A little nod to the house’s heritage gave this all-white bathroom scheme an added touch of sophistication. Fancy a look around?
Family bathrooms that serve active households must work incredibly hard to fulfil everyone’s needs, requiring robust fittings that can deal with everyday use, sufficient storage to keep clutter at bay, and practical surfaces that are easy to maintain.
However, for this busy family living in a Victorian property in Sheffield, their old bathroom didn’t have any of these vital elements: the taps were leaking, the suite was cracked and the original floorboards, although charming, were difficult to keep clean. After living with the space for 10 years, the family decided to call in the expertise of local interior designer Rebecca Kerry of Rebel Interior Design, to help upgrade the existing room.
“Despite the dated décor and fittings, the bathroom did have one thing going for it: the layout was working for the owners,” explains Rebecca. “As a result, we kept the layout, allowing us to keep the pipework in the same place and focus on introducing an elegant new look.”
Rebecca tells KBB journo Louise O’Bryan how the sophisticated design came together…
What was the brief for the new white bathroom?
The family was desperate for more storage, to combat the ever-growing collection of teenage toiletries, and wanted a durable, timeless look. They loved the show-stopping feel of a central bath and wanted to keep the original Victorian alcove cupboard, so this determined that we kept the existing layout. They were also keen to invest in a high-quality suite and robust brassware that would stand the test of time.
Why the all-white bathroom?
The original pine floorboards and terracotta-coloured wall tiles gave the room a dated orangey tone, so the owners were eager to lighten the room and bring a calmer feel to the space. As we were tiling floor to ceiling, we opted for a marble-style porcelain, which added interest to the walls and floor with its subtle grey vein but was economical.
Then, to ensure the all-white bathroom didn’t feel too cold and sterile, we went for pale gold brassware and a classic vanity unit, which we had sprayed in Farrow & Ball’s Cromarty – a gentle greeny-grey tone. This adds a warm note without distracting from the peace and quiet of the room.
How did you create more storage?
The owners love the original Victorian cupboard, which disguises the water tank, so we decided to replicate this with an identical one in the opposite alcove and balance the centrepiece bath. The details of the doors were studied to perfection by Brenwood Bespoke joinery, and the floor-to-ceiling cupboard now houses two laundry baskets, fresh towels, cleaning products and loo roll.
We also added a twin-basin vanity unit, with deep cupboards and easy-to-grab towel storage underneath. We also installed plenty of wall hooks to provide hanging space for wet towels.
Any challenges you had to overcome?
The bathroom is at the front of the house and overlooks the street, therefore it was essential to create privacy. However, the owners disliked having to always draw the curtain because it meant shutting out the light no matter what time of day it was.
We couldn’t fit a blind because the UPVC window opens inwards from the top, so the best solution was to add opaque film from Brume to the glass. Natural light now fills the room all day and full privacy is guaranteed.
Tell us about your decorative touches…
To bring focus to the show-stopping bath, we added a picture shelf to the chimney breast for displaying eye-catching artwork and pretty ornaments, which can be changed at any point. Introducing decorative touches into a bathroom elevates it from a simple, functional space to a more cosy, welcoming room that is enjoyable to spend time in.
Lighting also plays a key role in creating a warm and inviting ambience, so we ditched cold downlights, except in the shower, and used chic glass pendants and wall lights instead.
As originally told to: Louise O’Bryan | Photography: James French | Styling: Marisha Taylor
This house tour was featured in the December 2023 issue of Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms magazine.
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