Room Tour: A Monochrome Bathroom With Warm, Natural Touches
Traditional style and modern functionality combine to create a bathroom that’s both elegant and cosy
Amanda Pollard
8 October 2018
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
When it comes to designing a bathroom for guests and kids, our main priority is often practicality, but how do you ensure the space is both hardworking and stylish?
By combining beautiful design, durable materials and ample storage in her second bathroom, designer Michelle Johnson managed to create a space that’s fresh, elegant and functional.
By combining beautiful design, durable materials and ample storage in her second bathroom, designer Michelle Johnson managed to create a space that’s fresh, elegant and functional.
Room at a Glance
Who lives here? Michelle Johnson, her husband, and their two children, 6 and 3
Location Canterbury, Kent
Property A detached Victorian house with three bedrooms and two bathrooms
Room dimensions Approx 7.5 sq m
Interior designer Michelle Johnson of Michelle Shakallis Interiors
Photos by Alessio Paratore of Inspired Octopus
The L-shaped second bathroom in designer Michelle Johnson’s home felt a little cramped before its revamp. “It didn’t have a bath in it,” she explains. “There was just a massive shower and a big, built-in unit that housed the loo and basin – both of which made the room feel smaller.”
Her plan was to make more of the space and incorporate a separate shower and a bath the kids could use.
Who lives here? Michelle Johnson, her husband, and their two children, 6 and 3
Location Canterbury, Kent
Property A detached Victorian house with three bedrooms and two bathrooms
Room dimensions Approx 7.5 sq m
Interior designer Michelle Johnson of Michelle Shakallis Interiors
Photos by Alessio Paratore of Inspired Octopus
The L-shaped second bathroom in designer Michelle Johnson’s home felt a little cramped before its revamp. “It didn’t have a bath in it,” she explains. “There was just a massive shower and a big, built-in unit that housed the loo and basin – both of which made the room feel smaller.”
Her plan was to make more of the space and incorporate a separate shower and a bath the kids could use.
Before Photo
Michelle asked her builders to remove the large, walk-in shower that filled the entire wall to the left of the door. The plumbing was relocated and the walls were replastered.
The ceiling had been boarded up and plastered a few times over the years, which made it necessary to refit the entire surface.
Need help with a new bathroom? Find bathroom designers and fitters in your area
The ceiling had been boarded up and plastered a few times over the years, which made it necessary to refit the entire surface.
Need help with a new bathroom? Find bathroom designers and fitters in your area
The cast-iron bath was located in another room, which had been converted from a bedroom into a bathroom. Michelle moved it back to its original spot in this washspace.
The bath was in good condition, but Michelle repainted the blue underside and feet in a charcoal colour. The architraves and skirting boards are also painted in this shade to give the space a harmonious look.
“I’ve used the same colour on the front door and on a large mirror in another room,” she says, “as I wanted to give the house some continuity.”
The durable slate floor tiles are protected with a sealant. “They’re quite large, and we wanted to add underfloor heating,” says Michelle. To avoid forming a 6cm step into the room that the children could have tripped over, the builders removed the floorboards and re-levelled the floor.
Bath, skirting boards and architraves painted in Off-Black, Farrow & Ball. Slate floor tiles, Mrs Stone Store. Wall tiles, Walls and Floors.
The bath was in good condition, but Michelle repainted the blue underside and feet in a charcoal colour. The architraves and skirting boards are also painted in this shade to give the space a harmonious look.
“I’ve used the same colour on the front door and on a large mirror in another room,” she says, “as I wanted to give the house some continuity.”
The durable slate floor tiles are protected with a sealant. “They’re quite large, and we wanted to add underfloor heating,” says Michelle. To avoid forming a 6cm step into the room that the children could have tripped over, the builders removed the floorboards and re-levelled the floor.
Bath, skirting boards and architraves painted in Off-Black, Farrow & Ball. Slate floor tiles, Mrs Stone Store. Wall tiles, Walls and Floors.
Michelle used a monochrome palette and simple square tiles to showcase a beautiful botanical mural on the wall.
“I think plants really lift a room,” she says. “I wanted this to be the centrepiece, and for everything else to complement it.”
The mural goes up like wallpaper and is protected against splashes and fingermarks with decorator’s varnish.
The bathroom wall light casts a warm, cosy glow for relaxed bathing.
Wall mural, Surface View. Decorators varnish, Polyvine. Pimlico bathroom wall light, Garden Trading.
Find a range of wall stickers in the Houzz Shop
“I think plants really lift a room,” she says. “I wanted this to be the centrepiece, and for everything else to complement it.”
The mural goes up like wallpaper and is protected against splashes and fingermarks with decorator’s varnish.
The bathroom wall light casts a warm, cosy glow for relaxed bathing.
Wall mural, Surface View. Decorators varnish, Polyvine. Pimlico bathroom wall light, Garden Trading.
Find a range of wall stickers in the Houzz Shop
The previous owner had removed the wall between the bathroom and the adjacent room to form an L-shaped space. “I made the most of this extra area with a separate shower,” Michelle says.
“I sold the old shower tray and unit and the old basin online,” she adds. “This meant they didn’t go into landfill and the proceeds paid for the wall tiles.”
Alongside the hinged-door shower enclosure sits a traditional-style basin and loo.
Michelle had the original sash windows restored, and replaced the broken panes with textured glass.
Sanitaryware, Pro Bathroom.
“I sold the old shower tray and unit and the old basin online,” she adds. “This meant they didn’t go into landfill and the proceeds paid for the wall tiles.”
Alongside the hinged-door shower enclosure sits a traditional-style basin and loo.
Michelle had the original sash windows restored, and replaced the broken panes with textured glass.
Sanitaryware, Pro Bathroom.
Before Photo
Although there was a long vanity unit in the bathroom, it took up space and didn’t provide functional storage. Michelle decided to remove the low units and maximise the built-in cupboard instead.
The cabinet housed an old water tank, which Michelle replaced with a more efficient model located in the attic.
The cabinet housed an old water tank, which Michelle replaced with a more efficient model located in the attic.
She commissioned a wood restoration expert to strip the cupboard back and restore it. He also fitted a door just above the floor to open up the bottom of the cabinet, which wasn’t accessible before.
“We now have plenty of storage for laundry, towels and toiletries,” says Michelle. “The inside looks beautiful, too, with floor tiles, plastered walls and even coving.”
Tell us…
What do you like about this traditional bathroom? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
“We now have plenty of storage for laundry, towels and toiletries,” says Michelle. “The inside looks beautiful, too, with floor tiles, plastered walls and even coving.”
Tell us…
What do you like about this traditional bathroom? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Related Stories
House Tours
Houzz Tour: Warm Tones and Luxurious Surfaces in a City Townhouse
An earthy colour palette, hidden storage and well-placed texture add character and practicality to this London home
Full Story
Room Tours
Kitchen Tour: A Gorgeous Extension With a Leafy Glasshouse Feel
By Kate Burt
When the owners of this terraced house extended, they were keen to retain its period feel and highlight the garden
Full Story
Gardens
Garden Tour: A Bare Roof Terrace Becomes a Pretty, Sociable Space
By Kate Burt
A retired couple got help transforming their large rooftop into a gorgeous, welcoming, multi-functional retreat
Full Story
House Tours
Houzz Tour: A Smart Layout and Genius Storage in a Victorian Home
Flipping the standard layout and carving out excellent storage have turned this tired house into a brilliant family home
Full Story
House Tours
Houzz Tour: A Victorian House Brought Impressively Up to Date
By Jo Simmons
A cohesive layout and warm colours combined with energy-efficiency measures thoroughly modernise this terraced home
Full Story
Kitchen Tours
Kitchen Tour: An Open, Airy Space Made for Entertaining
Combining two separate rooms has improved flow and created a sociable open-plan kitchen, dining and seating space
Full Story
House Tours
Houzz Tour: A Family Home Inspired by its Seaside Location
Coastal colours and practical design combine to create a house that will adapt as the family grows
Full Story
Kitchens
5 Inspiring Before and After Kitchen Transformations
Whether you want to boost storage, incorporate original features or maximise your space, take ideas from these designs
Full Story
House Tours
Houzz Tour: An Airy, Scandi Finish for a Tall Victorian House
By Kate Burt
From a tricky inherited bath to a sticky-out staircase, on-site problem-solving led to a seamless update for an old home
Full Story
House Tours
Houzz Tour: A 17th Century Cottage Gains Warmth and Character
The clever use of colour and pattern has revived this old building while creating a 21st century family home
Full Story
Stunning transformation. Fascinating how the original over-sized tiles, which were recently very popular, actually made this wall look smaller than it does with the new, smaller, tiles. There’s a lesson there. I used smaller tiles for my own transformation and I’m sure it’s better. The mural is bold and “risky” but it works well here. Bravo.
Suze Wilde, interesting. We have found the opposite. We previously had white 10cmx10cm and a cobalt blue frieze. Have replaced with 30x30 (admittedly ripped out the bath tub and replaced with a semi-circular shower) and it looks 3 times the size!
a stunning bathroom, I love the botanical mural combined with the pine cupboard and coloured bath. well done!