bathroom
To determine exactly where this wall will be built, Chris explains how he positions the toilet as close to the foot of the stairs as he can without banging his head on the sloping ceiling when stood in front of it. “Once you’ve done that, you know that anyone else can sit to use the toilet without having to worry about the sloping ceiling above.” The space behind the toilet at the foot of the stairs can then be used as separate storage, accessed from the hall. “As a rule of thumb, when installing a toilet pan beneath a sloping ceiling, you need to have 140cm head clearance at the back of the toilet and 180cm head clearance at the front to use it in a comfortable way,” Sabatino says. “You also have to consider the width of the door and a recess to
“Obviously, the further you get to the foot of the stairs, the more un-useable the space gets,” Chris says. “The cloakroom is built into the end with the maximum headroom. I often build a stud wall across the stairs [to separate the useable space from the unusable] and fit the toilet – rather than the basin – against it [as in this design].”
Clay plaster in deep warm grey
Patterned splash back
Plain white with patterned tiles for showroom
Zellige aubergine brick tiles, Best tile
Basin, Lusso Stone.
Very useful ideas, see comments too. Dimmer lights, lutter? Brand named, tile to ceiling, toilet to external wall, not have glass shower panel right against vanity unit, lots of storage, hooks for clothes, inset sink, not bowl on top, clean lines not angles, sink higher than recommended? Etc
Big up your basin A shallow basin may look sleek and on trend but, practically, it’s not always the best option, particularly if you have young children splashing water around. ‘If your bathroom is big enough, opt for a larger basin,’ advises Kimberly. ‘Add wall-mounted taps to create more space around the basin and for easy cleaning.’
In this bathroom, the toilet and basin have been fitted into a wall that conceals the pipework. The designers have created recessed storage in the wall with an open shelf and cabinet. The under-cabinet lighting creates a second source of ambient light, and the result is a sleek and clutter-free bathroom with lots of atmosphere.
sink and tiles everywhere
Door but no tray
Sink with drawers
If you’re worried your en suite is going to feel cluttered, there are a few tricks you can use. “Fit a wall-mounted toilet, basin and vanity unit,” says Graham. “It will enhance the sense of space and be much easier to keep clean. “Also, use the same tiles on the floor as the walls,” he says, “as this is a neat way of creating that feeling of space.” Jamie adds a reminder: “Always use the correct materials behind the tiles. Ditra matting should be laid beneath the floor tiles – this is a waterproof rubber membrane that allows a little movement of the tiles. “Marine ply backing board should go behind the wall tiles, as it’s more water-resistant than normal ply,” he says.
sink and drawers
The vanity unit, which has drawers and an open shelf, is bespoke and made with oak stained with a white oil. silestone top. glass shelf. tiles emery & cie bath and walk-in shower
Ceramic wall tiles in White, Mandarin Stone. Shower screen, Bespoke Glass Online Freya Decor 3/6 porcelain floor tiles, Mandarin Stone. Walls painted in Stiffkey Blue, Farrow & Ball. Royce Morgan Kensington freestanding bath, Victorian Plumbing.
Albion White Matt ceramic wall tiles; Freya Decor 3/6 porcelain floor tiles, all Mandarin Stone. Wall painted in Borrowed Light, Farrow & Ball. Hand basin, Clickbasin. Shower screen, Bespoke Glass Online. Rak series toilet, Victorian Plumbing.
eg of semi-inset
Wild blossom ceramic tiles in seagrass, topps tiles
Sunken bath steps from shower
Large format faux concrete porcelain tiles, Topps tiles
Look around your space to find unused areas where you could fit some unique storage to make the room appear beautifully designed. The owners of this bathroom have hired a carpenter to make the most of a sloping niche. The recessed shelving is both practical and attractive.
Rather than having a tiled shower tray and a full wetroom, Mike and the owners chose a tray that would instead sit flush to the tiles. The decision was partly to do with headroom, as a wetroom tray would have required slicing 40 to 50mm off the floor joists to allow for the necessary waterproofing layers and enough ceiling height.
Get glowing A carefully considered lighting scheme can turn a basic room into one that’s altogether more special. To plan lighting in a bathroom, consider combining overhead spotlights with more subtle LED lighting in recesses around the space. A scheme like the one created by Ashworth Parkes Architects is ideal, as it makes use of a recessed shelf above the basin and a couple of shadow gaps either side of the pitched ceiling. LED strips have been fitted along the gaps to create a gorgeous ambient glow.
Zellige tiles
Shelves above toilet downstairs
Extending cupboard shelves into sloping ceiling
Storage inset into false wall
Storage in false walls that conceal pipe work and cistern
Sleek and minimalist, the connecting bathroom has a glass roof so bathers can stargaze from the sunken tub – a standout feature, especially as the house is set in Ireland’s first International Dark Sky Reserve. “The walls of the extension are all rendered in lime plaster and the render comes in over the sides of the bath,” Brian says.
Q