This post is a collaboration with Chadwicks…
It’s been awhile since we’ve had a renovation project of our own to share. We’re too busy snooping inside other people’s beautiful homes to tend to our own but with a baby on the way in a matter of weeks now, Caroline (one half of GAFF Interiors) decided it’s time to get nesting.
There are several projects happening at once in her Drumcondra house (all of which were put in the hold smack bang in the middle of proceedings due to the lockdown) but the biggest job of all was converting the attic into a bedroom and adding an en suite. For this article, we’re going to look at the bathroom.
In terms of size, it was a small enough space to work with: just 3.2 meters squared in total, which sounds miniscule but with clever design and smart product and colour choices you can absolutely create the illusion of space and get everything you need in the mix (minus a bath of course).
We were delighted to partner with Chadwicks on the en suite; it’s very easy to get overwhelmed looking at Pinterest and getting flooded with ideas only to come to realise that what you thought might work is actually not the best choice for you, so it was an awful lot less stressful to go straight to the experts, with our measurements in hand, a vague idea of what we liked, and let them guide the way. We cannot stress the importance of expert advice when it comes to something like a bathroom; it’s not something you’re going to want to have to change in a year’s time, and Chadwicks are the experts on that front.
Of course it was their range of matte black bathroom products that piqued our interest: the black rainforest shower, black taps and black accessories (such as toilet roll holder and flusher button). It’s so important when looking at bathroom design to look beyond aesthetics, however, and ask about function. This was an attic space so would we need a shower pump to ensure the water pressure was good enough? It turned out that we didn’t but this is something to bring up with both the suppliers of your products and the plumber installing it.
Starting with the black theme we decided then to balance this with very pared back, bright white glossy subway tiles – also available at Chadwicks – and to avoid crowding out the space we went with white grouting as well. Black or grey grouting can look wonderful but when coupled with black accessories in a very small space, it can all be a bit much on the eye. So always think about balance, and it means the black accessories you do choose will stand out far better.
We decided we wanted a pop of colour somewhere so for the floors we went for hexagonal moroccan style ceramic tiles in a pale pink with white detail. These enhanced everything else in the en suite, giving it some personality without dominating the aesthetic.
A toilet that floats is a must as it makes cleaning the floor underneath it so much easier. Same goes for the vanity unit – no more awkward angles as you try to spruce up your bathroom. We also got a mirror that is very modest on first look but with the anti-mist function and the LED lights, it more than does what’s required of it.
For the walls that weren’t tiled, we went with an anthracite type of grey paint: Backdrop from Dulux Moda collection, and this further helped the white tiles and black details to pop.
Thankfully the en suite is naturally very bright and that’s down to our builder’s suggestion of putting in a skylight way up on top of the roof (it sort of functions like a tunnel of light) which we didn’t think was possible. If ever there is an opportunity to get natural light into a bathroom, always go for it.
In one quick visit to Chadwicks showroom in Stillorgan, led by their expertise, we had everything we needed to complete the en suite picked out and ready to be ordered. We cross checked the dimensions of things such as the shower tray and the vanity unit with our builder’s measurements to ensure there were no hiccups.
We couldn’t be happier with the finished look: an en suite that is functional, pared back, stylish but one that will stand the test of time for years to come.
And the end result!
Full product list:
Shower
Gemstone White Rectangular Tray 1200x800mm – Sq. Waste
Twin Outlet Bar Shower With Diverter Black
Image IEight Black 800 Wet Room Screen – 2000mm High
Vanity Unit, Basin & Tap
Harrow Black Basin Mixer
Black Basin Waste
RT Large K50 Barelino Oak Unit K50Bar
Toilet
Sonas Resort Rimless Wall Hung Toilet With Slim Soft Closed Seat
1 Each Geberit 82cm Prewall WC Frame
Kappa 20 Flush Plate Black
Radiator & Valves
Vesima Aluminium Vertical Radiator 1800x303mm Matt Black
1 Pair Aqualla Matt Black Angled Radiator Valves
Mirror
Logic Led Mirror 500 x 700mm Llm5070
Tiles
Bronx Blanco Glossy Wall Tile 300x75mm
Accessories
3 Each Vesima Towel Hanger
Lounge Black Toilet Roll Holder
Got your own bathroom to redo? Follow this advice from the experts at Chadwicks…
Storage – Basin Vanity Unit is an important piece of furniture – it works much better than the traditional basin and pedestal. Vanity units can provide functional storage space and add style to your bathroom décor (nothing like a great mix of design and function!). They can come in a plethora of colours and finishes, made from suitably waterproof materials, such as laminated wood or MDF. If you have plenty to store and would need extra space, a mirror cabinet can be a better option than standard mirrors.
Tiles – If you have a small bathroom, go for tiles in light colours as this will give a feeling of more space. Rectangular tiles laid horizontally will give an impression that the walls are wider than they are. If in doubt on sizes, medium size tiles are the best options. Large ones can make the room to look smaller, while tiles that are too small will have more grout lines, what would also not help with the sensation of space.
Lighting – A small bathroom can feel dark, gloomy and even smaller if it has no natural light. If that is the case of your bathroom, consider investing a bit extra in lighting to improve the mood of the room. A good ceiling and mirror lights should do the job, and you can go for modern and cost-efficient LED lights for both! Just make sure that the lighting selected must be suitable for the bathroom environment or bathroom rated.
For more advice contact Chadwicks, all details can be found on their website here.