Bathroom Design
Bathroom Makeovers
Room of the Day: Bold Tile and Classic Style in a London Bath
Vivid Mediterranean hues and vintage-style hardware create a stunning family bathroom
The bathroom was last on the to-do list for the total renovation of this five-bedroom London home and was designed by its owner, Heidrun Anna Bjornsdottir, a singer-songwriter originally from Iceland. The master bathroom is on the first floor of the four-story Victorian property Bjornsdottir shares with her husband and their three young children and two visiting stepchildren. “We decorated the rest of the house but left the bathroom, as it wasn’t in too bad a state,” Bjornsdottir says. “But last year we decided it could do with a little bit more love.” Their goal was a bigger bathroom with vintage style and bold Mediterranean color for the family’s needs.
“The house is old Victorian, so this look fit in with everything else in the property,” Bjornsdottir says. “It just worked and felt like the right way to go: Live modern, but keep traditional.”
The striking free-standing Tay bath with its gleaming finish takes center stage. It’s set against a wall paneled in antiqued mirrored glass. “It makes the space look much bigger than it actually is,” Bjornsdottir says.
Tay bath, plunger overflow and waste unit in nickel: Drummonds; antiqued mirror paneling: Rupert Bevan
The striking free-standing Tay bath with its gleaming finish takes center stage. It’s set against a wall paneled in antiqued mirrored glass. “It makes the space look much bigger than it actually is,” Bjornsdottir says.
Tay bath, plunger overflow and waste unit in nickel: Drummonds; antiqued mirror paneling: Rupert Bevan
“I fell in love with these tiles when I saw them on the Internet,” Bjornsdottir says. “They are quite crazy and not for everyone, but I wanted the flooring to be brave and bold. I love turquoise and thought the mix of colors worked well. I wanted to create a look that feels as if you’re in a hotel or on holiday.”
The toilet was moved to the other side of the room to make space for a walk-in wet room. “I did insist on having glass panels either side, though, just so the water doesn’t splash everywhere,” Bjornsdottir says of the tray-free shower area.
“The prints are by Slim Aarons, an American photographer in the 1960s and 1970s,” she says of the photographs by the toilet and next to the shower (visible in the last image). “I would buy two or three more if I could, but they weren’t cheap.”
Slim Aarons photographic prints: Jonathan Adler
The toilet was moved to the other side of the room to make space for a walk-in wet room. “I did insist on having glass panels either side, though, just so the water doesn’t splash everywhere,” Bjornsdottir says of the tray-free shower area.
“The prints are by Slim Aarons, an American photographer in the 1960s and 1970s,” she says of the photographs by the toilet and next to the shower (visible in the last image). “I would buy two or three more if I could, but they weren’t cheap.”
Slim Aarons photographic prints: Jonathan Adler
“The original tiles I liked weren’t suitable for the wet zones of a bathroom,” Bjornsdottir says, “and I knew I wanted to take the tiles up the shower wall, so I needed to get hold of a product that could withstand a good soaking.”
While scouring the Internet, she came across the Philadelphia tile, part of the Traditional Cement Tile collection from U.S. company Rustico Tile & Stone. Bjornsdottir adored the gutsy pattern but wanted vibrant sea blues and greens, so she used the company’s online tool to put together a custom color palette. The tiles were manufactured to her design and shipped to the UK.
“The whole process was done over the Internet, including seeing the custom-colored samples,” Bjornsdottir says.
Tiles: Philadelphia, Rustico Tile & Stone
While scouring the Internet, she came across the Philadelphia tile, part of the Traditional Cement Tile collection from U.S. company Rustico Tile & Stone. Bjornsdottir adored the gutsy pattern but wanted vibrant sea blues and greens, so she used the company’s online tool to put together a custom color palette. The tiles were manufactured to her design and shipped to the UK.
“The whole process was done over the Internet, including seeing the custom-colored samples,” Bjornsdottir says.
Tiles: Philadelphia, Rustico Tile & Stone
Each tile measures 8 by 8 inches, with four tiles laid together to create the 16-by-16-inch pattern. The tiles are reminiscent of traditional clay encaustic tiles, but while clay can wear and fade over time, these are made from a special pigmented cement, so the colors should remain vibrant.
“The recess within the shower area was once a window, so we just tiled over it and now use it to hold toiletries,” Bjornsdottir says.
White subway tile: Fired Earth
“The recess within the shower area was once a window, so we just tiled over it and now use it to hold toiletries,” Bjornsdottir says.
White subway tile: Fired Earth
“All the shower and bath fittings are in a nickel finish,” Bjornsdottir says. “It’s a lovely metal with a vintage look, and I’ve also mixed in a few gold accessories and doorknobs.”
Dalby shower with curved arm and 300-millimeter shower head: Drummonds
Dalby shower with curved arm and 300-millimeter shower head: Drummonds
The traditional toilet with a high-level cistern fits in perfectly with the vintage mood.
“I originally wanted the mirrored paneling to be flat, but there was an awkward pipe running behind, so we had to build in a shelf,” Bjornsdottir says of the low-level ledge behind the toilet and bath. “It’s actually really handy for storing books and displaying pretty toiletries — and holding a glass of wine while you’re soaking in the bath, although I still haven’t managed to do that yet.”
Brora WC suite with Throne dark walnut seat: Drummonds
“I originally wanted the mirrored paneling to be flat, but there was an awkward pipe running behind, so we had to build in a shelf,” Bjornsdottir says of the low-level ledge behind the toilet and bath. “It’s actually really handy for storing books and displaying pretty toiletries — and holding a glass of wine while you’re soaking in the bath, although I still haven’t managed to do that yet.”
Brora WC suite with Throne dark walnut seat: Drummonds
“The bath is big enough to fit all three children in at the same time,” Bjornsdottir says.
Classic bath and shower mixer with Mull heads: Drummonds
Classic bath and shower mixer with Mull heads: Drummonds
“The tiles are so powerful that we had to go for white on the rest of the walls and ceiling,” Bjornsdottir says. “I’ve been so into gray lately, but I’m moving away from this color towards peacock blue.
“We don’t have any blinds on the Velux windows, but we do need to make sure no one is looking down into the bathroom if we’re bathing when guests are staying in the attic suite above!”
“We don’t have any blinds on the Velux windows, but we do need to make sure no one is looking down into the bathroom if we’re bathing when guests are staying in the attic suite above!”
The robust and elegant double sink is finished with a dark gray marble top.
“There was a double basin here already, but it was a much more modern design — all white and a bit plain,” Bjornsdottir says. “I also have a big, custom-built linen cupboard in the room [to the right of the sinks] for stashing towels and bathroom accessories.”
Atlantic Grey Double Crake sinks, classic sink faucets, oval tilt mirrors: all Drummonds; Parker wall sconce: Jonathan Adler
“There was a double basin here already, but it was a much more modern design — all white and a bit plain,” Bjornsdottir says. “I also have a big, custom-built linen cupboard in the room [to the right of the sinks] for stashing towels and bathroom accessories.”
Atlantic Grey Double Crake sinks, classic sink faucets, oval tilt mirrors: all Drummonds; Parker wall sconce: Jonathan Adler
“The built-in spotlights were already there,” Bjornsdottir says, “but we got rid of some, as there were far too many, and replaced the surrounds with white versions.
“We have four switches for the various light sources, which are all on dimmers. It’s lovely, as you can alter the lighting according to the mood you want to create.”
“We have four switches for the various light sources, which are all on dimmers. It’s lovely, as you can alter the lighting according to the mood you want to create.”
“Nothing is a true antique here — it all just looks old and vintage, including the beautiful chandelier,” Bjornsdottir says.
The white shutters match those fitted to the windows around the rest of the house to give a uniform appearance from the outside. “These ones were specially made to withstand the steam and water of a bathroom,” Bjornsdottir notes.
Chandelier: Villaverde; towel rack: Drummonds; shutters: The New England Shutter Company
More
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The white shutters match those fitted to the windows around the rest of the house to give a uniform appearance from the outside. “These ones were specially made to withstand the steam and water of a bathroom,” Bjornsdottir notes.
Chandelier: Villaverde; towel rack: Drummonds; shutters: The New England Shutter Company
More
Top 10 Tips for Choosing Shower Tile
Bathroom Workbook: How Much Does a Bathroom Remodel Cost?
Who lives here: Heidrun Anna Bjornsdottir and her husband, commodity broker Jamie Lawson; three young children (14 months, 2½ years and 6 years); and two stepchildren (11 and 14 years)
Location: Clapham, London
Size: 60 square feet (5.6 square meters)
Heidrun Anna Bjornsdottir and her husband, Jamie Lawson, knocked together two smaller bathrooms, one containing a toilet and the other a bath. Joining the rooms created enough space for a walk-in shower, a handsome rolled-top bath and an elegant vanity unit. The couple decided on traditional, vintage-style decor for the bathroom, with an array of classic, elegant fittings that create a glamorous and luxurious look.