Affordable Shower System

Beneath the mixer, a long flat spout projects above the bath: you fill it without holding the handset. Lift the lever, set the heat, and the water runs from the spout; the column then takes over for the shower.

This is the set-up found in many bathrooms with a bath, and it is the one for this model.

The body is stated as brass, in shiny chrome. The spout is flat and rectangular, in the style of the mixer's front. In the photos, the column is shown against anthracite grey tiles as well as a white wall.

The mixer has a flat front and a wide lever laid flat on top: it is operated with the back of the hand, even when soapy. A round bracket fixes it to the wall, on the left.

At the top, the very thin square overhead shower head is carried on a straight arm with a sharp angle. The handset repeats the same square shape and slides in a cursor on the bar, with its chrome hose.

On dark tiles as on a light wall, chrome remains the easiest finish to match.

The column connects to two water supplies coming out of the wall above the bath. If you are replacing an old wall-mounted bath mixer, the outlets are often already in place; otherwise, count on a plumber.

Check that the spout stays above the bath and that the shower head clears the ceiling.

Chrome shows drops: a wipe with a dry cloth after showering keeps it shiny, and a little diluted white vinegar removes limescale marks. In a shower without a bath, the spout is used to fill a bucket.