‘all i wanted was a new bath’
Sophia braved damp walls and sloping floors to get the bathroom of her dreams
We always wanted a house that would be a project, so we could get the exact look we were after, and we’re not afraid of hard work,’ says Sophia. ‘So it was a dream come true when my husband Tom and I finally got the keys to our home in October 2015.
However, it needed a lot more work than we originally imagined. The house hadn’t been decorated since the Eighties. The electrics and pipework were almost retro and the walls were in really bad condition. The bathroom was a top priority as I was desperate for a proper bath and a space I could relax in.
Making plans
I love all the planning when we are decorating a room and I always start the renovation process with a lot of research on Pinterest, Instagram and of course looking at magazines like Style at Home. I’d seen a bathroom renovation on Youtube with floor tiles that looked wooden. I fell in love with them and knew they would be the basis of the room. From there I planned to have dark wood with grey walls and a pop of colour.
I originally wanted brushed brass hardware but the budget wouldn’t allow it – and looking at the finished room I’m glad I went for chrome in the end. With a lot of planning we managed to work out a layout where we could have everything we wanted, including the new suite and shower cubicle.
The hard work
Usually Tom does the majority of our renovations, but as this is our only bathroom we needed it to be renovated as quickly as possible with minimal disruption. We hired a local guy who has helped us out on other rooms so we know how professional he is – Tom’s a perfectionist too, but he knew this builder would do a brilliant job