This homeowner’s bathroom is in need of a refresh but she is unsure how to best maximise the space. So, we’ve asked two designers to come up with the best solution to her design dilemma…

Beverley McEvoy, a community nursery nurse, 59, lives with her daughters Olivia, 29, and Emily, 26, as well as Indie, their Labrador, in a bungalow in Middlesex. The loft bathroom was initially revamped on a tight budget and during a time of distress. Beverley would like it to be a sanctuary and more practical but is unsure how to lay out the space.

So, she decided to take part in our Drawing Board feature where interiors experts come up with creative and transformative ideas for our readers’ renovations and design dilemmas. This time, KBB journo Rachel Ogden asked senior designer at Ripples London Jo Sangster, and Gabi Riseley, owner and design director at Henry Rose Interiors, for ideas on turning a family bathroom into a soothing sanctuary space.

Read on to see the plans come to life…

The bathroom

As the bathroom is in the loft, part of the room has a slanted ceiling, with height at the highest point being 2.23m, reducing to 1.26m below the eaves. The room is 2.3m wide, but 1.17m of that below the eaves is unusable floor area, with a better width of 2.82m. The budget is £8000 excluding installation.

The wishlist

• The family bought the bungalow as an investment in 2005, never intending to live in it. In 2019, Olivia suffered a brain injury that affected her mobility, so they moved in the following year. The main bathroom was quickly renovated but has never worked well. Earlier this year, Beverley’s husband Dennis died after a battle with cancer, making the need for a calm, healing space for the family even more necessary.
• Beverley would like the loft bathroom to be a retreat with a warm, luxury feel, but also natural and calming. She prefers modern and classic designs, and dislikes anything too clinical or cold. Her wishlist includes a large bath, good lighting, and adequate storage.
• A current WC can be reused. Plus, Beverley would like a generously sized basin with plenty of surface either side. She does not like worktop-mounted bowl-style basins, and would prefer the basin to be in a different location to its current one.
• The bathroom is located in a loft space with Beverley’s bedroom adjoining it. She is happy to have a recess in the bedroom for storage, shelving or lighting. And, she would also like the possibility of a pocket door entrance in order to gain floor space.

Designer one

Jo Sangster is a senior designer at Ripples London and has worked for the company since gaining a degree in Interior Design & Architecture nearly 13 years ago. She has twice been a finalist in the KBB Design Awards.

The solution

“My first step was to look at the existing bathroom’s layout to see how I could solve some of the issues raised by Beverley. These included the basin location and the shower glass being too short. I was also keen to include a freestanding bath to maximise the bathing area, open up the space and prevent the room from looking like everything was squashed into the corners.

“The Viado bath I chose from BC Designs is a double-ended acrylic design. In this instance, acrylic is a better option than solid surface. It’s lighter, making it easier to get into the bathroom and limiting the amount of strengthening required for the floor. I’ve opted for a simple chrome finish for the brassware.

“I love Hansgrohe’s Vivenis range as it has a beautiful curve to the spout that softens the space. Using the same range throughout the bathroom creates a sense of unity. I have kept the WC in a similar location, however I have proposed that a concealed cistern is used. This will create more space within the bathroom and give a modern look.

“For the shower area, I wanted to turn this into an enclosure, as the family had issues with water splashing everywhere. There’s a smooth-running sliding door for easy access, the tray is low maintenance, being a single piece, and the textured finish offers great slip resistance. I’ve also located the fittings on the long wall, so you can reach in and turn the shower on without getting wet.

“Beverley was not happy with the basin location but the sloped ceiling limited where it could be situated. To solve this, I’ve added a stud wall at the end of the shower and placed the basin here. It’s paired with a vanity unit in brown oak while the arched mirror with brushed bronze frame finishes the area. The room is heated by a towel radiator in brown quartz, pulling in the tones from the vanity unit.

“For the tiling, I was taken by the botanical printed tile Beverley had shared. I have used this on the basin wall to create impact as you enter the room, and pulled this through at the back of the recesses. Complemented by porcelain terracotta parquet floor tiles in a herringbone format, this adds easy warmth and texture to the space.”

Beverley’s verdict

“I was totally blown away by this design. The stud wall is a genius addition; it brings instant joy as you open the door. I love the warmth of the wood with the botanical tiles, and the basin is much better placed there. The mirror looks great, and it will be much better lit. The simplicity of the room would work well for us as it links to the rest of the house. We have herringbone tiles throughout the open-plan living space downstairs. And, I love the flow; it looks compact but not squashed.

“I feel I could relax and unwind in the space. But, I am a little worried about storage for towels and essentials. Perhaps this could be remedied by having shelves in the eaves at either end or at one end of the bath. In addition, with the stud wall, we would have to consider opening the door out onto the landing or adding a pocket door I think, which would mean extra cost. It’s more than our budget but there is plenty to mull over.”

Designer two

Gabi Riseley is the owner and design director at Henry Rose Interiors, where she has worked for six years. Last year, she was awarded Bathroom Designer of the Year 2023 by the KBSA for her project in a loft conversion.

The solution

“After reading Beverley’s brief, I felt that if anyone deserved a bathroom retreat with a warm luxury feel, it is her. With this in mind, and setting the scene for a spa-like sanctuary, I opted for a modern freestanding bath from Britton with a minimal, sleek design. It’s perfect as an inviting focal point and generously sized for a relaxing soak.

“However, freestanding baths tend to be slightly wider than normal. Rather than create a corridor between the shower and the bath leading to the loo, I decided to move the WC in front of the shower. I opted for a close-coupled WC rather than a wall-hung design to prevent the need for additional boxing in.

“Another solution could be to locate a wall-hung frame and cistern in the wall between the bathroom and the bedroom. But, I was unsure of the make-up of this wall. Utilising the eaves space, I have created two niches for candles or diffusers, filling the room with gorgeous scents to relax and lift your mind, as well as storage for bottles. This also allows for feature lighting, which can be turned on separately to the main lights. Different lighting levels are perfect for a cosy and intimate space.

“Beverley mentioned that she liked natural, calming tones. So, I decided to use the natural material tadelakt in a warm, light taupe colour on the walls. This lime-based plaster is both decorative and waterproof, complemented by small herringbone tiles in the shower area. She had selected a couple of tiles as inspiration, so I used the Ca’ Pietra Willow Cottage Spring Leaf as a feature tile in the back of the niches and on the wall behind the vanity unit.

“One of the points Beverley raised in her brief was to have a sliding door going into the wall into the bedroom and to have a basin with worktop either side further away from the door frame. To be able to incorporate this with the room height available, I have added 15cm base units either side of the vanity unit, and selected a one-piece resin basin and worktop with ample surface space.

“To keep the warm, luxurious feel, I have chosen brushed brass fixtures for the shower enclosure and the taps, with a section of walnut shelving below the eaves for towels, and space for a small wash basket underneath. This is echoed by feature shelving along the back wall that can accommodate feature lighting for a soft, warm glow in the evening.”

Beverley’s verdict

“There is a lot I love in this design: the herringbone tiles, the brushed brass taps, the neat shelving in the alcoves, the round mirror and the lighting. I also like the bold flooring. It’s very similar to what we have in the downstairs cloakroom and utility, so would tie in well. The shelf in the shower is perfect; we tend to have quite a few products with nowhere to put them.

“I hadn’t come across this natural plaster product, but I am intrigued by it. The botanical tiles work so well with it, so I’d be keen to explore this as an option. The vanity unit is a fabulous colour, too. And, it looks like a good size for storage. I’m very happy about the budget, as well. The only aspect I’m not sure about is the layout. I feel the toilet being in front of the shower enclosure makes the room feel smaller and a bit busy.”

Got a design dilemma? For a chance to feature in Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms magazine, submit your plans here

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