Gunmetal Showers

A rail shower (also called a slider rail shower or shower rail kit) includes a hand shower mounted on an adjustable rail, allowing users to slide the shower head up or down to their preferred height. Rail showers are among the most practical and versatile shower options available, they suit users of different heights, are ideal for bathing children, and are easy to use for rinsing down shower walls. They are widely used in family bathrooms across Australia.

Standard shower rails in Australia are typically 600mm or 900mm in length. A 600mm rail is compact and suited to smaller showers, while a 900mm rail gives greater height adjustment range, ideal for households with users of varying heights. The rail is installed vertically on the shower wall, and the hand shower clips onto a holder that slides along the rail.

In Australia, all shower heads including those sold as part of rail shower kits must carry a WELS (Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards) rating. Most Australian rail showers achieve a 3-star WELS rating with a flow rate of 9L/min or less. Some water-saving models reach 4 stars. A lower flow rate doesn't necessarily mean a weaker shower, modern shower heads use air-injection technology to maintain pressure while reducing water use.

Yes, in most cases a standard hand shower with a hose can be connected to an existing shower arm using a standard 1/2" thread connection. If you currently have a fixed overhead shower, you may want to replace the shower arm with a diverter or combo outlet to enable switching between the fixed position and the hand shower. A plumber can advise on the best approach for your specific setup.

You need a shower mixer with a diverter function, either a built-in diverter on the mixer body, a separate diverter valve, or a combination shower outlet that manages both functions. Consult your plumber during the rough-in stage to ensure the water outlets are positioned correctly for the rail and overhead positions. The Blue Space stocks complete combination rail-and-overhead shower sets from brands including Phoenix, Meir, and Caroma.

A wall shower (or wall-mounted shower head) is a fixed shower head mounted to the shower wall via a shower arm. The shower head position is fixed, though some models have an adjustable arm allowing the angle and extension to be altered. Wall showers are a classic, simple, and practical choice for any bathroom.

A shower mixer (or shower tap) is the control valve that regulates the flow and temperature of water to your shower. A single-lever mixer controls both temperature and flow with one handle. A thermostatic mixer maintains a pre-set water temperature even if pressure changes elsewhere in the system, a safer and more convenient option, particularly for households with children. Shower mixers in Australia must comply with AS 3718 standards.

Gunmetal is a dark, charcoal-grey metallic finish with a slight blue or graphite undertone, sitting between matte black and brushed nickel on the colour spectrum without matching either. It reads darker and cooler than brushed nickel but isn't as flat or light-absorbing as matte black, so it picks up more visible sheen under bathroom lighting. It's a less common finish choice in Australian bathrooms than those two, which is part of its appeal for anyone wanting a distinct look rather than the most popular option.

The three finishes sit at different points on tone and reflectivity. Matte black is flat and non-reflective, brushed nickel is light, warm-toned and has a soft satin sheen, and gunmetal sits in between: dark like matte black but with more surface shine, closer to a metallic than a flat coating. If you're set on the darkest possible look, matte black is the more common choice. If you want something dark but still visibly metallic rather than flat, gunmetal is worth considering over either.

A darker finish like gunmetal can work well in a small bathroom, but it reads best against lighter wall tiles or fittings that give it something to contrast against. In an already dark or low-light bathroom, a dark finish on top of dark surfaces can make the space feel smaller. If natural light is limited, pairing gunmetal fixtures with lighter tiling or a well-lit shower recess keeps the finish from overwhelming the room.

Gunmetal finishes are generally coated the same way as other premium metallic finishes and are cared for the same way: a soft cloth with warm water, and mild pH-neutral soap if needed. Avoid abrasive scourers, bleach-based cleaners and vinegar-based descalers, which can dull or strip the coating over time and are the most common cause of premature finish wear on any coloured shower fitting. Regularly wiping down after use reduces water spotting and limescale buildup, particularly in hard water areas.

You can, but matching the shower finish to your tapware and accessories gives the most cohesive result, since gunmetal has a distinct enough tone that pairing it with an unrelated metallic can look unintentional rather than deliberately mixed. If a full gunmetal suite isn't available in the fittings you need, aim to keep at least the shower and tapware in the same finish, since those are the two fixtures viewed together most directly in daily use.

Yes, the finish has no bearing on water efficiency. Every shower head sold in Australia, regardless of colour or coating, must carry a WELS (Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards) rating and display its star rating and flow rate. Choose based on the WELS rating and spray performance you want first, then confirm it's available in gunmetal, rather than treating the finish as a factor in efficiency.