Ingleby Barwick Bespoke Bathroom Installation with Concealed Rainfall Shower

Project Overview

Completed in March 2025, this bespoke bathroom installation and bathroom refurbishment project was delivered by our experienced bathroom fitters in Ingleby Barwick. The customer had already removed the original bathroom before we arrived, leaving the room ready for the new installation as part of wider work across the vacant property.

The customer had already removed the original bathroom before we arrived, leaving the room ready for its new fixtures and finishes. All bathroom products had been selected and supplied by the customer and were waiting on site.

The main requirement was to create a refined modern bathroom with a proper overhead shower. The previous arrangement had consisted of a bath with two separate taps and no shower, so the new installation required additional preparation and pipework for a concealed shower system with a ceiling-mounted rainfall head.

The completed room combines a bespoke shower arrangement, an L-shaped bath, concealed vanity plumbing, coordinated wood-effect finishes and carefully considered matt-black details.

Work began on Monday and was completed on Thursday, taking four working days and finishing within the planned programme.

Preparing the Room

The bathroom had already been stripped before our work began. The timber floorboards were exposed, and the existing wall surfaces had previously been painted.

Loose paint was removed where required, and the walls were treated with a high-quality deep-penetrating primer to seal the surfaces and prepare them for tiling.

Because the property was vacant and several trades were completing the wider refurbishment, the normal occupied-home carpet and access-route protection was not required for this installation.

Bespoke Concealed Rainfall Shower

The existing wall beside the bath was too shallow to accommodate the concealed shower valve and associated pipework.

A new service wall was therefore constructed in front of the existing wall, creating the depth required to install the concealed shower components securely while producing a clean, uninterrupted tiled finish.

New pipework was extended upwards into the loft space and routed across to supply the large rainfall shower head mounted through the bathroom ceiling.

The shower was a concealed single-outlet system serving the rainfall head only, without a separate handheld attachment.

The matt-black shower control and ceiling-mounted head create a minimal, uncluttered appearance around the bath and form one of the main premium features within the completed bathroom.

Tailored L-Shaped Bath Installation

As part of the complete bathroom fitting, a 1700 mm acrylic L-shaped bath was installed.

The bath measured approximately:

• 700 mm across the narrower section;
• 900 mm across the wider showering end;
• 1700 mm in overall length.

The customer wanted the bath positioned centrally along the wall rather than pushed completely towards one end.

This left a small space at each end of the bath and required bespoke boxing to create a balanced and properly finished installation.

A thicker full-width partition would have provided a simpler arrangement, but the customer’s preferred central position was retained.

The additional fitting and boxing work was completed as part of the agreed installation without increasing the customer’s price.

A fixed glass shower screen was installed at the wider showering end of the bath, creating a practical showering area beneath the ceiling-mounted rainfall head.

Combined Overflow and Bath Filler

The bath was fitted with an unusual combined overflow and bath-filler system.

Rather than using a conventional tap mounted on the bath or wall, the hot and cold water enters through the bath overflow fitting.

Accommodating the water supplies, bath waste and filler arrangement within the restricted space beneath the bath was one of the most technically demanding elements of the project.

Careful planning was required to keep the connections accessible while preserving the clean appearance of the finished bath area.

Custom Wood-Effect Bath Panel

The exposed side of the L-shaped bath was finished with a custom-cut wood-effect panel.

The panel was carefully shaped to follow the changing profile of the L-shaped bath and create a neat, tailored fit.

Its warm wood-effect finish coordinates with the vanity furniture and LVT flooring, helping the separate elements read as one carefully considered bathroom design.

Wall-Hung Vanity and Concealed Plumbing

A wood-effect wall-hung vanity unit with a white basin was installed.

The original hot, cold and waste pipes entered through the floor. Because the new furniture was wall-hung, leaving those connections visible would have undermined the clean and refined appearance beneath the unit.

The supply and waste pipework was therefore rerouted and concealed within the wall before the vanity was installed.

This keeps the floor beneath the furniture clear, makes the surrounding area easier to clean and gives the finished vanity installation a much neater appearance.

Back-to-Wall WC and Coordinated Furniture

A back-to-wall WC was installed with a matching furniture unit positioned behind it.

The WC remained in the planned position, with the plumbing and connections concealed within the furniture.

This created a coordinated arrangement alongside the vanity rather than leaving exposed fittings and pipework around the sanitaryware.

Stone-Effect Wall Tiling

The bathroom tiling was completed using 600 × 300 mm light neutral stone-effect wall tiles.

Full-height tiling was installed:

• on the newly constructed concealed-shower service wall beside the entrance;
• along the complete wall above the bath and showering area.

On the wall opposite the entrance, the tiles were installed to approximately windowsill height.

The remaining wall was left untiled and finished at floor level with a PVC skirting board.

PVC was selected instead of standard MDF because it is better suited to a bathroom environment and will not absorb moisture in the same way.

A Dakota tile-levelling system supplied by Topps Tiles was used during installation to maintain consistent alignment and minimise lipping between the tiles.

The neutral stone-effect finish provides a calm background for the warmer wood tones and contrasting matt-black fittings.

Floor Preparation and Wood-Effect LVT

The room had exposed timber floorboards when work began.

Additional screws were installed through the existing boards to reduce movement, help eliminate squeaking and create a more secure floor structure.

The floor was then overlaid with 9 mm plywood to provide a smoother and more consistent background for the final finish.

Warm wood-effect click LVT flooring was installed over the prepared floor.

The product incorporated its own backing or underlay and did not require full adhesive fixing.

The flooring was supplied by Ceiling2Floor in Middlesbrough.

Its wood-effect appearance complements the custom bath panel and vanity furniture while introducing warmth against the lighter stone-effect wall tiles.

Matt-Black Heated Towel Rail

A matt-black heated towel rail measuring approximately 1200 × 600 mm was installed behind the bathroom door in the existing radiator position.

The customer was offered the option of concealing the heating pipes within the wall.

However, he preferred the more traditional British appearance of the pipes rising through the floor, so the final installation followed that preference.

The matt-black finish coordinates with the concealed-shower control and ceiling-mounted rainfall head, creating a consistent contrast throughout the room.

Electrical, Ventilation and Ceiling Scope

No new mirror, lighting, electrical installation or ventilation work formed part of this bathroom project.

The ceiling did not require boarding, plastering or painting as part of our agreed scope.

Keeping these exclusions clear allows the case study to reflect accurately the work completed by Tees Valley Refurbishments Ltd.

Programme

The bathroom installation began on Monday and was completed on Thursday.

The four-working-day programme included:

• preparing and priming the existing wall surfaces;
• constructing the concealed-shower service wall;
• routing the new shower pipework through the loft;
• installing the L-shaped bath;
• forming the bespoke boxing around the centrally positioned bath;
• installing the combined overflow and bath filler;
• rerouting and concealing the vanity plumbing;
• fitting the WC and coordinated bathroom furniture;
• strengthening and preparing the timber floor;
• installing the click LVT flooring;
• completing the wall tiling;
• final fitting and finishing.

The project was completed within the planned timeframe.

Completed Bespoke Bathroom Installation

The most significant practical improvement was the introduction of a proper concealed shower with a large ceiling-mounted rainfall head.

The customer could now use the bath as a comfortable showering area rather than relying on a bath with two separate taps and no shower.

The completed bathroom includes:

• a 1700 mm acrylic L-shaped bath;
• a concealed single-outlet shower system;
• a ceiling-mounted rainfall shower head;
• a combined overflow and bath filler;
• a fixed glass shower screen;
• bespoke boxing around the centrally positioned bath;
• a custom-cut wood-effect bath panel;
• a wood-effect wall-hung vanity unit;
• concealed basin supplies and waste pipework;
• a back-to-wall WC with coordinated furniture;
• 600 × 300 mm light stone-effect wall tiles;
• a Dakota tile-levelling system;
• warm wood-effect click LVT flooring;
• 9 mm plywood floor preparation;
• moisture-resistant PVC skirting;
• a matt-black heated towel rail.

The completed room combines light stone-effect tiling, warm wood-effect flooring and furniture, contrasting matt-black fittings and a carefully integrated concealed-shower arrangement.

The ceiling-mounted rainfall shower, combined overflow filler, tailored bath positioning and custom-cut panel give the installation a bespoke character beyond a straightforward bathroom replacement.

The customer was extremely pleased with the rainfall shower, coordinated finishes and clean contemporary appearance of the completed room.

The project can be viewed alongside our other completed bathroom installations, with further customer feedback available on our reviews page.

Homeowners considering a similar installation can request a free bathroom survey to discuss the room, concealed-shower options and required scope of work.