‘I swapped my bath for a modern walk-in shower
Ditching the bath has made all the difference to Janine de Pfaaf’s dank and windowless bathroom
Insider info
WHO LIVES HERE?
Janine de Pfaaf, 29, bought her two-bed
flat in a converted Victorian building in
Cheshire just over a year ago.
WHAT WAS WRONG
WITH THE OLD BATHROOM?
The cramped space was not only tired
and dated, but there was little room to
manoeuvre and even less storage. Plus, a
possible damp issue around the bath was
causing mould and a musty smell.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST
ABOUT THE ROOM?
It’s now a bright and inviting space
that I look forward to spending time in- what’s more I rarely notice the absence
of a window.
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP TIPS?
Replacing an awkward tub and shower
combo with a barely there walk-in
enclosure will instantly open up a
small space – and allow for a bath
re-instatement in the future. Adding
ample storage also stops clutter
overwhelming a room.
Before
W
hen Janine de Pfaaf moved into
her converted first-floor apartment
she was delighted to inherit some
great period features. However, as with many
conversions, a less-than-perfect layout meant
she also had to contend with a poky internal
bathroom measuring just 1.9 sq m. ‘The lack
of natural light, plus dated suite and tiles, did
nothing to enhance its proportions, but my pet
hate was having to make do with a poor shower
over the bath,’ recalls Janine.
Janine was more than happy to sacrifice her
bath in favour of a spacious shower area and
thought a sleek, minimalist wet-room would
be the ideal solution. However, her first priority
was to address the damp issue. Fortunately,
ripping out the bath soon revealed that the stale
smell and mouldy grout were the result of leaky
sealant and a rotting timber surround. ‘It was
a huge relief that water had not made its way
to the flat below,’ smiles Janine, ‘To ensure the
room remains well-ventilated and mould-free,
I decided to invest in a new extractor fan- which was £45 well spent!’
Having come to the conclusion that
there was nothing wrong with the layout,
other than the big and bulky existing fittings,
Janine opted to install a walk-in shower with
a slimline tray and frameless screen, rather
than stick to her original plan of a wetroom.
‘My plumber suggested it would be a good
fuss-free alternative that would also open up
the room while offering a modern streamlined
finish,’ she explains. She did, however, decide
to sacrifice a few centimetres of space in order
to construct a false wall which provides the
support for her ‘wow’-factor shower panel and
space-enhancing wall-hung vanity unit and WC.
The wall hides the ugly pipework and, ‘with
nothing to distract the eye, it makes the room
feel bigger,’ says Janine. What’s more, the wall
offers extra storage in the form of a ledge.
In keeping with her sleek, contemporary look,
Janine chose to tile both the walls and the floor
using practical, stone-effect porcelain, found in
a local sale. I think my choice of a warm, neutral
palette and textural finishes helps add character
while keeping things light and bright,’ she
says. Cleverly mixing and matching finishes also
adds interest, while a light-enhancing mirrored
wall – which Janine had cut to size for £150 – is
not only a useful addition in any bathroom but
instantly adds to the feeling of space. A smart
designer towel rail and warming coral accents
complete the look in what is now an airy,
inviting shower space with ample storage.DOUBLE DUTY
In a busy compact room, opt for
dual-purpose pieces such as this
space-saving heated towel rail that
Feature ensures dry towels are always to handPaula WoodsPhotosLizzie Orme52 August 2019
bATHROOM P RObLE M ROOM
CREATE A FOCAL POINT
A bold shower panel makes a stylish
statement and the addition of a practical
hand-held shower offers flexibility