Perfect pots

Black fittings and fixtures complement a dark-coloured ceiling

A black, floor-standing bath tap adds a contemporary feel and ties in well with the black woodwork and black painted bath. The wooden bath rack keeps Lianne’s bath bits within easy reach

MY EXPERIENCE

Like many Victorian terraces, this house had a tiny bathroom at the back of the house. We always wanted a bigger space with room for a free-standing bath and walk-in shower. We weren’t really using one of the bedrooms, so it made complete sense to turn it into our family bathroom.

Originally, I wanted a monochrome look in here. It’s how I’d designed the bathroom in our previous house, and it worked really well. But this room is much bigger, and I thought it deserved a bit more drama, so I went for a pink and black scheme instead. The other idea I stole from our previous bathroom was upcycling an old vanity with twin countertop sinks. I looked online for a Victorian chest of drawers but after months of searching on eBay I couldn’t find what I wanted within budget. The builders were pressuring me to have all the bathroom products ready, so I hastily bought a modern sideboard instead. As soon as it arrived though, I knew it wasn’t right. I had one last look on eBay and found exactly what I wanted. I’m so pleased I went with my heart and pursued the idea. It’s my favourite thing in the bathroom.

The patterned floor was quite an investment, but I had my eye on these tiles for a while and they brighten up the whole room. We chose a free-standing bath to go under the window and decided to paint the outside black, in keeping with the rest of the room. A black shower and taps were added for a contemporary twist on the classic feature. To finish, I added loads of houseplants to add another layer of interest. This room really reflects my style. I’m so pleased with the final result.

My shopping list

● Sorrento Nizza floor tiles, £99.80 per sq m, Fired Earth ● Brewst Matte Black bath tap, £349.99; Brewst single lever basin tap, £75.99, both Homary ● Bateau double-ended free-standing bath, £794.70, Burlington Bathrooms ● Crosswater shower head, £189.99; Vos shower handset and hose in Matt Black, £124.99; slate-effect shower tray, £249.99, all Drench ● Hudson Reed black frame shower screen, £129.95; Sahara round white basin, £59.95, Victorian Plumbing ● Bulkhead sconce wall lights, £79, Industville ● Anath Classic White glass bathroom pendant light, £290, The Pendant Lighting Company ● Walls painted in Sulking Room Pink estate emulsion, £52 for 2.5L; ceiling painted in Railings estate emulsion, £52 for 2.5L, both Farrow & Ball ● Be Kind print, £45, Margot Mc Daid ● Tobias black metal mirror, £110, Maisons du Monde ● Plant pots, from a selection, Albert & Moo ● Fink bath rack, £44.99; artificial fern plant in pot, £27.99, both Wayfair ● Amber Noir pillar candle, £28, Shearer Candles ● Matrix Diamond White Gloss wall tiles, £22.16 per sq m, Topps Tiles Turn to p144 for stockist details