Retro gold brass shower system with 20 cm rain shower head

Control is by two four-armed cross handles on either side of the mixer: hot water on the left, cold on the right. You set the mix by turning one then the other, as in bathrooms of old.

The gold is brushed, not polished: it does not reflect light like a mirror and keeps a warm, matt look. In the lifestyle photos it suits a lit alcove, cream walls or blue tiles.

The round rosettes at the foot of the cross handles hide the supplies and give a clean finish to the installation.

The rain shower is 20 cm in diameter and sits at the end of a 33 cm arm. Its face is covered in small raised nubs through which the water flows.

These nubs have a simple advantage against limescale: when a jet turns lazy, rub the face with a fingertip and the deposit comes away. Do it once a week if your water is hard.

The slim handset hangs on its hose and rests on a holder that slides along the tube. The 20 cm diameter gives a concentrated rain over the shoulders, without spraying the whole cubicle.

The dimensioned photo shows an adjustable height of 85 to 132 cm: check the space between your mixer and the ceiling before ordering. The tube slides to place the rain shower at the right level.

The mixer screws onto two wall supplies, hot and cold, then the tube is fixed to the wall. If you are replacing a wall mixer, the supplies are already there; otherwise, call a plumber.

For upkeep, use soapy water and a soft cloth: an abrasive product would scratch the brushed finish. Close both cross handles by hand, without forcing, to spare the seals.