3 minute read
‘IT’S BOUTIQUE ON A BUDGET’
from Fdxcgv
by elloco2019
e ON A BUDGET!’
HANG ABOUT
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‘I try to repurpose old fittings when we move house. These wooden hooks were used for hanging coats in the hallway of our old home’
IDEA TO STEAL ‘An elegant chair next to the tub adds an extra level of luxury’ Lucy and David shopped around to create a stylish vintage-inspired bathroom without breaking the bank
We bought the house from a lovely couple who had lived here for 30 years,’ says Lucy. ‘Every room was packed with a lifetime of stuff and children’s toys, but we were charmed by its proportions, and especially those of the main bathroom.
First impression
With numerous photos lining the walls, bath toys in one corner and a changing table hiding a gorgeous Victorian-style radiator, the bathroom needed work. Despite the clutter, I could see the room’s potential. The window is huge, so the room is very bright. I knew that if we changed the layout, we’d give the room much more breathing space and turn it from a hectic family bathroom into a light, airy haven.
Getting to work
We gutted the room and considered how to make the most of the space. Luckily, we were already installing a shower room in another part of the house, and there’s a separate loo next to this bathroom. It meant we could afford to pare the room right down to just a bath and basin. Having so little feels totally luxurious and makes it such a relaxing place to unwind.
Smart shopping
It’s lucky we only needed a few key pieces, because we certainly didn’t have an endless budget. We renovated the rest of the house at the same time, so keeping costs low was crucial. I spent a lot of time on the internet comparing prices of the roll-top bath I wanted to take centre stage. I always try to put the bath centrally against a wall. Doing so gives the room a grand look, even if it’s been achieved on a budget. Eventually, I settled on this slipper bath. The price was right at £300, and I thought its
COOL STORAGE
‘Towels and linens are hidden inside a 1930s fridge. It’s lead-lined so incredibly heavy – we had to cut off its feet to get it into the room’
shape would look great against the backdrop of metro tiles I’d spotted at B&Q. Everything else just followed easily.
Antique finds
When it came to the design, I wanted to go for a vintage look and chose fixtures and fittings that felt in keeping with the era of the house. While the bathroom was being gutted, I shopped for a vanity table and cabinet. We needed storage but I didn’t want fitted units. Trawling the antiques markets in Hastings and Rye one day I struck gold, finding an old altar table for the basin to sit on and a 1930s fridge for our linen and towels. I love how they work in the space – no one else has a bathroom like it.
Lessons learned
Despite this being the ninth bathroom I’ve renovated, it wasn’t all plain sailing this time around. Original, restored floorboards look wonderful and can cope with splashing if they’re well varnished, but the very occasional leak has found its way into the room below. Next time I’d put down a sub-floor first. Crucially, roll-top baths need to be screwed to the floor – especially if you have young children who like to climb and sit on them while they’re filling. Ours tipped a couple of times before we learned that lesson!’ MIRACLE WORKER
‘The basin stand used to be an altar table, rescued from a dilapidated church. We gave it three coats of yacht varnish to protect it from splashes’
