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Room Tour: How a Dated Bathroom Became a Warm, Elegant Space
Wood panelling, brass fittings and natural timber restore era-appropriate glamour to a poorly designed bathroom
Hiring an interior designer to work on their bathroom was a no-brainer for the owners of this house in Yorkshire. They’d inherited an awkward layout and unnecessarily extensive tiling and needed someone with a skilled design eye to work out how to arrange all the sanitaryware and bring warmth and a sense of the home’s heritage into the decor.
Step forward designer Elizabeth Ennis of Wolfe Interiors, who balanced period features with modern design and transformed the room with soft lighting, natural materials and a soothing colour palette.
Step forward designer Elizabeth Ennis of Wolfe Interiors, who balanced period features with modern design and transformed the room with soft lighting, natural materials and a soothing colour palette.
With an alcove next to the entrance and a kink halfway along the exterior wall, the layout options for the room were limited and the previous design wasn’t quite right. “For the size of the room, it felt very basic and the layout wasn’t great,” Elizabeth says.
The bath and vanity unit ran in a line, which emphasised the angles of the wall.
The bath and vanity unit ran in a line, which emphasised the angles of the wall.
At the other end of the room, the bath and shower sitting across from one another created a pinch point. The right-hand wall, meanwhile, was under-utilised.
Ready to renovate? Find interior designers and architects in your area on Houzz.
Ready to renovate? Find interior designers and architects in your area on Houzz.
Elizabeth repositioned most of the elements for a much better flow. She kept the shower in the same spot, but moved the bath further back along the wall, creating a more spacious and relaxing shower area.
With the bath gone, she could move the radiator from next to the shower to under the window, choosing a period-style column design. Then, with the old radiator removed, she could position the vanity unit against the previously wasted right-hand wall.
With the bath gone, she could move the radiator from next to the shower to under the window, choosing a period-style column design. Then, with the old radiator removed, she could position the vanity unit against the previously wasted right-hand wall.
The bath is now at the entrance end of the room, where the vanity unit used to be. A classic roll-top design in rich aubergine makes it a focal point while still keeping the elegant feel.
As well as choosing a traditional bath, Elizabeth brought back the period feel of the room in a number of ways. Key among them was swapping the tiles for panelling. “Because it’s such a big room, we didn’t want to tile it all. This makes it feel more homely,” she says.
Bath, BC Designs; custom painted in Córdoba, Little Greene.
As well as choosing a traditional bath, Elizabeth brought back the period feel of the room in a number of ways. Key among them was swapping the tiles for panelling. “Because it’s such a big room, we didn’t want to tile it all. This makes it feel more homely,” she says.
Bath, BC Designs; custom painted in Córdoba, Little Greene.
Elizabeth also added decorative plasterwork – coving and ceiling roses – as well as pendant and wall lights. “It was all spotlights before, so it straightaway made it feel like a grander space,” she says.
So the owners can create different moods, the lights are on separate switches, plus the niche in the shower has feature lighting.
Monochrome marble floor tiles in a diamond pattern, with underfloor heating for cosy toes, create a strong base for the scheme.
More: How to Plan for a Bathroom Renovation
So the owners can create different moods, the lights are on separate switches, plus the niche in the shower has feature lighting.
Monochrome marble floor tiles in a diamond pattern, with underfloor heating for cosy toes, create a strong base for the scheme.
More: How to Plan for a Bathroom Renovation
Elizabeth made sure she added a contemporary edge in tandem with the traditional pieces, including commissioning blinds in a monochrome geometric. “It brings the design up to date,” she says.
This door leads into a little storage room. “Painting the walls and woodwork the same colour makes it all feel cohesive rather than bitty,” she says.
The only thing the couple were initially unsure about was the pale blue colour. “But they trusted me,” Elizabeth says. “It works so well with the marble and they absolutely love it. It feels very elegant and classic.”
Elizabeth could share her ideas and any design queries like this via the Houzz Pro software tools, which allow homeowners and pros to collaborate on everything down to the last detail.
“I always use the Product Clipper and send the Dashboard through to the clients, so they can see costings. The [couple] liked being able to ‘yes’ or ‘no’ products,” she says. “I also put Proposals together, one for items we were buying and one for works being carried out, and I did a schedule, which makes it easier for the client.
“Being able to put it all together on a proposal early on was a key point for [the couple], as they could say, yes, all that costing is fine, go ahead,” she says. “It worked well.”
Walls and woodwork painted in Light Blue, Farrow & Ball. Crescent Monochrome recycled cotton blind fabric, Beatrice Larkin.
This door leads into a little storage room. “Painting the walls and woodwork the same colour makes it all feel cohesive rather than bitty,” she says.
The only thing the couple were initially unsure about was the pale blue colour. “But they trusted me,” Elizabeth says. “It works so well with the marble and they absolutely love it. It feels very elegant and classic.”
Elizabeth could share her ideas and any design queries like this via the Houzz Pro software tools, which allow homeowners and pros to collaborate on everything down to the last detail.
“I always use the Product Clipper and send the Dashboard through to the clients, so they can see costings. The [couple] liked being able to ‘yes’ or ‘no’ products,” she says. “I also put Proposals together, one for items we were buying and one for works being carried out, and I did a schedule, which makes it easier for the client.
“Being able to put it all together on a proposal early on was a key point for [the couple], as they could say, yes, all that costing is fine, go ahead,” she says. “It worked well.”
Walls and woodwork painted in Light Blue, Farrow & Ball. Crescent Monochrome recycled cotton blind fabric, Beatrice Larkin.
The shower also has a modern, walk-in feel. “We managed to get it flush to the floor by setting a shower tray with a very slim profile into marble tiles that have a bit of depth to them,” Elizabeth says.
The pattern formed by the marble wall tiles also looks contemporary. “The design was inspired by a picture on the Mandarin Stone website, but I just thought that brought a bit more of a contemporary feel,” she says. “It’s a classic material, but laid like this gives it a nicer detail.”
Marble tiles, Mandarin Stone.
Marble tiles, Mandarin Stone.
Because of the size of the room, the couple wanted a double vanity unit. They were keen to include some natural wood in the design, and this unit with a fluted detail brings texture. Brass hardware also adds to the warmth.
Bespoke vanity unit, Parker Howley & Co. Mirrors, Lusso Stone.
Bespoke vanity unit, Parker Howley & Co. Mirrors, Lusso Stone.
A corresponding large cupboard in the alcove provides plenty of storage for towels and toys, and ties both ends of the long room together.
Elizabeth has proof the owners are happy with her work, as they’ve hired her again. “We’re just starting on two bedrooms,” she says. “They love the bathroom and were really happy with the guys who did the work and the whole process. It was originally a guest bathroom, but they like it so much, they use it now.”
Bespoke cabinet, Parker Howley & Co.
Tell us…
What do you like about Elizabeth’s redesign of this bathroom? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Elizabeth has proof the owners are happy with her work, as they’ve hired her again. “We’re just starting on two bedrooms,” she says. “They love the bathroom and were really happy with the guys who did the work and the whole process. It was originally a guest bathroom, but they like it so much, they use it now.”
Bespoke cabinet, Parker Howley & Co.
Tell us…
What do you like about Elizabeth’s redesign of this bathroom? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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Who lives here? A couple with a young child
Location Whirlow, Sheffield
Property A large stone-built period house
Room dimensions 3m x 5m
Designer Elizabeth Ennis of Wolfe Interiors
Photos by Adam Hunter of Adam Steals Light
The brief from the owners was to design the bathroom to be in keeping with the age of the property and make it feel a bit more special. “They wanted a wow factor in the room, and a double basin and freestanding bath,” Elizabeth says. “After that, it was down to me.”