Rachel Faber, 35, a busy working mum, who lives with her wife, Miriam, 36, and their daughter, Sophia, aged one, has a lot on her plate. Not only has she started her own event styling and grazing table business, @bohemiansocial, but she’s also busy decorating their three-bedroom terraced house in Wanstead, East London.
‘When we moved in, we knew it was going to be a crazy few months ahead. With a new baby in tow, the place was quite chaotic. I also decided to start a business, as well as decorating the new house, so it’s been crazy.’
The old bathroom was in dire need of some TLC. ‘We were desperate for a relaxing feel but, with a growing family, it had to be practical too.’ Rachel and Miriam were certain of one thing: they wanted a serene, relaxing space they could unwind in. ‘We’re both non-stop during the day, so we wanted a luxe bathroom that felt like a hotel spa.’
The couple had been collecting ideas since buying their new home two years ago and they knew exactly the look they were after. With a vision in mind, Rachel ordered lots of tile samples and finally opted for a dark-blue rectangular tile to warm up the space and asked the tiler to apply them in a herringbone pattern.
‘We loved the effect so much, that we tiled all around the room, just going halfway up the wall, and all around the shower area.’ Rachel wanted a rustic-style floor but the floorboards weren’t in great condition and made the room feel chilly. So they opted for wood-effect porcelain floor tiles instead. ‘They look just like real wood but are so warm underfoot.’
After discussing the best floor layout, Rachel and Miriam got busy ordering their pride and joy: the free-standing bath. ‘We loved the traditional style but were keen to mix up the look with some fun, modern touches.’
The bath sets off the mood in the room and Rachel teamed it with an elegant basin and washstand, in keeping with the period of the property. The shower area was a top priority and although Rachel loves a long soak in the bath, she also wanted a power shower to help wake her up at the start of the day.
‘I have this shower to thank for my ability to function in the mornings… it makes me feel more human at 7am.’ Plus, being a walk-in design, it makes showering Sophia much easier too.
The room is blessed with two large windows, but some privacy was necessary. ‘This was our chance to add some fabric from one of our favourite designers, Emma J Shipley.’ Rachel chose from the Kruger collection, displaying a menagerie of jungle animals and tropical plants. ‘We love her work and wanted to give the room a quirky twist.’
Get the look
Rachel went on to revamp an old IKEA chest with some matching wallpaper and also upholstered a handy stool for Sophia too. Searching online for some lighting suitable for bathrooms, Rachel stumbled across the eye-catching chandelier. ‘It just completes the look perfectly. The bathroom is a joyful space that we can all enjoy now.’
This is a digital version of a feature that originally appeared in Your Home magazine. For more inspirational home ideas, why not subscribe today?