Bathrooms
Bathroom renovation case study 1 (2004)
Brief: Remove existing bath, wc and basin and redesign space (L shaped room with only 1.28m sq floor space for wc and basin) to accommodate bath, shelving, basin unit, wc and rainfall effect shower).
Budget: approximately £5000 including plumbing and fitting work
The sanitaryware suite and existing tiling were stripped back. The previous lighting was removed and halogen spotlights installed. All items were sourced to smaller scales than before but fitted back to the similar areas to avoid expense of moving soil stack/other plumbing work alterations where possible. A new, longer, double-ended bath with centrally located plug drainage was installed to allow for flat standing area into alcove at one end of the bath, the outer wall of which served as a splash panel to retain water coming from rainfall shower fixed to ceiling. Power and thermostatic controls were inset in alcove, completing a designated and permanent power shower area to the bathroom which had previously been lacking. The room was tiled in matching beige travertine stone 30cm sq tiles to wall and floor surfaces to create the effect of a wet room (but without requiring the floor drainage system/tanking that this style of bathroom would usually require). The longer bath was specified to retain room at the back wall for a built in shelf unit - in the natural stone as before - providing a waterproof surface/shelving for vanity products. Finally, a feature mosaic area of 2.5cm sq tiles was laid on the small floor area adjacent to the bath. This created grip (by texture) and visual interest (a focal point to the floor area) with the positioning as if a bathmat, yet central to the entire scheme providing cohesion and a centrepoint to all aspects of the design.
Bathroom renovation case study 2 (2004)
Brief: Second floor bathroom in a flat with limited natural light and a sloping ceiling, overlooked by neighbours. Redesign space for new shower enclosure with power shower, basin unit, wc (and housing for shower pump to increase shower pressure). Improve privacy and light.
Budget: approximately £5000 including plumbing and fitting work
The existing sanitaryware suite was removed and new items sourced to improve the flow of the space, without relocating any plumbing work. The existing light fittings were removed and halogen spotlights installed. A glass shower cubicle with shallow tray was installed to retain a sense of space and remove visual blockades in the space. A circular edged basin, with built in shelf to the right side for bathroom utensils, was installed alongside a tall thin Heals mirrored cabinet for all other bathroom paraphernalia to be hidden in. The styling was kept as neutral as possible - white floor tiles to provide a sense of space (using smaller tiles creating a visual effect of width) and deep warm turquoise tiles, matching in scale to those on the floor, to the basin and shower splashback areas. The window (opening onto another house) was dressed with a sheer, waterproof roller blind in woven taupe fabric which could be left down at all times without drastically affecting light levels, meanwhile providing some texture and warmth to an otherwise whtie and turquose, ceramic and glass filled room. Walls were repainted brilliant white. Together, the light reflecting surfaces and neutral/turquoise colour scheme created a spa like sense of space and water-induced calm in a bathroom with very limited natural light and sloping ceilings.
Bathroom restyle case study 1 (2006)
Brief: Modernise bathroom without replacing existing sanitaryware.
Budget: Minimal outlay
A tall feature east facing window over the bath (in this long thin bathroom) was used as inspiration for a makeover for this bathroom. The decision was made for a makeover rather than a refit owing to the layout of the bathroom which did not lend itself to any significant improvement by redesign, owing to the shape of the room. The aspects changed were few but carefully considered, turning a dated bathroom into an elegant, vintage styled bathroom. The walls were changed from dark blue to Farrow & Ball's Dimity (a soft/yellowy pink reminiscent of fresh plaster) while the white tiles with delicate white,pink,blue and yellow floral detailing were retained and used as a guide for the colour matching. A dark brown, oak effect flooring was selected from Karndean and installed to create some contrast and an anchor to the otherwise light and receding colour scheme in the room. FInally, a shelving unit painted in Farrow & Ball's Light Stone was made to measure and fitted between the end of the bath and the basin, enabling the wall hung storage to be removed. The texture provided by the chalky nature of Farrow & Ball's paint, the grain of the wood-effect floorand the painted wooden shelves injected warmth and provided balance to the coolness of the existing white/ceramic based scheme.
Bathroom renovation case study 3 (2009)
Brief: Remove existing bathroom suite and create a light and characterful family bathroom in the existing space (listed building).
Budget: approx £10,000 to include fitting and plumbing work
A new Fired Earth double ended bath was positioned to sit under the dormer window creating a focal point to the design by using the window/bath combination as the central feature of the design. It alsomaximised the available floor space and improved the flow of the room for its use as a family bathroom. The soil stack was moved marginally to the left to allow access to and from a hatch (being preserved as a safety precaution) without climbing over wc. Pipes had to be rearranged and reboxed along the sides of the room which were taken into account and disguised at the space planning stage. A feature, French-style double sink unit from Fired Earth, with cupboards under, hides clutter and adds a sense of luxury and space, making the most of the limited space available in the bathroom. As a separate shower area was not possible (ceiling height not possible to raise without planning permission and considerable cost to take down and rebuild in original materials, which was considered doubtful to gain approval for) so the taps and shower attachment to bath, along with the taps to double basins were made high spec and became a feature of the room design. Splashback tiling in glass mosaic tiles were chosen in very subdued and watery/muted colours - the only permanent and unchangeable colour featured in the room, making these more of a feature. Therefore, the style of the bathroom is a blank canvas - towels/accessories can be changed with the times ensuring this remains a classic design. The classic light fittings are placed symmetrically as task lighting to sink and loo areas while also brightening the darkest corners of the room. No other lighting was necessary as otherwise lit well by natural light reflected around the room by white tiles to floor, white sanitaryware, off white painted cupboards and the brilliant white walls. Finally, a mirror was fitted over the hatch (to simultaneously disguise it and make use of it). Bespoke floating shelves were fitted above the wc between a wall and a vertical beam, to provide raised storage for carefully selected bathroom potions and bottles, out of reach of children. The windowsill alongside the bath, meanwhile, provides a natural and useful shelf for toys and shampoos/soaps wanted to hand when bathing. The small (10cm x 10cm) natural stone floor tiles were used to create a sense of drama by their contrast in scale with everything else in the room. Mirroring the splashback glass mosaic tiles, they provide a subtle, textured backdrop for the elegant sanitary ware. Underfloor heating was installed in order to counter the look and feel of cold stone tiles in winter. Lavastone top to the basin unit continues the theme of natural materials which soften the ceramic sanitaryware. Finally, Ian Mankin ticking curtains in sage and teal complete the elegant space with their reminiscent French vintage feel, perfectly in keeping with the muted grey painted cupboards and elegant bottles displayed on bespoke shelving.
