‘It was our dream to have a spacious attic ensuite’
A loft conversion gave one couple the chance to create an elegant, airy bathroom
How did you get started? My partner Henry lived in the flat originally and had always planned to extend into the loft. When I moved in during lockdown, we were so tight on space and storage that it prompted us to start the conversion to create an extra bedroom and ensuite bathroom.
Did you have any priorities?
From the start I wanted to make sure we had plenty of space and that the ensuite didn’t feel like an afterthought. From a practical and style perspective, we opted for a pocket door to avoid anything swinging into the bedroom or bathroom. Storage was another priority: we kept the room feeling spacious and airy by incorporating wall-hung sanitaryware and built-in niches for toiletries.
Tell us about the striking colour scheme…
We wanted a look that combined traditional and modern style, and loved the idea of a bold green shower area as a pop of colour within a neutral room. Despite initially planning to go for Victorian-style flooring, once we saw a sample of the terrazzo tile we knew it was the one! It adds interest without being too busy and, like the brushed-gold brassware, works with our modern-yet-period look.
Were there any challenges along the way?
As the build took place during lockdown, we had to contend with builders occasionally having to isolate, and visits from electricians and tilers being brought forward or pushed back. This often meant we had to make big decisions without much time to think. As it was our first renovation project, we had no idea what we were doing, so it was very much a case of learning on the job. For example, we didn’t decide where to place the towel hooks on the wall until very late in the process, which meant we had to cut into walls that had just been plastered in order to accommodate them.
What do you like most about the room now?
It has to be the contrast of the traditional green wall tiles with the modern terrazzo flooring. The lights were a great find, as they add a boutique hotel feel. Now the room feels very luxurious and it’s a real treat to spend time in here.
OUR SOURCEBOOK Walls in Skimming Stone modern emulsion, farrow-ball.com. Poitiers wall tiles, ctdtiles.co.uk. Terrazzo floor tiles, tiles-direct.com. Basin, vanity unit, towel rail, brassware and shower; all drench.co.uk. Hardware, plankhardware.com. Mirror, bathroommountain.co.uk. Made.com wall lights, next.co.uk