With the colder months approaching, the need to feel warm at every opportunity is obvious to us all. But don’t fear – there are products out there that will take that chill away and keep you cosy all winter.

Before you get too comfortable, it must be said that we’re not talking about wearing your dressing gown or chic fluffy slippers around the house. In fact, we’re here to share the three sure-fire products that will change the way you experience winter this year (and forever).

Victoria + Albert IOS Bath in Custom Finish. Project: Mel Wilson Interiors — Victoria + Albert IOS Bath in Custom Finish. **Project:** Mel Wilson Interiors

1. Volcanic Limestone™ Baths

We’re starting big here, friends (and with a touch of technical elements, so please try and keep up). Over two decades ago, the geniuses behind Victoria + Albert’s iconic freestanding baths harnessed the beauty and practicality of a special white rock they call Volcanic Limestone™. They then mixed this white rock with a super resin to create QUARRYCAST™, their exclusive composite that is then injected into moulds to form the baths we soak in. Have we lost you yet? Hopefully not, because, here come the benefits…

Victoria + Albert baths are extremely durable, lightweight, and incredibly beautiful. There’s so much to love. Here’s the best bit; QUARRYCAST™ is warm to the touch and features high insulating properties that keeps your bath water warmer for longer. For all of you bath lovers out there, imagine two hours of uninterrupted, warm, bubble-bathy bliss. Yep, you heard right; two hours. We’re already relaxed and soaking in our imaginary V+A bath…are you!?

Product: Thermogroup Underfloor Heating Design: Space Grace & Style Image: Nikole Ramsay — **Product:** Thermogroup Underfloor Heating **Design:** Space Grace & Style **Image:** Nikole Ramsay

2. Underfloor heating

The next product to up your winter bathroom game is underfloor heating. You might be shocked to hear that underfloor heating is quickly becoming a non-negotiable in new builds and renovations. But in all seriousness, it’s the gift that keeps on giving. Invisible luxury, if you like.

Unlike forced air systems, underfloor heating works by warming people through the magic of subtle, radiant heat. While the air temperature in the room might be lower, the radiant heat below your feet will still make you feel warm and comfortable. It also helps dry the floor in bathrooms after showers and baths, preventing the build-up of mould over time. Still not sold on underfloor heating? Just visit our showroom to sample the radiant heat for yourself.

Aireys Project Build: Vault Construction Management — Aireys Project **Build:** Vault Construction Management

3. Heated towel rails

In the same realm of radiant heating sits the glorious product that is the heated towel rail. There’s nothing better than a clean, dry towel coming straight out of the clothes dryer – right!? Well, with heated towel rails, your towels can stay warm and fluffy at all times with the simple switch of a button, or clever programming via a thermostat.

The design and development of heated towel rails has advanced in the last five years, and now companies are offering an array of styles and colours to suit any space. Brands like ABI Interiors, Radiant Heating, and Thermogroup offer finishes from classic chrome to matte black, brass, and gun metal to match your design aesthetic. So, you can rest assured your towels will not only stay warm, but they’ll also have a chic place to hang.

Well, there you have it, friends; our top three winter warmers that are sure to keep you warm, cosy, and comfortable all winter. We know that if we were building or renovating, these products would be right at the top of our list.

Have any questions about these products? Email us at sales@gtandb.com.au and a member of our team will fill you in with all the details you need to know.

Words: Alana Perin

It’s official. Winter is here and boy does it feel like it’s here to stay…well, for a little while at least. With a change in seasons comes a realisation of the necessity of keeping warm in the colder months of the year. In the realm of tiles and bathware this necessity is no different, and thankfully there are solutions to help combat that cold feeling you get under your feet as you brush your teeth in the morning.

No longer do your tiled floors have to be cold and dreary thanks to this product. Bathrooms and ensuites – heck, even laundries - can benefit from the radiant heat provided by underfloor heating. We are seeing more and more interior designers and architects specifying underfloor heating in projects insisting it is a non-negotiable in bathrooms. And we really can’t blame them.

BENEFITS

Radiant heat is what separates underfloor heating from forced air systems. Here’s how: Electric underfloor heating works by warming people through the magic of subtle, radiant heat. In short, the air temperature of the room can be much lower but the people inside will still feel warm and comfortable. As underfloor heating generally covers the entire floor of a space, this creates an even distribution of heat, meaning you stay warmer for longer in every corner of the room.

IS IT SAFE TO USE IN A BATHROOM?

Well yes, of course it is. Underfloor heating is ideal in bathrooms as it not only heats the floor, it also helps dry the floor, preventing the build-up of mould over time. In saying this, you may even wish to install it in the shower area to take advantage of these drying properties. If you prefer robe hooks over heated towel rails, you can even run the underfloor heating behind a tiled wall to help dry your towels.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

In a growing sustainably conscious society, underfloor heating is the answer to your energy saving woes. Most underfloor heating systems come equipped with a thermostat which allows you to set the heating to be on only when you require it. This in turn reduces the amount of time it is being used at its full capacity. While the running costs will vary between applications, site conditions and tariffs, some underfloor heating systems cost as little as 2c per M2 per hour to run – bonus!

Underfloor heating will, quite simply, change your life. No longer will you be dreading entering your cold bathroom on a miserable winter’s morning. With thanks to your individual programming, the thermostat will have warmed that floor right up as you slept. What’s not to love!?

Alana Perin