There was a time, not long ago, when Britain was known around the world for its dodgy plumbing and awful bathrooms, where carpet reigned and showers were exotic. Fortunately that has changed radically over the last 20 years or so, and we now lavish attention and money on them like never before. This year I’ve photographed a huge variety of them, from the romantic and old fashioned to the slick and contemporary. Here are just a few.

A soft toned and romantic south London bathroom by young designer, Laura Sole

15-18-01a

15-18-04

15-18-03b

15-18-08a

15-18-19

15-18-17

A shapely bath and mirror in Chiswick, by developer, Julian Bryson/Unmodernised

15-49-20

15-49-22

15-49-26

A spacious St. John’s Wood bathroom by Studio Indigo, with clearly delineated areas for different functions.

15-31-09a

15-31-08a

15-31-11a

15-31-10a

15-31-17a

15-31-14a

15-31-18a

A compact and vibrant ensuite by Ensoul

15-27-13

A copper tub in an apartment by Jess Lavers

15-60-16a

15-60-17a

Architectural precision in a large Clapham house by Architects, Squire & Partners.

15-33-03

15-33-05

15-33-33a

15-33-34

15-33-35

15-33-36

Two very different bathrooms in a country house designed by Jane Ashton.

15-54-33

15-54-30

15-54-32

And possibly my favourite bathroom of the year, is this one in Kent, by designers, Thomas Haycock. Lovely soft palette, and just love those hexagonal tiles.

15-25-46

15-25-48

15-25-47

15-25-49

15-25-50

If trends can be detected, it’s clear that free-standing baths are hugely popular, and that except for the outside of tubs, which here feature in a variety of painted shades and metallic finishes, in the main, bathroom fittings remain steadfastly white. I sometimes wonder why, when everything midcentury is in vogue, and all sorts of styles make comebacks, the coloured bathroom suite appears to be beyond the pale. I recently shot a 1960s house, still with its original bathrooms intact, and although of course the fittings look dated, surely there’s a manufacturer or designer out there, brave enough to start a revival.

15-62-14

15-62-15

15-62-31