Splendid marble, nostalgic arches, and clever niches all contribute to these two luxury ensuites’ undeniable appeal – here, we discover more about the design choices that brought each of the bathrooms to life…

Carrying all the elaborate hallmarks of its era, this late-Victorian townhouse in Wimbledon boasts high ceilings, generous windows, and elegant detailing. Yet having lived here with their children for several years, Tiffany and her husband, Tony, wanted to introduce an extra layer of luxury, while ensuring all spaces worked for busy family living. “It is a spacious family home with five bedrooms, and the bathrooms were the final part to be elevated to the same standard as the recent upgrades elsewhere in the house,” Sophie Harrold, head of design at Simply Bathrooms, tells me.

The couple had previously renovated the second floor and are gradually working their way down. For this stage, the focus was on the first floor, which now includes the new master and guest ensuites. “Because this floor is home to the couple’s primary suite and a lot of everyday family activity, it required a thoughtful redesign, including a reconfiguration of the space, and a complete upgrade of layout and finishes,” says Sophie.

With both Tiffany and her husband working long hours, they were looking for a designer who could manage suppliers and keep the project moving without them needing to constantly step in, while still closely listening to their requests – Simply Bathrooms and Sophie fit the bill. “When I met Sophie, I instantly felt she understood our taste and would design specifically for us, not replicate something from another project, and that really sold me,” says Tiffany.

The layout

Moving forward, they both agreed the previous layouts lacked privacy, flow, and adequate storage. “They didn’t offer the sense of luxury expected in a home of this calibre, either,” adds Sophie. So, the Simply team set out to create two sumptuous yet considered ensuites from scratch.

They started by splitting the large, unused bedroom on the first floor into two new spaces: a guest ensuite and a dedicated utility/laundry area. Then, on the other side of the floor, Tiffany wanted to rework the existing rooms to create a larger master bedroom and a primary suite with a dressing area and an entirely new master ensuite.

The master ensuite

“The aim was for it to feel like a luxurious holiday getaway every time we stepped into it,” says Tiffany. To maintain a sense of calm and order, the layout was reorganised to include three distinct zones: a brighter, more spacious vanity area with generous storage, a large walk-in shower, and a dedicated WC zone with a high-spec Toto smart toilet.

For both of the ensuites, Tiffany was inspired by American-style principal suites, but her references heavily relied on Ann Sacks marble mosaics – although glamorous, these would have needed to be imported from the US at a considerable cost. Instead, Sophie sourced alternatives from Ca’ Pietra, to capture Tiffany’s go-to aesthetic – including the brand’s Zen marble tile in a leaf mosaic.

“Here, I wanted it to feature in a large, impactful way, sweeping up the entire back wall behind the vanity, for a dramatic focal point,” she says. The herringbone-like pattern introduces rhythm, while the oak vanity made in-house by Simply grounds the scheme.

Sophie also chose an Ottoman marble for the vanity top, which extends to the arch and the interior of the niche as well as the framing of the shower enclosure, and sits perfectly with the Zen leaf tiles while adding depth and drama. Meanwhile, the romantic arch softens the layout and the polished gold brass details add a touch of glamour.

The guest ensuite

For this space, the couple wanted a striking, memorable design, with bold marble moments and clever, built-in solutions to make the most of its narrow footprint.

Being a brand-new room, it presented a few challenges in terms of proportions, particularly because the team needed to allocate enough width behind the partition wall for the new laundry area. “With this in mind, we developed a layout that maximised every inch, specifying space-saving fittings that allowed Tiffany to move the white goods upstairs and create a highly functional utility space adjacent to the guest bathroom,” explains Sophie.

Custom-built furniture by Simply Bathrooms and a bespoke shower design helped optimise space. “Ideally, we wanted to include a separate bath and a separate shower to give the room real versatility. It needed to feel luxurious for guests yet still be fully functional for family life, especially as the bath would also be used for our children,” notes Tiffany.

Bold Viola Monet marble was paired with crisp white metro tiles and the Zen leaf mosaic panels that offer visual movement. “I had originally specified Medici Viola – a deep purple stone with warmer beige and caramel veining – however, when the slab arrived, it had to be rejected, which meant revisiting the marble selection partway through the project,” reveals Sophie. “In hindsight, I’m so glad we did. I immediately fell in love with Viola Monet’s peachier, softer undertones contrasted with the dramatic, darker veining.”

Looking back…

Tiffany is absolutely thrilled with the finished designs. “I told Sophie I wanted a five-star, luxury hotel feel, but I wasn’t sure we could achieve that within the budget. Now that the spaces are complete, I genuinely feel they’re nicer than any hotel bathroom I’ve ever been in. The master ensuite feels like a true private sanctuary, and the guest ensuite has become one of the most talked-about rooms in the house,” she says proudly.

Photography: Adam Carter | Styling: Sophie Harrold

This house tour was featured in the March 2026 issue of Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms magazine.

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