The transformation of a once-humble bedroom into a lively, luxurious bathroom is a sign to Karen Clough’s creative vision and bold use of color. The Manchester-based blogger and mother of two turned a spare room in her Victorian house into a personal sanctuary, drawing inspiration from her own wardrobe for the bathroom’s color scheme. This wasn’t just a cosmetic makeover; it was a structural change that involved converting the spare bedroom into an en-suite bathroom.
From Bedroom to Bathroom Oasis
When Karen and her husband Joe decided to renovate their Victorian home, they saw an opportunity to create a private retreat. The couple had a five-bed Victorian house in Manchester, and with their busy family life, they craved a space where they could wind down without the kids’ clutter taking over. The solution was to turn one of the dated bedrooms into an en-suite bathroom. The process involved knocking through a supporting wall in their master bedroom into the new bathroom space, which added to the challenge but resulted in a more spacious, luxurious feel.
Karen’s builder advised her against installing black taps as they can wear and tear quickly. Instead, she went for chrome fittings which are in keeping with the period style of their house. He started by knocking through a supporting wall in their master bedroom into the new bathroom space. They encountered a setback when their bathroom company went bust, but they made the best of the situation by laying the floor tiles and upcycling the vanity unit themselves while they waited for their new suite to arrive.
A Colorful Affair
Karen’s love for color is evident in every aspect of the bathroom’s design. She based the scheme around her favorite shades, including lilac, yellow, blues, and pinks. The pastel pink wall tiles and a mix of bright accessories create a lively and inviting space that is a far cry from the lackluster bedroom it once was. Karen admits that she never used to bother with taking baths, but now she loves to wind down at the end of the day with a long hot soak in her colorful sanctuary.
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To balance the bold hues, Karen incorporated matt black detailing and a monochrome floor. The Ted Baker Indigo floor tiles were a bargain basement find, with Karen buying two square meters more than she needed, just in case some of the tiles were broken on delivery. She then used the leftover tiles to cover the fireplace hearth in her master bedroom, exemplifying her resourceful and thrifty approach to design.
Karen also customized the lighting to create a relaxing atmosphere. She had dimmable switches installed on their spotlights and wall lamp, which is perfect for relaxing in the bathtub in the evenings. She purposefully chose traditional fixtures and fittings to give a classic twist to the modern look, ensuring the bathroom complemented the period style of their house.
The finishing touch was a custom vanity unit, converted from a sideboard, which provides ample storage and counter space for double sinks and mirrors. This setup ensures the busy morning routine runs smoothly for Karen and Joe. The upcycled vanity unit is not just functional but also adds a personal touch to the space, reflecting Karen’s unique style and creativity.
“Although it was a long journey to get here – six months in total – the end result makes me very happy,” Karen says. The bathroom makeover experience is a sign to her creativity and commitment to designing a space that truly reflects her personal style. It was a challenging process, with setbacks like their bathroom company going bust, but Karen and Joe turned lemons into lemonade by laying the floor tiles and upcycling the vanity unit themselves while they waited for their new suite to arrive.
