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Room Tour: A Small, Cold Bathroom is Cleverly Redesigned
A compact footprint and tricky sloping ceiling didn’t stop this Houzz designer from creating a dream space
Bathrooms need to be practical spaces, but sometimes, because of the use of tile, ceramic and metal, they run the risk of feeling a bit stark. That was the challenge the owner of this small London bathroom faced.
“It was a cold, unfriendly room the owner didn’t like,” designer Georgie Wykeham says, “so we were asked to instil warmth and comfort into it so it would be enjoyable to use.”
“It was a cold, unfriendly room the owner didn’t like,” designer Georgie Wykeham says, “so we were asked to instil warmth and comfort into it so it would be enjoyable to use.”
There were several other practical issues to overcome before the main redesign could begin. “We had to add insulation to the walls,” Georgie says, “and the floor was also very weak, so it had to be re-laid to stop us going through into the neighbour’s flat.”
Once these issues were addressed, Georgie and her client could start the visualisation of the room. “I used Houzz as a resource [for this] – it’s a great way to begin building ideas of how you imagine the space,” she says.
A full-size bath tucked under the sloping roof with a shower at the highest end offers the practicality of both a bath and shower. The folding glass screen is a neat and practical solution in such a tight space, allowing daylight to flow through from the window into the rest of the room.
Feeling inspired? Find a local bathroom designer or interior designer on Houzz.
Once these issues were addressed, Georgie and her client could start the visualisation of the room. “I used Houzz as a resource [for this] – it’s a great way to begin building ideas of how you imagine the space,” she says.
A full-size bath tucked under the sloping roof with a shower at the highest end offers the practicality of both a bath and shower. The folding glass screen is a neat and practical solution in such a tight space, allowing daylight to flow through from the window into the rest of the room.
Feeling inspired? Find a local bathroom designer or interior designer on Houzz.
“Luckily, our client was not afraid of colour,” Georgie says, so she went for a deep, ‘warm’ blue, “which works from day to night to create warmth and comfort. The white keeps it fresh and contemporary.”
Large patterned floor tiles add character and were a carefully considered investment. “We had to think about budget,” Georgie says, “so we decided to put down amazing floor tiles, which gave a big impact, then compromised on the wall tiles to save money.
“We chose a style in keeping with the building as well as the owner’s taste,” she adds.
Walls painted in Vardo, Farrow & Ball. Terrazzo Crovato floor tiles, Fired Earth.
Large patterned floor tiles add character and were a carefully considered investment. “We had to think about budget,” Georgie says, “so we decided to put down amazing floor tiles, which gave a big impact, then compromised on the wall tiles to save money.
“We chose a style in keeping with the building as well as the owner’s taste,” she adds.
Walls painted in Vardo, Farrow & Ball. Terrazzo Crovato floor tiles, Fired Earth.
Installing the shower controls at the opposite end of the bath was a smart decision, as it means the owner can turn on the shower and get it up to temperature before stepping in. “It’s much easier having the taps there, and it means you needn’t reach around the shower screen,” Georgie says.
Small details elevate the design from functional to stylish. The simple, inexpensive white wall tiles around the bath have been given a lift thanks to a chrome tile trim, which also runs around the window frame.
A window of glass bricks behind the bath, meanwhile, is a clever way of drawing light into the space while still ensuring privacy.
White wall tiles, European Heritage.
Small details elevate the design from functional to stylish. The simple, inexpensive white wall tiles around the bath have been given a lift thanks to a chrome tile trim, which also runs around the window frame.
A window of glass bricks behind the bath, meanwhile, is a clever way of drawing light into the space while still ensuring privacy.
White wall tiles, European Heritage.
“The homeowner is delighted with the transformation from a cold and impractical space into somewhere warm and inviting,” Georgie says. “It’s a clean, spacious room, but it has all the bathroom necessities you need.”
Tell us…
What’s your favourite element of this bathroom makeover? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments section.
Tell us…
What’s your favourite element of this bathroom makeover? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments section.
Who lives here? A single professional
Location Putney, south London
Property A top floor apartment in a Victorian building
Bathroom dimensions 2 x 3.5m
Designer Georgie Wykeham of Georgie Wykeham Designs
Georgie started the redesign by assessing what the homeowner wanted from the space. “We always try to accommodate the client’s needs and pre-empt requirements such as storage in a bathroom,” she explains.
“The main requests from the homeowner were to keep a bath and shower and create storage to hide cosmetics they use frequently but don’t wish to see,” she says.
The layout of the space felt cramped, which was partly because there wasn’t any integrated storage. To get around this, Georgie designed in “almost an entire wall of storage at a low level” (just seen here on the left). She then switched the basin and toilet around and removed some of the boxing around the existing pipework to create more floor space.