On is FROM JAPAN’
With a spa-like bath deck and bamboo effect shower tiles, Tracey and Scott’s bathroom takes them back to a special holiday
Buying this 1930s semi in Ryton was my 21st home move,’ says Tracey. ‘Hopefully it’ll be my last as plans were approved for a two-storey rear extension before the sale went through.
Previously my job had taken me all over the UK and even to America. However, when I started managing a store in Newcastle nearer to Scott’s workplace, we could finally buy our forever house.
Planning the space
The four-bedroom property only had one small bathroom so we decided to convert a bedroom into a spacious en suite. A friend helped me mark out key pieces on the floor with masking tape, which led to us forgoing the walk-in wardrobe section, where the shower is now, to make the room even bigger. It meant we could supersize everything and have a large walk-in shower, double vanity unit and an extra-long bath. I now use another bedroom as my dressing room instead.
Nailing the design
A trip to Japan inspired the design. We stayed in a traditional ryokan guesthouse where the bathroom window opened into the garden and it was so tranquil. Luckily we have beautiful views across fields and we wanted to be able to soak in the bath while enjoying them – so a raised platform was a must. I also found a gorgeous Asian-style unit and upcycled it to create his-and-hers basins. It took me ages to find the perfect jade coloured tiles for the shower but I managed it after an epic search. To save money, we opted for cheap white metro tiles around the bath, but laid in a more interesting formation with black grout. We did a lot of the work ourselves, including laying the electric matting for the underfloor
heating, but left the tiling to the professionals. The whole job took about six months as it was quite stop and start.
New sanctuary
The wall colour – Tranquil Dawn – was the Dulux Colour of the Year in 2020. I also love the black Venetian blinds which set off the space. Even though we’ve lost a bedroom, it’s worth it for such a wow bathroom. It’s so nice having one finished room to escape to while the rest of the extension is still ongoing. My favourite part of the room is standing in front of the vanity unit – whether you look left or right, you can be happy with either view.’
‘TO BREAK UP A LARGE EXPANSE OF FLOOR, A DURABLE JUTE RUG THAT WILL WITHSTAND SPLASHES IS A PRACTICAL CHOICE’
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