For some people, interior design is just something to dip in and out of every now and then. But for TV personality and influencer @oliviadbowen of @thebowenhome and her husband Alex, an interest in all-things interiors turned into building their very own home.
Designing their own home was a dream for the couple, who met on ITV’s Love Island in 2016, married in 2018 and had son Abel in 2022. The family lived in a rented property for six months while the build took place and the new property has given Olivia, who now has a diploma in interior design, the chance to use her creativity and flair for design to the max. While she adores her influencing career, Olivia has embraced her new skills and knows that interior design is something she wants to pursue.
The kitchen is the heart of their new home. Bright, beautiful, homely and full of country charm, what started as a few ideas on Pinterest has now become a warm and welcoming space for the family to cook, dine and entertain. The oak island takes centre stage while traditional cream painted cabinetry enhances the country feel. To anchor the room and provide an easy-clean practical floor, Olivia chose our Brit Stone Burford porcelain tiles in three mixed sizes for a random effect. Continuing through to the utility room with its on-trend green cabinetry, the porcelain tiles are extremely durable and can withstand heavy traffic and daily wear and tear with ease, making them the perfect choice for any downstairs space.
For the splashback behind the sink, our Oasis Ceramic White Gloss tiles are laid vertically and extend the full length of the wall. It’s always a good idea to play around with the laying pattern with wall and floor tiles, as it’s an easy way to be even more creative when it comes to the final effect.
For the downstairs WC, Olivia has gone for a rustic Mediterranean feel by combining our Marlborough Terracotta Arabesque tiles for the floor with our Sardinia Porcelain Masseria tiles for the walls. “I feel like I’ve finally let loose in my interior style and I have the confidence to go for textures and colours I was too scared to do in our previous house,” says Olivia. Bathrooms are ideal spaces for letting your imagination run free, as they can be little pockets of personality in an otherwise neutral home.
This is something Olivia has embraced fully, as her son Abel’s en-suite shows. A combination of our Fondant Ceramic Blue tiles for the wall behind the vanity unit and Rotterdam Porcelain Mid Wood for the flooring creates a soothing space. Fun and playful while creating a sense of calm, the room’s earthy floor tiles add warmth to the cool blue scheme.
The guest en-suite is equally serene and stylish with a stunning feature wall of pastel tones made up from our Nuance Ceramic. It’s the perfect backdrop to the matt black wall-mounted taps and shower fittings and sculptural wavy basin on a floating timber shelf. Olivia selected our Rhine Porcelain Blanc for the floor, as she loves its soft, creamy tones as much as the practicality of the easy-clean surface.
The family bathroom takes on a more dramatic role with its Victorian feel, roll-top bath, Merlot coloured walls, upcycled antique chest of drawers now used as a double basin vanity and striking chequerboard floor, created using our Osterley Porcelain Black and White Square tiles.
In Olivia and Alex’s en-suite, it’s back to a calming feel with a mix of green and wood-effect tiles. “It’s a lovely tranquil space,” says Olivia, and we couldn’t agree more. The main wall is tiled with our Reform Composite Stone Tumbled Mint, laid vertically to elongate the space with its sloping ceiling. For the shower, it had to be our statement California Porcelain Jade. These large-format tiles have such a luxurious look, blending precious jade with the practicality of porcelain. To finish, our Sussex Porcelain Amber wood-style plank tiles enhance the natural and organic feel.
“Each bathroom really does have its own unique style,” adds Olivia, “and takes you to a different era or place or feeling.” And that’s the beauty of tiles – you really can create anything you want!
