Before & After: This stylish bathroom is the perfect space to relax in
A once-dated bathroom redesigned by Lisa Kyme from Ripples has resulted in a relaxing yet functional space. There's ample room for a walk-in shower and bath, as well as storage for the washing machine and boiler that works well practically and aesthetically.
Who lives here
Nick van Gelder, a music producer and drummer, lives in a two-bedroom flat in north London. We talk to Lisa Kyme from Ripples about how she helped him plan the space
Before
'The room is very large and hadn't been touched in years and was in a complete state of disrepair with several leaks and electrical items that wouldn't pass current regulations,' says Lisa Kyme from Ripples, who talks to us about how she helped Nick plan the space.
What kind of look were you going for?
LK: Originally, we were thinking about a Moroccan theme, but once we started reviewing the layout and looking at different products, Nick decided he really liked the Ca' Pietra Lily Pad tiles, so we based the whole room around this design. He was also keen to have a large walk-in shower but still wanted to retain a bath. And the brassware had to be matt black.
How did you get started?
LK: The layout was easy to create because the room has such a large footprint. Nick wanted a space that’s functional as well as relaxing, so taking both of these things into consideration helped us develop the plan. For example, the seating under the window doubles up as concealed storage.
Were there any particular challenges?
NVG: We needed to keep the washing machine in the room as well as accommodate the boiler, so it was necessary to install housing for both that would work well practically and aesthetically. Then the floor had to be levelled so the wet floor for the walk-in shower could be fitted. Also, an unused fireplace had to be blocked up to enable us to install the wall-mounted taps beside the freestanding bath.
You’ve gone for a very dramatic look...
NVG: Yes, the patterned tiles and concrete basin were must-haves for Nick, and we based the rest of the room around these – hence the bold colour scheme. This meant it was important to keep everything else quite minimal for a balanced look. It took a while to find the freestanding bath, as Nick wanted a particular shape in a natural material – and he didn’t want an acrylic one.
And the best thing about the room?
NVG: The strong colour – it works really well without being overwhelming. I also like the fact that there is somewhere you can just sit and chill. Nick was braver than a lot of clients when using colour, but this room is large enough to take it, and now it’s a wonderfully bright and cheerful space.
SOURCEBOOK
Bath, laufen.com
Vardo matt emulsion, farrow-ball.com
Bath taps, Sam Lander basin, Cifial basin taps, Drench shower screen, Ciffal shower, Laufen WC, Vanity unit, Towel radiator, Ca' Pietra Lily Pad wall tiles, Grespania floor tiles; all ripplesbathrooms.com
COST
Bath £2,800
Bath taps £546
Basin £1,018
Basin taps £371
Shower screen £1,075
Shower £1,074
WC £1,025
Vanity unit £550
Towel radiator £241
Floor & wall tiles £1,074
Paint £52
TOTAL = £9,906
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