Well, looking at pictures of the bathrooms on homegate.ch, I've noticed that they're all very different than the ones in the US. Isn't CH supposed to have a high quality of living? Even the ones that say "moderne" don't even have a shower that looks like the ones in the US. I know, I shouldn't complain and should be happy and adjust to change, just don't know why it's different. Is it hard to import vanities (sinks with actual storage underneath it, hiding the ugly metal pipe) or are they not made that way in Europe? Also, the showers don't have glass doors or curtains (or maybe the pics just don't show it). I guess, is all of Europe like this, and why? Sorry, don't want to offend anyone about their bathrooms, just curious about this one fact I noticed.
Ummm. . . . .yes. Things are different in Europe than the US. The showers that aren't part of a bath tub tend to be smaller. However, newer apartments have shower/bathtubs just like the US. I wouldn't consider them very different. The reason they don't have shower curtains is because you are expected to provide them. In general, european apartments/houses don't have storage space. No closets etc. You have to buy wardrobes/storage containers yourself. As for the why, that's just the way it is all over mainland Europe. Partly, I guess because a lot of the buildings are very old. I would highly suggest though possibly reconsidering your move if this is the attitude you have towards things being different. New continent, new rules.
Fluffylily, what are you talking about? Like in the rest of the world, you get what you pay for. Anyway, we only shower once week, whether we need it or not...
The qualitiy of the bathroom depends on the quality of the apartment overall. If you are looking at a higher price range, you can have very nice bathrooms (glass doors etc.). To hide the pipe below the sink, you just need to buy a small cabinet. They are inexpensive and can be bought in any furniture store, and they are sold in exactly the right sizes.
Overall, I haven't noticed a big difference bw American and European bathrooms so far, except for the way the flush works :-)
Thanks for the response, I wasn't coming there with any kind of "attitude", but sorry if it came out that way. I thought I made it clear that I was just curious and that I understand that things are different and was prepared for that. I thought it was a justified question and I stated that I didn't want to offend anyone.....guess I did! Thanks for the advice...
If you are viewing pictures from properties that are empty then everything that is not nailed down will have been removed. That includes shower curtains, vanity units, light fittings etc etc. Unless the property is old and unrenovated the you can be pretty certain that the bathroom will be of a high standard.
You're right. Bathrooms in Switzerland aren't anything like those in the US. Here, you get a large, deep, comfortable and generally well-made bathtub. Not a shallow fiberglass shell.
Shower heads are detachable, which is a rather nice and convenient thing. Not fixed and weak (water pressure wise) as in the US.
As for the vanity cabinet, that's a cultural thing and doesn't exist in most places here, although I have seen it occasionally. As others mentioned, you can buy them in DIY or Migros, etc.
It might be a continental thing, or possibly a rented apartment thing. I had great trouble getting even a half decent bathroom (subjective, I know), compared to what we had before. Same applied to the kitchen. Some quite expensive flats still had small inconvenient bathrooms and kitchens, with the emphasis on large lounges, location and no. of bedrooms... I would have swapped for a smaller flat if only it had the emphasis on these two rooms. Afterall they are the two most important...
Abfab - you can't be serious??!! Only showering once a week? The other days must be for a bath then, or frequent use of gym/swimming pool shower rooms...
I know it's not about Switzerland, but may be interesting. When I rented my first place 10 years ago or so in the UK, no shower, just a hand sprayer. 2nd place no shower, and I think 3rd the same. Finally I got a proper shower with cubicle about 5 years later. Well now every place has a shower.
The opposite problem was true in the Netherlands and Belgium, no baths!
Actually, what I don't get about the UK bathrooms is the whole no-shower thing. And why, when showers are installed, half the time they are in separate cubicles and not the bathtub?!
Compared to UK lack of showering facilities, Swiss bathrooms are a dream (keeping it on topic!)
As already pointed out, the shower curtain wont be in the pic, because it usually shows an empty bathroom. Haven't seen glass shower doors here (for which I'm grateful as the one we had in the US was a pain to keep clean). Personally I think the standard of fixtures/fittings in apartments here is much higher than I saw in apartments in the US, and than I had in the UK (what is up with two separate faucets - one for hot, one for cold, on a sink in a brand new house?! Never figured that one out). And yes, there does seem to be a trend towards white/neutral tile in the newer properties. A vast improvement over the brown trend of past days IMHO.
My kitchen here has integrated fridge, dishwasher and more cupboard space than my house in the US or UK. You might be pleasantly surprised when you get here and see things for yourself.
Isn't a seperate shower everyone's aim in life...? my secondary aim is to have a toilet in a seperate room from the bathroom. 2 toilets would not be out of place...