Bathroom makeover: 'I wanted it to look good and work well'

Knowing a bathroom should be as gorgeous as the rest of the home meant Jenny Mison went for both beauty and practicality in her new space. Here, she shares her makeover experience...

My makeover experience...

Precise planning was key for our bathroom update as we both work full-time and don’t have another bathroom, so we had to keep the schedule tight.

I seem to work backwards though, as I’d bought most of the accessories before the room was even planned, but it helps me mood board.

Next, I sat down with graph paper and played around to find the best layout. I knew I wanted a luxurious shower and free-standing bath, but to maximise the space we decided to put the bath behind the shower screen – a trick I’d seen on Pinterest.

A carpenter friend then brought what I wanted for the vanity unit to life. I wanted a bold, monochrome look, inspired by my wardrobe.

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After checking it wasn’t structural, Dave knocked down the internal wall and then I helped the plumber with the tiling and grouting, which not only saved time, but taught me new skills.

The majority of the work was done in three weeks, but thankfully we were only without a bathroom for about four days.

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Ultimately, I wanted to create a room that wasn’t just functional, but also beautiful and relaxing to be in, and I’m so pleased we’ve done that.

My style advice...

Think outside the box

The black and white tiles around the bath and behind the unit are actually vinyl flooring stuck to the wall. ‘I saw vinyl used in a restaurant on a TV programme and I thought it could work in the bathroom,’ says Jenny.

‘It was actually incredibly cheap; the whole roll only cost about £30 and it was easy to fit because it’s just glued on, and since there’s no grout or gaps, it’s 100-per-cent waterproof. It’s also really durable and easily wiped down, which is especially useful when we have to bath the dog.’

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Create designated storage

Jenny wanted a streamlined look in the bathroom so rather than using a hanging shower caddy or messy shampoo bottles on the floor, she made space for an inset shelf to store her essential daily products.

She chose brick-shaped tiles, from the same range as the chevron tiles, to make it stand out as a feature, and edged the shower wall with matching tiles for a finished look. She then chose a contemporary, matt black shower with concealed fittings to add to the minimal, sleek effect.

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Play with shapes and materials

Jenny has chosen contrasting elements to create harmony and add balance to the look of her bathroom. Her bold choice of a black and white colour scheme is softened with pale pink accessories.

She’s used round shapes, including matching mirrors, light fittings and basins, to add symmetry and balance the graphic square lines of the Crittall-style shower screen and vinyl tiles. Candle holders and a gold mirrored tray help to play off the proportions of the chunky wooden vanity unit.

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This is a digital version of a feature that originally appeared in Home Style magazine. For more inspirational home ideas, why not subscribe today?