Time for a new bathroom?
Once again, I find myself looking at a lot of tiles. Tiles for the floor, tiles for the walls, tiles as a possible feature… Does it feel easier after having done it before? Not really. Of course, it’s the fun part of designing a new space, but all those hard-surface decisions will be around for a while, so there’s some pressure to get it right.
Here are a few tricks I’ve learnt from hanging out with some very knowledgeable people. First, spend lots of time looking for inspiration (we’ve provided a whole lot of that in this issue from page 111). While you might feel like you’ve dropped down a cold and shiny rabbit hole, it’s only after you’ve looked at loads of bathroom pics that you’ll start to notice the ones that appeal to you have a common theme. Once you’ve ‘scrapbooked’ or ‘pinned’ a bunch, pull a thread through the commonalities. Is it the palette? Or a recurring tile style? Sometimes it helps to get someone else to look at them with a fresh eye.
The second tip is to be realistic about what you need functionally. A freestanding bath might be on the wishlist, but if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. Move on. I love the idea of having a separate bath and shower, but I just don’t think I have enough room. Claire, move on…
My third piece of advice is to try to enjoy the process – by leaving it in the hands of the professionals. Once you’ve decided what you’re after, your work is done. Step away from the waterproofing.