‘Bold flooring CREATES IMPACT
Carrie transformed her dated bathroom with a mix of both traditional and modern, using her great eye for design
When Ben and i moved in two years ago, this house needed lots of cosmetic work to bring the interior more in line with our tastes’, says carrie. ‘after carrying out a kitchen renovation, the bathroom was next on the list as the separate toilet and bathroom felt dated.
We decided it was too big a job for us, so we knocked through the wall between the two and then left it up to MJ Nelson Plumbing and Heating to do the rest. The fitting process took about two weeks as it involved joinery, electrics, plastering, tiling and all the plumbing. We also supplied the joiner with frosted glass panels to put into the original wooden door, to let more light into our hallway.
Time for a change
We were very lucky that not many issues cropped up, although we had a problem getting hold of the original bath we wanted as it was out of stock. In the end the company upgraded us and the beautiful roll-top and claw feet are very in keeping with the period of the property. We have tried to create a look that is traditional with contemporary touches.
I’m a lover of bold patterns and prints and when I found the Umbria Gris statement tiles at Leeds Tiles and Bathrooms I knew we had to have them! They create a real focal point in the room and we decided to run the same tiles up the wall of the shower enclosure too, to help the two spaces flow seamlessly.
We then chose more pared-back metro-style tiles for the bottom part of the walls around the sink and bath so as not to clash with the bold flooring. The wall paint is Farrow and Ball’s Studio Green and I love the way it catches the light coming in from the windows – the colour changes during the day depending on the lighting in the room. We wanted
a dark shade to add drama to the room with a traditional yet on-trend feel.
Finishing touches
Before starting the renovation i took inspiration from showrooms and Pinterest as well as boutique hotels. incorporating storage was important for both of us, so we chose a large freestanding unit for toiletries and spare towels. The sink unit also has great hidden storage. i found it on ebay for just £60 and upcycled it – i even used leftover tiles as a splashback.
Once the fitters had left, we were able to get on with the styling. i decided to use copper accents as the warm metallic tones work beautifully against the dark green. i found the copper wire shelving unit in Oliver Bonas and it makes an interesting focal point. The mirror above the basin was from a charity shop and the copper accessories finish the look. We loved the whole process, the bathroom now feels spacious and full of character.’