‘A BOLD COLOUR SCHEME TRANSFORMED OUR

Am mak azing eovers ‘A bold colour scheme transformed our bathroom’

Turning two rooms into one created more space

WORDS JESSICA CONTOMICHALOS | PHOTOGRAPHY ISABELLA SWANN

HARDWARE

Simple chrome accessories complement the monochromatic decor BASIN

A floating washbasin frees up floor space, leaving room for a stool so Eva can reach the basin when she’s older

Bella and Darren Swann live in a 1930s house in Surrey. Bella is a photographer and Darren is a bathroom fitter. They have an 11-month-old daughter, Eva, and a cockapoo called Bear

‘Like many 1930s homes, the house had a small bathroom and separate loo. It made sense to knock through and turn two poky rooms into one larger family bathroom. ’

What was your old bathroom like? There were some ‘interesting’ colour choices! And it had been designed for an elderly person, complete with a swing seat to lower them into the bath. The basin was below the window, meaning we couldn’t have a mirror, and the wall dividing it from the loo took up space that we were able to use more efficiently by knocking through.

Why did you start with the bathroom? With our young daughter, Eva, it was important to have a clean, functioning bathroom as soon as possible. However, we had to be careful not to spend too much money on it because we plan to do more renovations further down the line, including creating a large extension, at which point the bathroom will need to be removed.

Tell us about the decor Because I knew the bathroom was temporary, the decision-making was quick and easy. I chose the paint colour first. I have a passion for Farrow & Ball colours, and settled on Studio Green. The wall tiles are Metro Sage from Tile Giant, and the floor tiles are Palau Grafito from Target Tiles.

What were your priorities? I wanted to create a family bathroom that would grow with Eva. A towel rail close to the bath was also essential, and the tiles behind the toilet and basin are a nice feature.

How long did it take? Just over a couple of weeks. We bought the whole suite as ex-display, and my husband’s company, Swann Bathrooms, carried out the work. The bath was longer than average, so Darren had to chase the wall out to make it fit.

And what was your best decision? Using a dramatic paint colour – it adds character and interest without costing a fortune. Plus the paint we chose is an easy-to-clean formula, so any condensation on the walls can be wiped away without leaving marks. HB

TILES

Extending the tiles beyond the bathtub creates a seamless flow that brings the whole scheme together

FLOORING

Statement floor tiles add decorative design underfoot

WHAT WE’VE LEARNED ‘Try and be patient when undertaking work in your own home alongside your day job. Also, it’s important to stop mould building up, so it’s worth investing in a good fan’

WHAT WE SPENT

PAINT £73 TILES £452 BASIN £50 SHOWER £779 SHOWER SCREEN £155 BATH £283 WC £168 ACCESSORIES £122 TOTAL £2,082