Zen ensuite transformation with bamboo tiles and oak furniture

Zen ensuite design

Putting a new spin on ā€˜country chicā€™, 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, itā€™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.

Green ensuite with a curved wall clad in bamboo tiles, marble tiles on the floor, freestanding bath and wall-mounted wood furniture.
A natural, earthy green bathroom design brings the outside in ā€“ see fittings in natural oak, plant pots on the shelves and bronze details such as the Matilda Goad bamboo handle on the built-in storage next to the basin. Photography: Darren Chung.

The homeowners ā€“ a couple with two teenage boys and their mischievous spaniel, Woody ā€“ bought the five-bedroom house back in 2005. And while they managed to refurbish most of the property throughout the years, it wasnā€™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.

Walk-in shower with white metro tiles on the wall and marble tiles with a matt effect on the floor.
The shower and toilet area make the most of natural light, with two east-facing windows.

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. ā€œThey wanted a space that was theirs,ā€ says Amy Hunt, interior designer and founder of the eponymous studio. ā€œA modern space that was also in keeping with the house; fresh and light.ā€

The bathroom itself hadnā€™t been touched for 30 years, which made for an interesting challenge. ā€œThe previous layout didnā€™t flow and there was a lot of wasted space,ā€ says Amy. “The home looks out on the South Downs and it was a shame this view wasnā€™t utilised. So, I designed the bathroom around it.ā€

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 ā€“ although this had its challenges.

Bath area with a curved wall clad in mosaic tiles with a freestanding bath sitting on top of marble floor tiles.
The position of the bath ā€“ from Waters Baths of Ashbourne ā€“ allows the owners to unwind while taking in the splendid South Downs views.

The renovation process

ā€œOne 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,ā€ explains Amy. ā€œBuilding the curved stud wall that incorporates the skeiling (a flat sloping part of a ceiling) was also particularly challenging.ā€

Walk-in shower design with bronze brassware, shower niche and glass enclosure.
The Mandarin Stone porcelain floor tiles feature a matt marble effect.

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.

Close up of green bamboo tiles on the curved bathroom wall.
Caā€™ Pietraā€™s lustre porcelain mosaic tile in Avocado Green adds a glossy finish to the curved bathroom wall.
Ensuite design with oak vanity unit, white surfaces, green tiles and LED mirror.
HiBā€™s modern LED bathroom mirror in a classic, round design sits above the more organic Dansani vanity unit in natural oak.

ā€œWe wanted the design to be modern but with a soft tone throughout,ā€ says Amy. And thatā€™s what theyā€™ve achieved: a harmonious look across the entire ensuite, now serving as the coupleā€™s very own sanctuary ā€“ or three more elegant rooms for Woody to kick back in and bask in the South Downs calm.

Photography: Darren Chung.

Enjoyed this post? Click here for our lowdown on micro mosaic tiles

About Post Author

You Might Also Like

 

Want to get involved?

[email protected]

Sign up to our newsletter

Want the latest in your inbox?