'We wanted an Art Deco Vibe' - Helen took her bathing space from cramped and dated to family-friendly, with a classic retro-inspired look

Inheriting a typical 1930s layout of rectangular bathroom and a separate loo along the corridor wasn't really suitable for us,' says Helen. 'And with a teenager and a younger child, we knew we had to change things quickly after moving into our house in April 2022.

- By Stephanie Smith

Inheriting a typical 1930s layout of rectangular bathroom and a separate loo along the corridor wasn't really suitable for us,' says Helen. 'And with a teenager and a younger child, we knew we had to change things quickly after moving into our house in April 2022.

As part of a larger renovation project, while still respecting the history of the house, we wanted to change the current bathroom to fit in a shower-bath, a loo and a vanity unit. We also planned for a single-storey rear and a double-storey extension at the side, plus adding a downstairs shower room and an en suite.

Design process

The house is a classic architect-designed E and L Berg property in a development described in its original marketing as two estates of exceptionally fine artistic houses, chosen for their position surrounded by low hills and a beautiful expanse of Surrey countryside. And I'd always been interested in owning one. These 1930s-era houses don't come onto the market very often, and many of them have had their insides ripped out, sadly.

I dropped leaflets along this particular road, saying we were keen to buy a house and to preserve its features, and we managed to secure this one. Then it was a question of improving the house, while staying true to its period character.

New layout