Just letting you know that a metal pressed splash back is only suitable if powder coated or left galvanized. It does not meet regulations when painted as the paint is not fire rated. Powder coating is. If you do it yourself, no one will know, but it is likely to dis-colour, blister or even singe! Powder coating does not make it easier to clean. But if you were really concerned about cleaning it you would avoid it all together. The recommendations above solve that easily. At the end of the day, a gloss finish will make spraying and wiping the grease, steam and fat away easily than a satin or Matt surface. Glossier the better, powder coat can control that.

Wow, well, I didn't see that one, and since I tried bristle brushes anyway without success it may not have worked. What I did find, thanks to your suggestion, was this thing, which has fine grit embedded in the nylon bristles. So harder than a brush, softer than wire. The problem with my ceilings (all five of them) is that for the past 122 years, the thin pressed tin was the ONLY surface between the room and the corrugated iron roof. An oven in summer, an icebox in winter, and huge temperature fluctuations between night and day - so although the paint is only one or two coats thick, it has crazed as well as peeled or bubbled. Totally impractical financially speaking as well as impossible time-wise, to strip it back, so it's just remedial work for me. Getting rid of any hanging flakes, and filling in the tiny cracks. Togged up with eye protection, face mask, ear muffs when using the grinder, and a shower cap, I used a combination of the fan grinder below, a hand held small wire brush, the wooden handle of my paint brush, and the plastic end of a broom (when standing on the floor) to scrape flakes and crunch 'blisters'. After discussing the problem with a local specialist paint manufacturer I came away with a fantastic primer which primes ANY surface, even aluminium, bonds the paint, fills tiny cracks, and covers amazingly well. I used a soft brush. Much to my surprise it only took half a pot to do a ceiling of just under 13 sq metres. I found it was less exhausting to do first the scraping, then painting, whatever was in reach before moving the ladder. This saved a lot of double handling.. I hung my paint pot on the ladder, so just threw a cloth over it while doing the scraping. One more tip is that you can do touchups from the floor very nicely with a foam roller mini brush on a pole. The foam roller squidges into the hills and valleys of the tin patterns. I have now finished preparing this first room and only have the top coat to finish off. I don't think I'll need more than one coat, as the prep coat is so good already. I'm going to use a good quality flat white ceiling paint (they usually have a bit of black in them for better coverage). I don't pretend it will look as glorious as the original, but I'm not doing a full-on restoration, just a renovation/refreshing of a very humble cottage. I think it will still look attractive, flaws and all, and show the history of the house. Photo also below of work in progress, and the 'after' of the prep coat. If I remember, I'll post an after picture once I've finished the final coat. :)

Hi Dean I think there is a lot going on with the items pictured. I agree with Dr Retro (as just about always!), there should be one "hero piece" in the bathroom, and this should be the beautiful freestanding bath. That egg shaped toilet reminds of something from Alien!! It doesnt really go with anything else you have selected. There are plenty of rounded back to wall/hidden cistern toilets out there (dont buy a cheap cistern!!) that dont look like they are trying to steal the show. Also, why the sharp edges on the shower ware and basin? They kind of jar against the fluid lines of the bath. Methven AIO Aurajet is an amazing looking showerhead (i specified it for a client recently and they love it), and would go with the fluid forms look. I would also be tempted to get a basin that is formed in the vanity, so you dont get too many cut out shapes against the dark tiles. Food for thought ;)

Hi Leah, I had a pressed metal splash back in my kitchen. It was powder coated and never scratched. I lived with it for 6 years before moving and it was fine. Its a bit tricky cleaning (all the little nooks and crannies) but not overly hard,, not harder than dealing with grout. I didn't have a very big kitchen though and didn't require any joins. There would be metal trims that are used in floor applications (for example where carpet meets vinyl or timber) that might work on the join, you might just need to do the investigating on behalf of your cabinet maker. They are often referred to as C-channels and you could get them powder coated in the same colour so they don't stand out. If you contact Schotts they can put you onto a specialist pressed metal installer who might recommend a solution. Don't give up on the pressed metal yet, its just so beautiful!