If you have a bathroom project coming up, this blog post is for you.
I will be talking you through how this small, dated Cotswolds family bathroom became a fresh, spacious bathroom fit for guests*!
*You can join the waitlist here to be the first to know how to book your stay, and also be in with a chance of winning a night on us!
You’ll discover where each item is from, the steps I followed and ten top tips for your next bathroom project.
Now + Before
STEP ONE | REQUIREMENTS OF THE ROOM
First of all, as with any project it was important to get clear on the requirements of the room, the overall style + what could be tweaked with the layout.
Project Honeypot Family Bathroom:
I knew that we needed ample storage but didn’t require loads, as guests will only have their weekend toiletries plus a space for towels and loo rolls.
The pine shelf at the back of the bath wasn’t very practical so I wanted to create a tiled niche area for guests’ toiletries. And if possible squeeze in a larger bath, which would be more comfortable to bathing and showering.
As you can see there was a lot of pine, particularly over this half height stud wall so I was keen to see what was behind there to see if there was any additional space we could utilise.
It would be good to replace the radiator and wooden towel rail with a tall heated towel radiator (always more practical for drying/warming multiple towels!).
In terms of style, I was looking for something modern and fresh, but with a cosy, homely feel and a few traditional elements, in keeping with the age of the property.
And lastly, the design as a whole and individual products all needed to be hard wearing and practical for guests to use, once the property is let for holiday bookings.
Once I was clear on the key requirements, I drew up my floorplan to scale and mapped out the approximate sizes for the bath, vanity, WC and towel radiator.
For this particular bathroom, all the sanitaryware would be staying in the same position, but if you have the space to look at different layout options, I would recommend cutting out templates and moving them around your floorplan to see what works best.
Always keep in mind, where your plumbing is currently and speak to a professional if you’re looking to make any major changes.
STEP TWO | GATHER YOUR IDEAS
I like to create a styleboard for every project I do to see all of my ideas together in one place. I use Powerpoint to create mine, and will include inspiration images as well as actual items such as tiles, paint colours, flooring.
This helps to see how things will work together, and gives you a clear vision of where the room is heading.
If you struggle to visualise a space, 3D visuals can also be a helpful tool. Many designers and several bathroom companies offer this service, so it’s worth looking into to give you the peace of mind before investing in your project.
3D Visuals
At this point, it’s important to start ordering samples so you can see colours and finishes in the space and ensure you are happy before placing your orders.
I also like to create a budget spreadsheet to start saving items I’ve seen, and to keep on top of costs. It’s so easy to get carried away, but bathrooms can be one of the more expensive rooms to renovate so it’s important to keep an eye on the figures at this stage.
STEP THREE | FIND YOUR CONTRACTORS
As mentioned in this blog post, I posted in a local Facebook group asking for recommendations for bathroom fitters in the area. I received so many replies, and met with several to get some different quotes.
I feel very lucky to have found Country Bathrooms. They did an excellent job, and ended up working on several other rooms of the house too! I can highly recommend Ross and his team if you're in the Cotswolds area.
It’s very important to have a clear list of what you’d like doing, from measurements and positions of items, the direction of your tiles and/or flooring, your grout colour… the list goes on.
I tend to speak to contractors mostly via WhatsApp but make it clear how you’d like to communicate throughout the project, and always raise any questions or concerns as soon as possible so issues can be avoided or rectified, and hopefully you all enjoy a smooth process.
WHERE EVERYTHING IS FROM:
Vanity Unit. Harvey George* // Wall Light, UK Electrical Supplies // Wall Tiles, Porcelain Superstore // Flooring, Camaro Loc (Manor Oak) // Electronic Shower Valve, similar here // Towels, H&M Home // Linen Bath Mat, Firera Home // Soap, Summer + Bear // Preserved Stems, Shida Preserved Flowers // Reed Diffuser, Charlotte Spencer*
*You can get 5% off Harvey George with the code HAPPY5 and 10% off Charlotte Spencer products with the code HAPPYBEAMS10
10 BATHROOM PLANNING TIPS
And lastly I wanted to share with you a few learnings and tips that will hopefully help you with your own bathroom project:
Harvey George do an excellent range of shallow bathroom vanity units if you're short on space, and you can get them custom painted in the colour of your choice to match your scheme.
A large mirror will help to make the room feel bigger and bounce the light around, especially if positioned opposite a window.
A random vertical tile pattern saves on wastage and extra cuts, which will keep your costs down and your tiler a little happier!
Try to choose a vanity unit with storage, but if you’re tight on space opt for either wall hung or raised off the floor like this one to create an illusion of more space.
Camaro Loc flooring is great for bathrooms and kitchens as it’s completely water resistant, and also can be used as an alternative for a bath panel. Taking your flooring up the side of your bath will also help disguise how big (or small!) your floor space is.
Adding a wall light above the mirror finishes off the space and also gives a much more flattering light than an overhead spotlight.
If possible, boxing in your cistern (depending on your layout) can give you more space within the room but always give yourself an access point. Here the window sill can be removed to access the workings from above.
Consider an electronic valve to operate your bath and shower. They are so easy to use, easy to fix if anything goes wrong and keep your bath area more streamlined as you only need this small dial on the wall, and your bath can be filled from your overflow so no need for taps.
Reed diffusers are amazing in smaller rooms like bathrooms. Don’t forget to double dip the reeds and flip every few weeks to make the most of your fragrance.
If you like some colour in your bathroom, I say go for it. Look at bringing in some colour in a wall tile, vanity unit or paint colour. Introducing coloured towels to an all neutral bathroom can look like an afterthought, so if you’ve found a colour you love, take the plunge on something more permanent than your towels!
I hope you’ve found this useful, and you’ve enjoyed seeing the full reveal of the Project Honeypot family bathroom.
Come and say hello on Instagram if you have a bathroom project coming up. I’d love to hear about what you have planned! Thanks so much for reading,
- Jess x
-Photography by Stories By Chloe