Step inside this modernised shower room

This family have created a sleek, contemporary shower room for the many visitors they have to stay

Having lived in their house for over 16 years, this couple felt the time had come to either move again or completely renovate the house. After consulting an architect and seeing his plans for a huge building project, they decided to stay put and extend the house.

The new design gave them a two-storey rear extension which provided a new kitchen-diner and a master bedroom. In addition, the couple also decided to include a side extension which meant they would benefit from a much bigger guest room and en suite.

This was particularly useful as the couple regularly have visitors coming to stay from all over the world. The builders were given the go-ahead and eight months later all the structural work was done. By this time the family had a shell of a bathroom which featured a window that allowed in lots of light and gave a view of the garden.

Initially the family had planned to install a bath and a separate shower, but then changed their minds. 'I didn't want to cram this lovely room with stuff,' says the owner. 'Also our children would be using this room too, and as they were getting older they were tending to have showers rather than baths.'

1/6 Sleek en suite

bathroom with commode and wash basin

(Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole)

The owner was keen on a wet-room look and searched out frameless shower panels that fitted this sleek style. Choosing a colour palette for the new bathroom was easy. 'I am obsessed with grey,' says the owner, who was thrilled to find that the furniture she liked came in a soft grey shade. Accessories in complementary colours and a smart white Venetian blind finish off the room in style ready to welcome all their visitors.


Blind

Sunwood Blinds

Wall tiles
Designer Bathroom Concepts

Wall paint
Little Greene

2/6 Streamlined look

bathroom with mirror towel rail with towels

(Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole)

The owner wanted the look of the new bathroom to be clean and uncluttered. 'I didn't want a lot of things to be out on show, so including a vanity unit in the scheme made sense.' This unit is wider than usual which helps to create a bespoke feel. The shade of soft, pale grey and sleek chrome handles lend a contemporary look.

Vanity unit
Twyford
Similar mirror
Bathstore

3/6 Slimline storage

bathroom with cupboard and washbasin

(Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole)

This narrow bathroom cupboard is part of the same range as the vanity unit and provides handy storage which is especially useful when guests come to visit. Having several small shelves makes it easy to find things, and colourful accessories stand out against the pale background.

Toiletries
Amazon

4/6 Walk-in shower

bathroom with shower and shampoo bottle

(Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole)

By choosing frameless toughened glass panels, the owners were able to create the wet-room look they were after. The overhead shower is very powerful while the separate moveable attachment is a practical choice which makes cleaning the cubicle easy.

Shower panels
Roman

Shower
Twyford

5/6 Handy recessed shelf

bathroom with shower and shampoo bottle

(Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole)

'I fell for these mosaic tiles as the long thin shape is really unusual,' says the owner. While the builders were installing a false wall to hide the plumbing in the shower, the couple took the opportunity to create a recessed shelf which provides a handy place for toiletries.

Mosaic tiles
Designer Bathroom Concepts

6/6 The old guest bathroom

bathroom with commode and window

(Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole)

The previous guest bathroom was a far cry from the sleek, modern room that the family now have – and all their guests enjoy.

Heather Young
Editor

Heather Young has been Ideal Home’s Editor since late 2020, and Editor-In-Chief since 2023. She is an interiors journalist and editor who’s been working for some of the UK’s leading interiors magazines for over 20 years, both in-house and as a freelancer.