Form and function were key to the design of this elegant ensuite bathroom in an early 20th-century country house in the Cotswolds. Lauren Gilberthorpe Interiors had previously undertaken an initial renovation of the house but hadn't worked on the ensuite, so were asked to retun and complete it.
The ensuite needed to feel cohesive with the scheme in the master bedroom. The client's brief for the bedroom decor had been for a sumptuous and cocooning space to retreat to, so the team devised a dark and moody scheme, with a leather bed as the centrepiece and walls painted in Chocolate Colour by Little Greene. Interior designer Faye Brookes of Lauren Gilberthorpe Interiors, who designed the room, describes it as 'a nook of darkness'. The client wanted a luxurious scheme that followed through from the bedroom when it came to the ensuite. 'The clients had also visited Battersea Power Station and were inspired by the aesthetic so wanted nods to it,' explains Faye. They also wanted to incorporate materials that gained a natural patina with age and, most importantly, they wanted to be able to look out of the window and take in the view of the beautiful surrounding countryside while bathing.
The colour palette of the ensuite links hamoniously with the master bedroom. Warm white walls painted in Linen Wash by Little Greene ensure it is a light and bright space, while darker tones are injected with wood, copper and chocolate brown tiles on the shower walls. Additional warmth is brought in with brass tapware that will age beautifully.
The centrepiece is the statement copper Japanese soaking bath by Coppersmith Creations, which, positioned in front of the window, allows the clients to admire the panorama.
Because the bathroom is quite compact, a classic-style, curved, bespoke walnut vanity and cabinetry, complete with an elegant marble countertop, was designed to wrap around the shape of the copper bath, providing plenty of storage. Faye tasked our team with finding a marble featuring certain key hues and our Calacatta Vagli Vena Fine Oro marble was chosen because of the colours of its veining. 'There is blue veining, which links with the Roman blinds, and brown, which links with the walnut cabinetry, as well as sandy tones. It also has a hint of soft gold that complements the tapware,' says Faye. The marble was carefully crafted by our stonemasons to create a custom countertop that provides a sumptuous touch. 'The countertop runs along the side of the bath allowing the client to have a glass of wine in the bath and then have somewhere to place it down,' says Faye. Continuing the need for practicality, shallow cabinetry was built into the walls to allow for storage as the clients wanted as much as possible. 'The bathroom looks amazing, but also still functions as a practical space for storage.'
