I am rejoining the renovation club with a hip-to-gable loft conversion with a rear dormer. Here, I’ve asked two bathroom experts to help me visualise my ensuite design…

What the experience of converting my loft has taught me so far is that no matter how much you think you know, you still need the help of professionals. After coming up with my brief for my ensuite design (click here to read all about the process), I had so many questions that needed answering. How would the drainage in the shower work? Where’s the best toilet placement? How big should, or could, the vanity be? The decision was made; instead of doing it alone, I would seek out the expertise of bathroom designers for the guidance I so desperately and clearly needed.

So, I reached out to the incredibly talented Rosie Proto from Pier1 Bathrooms and Jo Wilkinson from West One Bathrooms to see if they could put something together for me. Below, you can discover the amazing drawings and concepts they came up with…

Designer one

Rosie Proto has been part of Pier1 Bathrooms since its launch in 2019, when she led a talented team of four. With more than eight years of experience in the industry, she received the ‘Rising Star’ award at the kbbreview Retail & Design Awards 2023.

Solution one

“This thoughtfully designed bathroom combines functionality with style to create a modern, spacious feel. The walk-in shower wetroom layout enhances the sense of openness, while wood-effect floor tiles bring warmth and a natural touch to the space. Soft curves are a key feature, with the arched shower glass and mirror echoing the shape of the doorway, and a curved vanity unit adding to the cohesive, gentle aesthetic.”

“A matt white, wall-hung WC contributes to a cleaner look and maximises floor space. Integrated lighting within the mirror, along with two feature lights, adds a statement and layered illumination. Storage is cleverly integrated, with two recesses above the WC and within the shower – perfect for toiletries.”

“A bold pop of colour on the vanity unit introduces a playful warmth, balanced by dark blue, mid-height panelling that ties into the wallpaper from the adjacent room. Overall, this design creates a stylish and welcoming retreat that blends form and function effortlessly.”

My verdict

Rosie’s done an utterly fantastic job of turning my brief into these detailed renders. The bold marble really makes a statement, but I like how she’s broken it up with the darker wall panelling, too, giving it a more moody edge. This has definitely given me the confidence to go bold with the walls.

I think the wetroom layout works perfectly, especially where Rosie’s located the wetroom shower in that corner. Although I’m unsure the vanity area would work here, as it’d be a bit of a pinch point if I was brushing my teeth and my husband wanted to get into the shower at the same time. Overall, there’s lots I’ll be taking away from this design, from the colour palette to the balance between tiles and panelling, and the placement of the wetroom shower.

Designer two

Jo Wilkinson is design and business development lead for West One Bathrooms. Having worked in the bathroom sector for 10 years, Jo has a wealth of experience in creating luxury and high-end bathroom designs.

Solution two

“For this design, I created a half-height pony wall with storage that separates wet and dry areas, giving a more classic feel to the room. Whereas the Perrin & Rowe brassware pairs modern luxury with industrial design. This combination creates an eclectic mix of classic, industrial, and modern, all blending together to deliver a well-balanced look and feel.”

“Meanwhile, the bespoke shower glass in brushed brass with cross-fluted glass brings in a sense of luxury, while the wall-hung WC with soft-close seat has an elegant feel. I chose a 65cm single bespoke vanity with quartz top and splashback, a wall-mounted tap to sit above the dado rail and splashback, and an 80cm back-lit mirror with demister pad to be placed above the vanity, with a Pooky wall light on the right-hand side.

“The wall behind the WC is built out by 15cm to be able to house the frame and cistern for the wall-mounted WC. I made this full-height so I could add an arched niche to complement the arched entrance.”

“Half-height tongue-and-groove wood panelling creates warmth and character and brings a more classic element into a modern space. The herringbone-effect flooring adds visual interest, and the limestone adds texture. The matt-finish, marble-effect porcelain Savoy is a striking feature in the shower. And finally, the navy vanity unit brings in the colour scheme from the bedroom and adds rich contrast.”

My verdict

Another brilliant realisation of my brief. The wetroom shower area looks very glamorous, and I love how it’s been zoned with that marble. The pony wall is also so practical in terms of storage and providing privacy. But I am a little concerned the space looks a bit more condensed because of it.

Bringing in the arch with the niche is very clever – I’ll be looking to introduce this somehow into my design. I love the wood panelling that breaks up the marble, too, and will aim to do something similar. All in all, this design has given me lots of ideas and inspiration to move my design forward.

Stay tuned to see my final design!

Enjoyed this post? Click here to find out how we came up with the plans for the loft conversion and ensuite design

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