Two women, mid-twenties

This is the bathroom in an east London flat. It's rented by two women in their mid-twenties.

Lovely toilet lid cover. The flowers in the vase are a nice homely touch as well.

Note the lack of toilet-roll holder? This is very common in UK households. I don't know why. Some countries' dominant cultures call for water instead of toilet paper but the UK isn't one of them. I put it down to general laziness on the part of bathroom designers everywhere.

A small collection of bathroom products. Not the best photographic angle, I'll admit. In my defense, it was a small room and caipirinhas had been passed around earlier in the evening.

The Bathroom Spy

Bathrooms are fascinating places. They're the one room that every place needs but hardly anyone will talk about. They are intensely private places - by their very nature you are utterly exposed when using one.

Some people think you'll find out all you need to know about a person or a venue, simply by visiting the toilet. I'm not sure I agree but it goes to show the importance of this little room.

I love checking out the toilets in a new restaurant or shopping centre. I find the little cultural differences so intriguing.

In Vietnam, there's usually a bucket to throw your paper because the pipes often can't cope with it. In Malaysia you have a mix of sit-down and squat toilets and there's always a tap with a length of hose within reach of the user. In Britain, the ladies' toilets frequently have a pointless ante-room which I can only assume is to protect the modesty of the women inside.

This blog is inspired by an interview with Andrew Buurman, photographer of fertility clinic wank rooms. He said:

'It's the essence of photography to document things that people can't usually see. For blokes, it would be the inside of a women's loo.

He's right. I have no idea what most men's toilets look like. I'm going to show you every bathroom I visit from now on. Public, private, outdoor, spotless, filthy, you name it.

Maybe you'll even see yours.