‘NOW THE ROOM IS EDGED WITH TOUCHES OF GOLD’
Metallic brassware is a highlight of this bathroom
Lu Fitoussi-Findlay, director of design studio, Plaster Fever, and husband Raphael, a property manager, live in a four-bed Victorian terrace in south east London, which they moved into with the intention of completely renovating
Tell us about the original space…
The house hadn’t been touched for years. It wasn’t just a doerupper, it was a complete wreck. People thought we were mad to buy it, but, for us, it was a way of getting a substantial house in our preferred area. The only bathroom was tiny with a stained bath, a rotten window and grubby dark green tiles from floor to ceiling. As everything was going to be changed or ripped out, we actually had the luxury of being able to decide where to place the new bathroom.
How did you determine where it would go?
We chose a room at the back of the house. It was a great size and there’s a beautiful magnolia tree outside the window that creates a lovely view from the bath. It’s also an unusual shape and we liked the idea of setting the bath at an angle to make a feature of it. We also made the room smaller to give the bedroom next door more space.
What makes it an unusual shape?
It has a chimney breast in the corner, or at least that’s what we think it is. We found it was both a supporting wall and full of bricks, so we decided to leave it there and incorporate it into the scheme.
And how did you decide on the layout?
It took us a while to work out where everything would go. We had originally intended to place the bath in front of the window, but there were issues with the waste and where to put the boiler. In the end, the measurements determined many of the decisions. We did get to decide on the toilet, though, which is hidden behind the door.
‘When you’re in the bath, the view through the top half of the window is lovely. And I’m so glad we decided to add in so much storage too. I keep all sorts in the cupboards’
You chose not to put a shower in…
We wanted a really luxurious space for relaxing and didn’t want to cram in too much. There’s a shower room on the top floor as well as one in our ensuite, so we could afford not to have one here.
What sort of look were you trying to create?
Old school gentleman’s club meets colonial was what I had in my mind, which is why we went for dark green panelling and touches of gold and marble. I was keen to give the room a bit of edge, though, so we chose the contemporary picture with a nod to Vermeer’s Girl With A Pearl Earring. Plus, it’s always good to include a touch of pink, especially when using the colour green!
Tell us about the window…
I didn’t want a curtain or blind as I thought it would spoil the view. We bought a standard sash window with a ribbed bottom panel, instead.
Did anything go wrong with the planning or the build?
Actually, it all went pretty smoothly once we realised a few of our measurements were off – luckily before we started building any cupboards! We had a tricky time replacing the window as the old one was wonky and there was only so much we could do to get the hole level. With these old houses, you just have to work with them and be ready to accept a little bit of unevenness.
Who designed the built-in cupboards?
My company Plaster Fever built the cupboards and panelling to my design, while I sourced the marble top from Stone Age, who kindly trimmed an off-cut to size for me. It’s Labradorite marble and has lovely peacock colours that show up when the light hits it.
Were there any changes along the way?
We wanted blue for the walls but it clashed with the marble and made it look sludgy. Eventually, we chose Little Greene’s Harley
Green instead as it really brings out the colour of the stone.
Any major bargains?
The large rug from Homesense was great value at just £18. It absorbs any drops from the bath easily and can be washed time after time.
Follow Lu and Raphael’s journey at @thehousepotnoodlesbuilt