Before & After: A former nursery is now a gorgeous grown-up bathroom

Holly Ransome
·4-min read
large wooden vanity unit, square terrazzo countertop basins, peace lily, black framed mirrors, white bathtub, fern, bath mat and fluted wooden wall panel
Before & After: From nursery to family bathroom Simply Bathrooms

When their daughter outgrew her nursery and moved into a larger bedroom, one couple decided to completely transform her former pink baby room into a contemporary family bathroom with stunning results.

Who lives here

Maria Emerson and her husband Tom live with their young daughter in a Victorian house in Putney, south-west London.

Before

‘The room adjoins our main bedroom and used to be our daughter’s nursery, but now she’s a little older she’s happy in a larger room upstairs. Originally the doorway was on the other side of the room,' says Maria.

a pale pink room with a white cot with pink blanket white framed picture of rabbit on wall baby changing station and neutral rug
The pale pink nursery has been totally transformed into the family’s main bathroom. Moving the original doorway and installing a sliding door not only saves space but helps the room flow better Simply Bathrooms

Tell us about your plans for this room...

ME: Our aim was to create a functional, modern space with a glamorous look. It was important to us that we add lots of warmth and texture, and we tried to give a nod to Art Deco style, and even had in mind the grandeur of ancient Greece. The wooden fluting makes it feel elegant while still being perfectly practical.

fluted oak panelling behind a white freestanding bathtub with a brass floor standing tap
Oak panels by the bath hide the old chimney breast Simply Bathrooms

How did you get started?

ME: We enlisted the help of specialist design company Simply Bathrooms in Surrey for the planning. It offered a full design service and created 3D visual plans, so we knew what the layout would look like. Having renovated a bathroom in our previous home, this time we wanted extra specialist support!

Did you have to overcome any hurdles?

ME: Deciding on the best layout proved tricky. The room is a good size, but the position of the chimney breast limited our options. We wanted a large vanity unit, bath, and walk-in shower, so had to be clever about maximising space. This meant moving the doorway and installing a sliding door – and we went for a smaller-than-full-size tub. The bath looks stylish without taking up much room, and we can enjoy the garden view while having a soak.

sliding door black towel rail wooden fluted panelled wall
Opting for a slightly smaller bathtub and moving the doorway has helped increase the feeling of space in the bathroom Simply Bathrooms

What were your must-haves?

ME: It was all about how the bathroom made us feel. We wanted to ignore trends and come up with something unique and timeless that felt distinctly ours. For example, the terrazzo countertop basins are not an obvious choice, but they make the room feel more individual and eclectic.

two square terrazzo countertop sinks on a large wooden vanity unit with brass taps peace lily and black framed rectangular mirrors
With a bold terrazzo finish, these designs make a statement in the otherwise neutral space Simply Bathrooms

Are you happy with the final result?

ME: Very much so. We’re obsessed with the wooden panelling, which elevates the room, but the wall tiles are the real unsung heroes. We wanted something neutral that looked smart but not clinical, so we were happy to find these ones from Ca’ Pietra in a mix of white and warmer off-white tones. The textured surface looks handmade, but they’re super-practical, easy-to-clean porcelain. We’ve got exactly the modern bathroom we wanted.

walk in shower with brass taps and fixtures three legged wooden stool with pale green
The walk-in shower feels bright and warm with the mix of white shades in these metro tiles, while the shelves that are built into a narrow niche are so practical and make the most of every inch of space Simply Bathrooms

SOURCEBOOK

COSTS

  • Bath £1,986

  • Bath tap £950

  • Shower £1,203

  • Basin taps £658

  • Towel rails £718

  • Shower screen £827

  • WC £788

  • Basins £500

  • Vanity unit £2,779

  • Lights £216

  • Tiles £2,000

  • Mirrors £350

  • Oak panelling £2,000

  • Paint £68

  • Total = £15,043

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