Maximising Space: Compact Bathrooms

A familiar challenge in bathroom design, particularly in urban locations, is the size of the space available. There is just so much to fit into what is usually the smallest room of the house! Add to that the fact that many of us these days are looking to the bathroom as a place to spend more time relaxing.

For the design of this compact bathroom, I dug into my designer’s bag of tricks! Here are some of those top tips:

1. Extra large mirrors or mirror-cladded walls instantly improve the sense of space in a room;

2. For extra storage space, build cabinets and niche shelves into the stud wall;

3. Choose specialist sanitaryware with slightly more compact dimensions – 50mm can make all the difference to your ability to navigate your way around the items with ease;

4. Research fold away & pivot bath shower screens, which give greater flexibility to enjoy a luxurious bath without a large piece of glass getting in the way; and

5. Choose a washstand over a vanity unit for an airier look.

The finished result (photo 1) marks quite a difference from the original bathroom (photo 2).

Wild Garden by the Sea

Nature will, I think, always be my greatest source of inspiration and consolation. Trips away to places that offer beautiful natural environments are so rejuvenating, both personally and professionally.

This walk along the clifftops near Calvi, Corsica, has to be one of the most memorable I’ve ever had, and not because I fell down in the brambles shortly after we set out! I soon realised that the wild flowers were going to be so varied and pretty that I’d need to snap each new one I came across.

Just look at the colours, textures, movement, and contrast in this enchanting wild garden by the sea. The hard, grey rocks meet the undulating blue water, and perfect blooms pop up everywhere.