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Room of the Week: A Light and Airy Bathroom Makeover in South London
The owners of this simple yet unusual bathroom wanted something to reflect the period features in the rest of their London home
The chief design feature in this understated bathroom – that beautifully decorative blue and white niche – came about for practical reasons, but it nevertheless sets the tone for the rest of the space. Traditional-style sanitaryware and a muted palette complete the pared-down, classic look, which was pulled together to complement the rest of this clean and serene south London flat.
This is one of two bathrooms in the flat; the other is an en suite decorated in the same style to keep the space looking unified and uncluttered.
Diyarova explains the unusual horizontal niche, the real star of this bathroom: ‘In most of our designs we use wall-hung toilets that need to be boxed in,’ she says, ‘so we always try to use the wall that’s created behind to add some storage.’
The new space allows for a bank of eye-height cupboards for storing bathroom paraphernalia. ‘And here,’ says Diyarova, ‘we also added a little niche that allows for concealed LED lighting and creates a shelf and a decorative feature.’
Diyarova explains the unusual horizontal niche, the real star of this bathroom: ‘In most of our designs we use wall-hung toilets that need to be boxed in,’ she says, ‘so we always try to use the wall that’s created behind to add some storage.’
The new space allows for a bank of eye-height cupboards for storing bathroom paraphernalia. ‘And here,’ says Diyarova, ‘we also added a little niche that allows for concealed LED lighting and creates a shelf and a decorative feature.’
The flooring in the bathrooms was chosen to complement the parquet herringbone in the gorgeously minimal hallway. Surprisingly, though, the woody-looking bathroom floor is, in fact, tiled. ‘The client really wanted wood, but it’s not practical in a wet area,’ says Diyarova, ‘so we chose porcelain tiles. They are smooth, and a warm brown colour to match the floor in the rest of the flat.’
Wood-effect porcelain floor tiles, Grestec Tiles.
Explore more bathroom ideas for period homes
Wood-effect porcelain floor tiles, Grestec Tiles.
Explore more bathroom ideas for period homes
The cupboards were custom-made by joiners, and Diyarova’s team added decorative mouldings to keep the period theme. Inside there’s an interesting feature – a mirror behind the cupboard shelves, which was the client’s idea.
‘It was a choice between storage that looked like this – with the mouldings and cupboard knobs – or a visible bathroom mirror. The client preferred the look of the cupboards,’ says Diyarova.
The doors are painted in brilliant white, along with the window frames and other woodwork, while the walls, where visible, are a Dulux off-white shade.
Walls painted in Dulux Trade 30yy 78/018.
‘It was a choice between storage that looked like this – with the mouldings and cupboard knobs – or a visible bathroom mirror. The client preferred the look of the cupboards,’ says Diyarova.
The doors are painted in brilliant white, along with the window frames and other woodwork, while the walls, where visible, are a Dulux off-white shade.
Walls painted in Dulux Trade 30yy 78/018.
‘Generally, we try not to use tiles all over the bathroom,’ says Diyarova. ‘We prefer to use them just where they’re needed.’ Here, the designer chose to use tiles, sourced from an Italian manufacturer, to create a decorative feature, as well as to highlight a practical storage niche for shampoo and bottles. ‘We thought these tiles would work well with the period features the client wanted to highlight – and she loved them.’ The metal trim, to hide the edge of the tiles, is chrome.
The sanitaryware is all by St James Collection. ‘The client wanted period-looking sanitaryware, and from all the options they provided us with, we chose the most simple and clean designs.’
Sanitaryware, St James Collection.
The sanitaryware is all by St James Collection. ‘The client wanted period-looking sanitaryware, and from all the options they provided us with, we chose the most simple and clean designs.’
Sanitaryware, St James Collection.
The blue patterned tiles go up to the ceiling at the bath’s corner, creating a mini feature wall. ‘It can be much more visually interesting just to tile elements in a bathroom,’ says Diyarova. ‘It also reduces the cost.’
The grey metro tiles on the bath panel have a subtle watercolour effect, rather than being a solid colour. ‘We usually choose flat tiles over bevelled, which can look old-fashioned,’ she adds.
Discover more ways to mix your tile styles
The grey metro tiles on the bath panel have a subtle watercolour effect, rather than being a solid colour. ‘We usually choose flat tiles over bevelled, which can look old-fashioned,’ she adds.
Discover more ways to mix your tile styles
Above is the matching en-suite shower room. ‘It was the client’s choice to have them matching,’ says Diyarova, ‘but it’s a nice way to keep things simple. And when a home is all on one level, as this one is, it’s good to keep the palette minimal, and it can save on materials, too.
The cupboard-top in the en suite highlights the very clean, calming and soft palette.
TELL US…
What do you think of this bathroom (and its matching partner)? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
TELL US…
What do you think of this bathroom (and its matching partner)? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Who lives here A professional couple and their cat
Location Putney, southwest London
Designer Milena Diyarova of Ardesia Design
Size 5.3 sq m; part of a purpose-built flat with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms
The brief for the bathroom in this period London flat was that it should have a traditional feel – something that would enhance the original features – as well as combining well with the clients’ minimalist tastes.
‘We tried to keep it simple,’ explains designer Milena Diyarova. ‘We used decorative mouldings and classic sanitaryware, and we worked with a simple colour palette, keeping the rest of the flat white.’