Bathroom makeover: ‘Wood cladding set the tone of my new space’
Discover this bathroom makeover, which transformed a soulless bathroom into a stylish family space.
Image: Fiona Walker-Arnott
Adele Schiavone (@hallie_and_harrisons_house) and her husband Ryan wanted to update their tired bathroom scheme and improve the awkward layout. The result is a family-friendly bathroom that is practical as well as stylish.
What was wrong with your original bathroom?
We inherited it from the previous owners and it was old, cramped, characterless and in need of an upgrade. ‘The curved shower screen and bath looked very dated, there was a basin squeezed into a tight corner, and the toilet took up one whole side of the room.
Image: Fiona Walker-Arnott
Did you have any big ideas for the new design?
When looking for inspiration, the bathrooms I loved most had a ‘holiday feel’ to them, with rust tones and lots of natural textures. I wanted our new room to be warm and inviting, and the wooden cladding, which we fitted to one wall and onto the ceiling, was key to the whole design. Having settled on this, we then chose terracotta-effect tiles for the floor, added brass fittings, and had a bespoke vanity unit made to maximise space. I then simply decorated the room with Scandi-inspired accessories to complete the look.
What was the biggest challenge you faced?
Our bathroom project started at the beginning of the year – just before lockdown in fact, which threw a spanner in the works! But rather than postponing things, we decided to finish off the tiling and grouting ourselves. We weren’t afraid of going it alone, but it was hard work. My evenings were spent sourcing materials online for the best price I could, such as the terracotta-effect floor tiles that were a lot cheaper than the real thing. I also used phone apps like Photo Collage to help me create an interiors mood board.
Image: Fiona Walker-Arnott
How do you feel now that it’s all finished?
This is the final room to be completed in the house, so it’s amazing to have finally reached our goal. Before we started I hardly ever took baths, but it’s such a treat to have a long soak in here now.
Would you do anything differently?
If money was no object, we’d have loved to install a new window and fit a skylight above to let in more natural light – but there is nothing I would change regarding the décor. It’s such a huge improvement from how it was before, and we are really happy with how it’s all come together.
Image: Fiona Walker-Arnott
Project costs
- Sanitaryware – £775
- Shower – £300
- Brassware – £1,095
- Tiles – £1,500
- Cladding – £300
- Furniture and accessories – £1,115
Total spend £5,085