‘We converted the loft into a master suite about nine years ago, but our idea of a stylish, adult haven never quite worked. It has a steep sloping ceiling and tricky angles, and white walls made it feel too bright and uninviting.
‘We asked Samantha Saunders at Mink Interiors to redesign the space. I wanted the bathroom to feel cosy and comfortable. Budget-wise it made sense to reuse the bath, basins, WC and existing plumbing where possible, and we were happy with the layout of the separate wet room. Samantha suggested a glass wall to divide the bathroom from the bedroom. She also guided us towards the floor tiles, which are the standout feature. Installation cost around £5,000 as part of the overall redesign, which took about four months. The building work came to around £10,000.’
WHAT I’VE LEARNED “I was surprised at how long some of the processes took. It was three months to design, template and install the bespoke steel and glass screen – there was a lot of work in getting it right”
BELOW A HALF-WALL WAS
BUILT BEHIND THE BED, AND SAMANTHA DESIGNED THE
STEEL AND GLASS SCREEN TO FIT AROUND IT. SHAPING THE STEEL FRAME TO THE CEILING CONTOURS WAS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ELEMENTS, AS WAS POSITIONING THE DOOR WITH ENOUGH HEIGHT FOR IT TO OPEN EASILY.
Bespoke steel-framed glass screen, £9,000, Fabco
ABOVE SAMANTHA MADE THE BESPOKE WASHSTAND BY CUSTOMISING AN IKEA FRAME WITH JOINERY, BRASS LEGS AND KNOBS, A CARRARA MARBLE
TOP AND A PAINTED FINISH. Washstand painted in Hague Blue modern eggshell, £73 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Flos Mini Glo-ball wall lights, £99.90 each, Made in Design
RIGHT ‘WE CAN CONTROL THE OVERHEAD LIGHTING IN THE SHOWER FROM A MASTER SWITCH BESIDE THE BED. THE CEMENT FLOOR TILES HAVE BEEN SEALED, MAKING THEM WATER-RESISTANT AND SUITABLE FOR A WET ROOM.’ Thermostatic brushed gold shower with hand-held shower, £595, Lusso
ABOVE GREY-WHITE MARBLE TILES REFLECT LIGHT IN THE ENCLOSED WC AND WALK-IN SHOWER. LOW-LEVEL LIGHTING IN THE ALCOVE, CONTROLLED FROM THE BEDROOM, IS
HANDY FOR NIGHT-TIME USE. Alsace honed marble wall tiles, from £89.60sq m, Mandarin Stone S