Caxton magazines staffA predominantly white palette and clean-lined fittings transformed this dated cottage-style bathroom into a sleek spa-like sanctuary
Interior designer Lulu Ridgway’s brief for this Cape Town bathroom was to turn it from one with a tired cottage feel into something that was more in tune with a serene spa sanctuary. As the room has traditional sash windows, she aimed to strike a balance between a classic look and slick, contemporary design and decided on a fresh white-on-white palette.
First Lulu removed the cottage-style clay quarry tiles and replaced them with a seamless quartz flooring from Quartz Consulting. Other cottage-style decorative elements such as the dado rail with white painted panelling and the vanity with trellis work doors were also removed for a much cleaner, pared-down look. The walls were then painted in Plascon’s Velvaglo, colour Ivory White, to give the space a light, airy feel.
The walls surrounding the separate toilet were knocked down to increase the floor area and the toilet was placed behind the door so as not to take up too much space. The boxed-in bath was replaced with a modern take on the traditional slipper bath from Exquisite Bathrooms and the Cobra bath taps and mixer were centred under the main window. The vanity, made and installed by H.G. Holliday, with basins, from Exquisite Bathrooms, features ducoed glass doors for a lighter feel and as the unit is wall-hung, it creates a feeling of spaciousness. The huge mirror and frameless shower doors from Turnkey Frameless Glass capture and reflect the light.
White floating shelves and a glass side table provide surfaces for pretty accessories in soft accent colours that can be updated at will or as fashions change. With a predominantly white palette, reflective glass surfaces and clean lines, the result is a tranquil space in which to unwind.
