these chemicals are volatile, so they are released into the air inside our homes."
As many as 108 chemicals, in fact - some of which can damage the liver, central nervous, reproductive and respiratory system. Gah!
"This investigation shows that PVC shower curtains are significant contributors to indoor air pollution," the 2008 research says. It also found:

* Chemicals with names scarier than my bed-hair were detected in the greatest concentrations in the first 28 days of installing the shower curtain. These chemicals include toluene, cyclohexanone, methyl isobutyl, some of which are banned in America but not Australia.

* Heat and humidity increases the release of chemicals from shower curtains.

* We should buy cotton or PVC-free shower curtains. Better still, stick to a shower cubicle and avoid the manky things all together.

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Pictures: Shelterrific

SMALL SPACE FIX: Big ideas for small bathrooms

Just like our office cubicles, cars and economy, our bathrooms are shrinking. But how do you make a tiny room work all that bit harder? Try these tips.

* Streamlined vanities and basins with separate shelving, and cabinetry with storage space for cosmetics and toiletries, are essential inclusions for small bathrooms.

* Less is more and subtle storage provides the best solutions to allow for this. Glass and floating timber shelves on plain walls dress up the room and add instant storage space for towels.

* Embrace the trend towards smaller or wall-hung vanities. Wall-hung products such as toilets and vanities are gaining in popularity because they take up much less room than larger units and create a modern-looking bathroom.

* When it comes to tiles, the bigger the better - larger tiles make a room appear bigger than it actually is. Wall tiles laid vertically and extending to the ceiling can make a small bathroom feel larger by drawing the eye upwards. If you want to create a sense of a wider space, tiles can be placed horizontally.

* Mirrors also create depth and distribute light throughout the room. The colour scheme can also create the illusion of space, especially with a colour palette of whites, creams or pastels.

* Keep things simple and avoid large patterns as these will make the room appear more cluttered.

* Corners and gaps between shower recesses and basins can often be dead space. There are products that maximise these areas and make the most of every inch of the room.

* Bathrooms have also become multi-purpose, incorporating rooms such as laundries, so clever storage prevents cramping.

Pictures: LJT bathrooms

Q&A Improve your wall tiles

Q.I can live with everything in my ugly bathroom except the bad wall tiles – what can I do?
A.Bathrooms are a lot like women’s fashion: what you consider passé right now could be fashionable in another two minutes. If those mission brown 1970s tiles or sappy 1960s pink, blue or green mosaics are getting you down, think how lucky you are to have a bathroom that is such a classic representation of its era! It’s better to accept your poor bathroom for what it is than try to makeover just one part of the room and risk it looking like some awful morph between modern minimalism and Tupperware party from the 1960s. Embrace the era of your bathroom – if it’s pink and gaudy, then find some cute kitsch accessories to play it up. If it’s twee timber and ye olde cottage with 1980s brass fittings, then crack out a basket of pot pourri and some Norsca bath gel. There is nothing worse than half-cocked bathroom renovations that try to patch one small part of the room. And real estate experts like L.J. Hooker managing director Warren McCarthy will tell you that most buyers can handle any style of bathroom as long as it is clean, tidy and has plenty of natural light. “Some buyers quite like the idea of adapting the bathroom to their own taste,” he says.