Latest Interiors luxuriates in the bathroom with the latest in space saving and design

John Lewis, Jakarta Bathroom RangeThe family bathroom is a hard-working room: A holding (and decontamination) space for muddy kids and possibly dogs; a beauty spa and therapy space for teenagers and somewhere for mum or dad to relax in the tub at the end of a very long day. How do we fit it all in? This week, Latest interiors considers some beautiful bathrooms.

Size matters
Bathrooms in Brighton’s Victorian terraces and converted flats can be on the small size. Housing priorities were different in the 1800s. Some homes, especially those providing bulk housing for the poor and low-paid workers, would have originally been built without any internal bathroom or toilet meaning the sacrifice of bedroom or living space to provide a bathroom later.

Family bathrooms need space. If you’re stuck with a small room, increase the available space with clever storage and fittings. A floor-to-ceiling slimline cupboard with mirrored doors should allow you to put everyone’s stuff – and clean towels – away, and keep clutter to a minimum. Make good use of the space around the bath and under the sink for additional storage, if needed.

Fixtures & fittings
Choose wall-hung fittings that leave the floor clear. Mirrors or mirrored tiles can be used to bring light into a smaller room. Adding a huge, vintage mirror to one wall will transform your space, and look great too. Using large, one-colour tiles on walls and floors will create clean, unbroken lines. Everyone likes a shower, but don’t ditch the bath. Most people, especially if they have children, want a bath and shower in their home.
If space is really tight, or you want to supplement a small family bathroom with an en-suite or shower room, then a wet room with floor-to-ceiling tiles and a walk-in, open-plan shower, might be just the thing. Do get a professional opinion on design and requirements. Wet rooms need to be properly waterproofed as water drains into the floor. All bathrooms need to have external ventilation, whether it’s a small window or an extractor fan.

Finishing touches
However much you need to fit in, a bathroom still has to be somewhere you go to unwind. If you have space, free-standing baths never go out of style, and – filled with scented bubbles – will give you that ‘aah’ factor at the end of a long day. Fixed, vintage-style shower heads look and feel great too. Avoid the dreaded shower curtain if you can. If your bathroom is adequately water-proofed like a wet room, with a floor drain, you shouldn’t need to worry about spills. Now add a couple of scented candles, a ‘do not disturb’ sign, lie back and relax.


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