This modern en suite bathroom shows how the two areas can share decorative ideas to give a sense of unity, although quite different atmospheres can be created in keeping with the separate functions. Lighting is particularly important to set a mood: here the bedside lamp softly illuminates the sleeping area. A wall-hung basin can have plumbing and fixings housed in a unit to provide storage as well as giving a streamlined look.
SEPARATE QUARTERS
An ideal solution to Ending space for an en-suite bathroom would be to adapt an adjacent small bedroom. This may well allow you to go beyond the basics: you could include a bidet in your scheme, and a comfortable chair to relax in. lf you don’t want to lose a bedroom, a compromise would be to install the new bathroom between two bed- rooms, taking space from each but ensuring both rooms are still big enough to function as bedrooms. Remember always to get expert advice on plumbing and major structural alterations.
DOWN TO DETAILS
Sanitaryware comes in a wide range of colours and styles, Dark-hued baths and basins aren’t the easiest to keep clean if the water is hard. lf you want a cast-iron bath, check the floor is sturdy enough to take the weight. Wall-hung equipment like a WC should be well supported by a stout wall. The decoration of the new bathroom should be linked to the bedroom scheme to give a real en suite feel, though the bathroom needn’t have identical treatment. lf your bedroom has muted, restful tones you could pick out an accent colour to give a livelier, refreshing note to the bathroom, perhaps by introducing a little colour and excitement to accessories like towels.
Wallcoverings will need to cope with moisture: if the bathroom is tiny, complete tiling may be possible. Flooring lf you want to carry through carpeting from the bedroom, protect damp areas with a mat. Otherwise, choose tiles to blend with the bedroom floor.
Arched elegance
An adjoining room is linked with an arch to provide en suite space. Cool aquamarine tones feature throughout, especially on the practical part-tiling by the sanitary fittings. Bathroom curtains and the bed valance have been made in the same fabric, with accessories picked out in toning shades.