Unlike previous renovations, when we’ve actually lived in the properties as they were being renovated, this time, we have lived in an apartment, by the sea, a good couple of hours drive away. Each trip over to the house, is over a four hour round trip, and so we haven’t done so many actual visits. We keep on top of everything with daily updates with our builder and video calls when necessary, so although we’re not right in the middle of it all, we feel very much in the loop, and know what is happening at all times.

This means that my blogging of our renovation journey has been a bit more sporadic than previously. But so much has been happening in the house – so much more than we actually envisaged initially – that I think it’s important to keep a record. Something we can look back on in the future, and wonder once again, how on earth we did it.

So, the main bathroom…

This was what we inherited. A bit daunting, as absolutely nothing could be salvaged, but we knew it had potential and we had a strong vision, so the instruction was issued to just get it all out and stripped back. And Jose produced a drawing which aligned with our vision.

The ongoing renovations…

What we’ve done…

Walls have been repaired and replastered, and are now half tiled. The remaining plaster walls will be painted white. The bathroom originally had a small shuttered window, in the corner – you can see it in the first image – and then at the opposite end of the wall, a full length window, overlooking the courtyard. This definitely had potential and we loved it, but we quickly realised, it limited what we could do with the bathroom and the placing of sanitaryware. So, the decision was made to block up the small window and site the shower in this corner, then brick up the bottom half of the full length window to create a smaller one, which would increase the useable wall and floor space. The original flooring was taken up and we chose tiles that suited the style of the house. We didn’t want them to look “new”, we wanted to look as if they could have always been there.

One thing we definitely knew we wanted, was a bath. And, having wanted one forever, we decided that this was the bathroom for a much longed for free standing bath. We deliberated over the size/style/colour for weeks and weeks as this was an expensive outlay and we had one chance to get it right. And, I think we have definitely made the right decision!

All of the bath, sink, shower and shower accessories are quite Victoriana, made of brass and with beautiful little blue tile insets. And, by an amazing stroke of luck, I found totally by accident, a company which manufactured, in exactly the same style, towel rails, hooks, toilet roll holders etc so we opted for these. These are still packed away, only to be installed when everything else is done, along a with a gorgeous brass, Victoriana mirror for above the sink. A brass sink, too, which we’ll have mounted on an old cabinet, which will be renovated and restored. Another non-compromise must-have, was the shower wall, made out of glass bricks. I’ve tried to wedge a glass brick something or other in every renovation we’ve done, with no success. Until now. I have my glass brick wall! And a beautiful non-slip copper effect shower tray, with a copper drain. It’s a beauty.

It’s been a couple of weeks since we’ve seen the bathroom, so we know that things will have come on. We’re just awaiting delivery of blue ceramic edging pieces for the tops of the tiles on the walls and are now researching old cabinets, which will house all of our bathroom bits and pieces. And, the search is also on for a beautiful chandelier – just what I think this bathroom will deserve.