AMAZING MAKEOVERS on a budget
One couple’s mission to recreate a modern Mediterranean vibe has led to a stunning new space enlivened with striking tiles
Claire Hillen, an executive assistant, and her husband Craig, a buyer, live in a three-bedroom 1930s semi in Darlington, County Durham. After receiving a home improvement gift from family, the couple have given their bathroom a makeover
What was the bathroom like before?
The 1980s-style P-shaped bath was far too small for Craig, who’s 6ft 4in and had to sit in it with his knees up. It was bland with white tiles that were tainted with limescale and mould, plus the shower hadn’t been updated since 2005. We did a cosmetic update in 2016 when we first moved in – changing the flooring and adding a vanity unit and shutters – but we knew we’d eventually have to update the whole room.
Where did you get your inspiration?
We went on holiday to Ibiza and the hotel we stayed in had an amazing bathroom with matt black fittings, which we both loved. Then we saw the gorgeous encaustic tiles on Instagram. I have an album of screenshots from Pinterest and Instagram, but I don’t have the imagination that Craig does – so he put everything together.
How did you plan the space?
Initially, we wanted a separate shower cubicle, but realised it would’ve meant losing the floor-to-ceiling built-in storage cupboard behind the shower and we would have ended up with an even smaller bath. So the compromise was to move the cupboard back by 15cm and install as big a bath as possible with a shower above.
Who did the work?
A friend recommended a company called IFix Property Installations, which did 75 per cent of the work and was fantastic. We also had help from a joiner friend of Craig, who made the bath panel and built-in storage doors behind the shower.
Tell us about the tiles…
Although the decorative encaustic tiles are really thick and needed sealing twice, we couldn’t find an alternative we liked, so decided they were worth the effort. The tiler had never fitted anything like them on a wall. They’re so lovely that I’ve even used a few of the leftover ones propped up as decoration in other rooms. We went for plain white rectangular tiles laid in a herringbone pattern elsewhere, as we didn’t want anything too fussy to contrast with the ornate ones. They’re fashionable but also classic and tie in with the Mediterranean feel.
How did you choose the paint colour?
Craig wanted a dark blue and because the room gets so much sunlight streaming through in the morning, we didn’t want a colour with too much yellow, pink or red in it. We must have tried about nine tester pots to get the perfect shade.
Was it easy to find black fittings?
We came across a company called Lusso Stone, which had exactly what we’d seen in Ibiza, so we bought the shower, taps and bath waste from there. Everything matches and looks sleek and modern. I also changed the handles on the vanity unit to black ones and used black grout and trim on the white tiles to add definition.
And can Craig fit in the bath now?
Yes! He found a 1800 x 800mm bath. My friend and I tested it out fully clothed, and we could both fit in it! As we weren’t having a separate shower cubicle, we wanted the bath to be as wide as possible.
Were there any challenges?
We bought a bath panel that ended up in the skip, even though Craig, his brother and his dad spent a whole day trying to fix it in place. The huge window shutter had to be removed to accommodate the thick tiles and, as none of the walls are straight, getting it back in was tricky.
Is there anything you’d change?
I wasn’t sure about the wood-effect ceramic floor tiles when they first went down. If we’d had a bigger budget, I would have chosen an industrial polished-concrete floor, but they’ve grown on me and I’ve tried to pick out the beige flecks with bamboo accessories to make it work.