How we swapped a tiny en-suite for a luxurious master bathroom

Kate Lynch (pictured) and her husband Ben set out to retain striking modernist architecture while turning their house back into a family home - Adam Carter

“Transported away from the everyday,” is how Kate Lynch describes the feeling evoked by the new main bathroom in her Victorian terrace house. Kate, a former solicitor who retrained as an interior designer, and her husband Ben, a barrister, moved here with their two young children in 2021 and set about undertaking a gentle restoration inspired by their favourite holiday houses.

But first, they had to contend with the building’s unusual architectural heritage. The interior had been completely reworked by its former owner, the modernist architect Rick Mather, and comprised his studio on the lower floors and a flat – with a compact en-suite – on the second floor, with a mezzanine bedroom above. Their challenge was to retain the striking architecture while turning the house back into a family home, which included turning the second-floor kitchen-diner into a spacious bathroom and dressing room. Led by Mather’s aesthetic, Kate wanted to introduce “a pared-back look, but warmer, inspired by several happy family holidays in Provence”. Here’s how she achieved it.

Kate and Ben created a spacious, pared back bathroom, while maintaining a sense of warmth - Adam Carter

The en-suite

Start with the floor

The textured, neutral look of this bathroom stems from a poured terrazzo floor, inspired by one that Kate fell in love with while holidaying in Provence. “We had rented a house there and the main bathroom instantly conjured ‘Mediterranean escape’ for me, with its speckled floor,” she says. “We also like that it had a zoned-off loo cubicle for privacy, so that became our blueprint.”

Nail the layout

When it comes to bathrooms, an intuitive layout is as important as the decorative details, if not more so. Kate worked with her architect and also her bathroom designer, Jo Sangster at Ripples London, on a configuration that utilised every inch of space. “I knew that I wanted the bath to be the main feature, and although we could have placed it under the window for the garden views, I felt we’d actually appreciate the view more from the vanity unit, while brushing our teeth morning and evening,” she says. The arrangement they settled on allows space for a wide niche above the bath to hold toiletries, as well as the concealed loo cubicle that the couple wanted, and a walk-in shower cubicle next to it.

The couple turned their second-floor kitchen-diner into a spacious bathroom and dressing room

Keep it clean and crisp

As Kate wanted to achieve a “quiet luxury” look, the key was to avoid any flamboyant finishes. She chose sleek, modern bronze taps, which echo the tone of the bronze handrails elsewhere in the house. The terrazzo flooring is laid in a large-scale repeat to minimise grouting, which can disrupt sightlines. The floating vanity unit, which has a marble counter set slightly above the oak storage drawers beneath, lends a sense of weightlessness.

Kate’s new bathroom arrangement includes a wide niche above the bath to hold toiletries - Adam Carter

Get clever with storage

So discreet are the options here that the storage is easy to miss at first glance. The vanity unit has two fluted soft-close drawers in washed oak, while the metal-framed arched mirrors conceal cabinets set into the wall cavity. The niches in the shower and above the bath are lined with offcuts from the terrazzo flooring, which creates visual cohesion as well as providing plenty of space for toiletries. “But I’m also quite drawn to the discipline that comes from not maxing out on storage,” says Kate, “because I think that however much you have, you’ll always use it up.”

The vanity unit has two washed-oak drawers, while metal-framed arched mirrors conceal cabinets set into the wall cavity - Adam Carter

Add interest to a monochrome palette

Texture is king when it comes to a neutral palette. As well as avoiding clinical white and opting for a host of sand and soft-grey shades, anchored by bronze accents, Kate mixed in various different finishes. Zellige-effect tiles around the bath and shower have been laid in a herringbone format, and their uneven surface helps to catch the light. The timber of the vanity unit adds warmth, and the curves of the mirrors, basins and bath introduce softness.

Zellige-effect tiles around the bath and shower are laid in a herringbone format - Adam Carter

Light it like a living room

Rather than lighting the bathroom in a purely utilitarian way, Kate wanted to create layers of light that could be used to suit different times of the day. “We banished harsh lighting; no one needs to feel old and haggard when they look in the mirror,” she says. There are four different circuits that allow for ambient lighting, task lighting, or both, and the vanity unit, the bath, the shower and the loo all have separate lighting zones. Recessed LED spotlights have been used in the shower and over the bath; wall lights flanking the mirrors are combined with a soft strip of light underneath; and strip lighting also illuminates the niches. Motion sensors in the loo negate the need to turn on overhead lights at night.

Kate wanted to create layers of light in the bathroom that could be used to suit different times of the day - Adam Carter

Work with flaws

This bathroom design came with its own set of challenges, including several doorways to contend with, to respect the building’s original architecture. But the couple turned that to their advantage. “The bathroom and dressing area are adjacent to the second-floor sitting room, so we enclosed them with a full height plywood panel containing hidden doors,” says Kate. As a result, there are two pocket doors flanking the loo, which allow for guest access from the sitting room side too. “We’ve managed to avoid having any awkward corners,” says Kate.

Kate’s tips for creating a modern bathroom with a timeless touch

Ground your space in natural, earthy hues

Embrace warm, muted tones – terracotta, olive greens and sandy beiges – that echo the natural world. “These shades create a sense of calm and longevity,” says Kate.

Layer in texture for depth and interest

“Timeless design thrives on tactile richness. Combine materials such as natural stone, subtly textured tiles or wood panelling to add visual depth while keeping the look refined and cohesive.”

Keep fixtures simple and enduring

Choose brassware and fittings with classic lines and finishes, such as brushed nickel and bronze. “These materials age gracefully and pair effortlessly with others,” Kate says.

Balance organic warmth with clean lines

“Strike a harmony between the organic and the contemporary,” advises Kate. “You can pair a minimalist, frameless glass shower screen or slim-lined cabinetry with a wooden vanity or stone surfaces to give the bathroom both a soft warmth and a modern look.”

Anchor your palette, then layer thoughtfully

Begin by establishing a base – perhaps the wall colour or the shower tiles – to guide the design’s direction. “From there, introduce complementary elements such as patterned floor tiles, bespoke lighting or subtle counter-top textures to add character without dating the room.”

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