En-suite bathrooms are essential in any modern household even if it means sacrificing a little bedroom space

Increasingly popular among couples and families alike, an en-suite bathroom is a great addition to any home, although you may have to sacrifice bedroom space to get one. Abigail Campbell decided it was worth it in her west London home that she shares with her husband Jamie and their two young children.

The couple took the time to think about how the two spaces would work together – essential if you want to create a coherent look. With this in mind, the connecting door between the bedroom and bathroom is about two-and-a-half-times the width of a normal door, making the two areas feel like one large room. ‘The door slides into a recess so takes up no wall space,’ says Abigail. ‘The only minor problem we had was that our door did twist slightly, so make sure you choose a material that won’t warp.’

The Campbells constructed a walk-in shower from limestone and glass, which gives the effect of a mini wet room. This area was waterproofed with Bal-Tanking, a trowelled on lining which is flexible – essential in an old building with timber joists that ‘move’. The floor was also strengthened to reduce deflection. This work was done by Ormond Construction, a specialist contractor.

Underfloor heating (a must if you want a truly contemporary en suite) keeps feet cosy and helps to dry off excess moisture. Abigail also used it to line a storage compartment for towels built into the old chimney breast. ‘The solid iroko flooring was scarily pale when it arrived,’ recalls Abigail, ‘but within about four months it had deepened to a rich, reddy brown.’ She chose matching timber to box in the unsightly pipes (which supply a luxurious free-standing bath in resin composite), and to make a cupboard/plinth to support the basin bowl.

Useful Contacts

Cintractor: Ormond Construction www.ormondconstrtuction.co.uk
Underfloor heating: Nu-heat www.nu-heat.co.uk
Sinks: Avante Bathrooms www.avantebathrooms.com
Steam and hydro massage showers: Di Vapor www.divapor.com

Words: Barbara Chandler  Image: James Balston