DREAM BATHROOM
Whimsical wallpaper and rosy hues create a cocooning, magical retreat
DESIGNER Hannah Cecil Gurney, director of global marketing and development, de Gournay, 020 7352 9988, degournay.com.
THE PROPERTY A three-bedroom, late Victorian townhouse, a short walk from Battersea Park, London.
DESIGN BRIEF A committed ‘bath person’, Hannah wanted a quiet, child-free retreat – with a large bath – to enjoy her nightly soak, often with a G&T and a good book. Unsurprisingly, the design was led by de Gournay’s hand-painted Flamingos wallpaper, with the overall goal a cocooning, cosy haven that would feel inviting at the end of a busy day. DIMENSIONS 3.5x4m
FITTINGS
High-quality hardware was sourced from Hannah’s favourite supplier, Catchpole & Rye. ‘It’s like the jewellery to the outfit. Their fittings remind me of old country houses yet also don’t seem out of place in contemporary interiors,’ she says. The double-ended bath was selected on scale – specifically to fit Hannah’s long limbs! ‘Being tall I get frustrated when I have to choose whether my knees or my feet will get chilly, so I was especially keen on a huge tub,’ she explains.
WALLPAPER
Hannah had her heart set on de Gournay’s Flamingo design and used the vivid colour of the hand-painted birds to set the tone. ‘I wanted an element of escapism. If you ignore the outlook you would never imagine you were in southwest London; it’s a wonderful distraction from the mundane,’ she says. ‘The flamingos cheer me up when I’m brushing my teeth. They are such happy creatures.’
Sunlight from the window reflects off the wallpaper’s silver gilded background, pulling light into the room. The design is panoramic, with an obvious skyline running along the mountaintops. ‘This creates a sense of perspective in all directions, making the room feel even bigger. It’s as if you are seeing beyond the walls – such a clever trick of the eye,’ adds Hannah. Glazed with a protective waterproof finish, any splashes can be easily wiped dry.
PAINT EFFECT
An ombre effect graduates the silver gilded ground of the wallpaper to a matt sherbet yellow as you look up towards the top of the wall. Hannah then painted the ceiling in the same chalky yellow. ‘It feels like sunshine,’ she says. ‘It also unifies the ceiling with the room to create a lovely cocoon.’
FINISHING TOUCHES
Hannah has always loved the concept of seating within a bathroom. The ottoman is upholstered in a washable boucle that can handle a few splashes. ‘You can sit on it to take off shoes. People can sit and talk to you while you’re in the bath. You can pile it with magazines and books, or use it to drop your towels or robe,’ she enthuses. A plain white linen blind dresses the large window. ‘I love how fresh and simple it looks amidst everything else going on and the light through the raw linen is so pretty.’