Bathroom makeover - Game plan

The blank canvas of Emma and Paul’s home – an old squash court – gave them free rein over their bathroom’s look

- By Ellen Finch. Photographs by Chris Snook for Ca'Pietra

One of the myths we most love disputing is that a bathroom always needs to be neutral. As the smallest room in the house, most people decide to play it safe, worried that the space won’t be able to take too much pattern and colour. Sound like you? Emma and Paul’s bathroom might just change your mind. When the couple bought their home – a former squash court – the bathroom was first on the list for a major revamp. Enlisting the help of Sophie from Simply Bathrooms, they’ve brought the space back to life with bold tiles, feature wallpaper and a huge dose of personality. Here, Emma shares how they did it.

BACK TO LIFE

‘This property was built in the 1930s as a squash court. It was part of an estate of beautiful Art Deco flats. Sadly there was a massive flood in 1968, which ruined the existing squash court, and it became derelict until it was bought in 2004. When we were doing the bathroom, we took the plaster off the wall and saw a red stripe going up the wall from the original court. Unfortunately, we couldn’t leave it exposed as it’s a single skin brick building.’