KBB l HOMES
decided their existing family bathroom had served them well, but was looking rather tired and in need of an update. They initially approached a larger design firm for a quote, but for one reason or another didn’t make a personal connection with the team so the project was shelved for some months. However, the couple then came across Helen Norrvall at HN Designs, by way of recommendation through close friends, and the rest is history. Here, designer Helen explains how it all came together…
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The brief The couple were keen on having a large shower and a bath, but apart from that they didn’t have any set ideas and were very open to suggestions – a dream for a designer to work with. As they hadn’t undertaken a renovation for quite some time I guided them through the process and together we established that they wanted to create a mini retreat, with welcoming, warm tones, a relaxed feel, and sleek and modern products.
Creating the space The room is very large and the existing scheme felt sparse as it only had a roll-top bath projecting into the middle, plus a WC and basin along one wall. The ceiling height was more than 2.7m, which is a luxury in a living area or kitchen – but in a bathroom it can make the space feel cold and out of proportion. The key was to get the balance right: I lowered the headheight, created a visual break across the widest part of the room by designing the darker tile section in the floor, and introduced the slatted oak privacy panel between the basin and WC area. As the room was so large, I could afford to steal some depth and created a false wall behind the basin and shower, which also let me hide all the pipework and create a recessed shelving space in the large walk-in enclosure. The built- in mirror cabinet was set flush with the false wall to achieve a sleek finish. As for the rest of the layout, the bath was placed at an angle in the far corner of the room to avoid the scheme feeling too linear while doing so adds a bit more interest to the room. The line of the tub then guides your eye towards the large window, which lets light flood in.
The next stage The brassware is from Hansgrohe, which offers a vast selection of ranges – I have used this brand of products for years. The style we agreed on was selected to go with the overall theme, so is sleek but soft, too so doesn’t feel too angular. The fittings’ rounded corners add to this. Opposite the vanity, the L-shaped bespoke mirror around the wall-hung storage helps reflect light around and also emphasises the change in flooring.
The finishing touches As for the décor, the oak elements on the vanity unit and wall-hung storage, plus the slatted privacy screen, offer a change of texture and add warmth to the grey and off-white tiles. The combination of wood and porcelain creates the sleek finish the couple wanted for their new scheme. To complete the look, the dusky pink towels add another element of softness to the room while the plants bring life and colour in. The couple travel a good deal so hotel visits are inevitable, but they say it’s always lovely to return home to enjoy their own tranquil bathroom, which is a great compliment. I’ve been back to visit them a few times as my team and I have carried out further works in the house and the bathroom always makes me smile as I pop my head in to have another look. It is a very calming space.
112 KITCHENS BEDROOMS & BATHROOMS l SUMMER 20
fter living in their home for more than 30 years, with children that have long flown the nest, the owners of this six-bedroom Cotswold stone period property, located in a village outside Cirencester, thought it was time to give it a new lease of life. As part of a total renovation, they
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