Contemporary Shower System with Mixer

The gold on this shower system is brushed, not polished: it catches the light without mirroring it. The round tube, angled arm, mixer and handset share this tone; only the rain head and handset have a white face.

On grey marble, as in the photos, the set takes on a hotel bathroom look. It also goes with a light wood vanity unit or a white basin.

The supplier states a brass body beneath the gold finish. The tube stays slim: the column dresses the wall without taking it over, even in a narrow shower.

The mixer is a horizontal bar with rounded ends, fixed to the wall by two connectors. One photo shows water flowing from underneath: the bar has its own outlet, useful for filling a bucket or rinsing the shower tray.

The controls are at the ends of the bar, and a red marker shows the hot side. The supplier says mixer, without specifying the cartridge type.

Higher up, the round handset adjusts on a holder that slides along the tube, and the round rain head gives a fine, straight rainfall.

The bar screws onto two wall supplies, hot and cold, and the tube then rises to the shower head arm.

Replacing an existing wall-mounted column is usually done on the same supplies; for a new installation, a plumber is recommended. Also check the ceiling height, as the arm projects above the tube.

To keep the brushed gold even, rinse and wipe after showering, with no limescale remover or scouring sponge: these are what mark a satin finish. The gold rosettes then sit against the tiles to hide the joints. Regular wiping with a microfibre cloth is usually enough.