‘OUR BATHROOM IS NOW A SANCTUARY’

From dark and dingy to bright, light and characterful

Yvonne Oliver, managing director for a medical education company, and her partner Anthony, who owns an estate agency, live with their children, Christopher and Paris, in a five-bedroom Victorian property in Barnet, north London. The previous bathroom was dark and dingy, with an impractical layout, so the couple embarked on a complete overhaul as part of their whole-house renovation

Tell us about the original bathroom…

Being in the loft and poorly converted more than 30 years ago, its restricted head height was a real issue and made the whole room feel claustrophobic. The walls and ceiling were decorated in a dated floral wallpaper, and the suite was positioned awkwardly; it didn’t utilise the space well at all.

Did you make any structural changes to the room?

Yes, we decided to add a generous dormer window to the back of the loft room to make it feel more spacious, increase the head height and let in more natural light. We live in a conservation area and had to apply for planning permission to get the go ahead. Unfortunately, we didn’t submit these plans along with the rest of our house plans, so we had to re-apply for the dormer window separately, which incurred more fees.

What was at the top of your wishlist?

I’d always loved the idea of having a rolltop bath as a luxurious feature in a bathroom, and I wanted this space to feel like an indulgent sanctuary. The new layout also meant we had room for a walk-in shower, separate to the bath, and I made sure we could fit in a double vanity unit so we could achieve a boutique-hotel feel. I had spotted the lily pad tiles some time before starting the project and knew I wanted to incorporate these into the design.

Talk us through the new layout of the bathroom…

The space really opened up when we added the dormer window and this created the perfect spot to house the freestanding bath. It not only means we can enjoy the garden views while having a soak, but it also makes a striking focal point when entering the room.

‘I made sure we could fit in a DOUBLE VANITY unit so the room would feel like a BOUTIQUE HOTEL’

We kept the loo in its original position, which helped save money as there was no need to relocate existing plumbing, and luckily there was still space to fit in the shower enclosure without it feeling cramped.

Where did you get your inspiration for the new bathroom design?

I’ve been an avid homes magazine reader for years and can spend hours poring over images. I also found Instagram to be a great source of ideas and have my own interiors account, @yvonne_loves_paris_and_kit.

How did you choose the colour palette for the bathroom?

The tiles were the first thing I earmarked for the room and the rest of the design stemmed from there. Because they’re such a bold design, I decided to keep everything else white and uncluttered to help balance the scheme and let them take centre stage. When it came to fixtures and fittings, I was keen to continue a luxurious look so opted for a brushed-gold finish for the shower, taps and heated towel rail. I’ve introduced black accents to keep it grounded and we painted the bath in Farrow & Ball’s Railings for added drama.

The scheme is contemporary but it complements the period of the house…

Yes, I wanted to embrace some traditional elements of the Victorian property, so we salvaged the original fireplace to reuse. I also opted for classic wooden shutters on the windows, as they suit the period style while still feeling modern, and the claw-foot rolltop bath gives a nod to the history of the house too.

Are you happy with the bathroom now it’s complete?

Absolutely! The space has become one of my favourite places to escape to and I love the sense of calm the room has. Being able to lie back and relax in the bath with the lights dimmed and candles lit definitely makes the stresses of the project worthwhile!

‘I introduced BLACK ACCENTS to the scheme to keep it grounded’