'I chose deep blues for a scheme with real drama'

A long-awaited extension project gave Hazel Morris the chance to swap her old, dated shower room for a sumptuous en suite decked out in atmopsheric hues

- Lisa Moses

When she first saw this property, Hazel Morris admits she thought it was the ugliest house on the street. ‘My husband, Andy, and I were driving past beautiful, period cottages, but this 1950s detached house was completely charmless and unloved,’ recalls Hazel. ‘We knew it would transform into something quite amazing, though, so took the plunge.’

After moving in, they had their work cut out renovating other rooms in the house. So, although the original bathroom had boring beige tiles, sticky vinyl flooring and a bath with a shower head attachment that barely trickled, Hazel decided to limit herself to just giving the room a bit of a temporary spruce up. She knew that in the long run, they would eventually rip it out and build a new one.

THE PROJECT

Once the couple had completed their renovation of the kitchen, they turned their attention to the upstairs. ‘But the dream was to add an extension, incorporating a large master bedroom and en suite that could become a sanctuary for myself and Andy,’ says Hazel. So, after five years, work on their ideal master suite began.

The original plan was to include a walk-in wardrobe and small shower room, but, ‘as the renovation progressed, my brother, who is our builder, suggested using the space to create a large, luxurious bathroom instead,’ explains Hazel. ‘I was excited by the idea and knew I could design an amazing room, but I would need to make a dramatic statement to match the size of the space.’

WHAT WE DID