Style advice

Three simple tricks to try in your own home

ADD WARMTH WITH WOOD

The original plan was to tile the whole bathroom with black tiles, but after three days of cutting and fitting, the couple had a change of heart. ‘It was too time-consuming and expensive, so instead we fitted wood panelling on the walls,’ says Launel. For added interest, the strips were cut to different lengths and the wood was treated and sealed with Osmo oil for a waterproof finish. Panelling can also be painted, just choose a bathroom-suitable wood paint.

SMART STORAGE

Originally, Launel and Francois were going to turn a corner of the bathroom into an upstairs utility room, but they changed their minds when they saw how spacious the bathroom felt. Not wanting to give up on either idea, Francois made this tall cabinet that houses towels, bedding and drawers for cosmetics, plus an ironing board and laundry baskets. He also made a matching bespoke vanity unit, which cleverly hides the ugly pipework, as well as providing extra storage for everyday essentials, keeping the busy bathroom looking sleek and clutter free.

GROW SOME GREEN

Growing plants in your bathroom adds instant colour and texture. The higher humidity levels help plenty of plants live their best lives, and there are options for all types of bathrooms, whether yours is a sunny, light-filled space or a darker, windowless one. For windowsills with plenty of bright sunlight, try a Chinese money plant; a golden pothos will thrive in a humid environment with low-to-bright indirect sunlight; and if your bathroom is on the darker side, go for something low-maintenance, like bamboo.

‘The bathroom evolved over time, and we made tweaks to the design as we went along to make it work for us’

For a cohesive look, the couple sourced wood-effect tiles for their walk-in shower. ‘ We spent ages trying to find the perfect faux wood,’ explains Launel. ‘ We called in lots of samples until we found one that looked the most realistic’ To get a designer look for less, Launel and Francois shopped around online for bathroom bargains. ‘ We went to a few stores to see the basins and shower units in person. That way, we had a better understanding of how they worked, as well as the proportions, before buying online’