This family bathroom hadn't been decorated for years before the new owner moved in and decided to revamp it. Not wanting to spend a fortune, the idea was to work mostly with what was already there, and yet to create an entirely new feel.
1/6 Coastal-style bathroom
The bath was scratched and had to be replaced, and the taps were broken too, so new chrome ones were fitted, but the toilet and sink stayed and the whole room was given a new look. 'My priority was to recreate the feeling of being by the seaside - sitting in a beautiful wooden beach hut and looking out to sea,' the owner explained.
2/6 Bath panelling
The new bath was fitted with a wood-panel surround, painted in pale white-grey tones reminiscent of driftwood. And to get that sea view, a breathtaking photo of a local beach was enlarged to fit the entire width of the wall beside the bath. 'I tracked down a firm that makes flyposters who were able to create a giant made-to-measure poster for me,' the owner told us. The enlarged print was then given a coat of varnish to make it waterproof.
Timber
B&Q
Large format poster
Stress Free Print
3/6 Accessories
When the owner came across a striped beach hut cabinet in a charity shop, she snapped it up, planning to display it on the bathroom windowsill where it now lives. A sturdy wooden bath bridge adds warmth to the otherwise refreshing scheme and is strong enough to hold not only soap but also a cup of tea and a book, making bath time soaks in the new room so much more relaxing.
Bath bridge
John Lewis
Similar beach hut cabinets
John Lewis
4/6 Painted wall with mounted porthole mirrors
A deep-sea blue was chosen for the walls immediately behind the bath, matching the main shade of the sea in the varnished poster. Three porthole-style mirrors were then hung, giving a burst of reflected light which helps to open out the room. And novelty anchor towel holders create a fun home for the blue-striped coastal-style towels.
Similar mirrors
Coastal Home
Paint
Crown
Similar striped towels
Dunelm
5/6 Recessed cabinet
The wood panelling was not only ideal for covering the less than perfect walls, it also presented the opportunity to create a clever bathroom cabinet and an open recessed shelf. The cabinet neatly houses first aid supplies and the shelf below it is reserved for a vintage pressure gauge found at a car-boot sale, adding an industrial-touch that ties in perfectly with the coastal theme.
Similar first aid box
Store
6/6 Extra storage
The toilet roll holder and flush were both kept simple, with clean, modern lines, while character was added in the shape of a vintage wooden storage box. It was found discarded in a skip outside a local bread factory that was closing down. 'I rescued it!' says the owner proudly - she knew instantly that she would be able to find a place for it in her bathroom. The box is now used to hold flannels and towels.
Toilet seat
John Lewis
Similar toilet flush
Homebase