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SMART SCANDI Cosy meets modern in this smart scheme
from Ggvghghbgh
BATHROOM MAKEOVER Love it
TAKE MY TIME!’
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SMART BUY
‘I was going to lay tiles on the floor but this fab laminate from Carpetright was much more affordable’
Removing a large cupboard gave Leanne the space she needed for a glamorous selfie- worthy bathroom
efore I moved from
BNottingham to Plymouth, I’d already found a house in a lovely area but ended up in a long chain and had to pull out,’ says Leanne. ‘I knew I wanted a period property and this house is on the same street as the one I’d made an offer on, which was a happy coincidence. Starting work As soon as I moved in I ripped everything out and had the whole house rewired and replastered. This took six months and luckily I was able to stay with friends while this was going on. However, I do wish I hadn’t done everything at once, because I rushed too often into making decisions and I feel like I’m still patching up bits and pieces now.
Rejigging the space I was originally going to leave the bathroom as it was, as I couldn’t afford to tackle it. The room was quite plain; there was an electric shower and a bath, plus the loo and basin. But because I was getting a new boiler, which would free up the huge cupboard space next to the bathroom, I thought why not rip out the cupboard and the wall and make the room bigger? My plasterer agreed it was a good idea, which gave me the confidence to go ahead. The new layout meant I was able to have the basin against the wall rather than under the window, so I could hang a cupboard with a mirror above it. To save money, I ordered things online, but I did end up buying three loos and two basins before I found the right ones!
Decorating style And I was really undecided when it came to the decor. I would have loved marble flooring, but the cost of the tiles themselves, plus the fitting, was far too expensive. Then one day I saw the
INDUSTRIAL EDGE
‘I picked a shower screen with a black frame to go with my other black and gold elements’
IDEA TO STEAL ‘Combine real plants with framed images to add a touch of green’
ON SHOW
‘My ladder shelf from Wayfair, which I painted pink, doubles up as display and storage’
laminate floor in Carpetright, and knew it would be the perfect, cheaper alternative, and much easier to lay, too.
Gaining skills I reached a point where I’d had people working on the house for a long while, and so many things had gone wrong that I became a bit despondent. Truth be told, when I moved in I rushed to hire tradespeople that I probably wasn’t entirely comfortable with. Perhaps I should have waited and then maybe a more experienced plumber wouldn’t have put the pipes for the radiator and bath in the wrong place! So I took on some simpler jobs myself including painting the furniture pink, starting with the cupboard. I liked how it turned out and got more confident with my skills. The ladder shelf and linen chest followed. Next on the list is painting the skirting boards grey.
Happy coincidence When I ordered it, I thought the loo seat was a darker colour to link with the black flooring pattern, but it’s a much lighter grey and actually matches the radiator. This was a happy accident as I ordered the wrong radiator! I decided to paint the inside of the door the same colour and they all go together. Now when people come to stay they’ll say: “Oh, we’re just going to take a selfie in your bathroom” so I guess it’s been a success!’ Buy it Shop Leanne’s modern vintage look
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Do it!
CHOOSE LAMINATE FLOORING
Laminate is practical and good value with a wealth of designs that look like wood, stone or tiled floors. Cheaper, flat-edged laminates give an impressively smooth finish. Groove-edged laminates cost more but look closer to the real thing, and may be textured to mimic stone or wood grain. Prices vary from £10sq m to £40sq m; a pricier laminate will be thicker. Check if it has a warranty. Look for high durability ratings for busy rooms such as halls and kitchens. For a bathroom, choose a product with a waterproof core. There’s plenty of DIY guidance online but paying for a professional installer will be money well spent.
Find more tips on creating an industriallook bathroom at
idealhome.co.uk
BATHROOM MAKEOVER Love it
MIDAS TOUCH
‘I wanted a huge gold mirror above the bath, and when I found this one by William Wood Mirrors I was sold!’
PERIOD FEATURE
‘The traditional-style gold shower fittings were exactly right for my eclectic style’
Where to buy Leanne’s style
Walls painted in All White estate emulsion, £47.95 for 2.5ltr; furniture painted in Sulking Room Pink estate eggshell, £27 for 750ml, both Farrow & Ball. Shower wall panels, £309.70, Wholesale Domestic. Shower frame, £279.20; try The Bath Co. Dalston back-to-wall freestanding bath, £459, both Victoria Plum. Heritage Ryde bath shower mixer, £214.61; Burlington Edwardian basin, £397.80; Heritage Dawlish basin taps, £179.95; shower fixture, £594.19; shower tray, £116.95; loo, £199.94; loo seat, £67.54, all Victorian Plumbing. Maison bath tray, £98, Anthropologie. Gold mirror, £205, William Wood Mirrors. Cupboard, £65; ladder shelf, £35, both Wayfair. Laminate flooring, £15.99sq m, Carpetright. Drawer knobs, £5 each; door hooks, £7 each, all Sass and Belle. Gold wire lantern (on shelf), £14; large Botanical floating frame fern print, £30; Botanical floating frame fern prints, £25 set of two, all Next Home. Faux fern tree in pot, £18, Matalan
