LOFT LIVING
An unused attic has been turned into an elegant bedroom with ensuite bathroom
Legal secretary Jo Agutter, 44, and partner Shaun McCallion, 44, an engineer, moved into their three-bed 1930s semi in Epsom, Surrey, three years ago with daughters Kiera, 14, and Evie, 10
Tell us about the layout you inherited…
One bedroom was much smaller than the others and we could see the huge loft would make a really nice master suite. We thought we could locate the staircase in the box room and include an open office. After the work, we now have three large bedrooms.
How did you proceed?
We consulted an architect, Steve Burbridge of Angell Thompson in Banstead, and talked through plans to create an extension to form a kitchen-diner. We already had a builder, Paul Wills, whose work was recommended and who lives in Epsom, so it was easy to go and have a good look around his many projects in the town.
Was it obvious how the loft should be laid out?
It made sense for the bedroom to be at the back, so it would be less noisy and we could have a Juliet balcony and doors overlooking the garden. This left a nice big slice under the eaves for the bathroom, with a shower at one end and the vanity unit and toilet at the other.
How long did it take?
Including the dormer and balcony, the whole project took around four months. Work on the kitchen-diner followed straight on, but at least we had a sanctuary to come up to. Once everything was complete, we started putting the final touches together slowly.
You invested in some new furniture…
We absolutely needed a new bed and a comfortable mattress, and eventually opted for a simple fabric design, with storage under the bed and a Tempur mattress. There wasn’t a huge amount of space either side of the bed, so we chose slim wooden nightstands that hold essentials but eliminate any temptation to pile them high with clutter.
Was bedding easy to choose?
I picked a pale grey and white patterned duvet cover, then searched the internet for cushions I liked, coming up with the lovely ranges from Occipinti in all my favourite muted greens, silvers and mauves.
And what about storage?
A wall of wardrobes with lots of compartments was always high on my wishlist. I wanted them to be light and contemporary, and the option to have a large mirror in the middle particularly appealed. This negated the need for a separate full-length one.
The windows got a flexible treatment…
We wanted a soft fabric that offered privacy but would let in light without being pulled up completely. Hillarys Day & Night Enlight blinds have two layers of translucent and opaque fabric that glide across each other, giving us total control over light and privacy.
Was it difficult to choose flooring?
Not at all. I wanted a neutral carpet in the bedroom, while in the bathroom I went for a stone-effect, high-quality vinyl, which is incredibly durable yet always feels warm underfoot.
What about the bathroom?
We went for a powerful shower and teamed it with the most frameless enclosure we could, from Roman Showers.
How did you choose the tiles?
Having something neutral, but with plenty of texture, was top of the list – my shower tiles are grey but ridged, so that they look like rock.