87 bathroom ideas to inspire a refresh
Our bathrooms need to feel both nurturing and joyful, energising us in the morning and helping us decompress in the evening. As the place you start and end each day, the bathroom is at least as important as any other room in your house. Yet too often, it can feel out of step with the rest of a home, invested with less love and personality. What’s more, the demands we put upon them, including water-friendly surfaces and bright, IP-rated lighting, can translate into a cold, unflattering atmosphere. Lighting, texture and colour are the key points to consider when designing a bathroom, and don’t forget to punctuate the space with something that piques your imagination and lifts your mood.
With bathroom lighting, careful planning is key. I always suggest having more than one circuit, fitting dimmers and using warm-white bulbs throughout. It is also fun to experiment with different heights of lighting: keep spotlights to a minimum and think about adding low-level fittings that wash the floor with light. ‘Mast Lights’, by Davey Lighting from Original BTC, fitted above skirting level will cast light downwards, instantly creating atmosphere. Hastings-based homeware store Dyke & Dean offers a great range of affordable bathroom lighting.
MAY WE SUGGEST: Design ideas for bathroom sinks and vanities
It is all too easy to end up with lots of hard, shiny surfaces. To avoid this, introduce a variety of textures. You can do this with a hand-finished bathroom tile that has an uneven glaze or shape, such as Emery & Cie’s ‘Zelliges’ range. Rather than tiling the floor, consider a waterproof, woven vinyl – I love the mustard colourway by The Unnatural Floor Company. Instead of painting the walls in flat emulsion, try using matchboard panelling or a patterned bathroom wallpaper, or an uneven limewash effect, such as ‘Fresco’ finish from Pure & Original. Where possible, I try to squeeze in some aged wood for texture – a wall-hung bathroom cabinet or a stool next to the bath, or the frame of a mirror or artwork. Adding fabric is another way to introduce texture: it also affects the acoustics, softening how sound bounces round the room, which makes the space feel cosier.
Colour is a powerful tool for injecting personality, and different colour combinations will create different moods. For a bathroom that you use every day, pink is hard to beat, because it is a nurturing colour that feels cosy at night and fresh in the morning. A soft pink combined with a muted green will have a calming effect. To create a more vibrant space, consider colour combinations that have a greater degree of contrast or slightly clash: think pink and mustard, or apple green and chocolate. In my own small shower room, I have ‘Eldblomman’ wallpaper by Josef Frank from Svenskt Tenn, bright yellow tiles, a ceiling in yellow gloss, and a red and white check curtain below the sink. In any other room it would be overwhelming, but in a small space, you can be a bit braver. For heating, consider having an electric mat under the flooring. These are straightforward for a builder to install and not wildly expensive. There is something very comforting about a warm bathroom floor underfoot. Don’t be tempted by expensive towel rails – they are rarely big enough. Instead, I prefer a chunky radiator with hooks above it; it will give off more heat and your towels dry faster if they aren’t folded up. Cologne & Cotton sells excellent towels, some with interesting detailing.
Any room will be endlessly frustrating if it is not user friendly and, in the case of a bathroom, that means provision for storage. This could be a vintage wall cabinet for medicines and sun creams, a chest of drawers for clean towels, or colourful baskets for corralling bath toys – such as those from The Basket Room, a female co-operative of African weavers. Tinsmiths in Ledbury is my first port of call for quality loo-roll holders, toilet brushes, hooks and ceramic shelves.
Lastly, think about how you can make your bathroom personal to you – perhaps with art, books or a riotous mix of family photos. In my own bathroom, I have a framed poem by an anonymous 17th-century nun. It’s about the art of ageing gracefully and was given to me by my parents when they moved house, so has a double meaning for me. Find something that makes you smile and points your mind in the direction you want it to travel.
Bathroom design ideas
Owen Gale1/86Taking inspiration from grand American bathrooms, though with Italian materials mixed in, the main bathroom in Sara and Will Fuller's house in Bath is a deeply calming space. The bathtub is from Porters, and the floor is covered in Carrara marble basketweave tiles from Ca’Pietra.
Chris Horwood2/86Patrick O'Donnell, brand ambassador for Farrow & Ball has warmed up the bathroom in his Worcestershire house with the discontinued Farrow & Ball wallpaper pattern ‘Orleans Stripe,’ with a ‘Pearl’ border from Adelphi Paper Hangings running round the top. The side table and the Spanish lebrillo plates are from Brownrigg Interiors in Tetbury.
Paul Massey3/86The entrance to the loo of this Sussex rectory designed by Emma Milne Watson is clad in brass. It makes for a glamorous and contemporary feature.
Chris Horwood4/86The bathroom of this architect's house in Shoreditch is tiled in Domus ’Seta’ mosaic tiles with ‘illustrations’ created from colour samples. Taps and fixtures are by Zazzeri. Recycled plastic sconce lamp is by James Shaw and the hand towel is from Missoni.
Dean Hearne5/86In the ensuite bathroom of a London penthouse designed by Nina Litchfield, fixtures from Lefroy Brooks and lights from Original BTC provide notes of glamour against black and white marble.
Paul Massey6/86In the bathroom of this 17th century cottage in Oxfordshire, Fee Greening’s ‘Climbing Curios’ wallpaper from CommonRoom and her mural around the ‘Coral’ wall light from Balineum provide a unique backdrop.
Photos: Owen Gale, Styling: Rachel Moreve7/86There are no doors between the primary bedroom, the wardrobe and the bathroom in this West London family home given a new lease of life by Polly Ashman. The space is open, serene and, for Polly, 'full of joy'. ‘I wanted to keep it really calm here, so the wall colour is the same throughout.’ In this setting, Edward Bulmer's ‘Clover’, is almost a neutral, and it acts as a canvas for the display of artwork and ceramics on the walls.
What might have been a third bedroom was transformed into a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite. 'Wherever I can I will always try to make the master bathroom as big and light as possible' says Polly. ‘Even if that means borrowing a little space from a bedroom.’ In keeping with the light, airy feel of its neighbouring rooms, the bathroom is clad in large slabs of marble, and a huge mirror fills one of the walls.
Christopher Horwood8/86The bathroom of this charming thatched country house is equally sweet, including floral paintings and even bookshelves. The primary bathroom has woodwork painted in Farrow & Ball's ‘Lulworth Blue’. The blind is Bennison's ‘Liliana Light Blue'.
Owen Gale9/86Alix Reynis designed the bathroom in her Paris family house based on the ‘New York loft’ style of interiors, though she was also heavily inspired by the bathroom at the Ned, in London, designed by French interior designer Marianne Evennou.
10/86While not originally in the design plans for this colourful Toronto house, Ashley Montgomery recommended adding an arched architectural detail over the Victoria + Albert tub in the primary bath to make the tub “feel more special” under such high ceilings. The wallpaper is Michael Smith, the plumbing fixtures are Perrin & Rowe, the chandelier is vintage, the drapery is Pierre Frey, and the tile is Saltillo.
Mark Anthony Fox11/86In the bathroom of a former groom's cottage in the Cotswolds with deeply personal interiors, walls painted in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Parma Gray’ set off a ‘Hanley’ bath from The Water Monopoly.
Christopher Horwood12/86In the bathroom of this former tannery transformed by Howark Design, the panelling is painted in Farrow & Ball's ‘Arsenic’. Bert & May's 'Maison Decor' tiles line the floor.
Owen Gale13/86In Joanna Plant's west London house she used a now-discontinued vintage wallpaper by Laura Ashley, which Joanna collected roll by roll from Ebay. The wallpaper stretches around her bedroom and bathroom, and continues up onto the ceilings for a cocooning effect.
The roll-top bath is from Fired Earth. The chair is one made in the Plants’ workshop, upholstered in Bennison’s ‘Rosevine’.
Alexander James14/86Following the client's brief for something ‘really quite graphic and black and white,' Studio Peake created this thoroughly modern bathroom in this pied-à-terre in Notting Hill. Designed to contrast the ‘country’ bathrooms in the client's house, the stone is from Stone Age, the Basin Taps are from Porter Bathrooms and the wall lights are from Waterworks.
Simon Brown15/86The washstands in this bathroom by Beata Heuman are from Drummonds, with matching nickel taps, with hidden cupboards behind the mirrors above. A Dodo Egg pendant takes centre stage.
Alexander James16/86In the more playful bathroom in the same flat, the brief was to offer a French country feel, to contrast with the marble ‘jewel-like bathroom.' The bathroom is entered through the joinery in the corridor, so it ‘almost feels like a secret bathroom!' laughs Sarah. The Floor Tiles are Series S Ibiza Variato by Balineum and the wall tiles are Zellige by Mosaic Factory.
Paul Massey17/86The owners of this Thirties Georgian-style house were keen to give it an established look while avoiding any stuffiness. So they asked designer Henri Fitzwilliam-Lay to conjure distinctive interiors full of idiosyncratic details. In the main bathroom, woodwork in ‘Copper Beech’ by Paint & Paper Library tones with the Habibi wall tiles and the Breccia Pontificia marble surrounds for the bath and the basin from Romagno Marmi. Mirrored walls help to make the space feel larger.
Mark Fox18/86The wallpaper in the main bathroom in Katie Glaister's London house is Busted’ by Work & Sea. “I love the art and the depth of this paper and have surprised myself by finding it incredibly peaceful,” says Katie. The vanity was a serendipitous find at Sunbury Antiques market, modified with marble from Mander and Germain by her contractor D3Lux. Lights from Waterworks are fixed on either side of a mirror from Retrouvius. The floor is covered in zellige mosaic tiles.
Paul Massey19/86The panelling round the bath inside the founder of edit58's charming converted Cotswold barn is in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Lichen'.
Mark Anthony Fox20/86The bathroom, set off the studio in artist Haidee Becker's house, is lined with art, as well as plants. The hanging paper mobile was created for Haidee by her daughter, Rachel.
Dean Hearne21/86A small bathroom on the first floor of this charming, colourful seaside house in Deal has been enlivened with Little Greene's ‘Orange Aurora’ paint, while an Ottoline fabric creates a skirt for the vanity. The fabric on the mirror is 'Inaga', and is part of a collaboration between Nicola Mardas Interiors and the Colombian fashion & homeware company Mola Sasa.
Mark Anthony Fox22/86In the bathroom of a contemporary Cornish cottage with spectacular views of the sea, ash panelling, a vintage Hungarian table and a hessian-lined door add texture. The bespoke circular, brass-backed mirror was inspired by the work of Olafur Eliasson.
Ollie Tomlinson23/86At Anahita Rigby's design of a Regency house in Marylebone, the walk-in shower features bespoke taps made from unlacquered brass. The tiles are ‘Paintbox’ from Mandarin Stone.
Lucas Allen24/86A serene bathroom in a 17th-century house designed by Rose Uniacke, with panelled walls, wide wooden floorboards, and elegant sconces - bathroom ideas designed to make it feel less clinical and more comfortable.
Ollie Tomlinson25/86At the same house, the bathroom's vanity is custom made by Paragon Stone. The two wall lamps are from Jim Lawrence.
Chris Horwood26/86In her rented flat, Sally Wilkinson has added a skirt around the basin, a simple decoration fix to add flair to an ordinary bathroom feature. Wall light and shade by Howe London, custom-made vanity skirt in The Cloth Shop fabric, framed blue and white tiles by Brownrigg and striped hand towel by Zara Home.
Simon Brown27/86With a clear colour palette lifted by occasional pattern and an eclectic mix of furniture, interior designer Victoria Gray has created a Cotswold retreat for her family that marries rustic charm with minimalism, and transcends modern trends. In the bathroom, curtains in ‘Ete Moscovite’ from Décors Barbares draw the eye to the window, with views of the garden, while a CP Hart bath painted in ‘Hague Blue’ from Farrow & Ball nestles under the beams – which look different in this newer part of the house. A rug picked up in Istanbul and a chair from Robert Langford, with a cushion also from Istanbul, complete the scheme.
Owen Gale28/86The bath in the master en-suite of Georgia Cave's house is a bespoke design, with the walls and steps covered in Ruivina marble and offset with Clay Atelier handmade wall tiles from Artisan of Devizes. Riven black slate tiles line the inside of the bath and cover the floor.
Paul Massey29/86The tiles above the basin, sourced from a vintage market in Sicilian capital Palermo, were the starting point for the decoration of Rosi de Ruig's loo, which is lined in Ottoline’s ‘Pillars’ wallpaper with woodwork in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Dutch Orange’. The basin skirt is in Molly Mahon’s ‘Luna’ linen in oyster/pink.
Simon Brown30/86What was once a good sized bedroom was turned in a wonderfully spacious bathroom in this house by Salvesen Graham. The wallpaper ('Floral Trail Delicate') is a Salvesen Graham own. With fixtures from Balineum, Porta Romana and Watermonopoly, the space was finished with antiques to offset the utilitarian feel.
Magnus Mårding31/86A built-in cabinet in elm and elm burl elevates the bathroom storage in this Stockholm apartment.
Owen Gale32/86Curtains are not an obvious choice for a bathroom, but how delightful they look here in Pembroke Lodge. A local curtain maker, Elizabeth Harris at Fine Curtains in Penzance, made the scallop valances. The Delft tiles are from Fired Earth, and the mirror is by Sophie Conran.
Simon Brown33/86A ‘loo to remember’ was the idea with the guest bathroom of this house by Salvesen Graham. DeGournay's ‘Magical Mengagerie’ wallpaper, featuring polar bears and tigers, covers the walls, with the ceiling painted to match in Farrow and Ball's Oval Room Blue. The washstand is from Balineum, the ceiling light from Soane and the wall lights from Hector Finch.
Owen Gale34/86Georgina Cave of Cave Interiors chose these reclaimed patterned tiles to cover the floor and back wall of the bathroom in her London house.
Mark Fox35/86Cobbie Yates transformed the bathroom in his flat into a wetroom, using the bathrooms of boutique hotels they had visited as inspiration. The shade for the micro-cement was determined from the Acne Studios’ signature pink colour.
Owen Gale36/86The cupboards in Joanna Plant's upstairs bathroom are painted in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Arsenic’. The lamps are by Hector Finch, the tiles are from Bert & May, and the brass-edged mirror is one of Joanna and Nick’s own designs.
Magnus Mårding37/86A floating marble sink makes a striking feature in the guest bathroom of Marie Louise Sjogren's apartment. The fixtures are by Waterworks and the vintage wall sconce is by Josef Frank.
James McDonald38/86A hand-painted checkerboard floor adds a playful touch to a girl's bathroom in this riverside house designed by Kate Guinness. The wallpaper is Robert Kime's ‘Galaxy’ print.
Joachim Wichmann39/86The black and white bathroom tiles in Pernille Lind's bathroom are from Bert and May, and the taps and shower fittings are from Lefroy Brooks. The opaque ceiling light is from Trainspotters.
Paul Massey40/86Wall panelling in this charming Manhattan bathroom not only creates a period feel, but the faux panelling also conceals storage.
Michael Sinclair41/86Fonace Brioni tiles create a show-stopping shower space in Pandora Taylor's house.
Simon Brown42/86Wipeable floor tiles are the perfect choice for this boot room bathroom. The wallpaper is Soane's ‘Seraphic Star Bastille’.
Michael Sinclair43/86In this dreamy green bathroom in interior designer Thea Speke's country house, an Audoux Minet rope mirror from 1stDibs is set off by walls in Paint & Paper Library’s archive colour ‘Both Barrels’.
Christopher Horwood44/86Tongue and groove panelling painted in Edward Bulmer's ‘Milk White’ covers the walls and ceilings in this house by Emma Ainscough, which features sanitaryware by Burlington Bathrooms. The bath is painted in Farrow & Ball's ‘Olive’, with a shower curtain (and sink skirt) by Aleta Fabrics. Antique mirrors hang over the double vanity alongside wall lights by Rose Uniacke. A striped vase from Petersham Nurseries stands on a side table by Zara Home.
Tom Griffiths45/86In this blue and white bathroom in Melinda Stevens' house, the wooden wallpaper serves to ground the tile colours and create a more soothing space.
Michael Sinclair46/86A red painted floor and walls lined in Cole & Son’s ‘Sweet Pea’ create an uplifting space for visitors in the spare bathroom of Natasha James' house.
Owen Gale47/86The roll-top bath in Lucinda Chambers’s colourful west London home is painted in a joyful Little Greene yellow, with contrasting feet in Sanderson’s ‘Bengal Red’. A French macramé lampshade and an eclectic display of plates on the wall above the bath give the city house a particularly charming rustic look.
Martin Morrell48/86Adam Bentley’s Yorkshire cottage dates to the 17th century, and when he discovered Delft tiles dating to the same era incorporated into the top of a 1970s coffee table, he decided to use them over his bathroom washstand (a repurposed Pembroke table). Little Greene’s ‘China Clay’ sets off a copper bath Adam found on Ebay.
Chris Horwood49/86In the bathroom of Francesca Gentilli’s colourful 18th-century farmhouse, Francesca used a deep Farrow & Ball colour on the walls and woodwork: ‘Oval Room Blue’. An antique barley twist wall shelf from eBay adds a decorative touch, as does the nude watercolour by Julianna Byrne.
Owen Gale50/86Angus and Charlotte Buchanan of Buchanan Studio wanted the bathroom of their north-west London home to feel like part of the living space; to achieve this, they opted for wooden floors and put a vintage armchair upholstered in sheepskin in the corner of the room. The Edwardian bath – which matches the house’s Edwardian architecture – was so heavy that it required six men to move it into place. The pendant light is by Mullan.
Owen Gale51/86The bath and basin legs of the master ensuite in jewellery designer Sandra Barrio von Hurter’s north London home are picked out in Sanderson ‘Rowan Berry’, tempered by the pale yellow tiles and walls.
Michael Sinclair52/86After sensitively reconfiguring its interior to suit the needs of their family, the owners of this Welsh cottage have furnished it with an appealing mix of homely pieces gathered over the years. Yellow tiles from Mosaic del Sur brighten up the children’s bathroom, which has a salvaged ceramic sink and a glass Crittall-style screen for the wet-room shower.
Owen Gale53/86Interior designer Angelica Squire's Victorian terraced house in London is a youthful, exuberant space that combines smart artworks and fabrics with clever vintage finds and joyful colours. The blind in the bathroom is in a vintage Sanderson pattern Angelica found on Ebay. The Murano glass light was from 1stDibs. The 'Arc' bath taps and the loo are both from C. P. Hart.
Paul Massey54/86A bath from Aston Matthews painted in Little Greene’s ‘Ashes of Roses’ is one of many clever touches of colour in Lonika Chande's house, and contrasts with tongue and groove in ‘Gravel’ eggshell by Dulux. The blind is in ‘Field Poppy’ linen by Robert Kime.
Maree Homer55/86This colourful house in North Sydney has been very cleverly worked, with the en suite bathroom being an excellent example. The bathroom panelling is painted the same pink as the main living space, while the yellow notes of the floor and towel hark at the bedroom and hallway colour. It ties the whole house together. A fabric curtain under the sink adds to the country house effect.
Alexander James56/86The stone floor in this bathroom in a London house by Studio Peake has panelling painted in Edward Bulmer's 'Celadon. Soane's 'Scrolling Frond' wallpaper ties the colours together. The mirror was a £10 find from Kempton.
Paul Massey57/86Woodwork in ‘Leather II’ by Paint & Paper Library balances Le Manach’s ‘Pommes de Pin’ wallpaper in céladon from Pierre Frey, in this bathroom belonging to Rita Konig's County Durham farmhouse. If the compact design appeals to you, we've got plenty more bathroom design ideas for small bathrooms.
Paul Massey58/86Pale Arabescata marble has been used for the elegant bath surround and splashback in the ensuite of a Sussex cottage by Beata Heuman. The distinctive coral-themed hanging light is a design by Vaughan. Lighting a bathroom can be tricky, but we've put together a gallery of reliable choices for affordable bathroom lights chosen by interior designers.
59/86In Gabby Deeming's pretty Bloomsbury flat, the bathroom blind picks up the colours of the ‘Sweet Pea’ wallpaper by Cole & Son. Gabby made the blind from a cotton lungi bought in Sri Lanka for less than £1. It's also a beautiful example of how to use wallpaper in a bathroom; for more ideas see our gallery of bathroom wallpapers.
Simon Upton60/86The vertical lines of the panelling in this Welsh farmhouse by Hackett Holland add height to the small, awkwardly shaped bathroom, while the window gives bathers a view of the sky. A sink curtain emphasises the country feel of the scheme and hides any unsightly pipes. Aiming to replicate this kind of feel? Take a look at our gallery of country bathrooms.
Greg Funnell61/86The bathroom in the home of artist Sarah Graham is furnished with an Italian vellum screen from Rose Uniacke, a side table from James Graham-Stewart and a rug from Shahbaz Afridi.
Lucas Allen62/86A set of botanical prints from James Graham-Stewart adds a touch of life to this bathroom in a Manhattan townhouse designed by Hugh Leslie. Hugh sourced the heavily striated marble in this one from an Italian quarry and designed the drawer unit, which is in cherry wood, cracked lacquer and nickel.
Alexander James63/86White walls, wooden floors, and a gorgeous freestanding bath make this bathroom in an Edwardian villa designed by William Smalley an appealing space. The original Edwardian bedroom chimneypiece has been retained.
64/86Ashlar Mason supplied the dramatically striated marble for this bathroom, which leads off the vivid cobalt main bedroom in Audrey Carden's London house.
Paul Massey65/86A cast-iron Aston Matthews ‘Epoca’ bath, its sides painted in Emente’s ‘Orpiment’, provides a colourful contrast with Robert Kime’s ‘Grille Sage’ wallpaper and muted panelling in this bathroom by Ben Pentreath.
James Fennell66/86The bathroom in this beautiful Sri Lankan house is painted a soft jade green. Eggshell paint is not available locally, so a matting agent was added to Dulux Master Palette ‘Hillside View’ gloss paint for the window frames and doors
Tim Beddow67/86Popham Design supplied the floor tiles in Sarah Vanrenen's home. Sarah topped a walnut commode with marble to create a basin unit.
68/86Paint & Paper Library’s ‘Squid Ink’ paint was used on the Aston Matthews roll-top bath of Robin Muir's Cotswolds house, beside panelling in ‘Salvador’ oil eggshell by the same company. A painting by Doris Hatt from Denys Wilcox stands out against Robert Kime’s ‘Sunburst’ wallpaper in green. The curtains are in ‘Sari’ linen by Raoul Textiles and the stool is from Paul Dunn Antiques.
Davide Lovatti69/86The en-suite bathroom in Tara Craig's tiny London flat has Balineum wall tiles and brass fittings from Catchpole & Rye. The pink and blue colour scheme runs throughout the flat and so the bathroom is in keeping with the rest of the space. It is accessed via a jib door covered in the same Marialida’s ‘Urbino’ cotton in azzurro/antique white from Tissus d’Hélène as the rest of the bedroom.
Paul Massey70/86In a 19th century house decorated by Nicola Harding, Farrow & Ball’s ‘Setting Plaster’ paint picks up on pink tiles by Emery & Cie in the bathroom. Howe’s ‘Mark Chair’ is covered in green towelling fabric.
Richard Powers71/86The bathroom at a divine Provençal house by Andrzej Zarzycki is clad in woods of various warm tones, including oak by the vanity area, fumed oak on the floors and oiled teak on the William Garvey bath. The chair was bought at the Marché aux Puces in Paris.
Paul Massey72/86Annabel Elliot chose Farrow & Ball ‘Cooking Apple Green’ paint for the bathroom of Prince Charles’s sixteenth-century house in Cornwall, which overlooks the Fowey Valley.
Simon Brown73/86A twin washstand designed by Rose Uniacke stands in the main bathroom of an airy Kensington flat. The walls are covered with tadelakt plaster, while the walk-in shower has a projecting marble base.
74/86A vanity unit with an eye-catching skirt made from Beata Heuman’s cotton-mix ‘Marbleized Velvet’, white honed marble surfaces, pink walls and shell-style wall lights have been combined in this loo by the designer to create a decorated and feminine feel.
Paul Massey75/86The bath and sink in this eighteenth-century house in Bath are both vintage and the rag rug is from Sweden. The industrial wall lights are from Felix Lighting Specialists. Nicola chose Paint & Paper Library's ‘Deep Water Green’ in an oil eggshell finish to give the vintage bath a new lease of life (£68 for 2.5 litres).
76/86Maria Speake of Retrouvius has created bright borders of blue and green zellige tiles from Emery & Cie either side of a central Iznik-style panel in this striking bathroom. The symmetrical arrangement of the tiles is visually pleasing and frames the bath, which has a plain, reclaimed iroko-wood surround and simple unpolished brass fittings.
Paul Massey77/86The walls in this eighteenth-century house in Bath, painted in Farrow & Ball’s ‘Railings’, match the Emery & Cie cement floor tiles. Designer Nicola Harding bought the vintage bath in one of the bathrooms on Ebay. To get the look without having to trawl online, try Heritage Bathrooms’ similar ‘Porto Santo Bateau’ cast iron double-ended bath, which you can paint in the colour of your choice. It measures 67.5 x 170 x 68cm and costs £1,595, including the chrome feet.
Lucas Allen78/86In Edward Bulmer's Herefordshire house, the bathroom features pink 'Cuisse de Nymphe Emue' paint from Edward's range, which provides a backdrop for black and white artworks.
Simon Upton79/86The family bathroom of restaurant owner Keith McNally's Notting Hill home is lined with tongue-and-groove panelling. The delicately tinted areas of the map are subtly echoed by the pastel colour scheme in the main bedroom. Map specialist Jonathan Potter is a treasure trove for antique maps, charts and atlases. A similar example recording the eight routes of the European crusades, measures 48 x 40cm and costs £380.
Paul Massey80/86Textiles dealer Susan Deliss lives in a beautiful eighteenth-century country house deep in the heart of Burgundy. Her bathroom is painted a pretty pale blue. This soothing colour works well in a bathroom - the antique tiles and oriental rug add warmth.
Michael Sinclair81/86With a characteristic respect for the fabric of this eighteenth-century house in Bath, designer Patrick Williams has carefully transformed it into a welcoming home and B&B. During the restoration the owners enriched the house with all sorts of additions that look as though they have always been there - a corner cupboard on a landing or pilasters in the family bathroom, for instance. When the project started, Patrick spoke to several reclamation yards asking them to put aside any suitable elements for a Georgian house. He also trawled Ebay. Jig Baths offers a similar round tub to the one used here.
Elsa Young82/86Pink walls the colour of setting plaster, contrast with deep pink curtains in the bathroom of Henrietta Courtauld of The Land Gardeners'. Her London house, redesigned by architect Maria Speake of Retrouvius, features reclaimed marble running up to dado height, and finished with a band of antique bevelled mirror for a touch of sparkle. The clawfoot bath, positioned next to the window is a deep aubergine purple.
Davide Lovatti83/86A butler sink is an unusual choice for a bathroom, but it works beautifully with the wooden surround here. The brass taps are original to the house at Carskiey in Scotland. For similar, try Catchpole & Rye's 'English Basin Pillar Tap' in aged brass (from £300 a tap).
Rachel Whiting84/86The owners of this London house called on interior designer Beata Heuman to create a family home full of fun, distinctive design and punchy colours. A highly original space, unapologetically theatrical and oozing energy. 'The owners are both artists. They have quite wild tastes and they love strong colours,' says Beata. The opulent, free-standing bath was copied from a Twenties design that Beata spotted in an old magazine. 'It was quite difficult to work out how to make it. Fortunately, we had a very good joiner and we discovered a specialist timber from the Netherlands that is used in boat building and can be submerged in water for 10 years without any ill effect.'
85/86This Georgian house, once inhabited by Huguenot silk weavers, has been carefully restored by architect Chris Dyson. In the bathroom a slipper bath stands on a Carrara-marble plinth.
Simon Upton86/86Shunning our throwaway culture, interior designer Patrick Williams, of Berdoulat Design used salvaged finds and traditional techniques to imaginatively restore his Victorian flat in east London in a sympathetic manner. Around the bathroom walls, above matchboard panelling, runs a narrow shelf made from oak from a table his parents had when he was a child. A bigger piece forms the loo seat. The old bath was bought for £80, and the Victorian taps were reconditioned and de-chromed, as was the shower-curtain rail and waste pipe. The basin is from Labour and Wait - Patrick got a deal on it as it was chipped; for him this is welcome patina.
