FEATURE
LINDA CLAYTON
PHOTOGRAPHS
JONATHAN MITCHELL
BALANCED PROPORTIONS AND NATURAL MATERIALS IN NEUTRAL TONES
INSTIL A SPA-LIKE CALMNESS IN THIS SPACIOUS EN SUITEDESIGNERSLisa and Roy Persse,
Porter Bathroom, 020 3355 1817,
porterbathroom.com.
THE PROPERTYA five-bedroom
new-build home in California.
DESIGN BRIEFTo maximise the
unusually generous, sun-filled proportions
of this master bedroom’s en suite and
make a connection with nature – the area
is famed for its redwood trees. The overall
look was to be led by the rest of the house’s
pared-back, Belgium-inspired architecture.
DIMENSIONS6x3.3m
LAYOUT
‘We started with the bath,’ recalls Roy.
‘The space naturally called out for
it to take centre stage. Placing the
vanity units on either side created the
perfect trio, with each piece given
enough space to make a calm but
powerful statement as you enter the
room.’ While sloping ceilings can
often hinder an interior, here they
are high enough not to cause an
obstruction or make the room feel
crowded. Instead, the symmetrical
lines have a framing effect on the
window and bath below.
SURFACES
Leige Grey marble was selected for its
natural softness. ‘It is without doubt
the most neutral but interesting grey
marble there is,’ says Lisa. ‘Together
with the limed-oak finish on the
vanity units, it is the perfect choice in
a home that’s focused on natural
finishes and restraint. When you walk
into the room, you can almost feel
life’s stresses lift off of your shoulders.’
The brassware is in polished nickel,
which feels crisper than a warm
finish like aged brass or copper.
FITTINGS
Any large-scale room requires fittings
to match, and Porter Bathroom’s
Clyde marble slab bath is certainly
imposing. A double-ended inset bath,
encased in Leige Grey marble, the
edges were tightly mitred at 90
degrees to form a monolithic piece
that looks like it is carved from a
single slab. ‘A bath like this demands
space and fortunately we had it here,’
says Roy, ‘but we still had to work
hard to find the perfect spot to make
it sing, without letting it completely
take over.’ Out of shot, and measuring
an impressive 2x1.6m, the walk-in
steam shower can accommodate two
people, but frameless glazing of the
enclosure ensures it doesn’t appear
too large. ‘We had the space to go big,
but it was important that it doesn’t
feel out of place or dominating,’ says
Lisa. Inside the shower, Barbara
Barry’s Art Deco-inspired controls
bring extra glamour, along with a
built-in seat for comfort and storage
niches to keep toiletries close to hand.FURNITURE
The vanity units were upscaled to
match the room’s grand proportions.
Beneath them, the limed-oak drawers
provide texture and warmth, while
the slab-style marble top section
looks luxuriously chunky. Above, a
mirrored cabinet, with eye-level
lighting on either side, takes care of
smaller toiletries and toothbrushes
and creates a pleasingly symmetrical
design. ‘Above all, the owners wanted
a bathroom with space around each
fitting to relax and breathe,’ says Lisa.FITTINGSClyde singlevanity
unitswith limed-oak storage,
polished nickel frames and
marble tops, £6,800 each;
Clyde marble slabbathin Leige
Grey honed marble, £5,200;
bespokesteam showerand
frameless enclosure(out of
shot), around £10,000; Pelham
basin wall three-holetapsin
polished nickel, £366 each, all
Porter Bathroom. Wall-mounted
basin mixers, £1,878 each;
freestandingbath mixerwith
handshower, £2,420.46; Tuxedo
by Barbara Barryshower
thermostatic trimwith Classic
handle, £2,108.30; Tuxedo by
Barbara Barryshower volume
control trimwith Streamline
handle, £643.53; Tuxedo by
Barbara Barryhandshower,
£1,676; Air Induction small
traditionalraindome shower
with wall-mounted arm,
£1,118.99, all Kallista at
West One BathroomsSURFACESLeige Grey
honed-marbletiles,61x61cm,
£138sq m, Porter Bathroom.
Wallsin Strong White
modern emulsion, £46.50
for 2.5L, Farrow & BallACCESSORIESHayden
frosted-glasswall lightsin
polished nickel, £510 each;
Everdon largemirrored
cabinets, £634 each,
all Porter BathroomDREAM BATHROOM
WHERE TO BUY