John Downs
Retaining the original plaster ceilings and stained-glass windows in this century-old home have given this lovely ensuite a unique quality, enhanced by carefully selected fixtures and fittings. The vintage chandelier and clawfoot freestanding bath, both found on eBay, and bevelled mirrors bought at Target all add to the old-style vibe.
Elsewhere, pared-back fixtures allow the more glamorous elements to shine. The long vanity, clad in a subtle metallic-finish laminate, has finger pulls instead of protruding handles, and the twin basins are set into the composite stone benchtop, design tricks which allow the eye to travel through the space virtually uninterrupted. Similarly, the hob-mounted basin sets are at low level and reduce the visual clutter, while their swannecked shape is reflected in the floor-mounted spout behind the bath.
The champagne-coloured rectangular tiles that run across the floor and up the walls to window height have been given a neat top edge with a length of architectural trim that divides the tiling from the wall area, above, painted in Dulux Lexicon Quarter. This neutral backdrop reflects the warmer tones of the vanity cabinetry and acts as a foil to the standout wallpaper – Vision ‘Bloomsbury House’ in colour 25446 from Ivory Tower – which provides this elegant room with the perfect finishing touch.
