SMART INDUSTRIAL Give a traditional kitchen an urban update

Hang a smooth glass pendant above a breakfast bar. Ilaria round lampshade in Blush Grey, £39, Made

Display houseplants in a retro-style planter. Leaf-print pot on wooden legs, £24.99, Very

Zone an open-plan kitchen-diner with statement floor tiles. Mr Jones Azure Blue tiles, £17.99sq m, Tile Mountain Prepare your morning cuppa in this Kitchen Craft Le’Xpress stainless steel teapot with infuser, £22.48, Amazon

GO FOR GOLD

Evoke an industrial look with brushed metal hardware. Belfry double-handle monobloc mixer tap, £89.99, Wayfair Add a little whimsy with fun typographical art. This Kitchen Is For Dancing poster, £3.95 unframed, Desenio

Create depth and interest with some colour-pop crockery. Emmie mug, £15, Oliver Bonas

LOUD & PROUD ‘Painting the interior of this cupboard has completely transformed it’

ABOUT ME I’m Helen Brookes, an instagrammer (@40plusnot givingupyet), 44. I live with my husband Robin, a project manager, 45, our daughters Lola, 11 and Poppy, 10, and my nephew, George, 15, in a four-bed, detached 1950s house near Haywards Heath. We moved here in June 2014.

THE CHALLENGE The bathroom was a great size but the layout wasn’t working hard enough. We wanted to add a walk-in shower and lots of organised storage.

MY WISH LIST We’re all tall, so we wanted the biggest possible shower area as well as a large, freestanding bath. I love colour so it was really important to me that the room was bright and happy.

COLOUR CONFIDENCE ‘Stencilling the tile-effect design took several days, but it was worth it because it brings me joy every day’

After exhausting both ourselves and our budget on a new kitchen as soon as we moved in, we had to live with the existing ugly mustard and pine bathroom for four years,’ says Helen. ‘It was a really good sized room, but all that was in there was a built-in bath, a pedestal basin and a loo. There was so much wasted space.

Planning the layout I was certain that we could create a much better layout that included a separate shower enclosure and a free-standing bath. Our bathroom looks out over fields, so one of our priorities was to have the bath under the window so we could make the most of the views. We managed to squeeze a loo onto the same wall by choosing a compact design, and luckily the shower and basin fitted together perfectly on the other side of the room. We wanted to maximise the size of the shower, while ensuring that we left enough space between all the elements, so we made scale drawings.

Sourcing the components Shopping is my bag. I know a lot about high-street fashion, but it soon became apparent that shopping for bathrooms is a complete minefield, so I took advice from friends in the know and they recommended Roca, which is where I found this gorgeous bath. For the shower area, we went for a slim tray and two separate screens to make the largest walk-in enclosure that the space could handle. I found picking the floor one of the hardest decisions, but in the end I settled on a wood-look vinyl plank that clicks together to add some texture.

BLUE LINES ‘The windowsill was also revamped with white tiles and blue grout’

first brave stab at introducing strong colour and pattern. I love Pinterest and Instagram, so I turned to them for inspiration. Mexican style is absolute perfection for me and I’m really inspired by Frida Kahlo, sugar skulls and Day of the Dead themes, so I went down this route for the bathroom scheme. It was so lovely to go for a strong look in here and deciding on the theme gave me a focus and made it fun.

The perfect stencil My friend Kate, a stylist, gave me the encouragement I needed to be brave. I knew I wanted to introduce pattern in the bathroom using Mexican tiles, but I couldn’t find any in the colours that I liked. Kate suggested stencilling a tile-effect design on the wall instead, but I could only find Mexican-style stencils in America. A trawl of the internet led us to The Print, a company that produces bespoke stencils. We came up with some design ideas, which Kate then drew up to be turned into reusable stencils. The Print ended up liking our designs so much that it is now selling them on its site!

Splashes of colour Aside from the Mexican stencilling, I think the finishing touches are what has really made this room special. My sunny yellow radiator has proved a fun way of adding yet another pop of colour to the space and I love the round mirror, too. But, best of all is the pink shelf with all of its succulents and cacti –it just pulls the whole look together, completing the room.’

TWICE THE CHOICE ‘A large showerhead unit paired with a handheld one gives us several showering options –plus the handheld is helpful for cleaning’

1Prep the surface by cleaning and drying it thoroughly. 2 Apply a tile paint and primer. Roller a thin layer diagonally across the tiles, using a brush to work the paint into the grout lines. Then finish with brushstrokes in a vertical direction. Allow to dry, adding a second coat if needed. 3 Once completely dry, apply your stencil design. Secure your stencil to the tile with low-tack masking tape. Using a sponge, stippling paint brush or mini roller, apply a thin layer of paint. Once dry, you may need a second coat. 4 Remove the stencil while the paint is still tacky, then allow to dry completely. Once all of your stencils have been painted, apply a coat of clear water-based sealant. 5 For an alternative grout colour, use a grout tile pen, drawing a continuous line from bottom to top.

EXTRA STORAGE ‘This wall-hung basin unit with deep drawers gives us plenty of storage space – essential for my beauty supplies’

works Why it FEATURE AND STYLING KATE HILL, MICHELA COLLING PHOTOGRAPHS LIZZIE ORME Walls in Pure Brilliant White soft sheen emulsion, £20 for 2.5ltr, B&Q. Stencils , from £35 each, The Print. Stencilling in Leather and Mister David intelligent eggshell, both £64 for 2.5ltr, Little Greene; Striking Cyan and Rock Salt matt emulsion, £20 for 2.5ltr, B&Q. Balance Click classic oak flooring , £31.99sq m, Quick-Step. Roca Virginia bath , £1,197.56; basin tap , £177.49, both Trade Taps. Bath tap , £620.88; basin unit , £281.89; loo , £138; soft-close seat , £92.93; shower column, £466.79, all QS Supplies. Terran Superslim Stonex tray , £554.03, One Stop Bathrooms. Shower panels , £272.92 each; low-level bracing kit , £115.99; deflector panel , £226.58, all Roman. Towel radiator, £98.17, Mr Central Heating. Leccia wall tiles , £6sq m, B&Q. Blue grout , £26.34 for 3kg, Pure Adhesion. Mirror , £180, John Lewis & Partners. Shelf unit , £47, JS Vintage Furniture at eBay. Accessories , from a selection at Blackout. Tropical towel , £8, Dunelm Where to buy their style ‘ FIND THINGS THAT BRING YOU JOY IN LIFE. BEING BOLD WITH COLOUR HERE HAS GIVEN ME CONFIDENCE WHEN IT COMES TO DECORATING THE REST OF OUR HOME ’ WORK AROUND ‘This clever drawer design allows us to make full use of the space either side of the pipework’ ‘Helen’s colourful stencilled tiles don’t overpower the room because they’re balanced by the crisp, white walls, vanity unit and tiles. This also allows the colours to really sing’ houses editor Ruth Corbett STYLE AT HOME SAYSÉ

Taking on a bathroom refurb? Whether you enjoy a leisurely soak in the tub or you’re looking for a statement centrepiece, the luxury of a free-standing bath might be just for you. From ‘baby’ options to elegant slipper designs, there’s something for everyone.

differ from built-in? Built-in baths are fitted flush against the wall, with panels to hide the pipework, so are space-efficient. Free-standing baths are self-supporting, so can be positioned anywhere, and are great if you want to create a focal point. Plus, they come in a wider range of styles, shapes and sizes.

Have I got enough space? If your bathroom is small, compact free-standing tubs are available (measuring less than the standard 170cm length) and some designs are straight-edged, so they can be fitted against a wall or in a corner.

What style is best? Contemporary baths tend to sit flush to the floor and many feature sleek oval-shaped designs. They can be single-ended (with taps at one end, so great for smaller bathrooms); double-ended (built for two with taps in the centre, best in bigger bathrooms); or slipper baths (sloped at one or both ends for a deeper soak). Most modern baths are made using twin-skinned acrylic which stays warmer for longer. Classic roll-tops are ideal in a more traditional setting. Usually twin-skinned acrylic or cast iron, they are raised off the floor on feet or can be elevated on a plinth. Roll-tops also come in single and double-ended versions or deeper slipper and bateau bath styles.

GREAT CHOICE Soak offers a wide range of styles, from classic roll-top tubs and contemporary sculptural designs to top-of-the-range French-style bateau baths finished in copper leaf or pewter lustre.

FINISHING TOUCHES Find bargain hardware to set off your tub at Sinks-taps, from free-standing floor taps and wall and deck-mounted fillers to wastes, plugs and fittings.

BAG A BARGAIN Bathroom Takeaway focuses on providing affordable bathroom products for the average-size house without any gimmicks or never-ending sales. Its free-standing range is great value, starting at £260 for a double-ended tub.

And tap options? This depends on where the bath is positioned and how much space you have. Floor-standing taps that stand free of the bath complement a statement tub, though installation may require flooring to be lifted. Deck-mounted taps need a bath with pre-drilled holes; wall-mounted spouts are also an option if the bath is close to a wall.

COOL CURVES Orchard Eden free-standing bath (H80xW58.5x L149cm), £311.20, VictoriaPlum.com FEATURE LISA FAZZANI SNUG FIT Admiral 1865 back-to-wall roll-top bath with chrome legs (H62.5xW78xL168.5cm), £349.95, Victorian Plumbing