Putting a new spin on ‘country chic’, this ensuite makes the most of earthy shades, natural light and soothing vistas. Let’s discover how this contemporary design came together…
One would think that a house set in the rural town of Lewes, East Sussex, with stunning views of the South Downs, would be as effortlessly gorgeous and tranquil as its green surroundings. Yet, it’s the very lack of character and serenity in this Edwardian property that prompted its owners to reach out to Amy Hunt Interior Design for a much-needed ensuite transformation.
The homeowners – a couple with two teenage boys and their mischievous spaniel, Woody – bought the five-bedroom house back in 2005. And while they managed to refurbish most of the property throughout the years, it wasn’t until recently that the couple realised they never really completed the renovation of their master suite; more specifically their own bedroom, dressing room and bathroom.
The brief for the new ensuite
The brief was for these new rooms to reflect their personal taste, while bringing in more of that South Downs beauty, mixed with both classic and contemporary elements. “They wanted a space that was theirs,” says Amy Hunt, interior designer and founder of the eponymous studio. “A modern space that was also in keeping with the house; fresh and light.”
The bathroom itself hadn’t been touched for 30 years, which made for an interesting challenge. “The previous layout didn’t flow and there was a lot of wasted space,” says Amy. “The home looks out on the South Downs and it was a shame this view wasn’t utilised. So, I designed the bathroom around it.”
The idea for the bath area was to introduce a curved wall for the bath to sit within, allowing for relaxing soaks while gazing at the views – although this had its challenges.
The renovation process
“One of the main issues when installing a wetroom in an older house is movement leading to different heights in the floor joists. This means you have to start again, strip the floor back to the joists and bolt new timber to existing timbers to get a laser-levelled floor ready for the wetroom former,” explains Amy. “Building the curved stud wall that incorporates the skeiling (a flat sloping part of a ceiling) was also particularly challenging.”
Green meshed bamboo mosaic tiles complement the curve to perfection, giving the bathroom wall a lustrous yet organic feel. Both the bath and WC areas feature an earthy palette and natural materials, from the vanity unit in oak to the towel rail in brushed bronze. All this is then brought together by the matt marble-effect porcelain floor tiles.
“We wanted the design to be modern but with a soft tone throughout,” says Amy. And that’s what they’ve achieved: a harmonious look across the entire ensuite, now serving as the couple’s very own sanctuary – or three more elegant rooms for Woody to kick back in and bask in the South Downs calm.
Photography: Darren Chung.
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