‘I GOT A STYLISH BATHROOM AT A GREAT PRICE’
An elegant update with quality fixtures
Pip Jenkins lives in a semidetached Edwardian villa in north London with her husband, nine-year-old son and daughter, seven. When
Pip updated the bathroom, her experience as a hotelier was invaluable in helping her create a classically elegant space trimmed with quality fixtures – and all at competitive prices.
Tell us about the original bathroom...
Since moving here in 2013, we’d been ‘posh camping’, and putting up with the old bathroom. It was pretty grotty, but as we were working on other property projects elsewhere, we made do with some of the existing decor, such as the peeling cork tiles. The walls were originally green, so we repainted them white and used specialist paint to freshen up the tiles. We also repainted the cladding, just to make the space feel clean and more usable.
What did you want most from your new room?
Bathrooms are such an important space and having done up so many properties over the years, we’re always thinking about that when undertaking a renovation – though I’ve no intention of moving anytime soon! The aim was to create a bathroom with a timeless appeal that wouldn’t date. Classic pieces never go out of fashion, but we wanted a nod to something more contemporary as well as a bit of personality – which I think the Lemur wallpaper delivers.
You took the room back to its bare bones
Yes, it was a total rip-out-and-gut job, as part of a complete refurbishment. Because the house has four floors, we did two at a time and lived over the other two, but it was still fairly
challenging as nothing in this bathroom was salvageable. The bath fitted neatly in its position, which was great, but we needed to reconfigure other items to maximise the space.
Where did you have to compromise?
While I had a good idea about what I wanted, I wasn’t prepared to compromise on the budget. The balance was getting the top quality finish that we wanted at the right price, and I’ve found you always need to haggle with suppliers as there’s usually a deal to be struck. It’s not always easy, but it can save you hundreds – even thousands – of pounds. We did all four bathrooms in the house at once and, having done business with the supplier before, I was able to secure bulk discounts, and make sure he was matching internet prices and I was getting the best rates.
Did you face any major challenges?
Thankfully, no. The work didn’t need planning permission, so that was straightforward. The biggest downside was living through the mess and the fact that these projects never seem to go fast enough!
Tell us a bit about your personal style...
I’m a massive mid-century and classic fan and sourcing items was my favourite bit of the project. I’m now in the process of establishing my own interiors sourcing business (@the_house_ made_me_do_it). I love colour and pattern – anything with impact – so one side of the bathroom has a fabulous wallpaper and the other is simple and classic.
Any advice? Anyone who knows me knows I am thrifty and obsessed with second-hand, discounts and sales. My best advice would be to never stop looking for a bargain!
See Pip’s hotel at molinodelcarmen.com