A shower looks like one product, but it is always at least two: a mixer in the wall that sets temperature and flow, and one or more outlets the water comes out of. Choosing well means deciding both before the wall is lined, because the plumber sets the valves and fittings at rough-in and tiles go over the top. In an older home with a low-pressure cylinder, check your hot water pressure first: will a mains-pressure mixer work on low-pressure hot water?
This guide explains each type of outlet, how mixers and diverters connect them, and the measurements your plumber needs, taken from our own specifications and installation guides.
Why Trust InVogue Mirrors & Bathware? InVogue is a mirror and bathware brand trusted in over 20,000 homes, specialising in LED bathroom mirrors, mirror cabinets and tapware across shower, basin and bath applications. The guidance in this article reflects genuine everyday usability considerations, not just finish trends.
- One outlet (a wall arm, a ceiling arm or a hand shower): one Milano Wall Mixer runs it.
- Overhead plus hand shower on one rail: the Corsica twin set. It switches between the two on the rail, so it needs just one wall mixer and no separate diverter.
- Overhead plus a separate hand shower: the Cannes mixer and diverter runs both outlets.
- Wall arm or ceiling arm? The Bordeaux brings a Ø250 mm head 384 mm out from the wall. The Lyon drops the same head 200 mm from the ceiling.
- Heights from the finished floor (a guide): mixer about 1,000 mm (900–1,100), overhead spray face 1,900–2,100 mm. Agree them with your plumber before the wall is sheeted.
- Every fitting connects on ½″ BSP.
How a shower is put together
Hot and cold water arrive at a valve inside the wall. The lever on that valve, the mixer, sets the temperature and turns the water on. From the valve, pipes run to the outlets. If you want two outlets you can switch between, you need a diverter: either a separate one beside the mixer, or one built into a rail set.
The four outlet types
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| Outlet | What it is | Key sizes | WELS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corsica | Rail set: overhead head on an arm plus a hand shower on a sliding rail, from one wall inlet | 930 mm tall · 400 mm arm · head 328 mm from the rail · Ø25 mm rail | 3 Star · 8.0 L/min |
| Bordeaux | Curved wall arm with a round head | Projects 384 mm · Ø250 mm head | 3 Star · 8.0 L/min |
| Lyon | Ceiling arm with a round head that falls straight down | 200 mm drop · Ø250 mm head | 3 Star · 8.0 L/min |
| Versailles | Slim stick hand shower with a combined wall outlet and holder | 200 mm handset · Ø55 mm wall outlet | 3 Star · 8.5 L/min |
Rail sets: the Corsica
A rail set gives you an overhead shower and a hand shower from a single wall inlet. It is the simplest way to get both: one mixer, one connection point, and the switch between overhead and hand shower is on the rail itself. It also suits renovations, because the rail fixes to the wall rather than needing a second outlet behind the tiles.
The Corsica is our best-selling shower.
Wall arm or ceiling arm
Both give an overhead shower with the same Ø250 mm round head. The difference is where the water comes from, and that changes how the shower feels and how it is plumbed.
| Bordeaux wall arm | Lyon ceiling arm | |
|---|---|---|
| Water falls | Forward of the wall, 384 mm out | Straight down, wherever the fitting is |
| Plumbing | A ½″ BSP fitting in the wall | A ½″ BSP fitting in the ceiling: pipework runs through the ceiling space |
| Best for | Most showers, and renovations where the wall is open | Open walk-in showers where you want the water centred |
| Head | Ø250 mm | Ø250 mm |
| From (lowest finish) | NZ$309 | NZ$249 |
Hand showers: the Versailles
A hand shower is the most practical outlet in the room: for rinsing hair, washing children or pets, and cleaning the glass. The Versailles is a slim 200 mm stick handset with a combined wall outlet and holder (Ø55 mm on the wall). Fitted on its own, it needs one wall mixer. Paired with a Bordeaux or Lyon, it needs the Cannes mixer and diverter so you can switch between them.
Mixers and diverters
Both of our shower mixers are in-wall valves with a Citec ceramic cartridge and a DZR brass body, certified to WaterMark WM-022467 · AS 3718.
- Milano Wall Mixer runs one outlet: a shower, a bath spout or a hand shower, from one lever. It is also the mixer for the Corsica rail set.
- Cannes mixer and diverter runs two outlets: an overhead shower and a hand shower. The lever sets the temperature and the diverter above it chooses the outlet.
That valve depth is easy to get wrong, because it depends on the thickness of your wall lining, waterproofing, adhesive and tiles. Tell your plumber your tile and adhesive thickness before the valve goes in.
Mixer warranty
The Milano Wall Mixer and Cannes carry our tap and mixer parts warranty:
| Tap and mixer part | Covered for |
|---|---|
| Tap body | 15 years |
| Cartridges, valves & aerators | 7 years |
| Surface finish | 3 years |
| Washers & O-rings | 2 years |
Heights from the floor
We know of no standard that sets a single shower-head or mixer height for a home bathroom. The figures below are common practice, measured from the finished floor level (FFL): the top of the floor tiles, not the slab. They are a guide, not a rule. Agree the final heights with your plumber before the wall is sheeted. The full rough-in heights guide puts the shower wall alongside the basin wall and accessories. Accessible showers in New Zealand follow NZS 4121, which sets its own ranges.
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| Fitting | Typical height from FFL | Where the number comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Shower mixer (centre of the plate) | About 1,000 mm (900–1,100 mm) | A retailer guide (Yabby) gives about 1,000 mm; 900–1,100 mm is the accessible-shower tap zone in accessibility standard AS 1428.1 |
| Overhead spray face | 1,900–2,100 mm | Retailer guide (Yabby). Go higher for tall users |
| Bordeaux wall outlet | Spray face + about 110 mm (2,110 mm for a 2,000 mm face) | Our factory drawing: 75 mm arm drop + 49.5 mm head |
| Lyon spray face | About 250 mm below the finished ceiling (2,150 mm under a 2,400 mm ceiling) | Our factory drawing: 200 mm arm + 49.5 mm head. The arm length is fixed |
| Corsica inlet | 1,640–1,840 mm | Worked out from our drawing: spray face ≈ inlet + 260 mm; top of arm = inlet + 370 mm |
| Versailles hand shower outlet | No standard height for a home bathroom | Set it where everyone using the shower can reach the handset. In an accessible shower, NZS 4121 needs a head fitting that adjusts from 1,000 to 1,900 mm |
Worked example, Corsica: set the inlet at 1,740 mm. The top of the arm lands at 1,740 + 370 = 2,110 mm and the spray face at about 2,000 mm. The foot of the rail is at 2,110 − 930 = 1,180 mm, and the lower bracket fixes no lower than 1,740 − 530 = 1,210 mm, so make sure there is solid wall there.
Bordeaux projection: the head sits 384 mm from the wall and is Ø250 mm, so it covers roughly 260–510 mm out from the wall. Check it lands over where you stand and clears the swing of the shower screen door. Our shower screen hinges, clamps and handles come in the same six finishes.
Hot water limit. In New Zealand, the Building Code's Acceptable Solution G12/AS1 (paragraph 6.14.1) limits hot water delivered at a shower, bath or basin to 50 °C, or 45 °C in early childhood centres, schools, old people's homes, hospitals and similar buildings. Your plumber sets this with a tempering or thermostatic valve. The mixer lever does not.
Rough-in sheet for your plumber
Send this table, with the spec sheet and installation guide from each product page, to your plumber before rough-in.
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| Product | Finished surface | Wall or ceiling | Connections | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milano Wall Mixer | Finished wall face 45–70 mm in front of the valve | Recess 80 × 80 mm · one Ø50 mm hole | 3 × ½″ BSP (hot, cold, outlet) | Plate Ø65 mm · lever 115 mm |
| Cannes mixer and diverter | Finished wall face 55–85 mm in front of the valve | Wall box 150 × 100 mm · Ø50 mm and Ø25 mm holes, 68 mm centres | 4 × ½″ BSP (hot, cold, two outlets) | Plates Ø65 mm and Ø40 mm · lever 115 mm |
| Corsica rail set | Fitting 15–25 mm from the finished wall | Solid fixing up to 530 mm below the inlet | ½″ BSP wall inlet | Top of arm 370 mm above the inlet |
| Bordeaux wall arm | Fitting 12–18 mm from the finished wall | – | ½″ BSP female wall fitting | Projects 384 mm · Ø250 mm head |
| Lyon ceiling arm | Fitting 12–30 mm below the finished ceiling | Over the centre of the shower | ½″ BSP female ceiling fitting | Drops 200 mm · Ø250 mm head |
| Versailles hand shower | Fitting 12–18 mm from the finished wall | Where it's easy to reach, seated or standing | ½″ BSP wall fitting | Wall outlet Ø55 mm · handset 200 mm |
Write your agreed heights here before the wall is lined (all from the finished floor): mixer centre ____ mm · overhead outlet or Corsica inlet ____ mm · spray face ____ mm · hand shower outlet ____ mm.
Shower mixers and outlets are plumbing products. In New Zealand they must be installed by a person authorised under the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 2006, such as a licensed plumber. Our WELS and WaterMark guide explains the ratings and licence numbers.
Complete combinations and prices
Every combination below is available in all six finishes. Prices add up each part at the time of writing.
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| You want | You need | Antique Brass | Lowest finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overhead from the wall | Milano Wall Mixer + Bordeaux wall arm and head | NZ$748 | NZ$458 (Matte Black) |
| Overhead from the ceiling | Milano Wall Mixer + Lyon ceiling arm and head | NZ$688 | NZ$398 (Matte Black) |
| Hand shower only | Milano Wall Mixer + Versailles hand shower | NZ$628 | NZ$368 (Matte Black) |
| Overhead and hand shower on one rail | Milano Wall Mixer + Corsica twin shower set | NZ$1,448 | NZ$868 (Chrome) |
| Wall overhead and separate hand shower | Cannes mixer and diverter + Bordeaux + Versailles | NZ$1,257 | NZ$767 (Matte Black) |
| Ceiling overhead and separate hand shower | Cannes mixer and diverter + Lyon + Versailles | NZ$1,197 | NZ$707 (Matte Black) |
Best sellerCorsica Dual Shower HeadOverhead + hand shower on one rail · needs one wall mixerAntique Brass NZ$1,169 · other finishes from NZ$669View details →
Wall armBordeaux Wall Mounted Shower Head with ArmWall arm · projects 384 mm · Ø250 mm headAntique Brass NZ$469 · other finishes from NZ$309View details →
CeilingLyon Ceiling Shower Arm and HeadCeiling arm · 200 mm drop · Ø250 mm headAntique Brass NZ$409 · other finishes from NZ$249View details →
Hand showerVersailles Handheld Shower Head with Hose200 mm stick handset · Ø55 mm wall outletAntique Brass NZ$349 · other finishes from NZ$219View details →
MixerMilano Wall MixerRuns one outlet, or the Corsica · valve depth 45–70 mmAntique Brass NZ$279 · other finishes from NZ$149View details →
Mixer + diverterCannes Shower Diverter and MixerRuns two outlets · valve depth 55–85 mmAntique Brass NZ$439 · other finishes from NZ$239View details →Prices at the time of writing. The product page always shows the current price.
Choose your shower finish
Showers, mixers, basin taps, wastes and screen hardware all come in the same six finishes.
Planning the whole room? Pick the shower first, then the vanity tap, then the mirror above your basin.
FAQs
Does the Corsica need a diverter?
No. The Corsica switches between its overhead and hand shower on the rail, so it needs one wall mixer, such as the Milano Wall Mixer, and no separate diverter.
How many outlets can the Cannes run?
Two: an overhead shower and a hand shower, each sold separately.
Can one Milano Wall Mixer run a shower head and a hand shower?
No. The Milano Wall Mixer controls one outlet. To run an overhead and a hand shower separately, choose the Cannes mixer and diverter, or use the Corsica rail set.
How far does the Bordeaux shower arm project?
384 mm from the wall, with a Ø250 mm head.
How far does the Lyon ceiling arm drop?
200 mm from the ceiling to the head connection. With the Ø250 mm head fitted, the spray face is about 250 mm below the finished ceiling.
What thread do your showers use?
½″ BSP for every wall and ceiling fitting.
How deep does the shower mixer valve sit?
The finished wall face must be 45–70 mm in front of the valve for the Milano Wall Mixer, and 55–85 mm for the Cannes.
What WELS rating are your showers?
3 Star. The Corsica, Bordeaux and Lyon are 8.0 L/min and the Versailles hand shower is 8.5 L/min.
Is there a standard shower head height in New Zealand?
We know of no standard that sets one height for a home bathroom. Retailer guides put the spray face 1,900–2,100 mm above the finished floor and the mixer at about 1,000 mm. Accessible showers follow NZS 4121, which needs a hand shower head that can be fixed anywhere from 1,000 to 1,900 mm. Agree the heights with your plumber at rough-in.
How high should the Corsica inlet be?
About 1,640–1,840 mm above the finished floor. The top of the arm is 370 mm above the inlet and the spray face about 260 mm above it, so a 1,740 mm inlet puts the spray face at about 2,000 mm.
How high should the Bordeaux wall outlet be?
About 110 mm above the height you want the spray face. For a spray face at 2,000 mm, set the outlet at about 2,110 mm above the finished floor.
Need help? Ask us with a photo.
Send a photo of your basin, wall or plans and we will tell you what fits, or email info@invoguemirrors.co.nz.
