Carrara tiles, cosy vibes, and one challenging chimney-breast later, this awkward bedroom-turned-bathroom space became the ultimate serene sanctuary.

When the Gourc family, a professional couple with their two children, embarked on a refurbishment journey to modernise their four-bedroom Victorian terrace which they’ve owned for seven years, they started with the two bathrooms.

“They wanted to tackle the most disruptive spaces first, minimising household disturbance,” says Sophie Harrold, director at Simply Bathrooms Surrey Ltd, who led the project. This also meant the bathrooms would set the tone, style-wise, for the rest of the renovation, setting the bar high from the get-go.

After visiting several showrooms, the family struggled to find a provider with a vision that aligned with their desired house style, and who could confidently manage the whole process from start to finish.

The brief

Their go-to design was timeless, functional and luxurious, yet in sync with the home’s period elements – and Simply Bathrooms accepted the challenge. “We were the ideal match, as we offered a bespoke service that respected the property’s heritage while infusing a fresh vibe.”

For this bathroom, the family chose earthy tones that evoke warmth and a natural aesthetic. “They wanted a soft space with accents of colour – neutral without being boring,” explains Sophie. So, natural materials, stones and woods were used alongside neutrals and greens to create a calming scheme that also aligns with the Victorian roots of the property.

A former bedroom-turned-bathroom, the space still gave off ‘bedroom vibes’, with a prominent chimney-breast, and a layout that lacked cohesion.

“I remember a comment from a meeting that the bath looked as if it had been ‘plonked’ into the corner of the room – we all felt the layout was ill-considered and needed complete re-visiting. And as a designer, I believed we should lean into the quirkiness of the room and make the most of the larger floor space,” says Sophie. And that’s exactly what they did, by re-working the positioning of the shower, bath and vanity, and using the chimney breast as a feature.

The renovation

First, the team moved the bath onto the chimney-breast wall, so it was the thing one sees when entering the room. They then re-worked the layout around the bath, building into the recesses at the side of the chimney-breast to ensure the WC balanced out the look of the built-in storage on the other side.

“We moved the vanity onto the left-hand wall so we could make space for a larger, double vanity, also allowing for a more convenient position in relation to the built-in storage.”

Another key feature was the extra-large walk-in shower, placed on the right-hand wall to create a spacious, fully tiled wetroom. The bathroom’s tiling has to be one of its strongest features. The herringbone flooring serves as a subtle nod to the home’s history, while the natural stone adds a lovely rustic touch. At the same time, porcelain marble throughout provides a high-end, timeless finish.

“This combination of rustic-style stone and modern, practical porcelain enhances both texture and sophistication and helps blend the contemporary with the traditional elements,” says Sophie. “I urged them to include the porcelain marble in full height up the chimney breast, to add to the wow factor as you open the door.”

Challenges

The project came with its set of challenges, of course. One of them was sourcing family-appropriate fixtures that not only looked good but also met contemporary standards for durability and ease of use, alongside a realistic budget.

“Whilst we initially looked at stone resin tubs, we kept to an acrylic bath in the end, as it was more family friendly – easier to maintain and doesn’t mark with bath toys – and affordable,” says Sophie.

Ultimately, the finished bathroom is an open, airy space that preserves the architectural integrity of the home, while incorporating larger and more cohesive furniture with a spa-like appeal.

“The family told me this room has become a retreat – a place where they can unwind and recharge instead of just a functional space,” says Sophie. “They said it looks just as lovely today as the day our team finished the work because of the beautiful, well-planned storage which keeps their towels, bottles and kids toys nice and tidy on a day-to-day basis. Knowing we have created something that not only looks lovely but also performs well is what we all strive for.”

Photography: @simplybathroomsltd | Styling: Sophie Harrold

This house tour was featured in the February 2025 issue of Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms magazine.

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