The bathroom is one of the most important spaces in our homes, it is not just a mere wash space, but a place that many of us use to relax and unwind. We talk to Phil Etherden, Managing Director behind Essex-based The Albion Bath Co, about what sets their luxurious products apart from the competition.
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Pictured above : Apollo Doubled Ended Free-standing bath. from £3,586.00
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Iso-Enamel Exclusive Material
When we launched The Albion Bath Co in 1996, our mission since conception has been to create the ultimate in luxurious bath tubs that combine the best qualities of cast iron but with modern technology. Back then, there were only two materials that were available at the time; acrylic and cast iron. Acrylic, which is a soft plastic, became popular in the 1970’s due to ease of manufacture and low cost. However, acrylic’s properties fell short of what the customer wanted, whether it was an issue with its strength, overall look, or the fact it was easy to scratch. These shortcomings remain true to this day.
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Pictured above Left: Tubby Too Double Ended Bath shown in Farrow & Ball Pigeon from £2399.00. Above Right Tubby Torre Plinth Bath from £2860.00.
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Cast Iron baths have been used for over 120 years. Although often considered as the ‘real thing’, cast iron has many drawbacks, such as excessive weight, incredible heat loss from the bathing water and are also prone to surface chipping. Homeowners also found that liquid cleaners would ruin the white interior surface. So, after two years of intensive development, I formed a new unique material, Iso-Enamel. This was developed from an amalgam of special minerals and stone powders, which ensures that our baths will retain heat in the bathing water, giving bathers the ultimate luxurious experience for longer. It is also less than half the weight of cast iron - so customers can have the cast iron look without having to spend hundreds on reinforcing their bathroom floor. Believe it or not, the average weight of an Albion tub is a mere 70kg.
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Pictured above Left: Tubby Torre Dee in 'Burnished' Iron, from £3555.00. Bottom Right: Tubby Tub finished in 'Burnished' Gold from £1975.00.
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Our exclusive material will happily stand up to all cleaning products, even limescale removers, with no fear of discolouration, scratching or chipping. Over the years it has allowed us to faithfully recreate the shapes of iconic classical bath designs that other manufacturing materials simply cannot accommodate.
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Pictured above: Tubby Torre Duo in 'Burnished' Bronze, from £3255.00. Image supplied by Little Greene.
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British Manufactured Baths, Furniture and Showers
Every single Albion bath is handmade in our UK-based factory. We are passionate about preserving manufacturing in the UK. By being involved at every stage of a product, from conception to final creation, we can ensure we produce the highest quality products. We are also proud to sell directly from our Essex showroom, which allows us to cater for specific needs and requests so that each Albion product has a personal touch, something that is often lost in today’s internet age.
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Pictured above: Geminus Roll Top Bath , from £1897.00.
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We also offer a collection of high-quality wooden vanity units to compliment our baths, again all handmade to order from our Essex workshop. These are available in a range of sizes from 450mm - 1500mm, making them suitable for any space, from small cloakrooms right through to super-sized bathrooms. Storage is a crucial part of any bathroom, but it often gets overlooked. With five designs to choose from including double and single basin options, customers will be able to find a solution to perfectly suit their space. Each unit is painted by our own skilled craftsmen using a specialist polyurethane paint that’s ideal for a bathroom.
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Pictured above left: Albion Classic Vanity Unit From: £1571.00. Right: Ortona Vanity £3,558.00
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We are also very proud that our elegant frameless shower enclosures are manufactured from our Essex factory. At Albion, we make our shower enclosures from 10mm thick toughened glass with the added process of post annealing. This provides superior rigidity and durability. All edges, whether exposed or not, are bevelled and polished - providing a luxury finish with superior optical appearance. It's also worth noting that our fittings are made from 316 marine grade stainless steel. So even with harsh cleaning chemicals and aggressive limescale remover, we can be confident our products are corrosion-free and will look pristine for years to come. We offer a vast range of sizes and formats to suit almost every bathroom configuration. From side or corner entry and 'walk in' enclosures, through to tray or non-tray mounting of the glass, there is shower format to suit everyone.
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Pictured above : Recess walk in shower enclosure 1500 x 1000. Price for tray and enclosure from £2358.00
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Endless Colour Choice
Most of our baths and all of our vanity units can be colour matched to any Farrow & Ball or Dulux Trade colour, meaning customers can make their tub the star of the show with a bold stand-out shade, or choose to coordinate their bath with their vanity and the surrounding bathroom decor. All we need is a colour code or name and we'll do the rest. The spraying process gives a smooth finish with a slight sheen. It is hard wearing, washable and if you fancy a change of colour in the future, the surface can be painted over.
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Pictured above left and right: Apollo Classic £3995.00.
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In addition to the Farrow & Ball and Dulux Trade colours, we also offer our exclusive 'burnished' finishes in gold, iron or bronze for our baths. These luxurious metallic finishes make a great statement in a bathroom and are hugely fashionable at the moment, giving a real sense of getting back to base materials. Our luxurious burnished finishes are a popular option for anyone looking for a solid, industrial warehouse look and make a stylish focal point. Alternatively, they also look surprisingly at home in more traditional schemes, and I have seen them work really well in country houses, where the bronze or gold finishes have been paired with bold floral or simple striped wallpapers to give an opulent feel.
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Pictured above left: Tubby Too Double Ended Bath From: £2399.00. Right: Tubby Torre Plinth Bath From: £2541.00.
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A Bath Tub for Any Space
Small and large free standing baths are now the ‘go to’ for the luxury bathroom. Whether your bathroom is space challenged or generous in its dimensions, a free standing or roll top bath will give your sanctuary that touch of understated elegance. Freestanding baths are available in many styles, single or double ended, with many possible feet or plinth options to choose from. There are also a great range of versatile, over-bath shower systems available meaning one can achieve a luxurious spa-like feel which is still practical for family life too. We’ve got all of the bases covered with bath tubs available in sizes from 1200mm through to 2000mm long.
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Pictured above : Neptune Slipper Bath From: £1899.00.
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At Albion, we’re always looking to push the boundaries of bathing enjoyment. We wanted to get the fun factor of a free-standing tub into a small bathroom - so the Tubby roll top bath was born. With its generous depth, you can get fully submerged but at only 1200mm long, it can grace a small space that may otherwise be redundant. Amazingly, the Tubby has created a trend for putting a small bath into bedrooms. I guess it's testament to the appeal and versatility of this lovely bath tub.
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Pictured above left and right: Tubby Tub From: £1975.00.
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