Elegant Bathroom Design
Location:
Norwich, Norfolk
Project Type:
Residential
Services:
Design, build & installation
The Brief
To transform a disused attic bathroom into a contemporary, fully functioning shower room that would properly serve the second-floor bedrooms of this elegant Edwardian architecture home in Norwich. The existing space, defined by a low, sloping ceiling, required complete renovation — including all new plumbing and drainage — to create a modern, practical and beautifully resolved room.
About The Project
The original attic bathroom presented significant structural and spatial challenges. The sloped ceiling dramatically reduced usable height, the walls were uneven and unsuitable for a recessed shower, and the overall condition of the room required comprehensive intervention. As my client wished to replace the bath with a generous walk-in shower, careful planning was essential. One side of the room was simply too low for comfortable showering, and the walls were neither true nor sufficiently robust for tiling.
About The Project
Rather than compromise, I chose to rebuild with intention. New internal stud walls were constructed to create straight, stable surfaces, allowing us to install cement board and achieve a flawless tiled finish. A carefully positioned stud wall was introduced across the width of the room, eliminating the lowest portion of the sloped ceiling and reclaiming valuable head height. This architectural adjustment also created a concealed void, which I used to incorporate recessed, illuminated shelving within both the shower enclosure and behind the vanity unit — precisely aligned to maintain visual harmony. To retain a crisp, modern aesthetic, I selected beautiful light green rectangular tiles, laid vertically to subtly elongate the space and draw the eye upward — a deliberate departure from the more traditional brick pattern.
All brassware and hardware were specified in brushed brass, introducing warmth and a contemporary softness against the clean-lined tiling. A bespoke solid oak vanity unit and matching shelf tops add natural texture and balance, grounding the room with organic warmth. Underfoot, luxury vinyl wood-effect flooring is laid in a classic herringbone pattern — practical for an attic space, yet refined in appearance. For a relatively compact room, this transformation required extensive structural and design consideration. Every line was rethought; every surface carefully rebuilt.
The finished space feels calm, cohesive and effortlessly sophisticated. Gentle integrated lighting enhances the architectural details, while the layered textures and warm finishes create a sense of intimacy. What was once an awkward attic bathroom is now a serene, modern sanctuary — perfectly proportioned and beautifully resolved.
