Bathroom inspiration- please help!

[Goostacean]

Hi, we’re about to start thinking about redoing our en-suite bathroom. Pictures attached. Please help! I don’t know where to begin tbh, it’s such a horrible room currently.

Constraints are: I want to keep the position of all the bits (loo/sink/shower), DH wants a non-wooden-looking floor, and... that’s about it! Oh, and DH wants to keep his stuff (shaving foam etc) accessible, ie visible, whereas I’m adamant it needs to stop living on the windowsill.

What would you do with this room?!

Hi it looks like a nice space!
Not much to offer apart from In our en-suite I ordered an over the door storage rack which adds some extra space without having to put shelves up and the toiletries can be kept In there although DP also insists on putting stuff on the window sill. I also had a clear out and got rid of products I just didn't use. Could tiles be a possibility on the floor?

Thanks! It could be really nice, we’re very lucky. I’d like it to feel like an expensive hotel tbh, just not sure how to achieve it. I think tiles might be cold and don’t really want to start doing underfloor heating but I think we’ll go for “luxury vinyl”, that looks like tiles...?

What's above the sink? Could you get a mirrored cupboard to hide all the tat? Smart cheapish slatted blind to dress the window up a bit that won't mildew? Any place for a heated towel rail and invest in some lovely new towels in a soft sage green eg? (John Lewis do a beautiful green)?

I think the grey floor not doing you any favours. Could you get some Victorian style patterned tiles from Topps or similar? Even a patterned border round a plain floorr would look a bit less institutional.

And just replacing white loo seat with a black one in Matt wood is an instant smartener.

The under floor heating for bathrooms is essentially a mat with heating wires embedded. Not massively expensive and quite a gamechanger on a winter morning.

Black wood loo seat would look much better, yes! Will do that.

Still not too sure about the heating, purely because the room is an okay temperature, and we have bath mats. I’ll look into it though.

Above the sink we have a shallow mirrored cupboard, but DH is insistent he can’t possibly keep his things in there- they must be accessible without opening a door...! So I think maybe a wall mirror and some open shelves to the left, next to the wall with the window in it?

Victorian patterned tiles would be ideal, as it’s a Victorian house. Would love to see any favourites! We’ve got a heated towel rail, next to the door- am thinking of replacing it with one in a Victorian style, maybe?

This is the current sink area. DH likes those sinks that are sunk, aha, into a large worktop space- but I don’t think we have room for that....

It’s a good space. I would put patterned tiles on the floor. Get a black toilet seat like a PP said.

If he is insistent on putting his things on the windowsill, I would buy a nice looking basket for the windowsill and he can put his things in that. That way it looks neat and tidy.

I would also put up a blind outside of the recess to make the window look bigger.

I would also put up some shelves on the wall between the toilet and the shower and put some spare toilet roll, candles and an art print.

What is the maximum width for your sink unit?

Also, you could definitely cheer up the space behind the sink with a lovely splash back. You could echo whatever you have on the floor.

There is a site blinds-2go.co.uk which does Venetian blinds in every possible colour and they are very reasonably priced. That would transform the window which looks quite chilly and bare.

Plus a nice deco-style loo roll holder would help pull that area together.

We have a couple of these from ikea in the family bathroom. They’re really handy for keeping things close at hand but organised if he wants to keep stuff on the window sill.

Are you thinking of replacing things? I've spent a year looking at bathrooms on line its nearly driven me mad no other room in my house has required so much research or caused me such indecision. My current bathroom wouldn't even grace the poorest quality student accommodation so anything is going to be an improvement!
I regularly stay in expensive hotels (I've never seen a black loo seat and only soft fluffy white towels even in the most boutique of hotels]) My advise if you want it to feel like an expensive hotel bathroom spend as much as you can on the fixtures and fittings, thats what they do and keep it simple, clean lines (thus making it easy to clean very important in a hotel) that wont date, when you've finished it you can add tasteful accessories to give it personality if you want. I having literally looked at 1000's of taps, sinks showers lights etc the expensive ones are made better the finish is better and therefore quite simply they look better and therefore more like an expensive hotel. We're not moving anything but the loo and sink will now be wall hung and the taps are wall mounted, we're tilling floor to ceiling, we're having the glass for the shower specially cut and made to our specifications (as the space is tricky, always go for the thickest glass you can afford, and its no more expensive than buying it from a bathroom shop.
I would have thought you would have space to have a sink sunk into a work top but you would need a smaller sink. I only use the bathroom sink to wash my hands as I shower so don't mind a smaller one but as men shave they might feel differently. Every expensive hotel Ive stayed in that does this uses marble again you get what you pay for with stone..
The quality of work of the person carrying out the fit is key. I've looked at lots of people bathrooms in my research many have spent good money on taps etc but there is a significant difference between a good bathroom fitter and an outstanding one, the differences are very small, its all about the finish, but again thats what will make a difference if you want an expensive hotel feel to your bathroom. If your not doing it yourself ask to actually see the recent work of the person doing it for you, not photos, even if you personally wouldn't choose the taps etc do you think wow when you go in?
I've trawled endless websites for ideas especially for tiles and lights find a bathroom you really like the look of look on the websites of expensive hotels, then build your bathroom round it. If your designing it yourself watch the measurements tap spouts shower heads especially how far they project from the wall etc etc, our space is like yours small and you can get for "compact" loos/ cisterns keep measuring all the time, imagine yourself walking around getting in the shower to have you got enough room?
Good luck we start our bathroom at the end of the month.

www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/organizing-tips/g25138857/bathroom-storage-ideas/ a few ideas here.
I've just bought a long basket from Next that would maybe for on your window sill.

If you search concealed bathroom shelving you might get some ideas, my sil has this it's like small shelves behind the bath you don't notice unless you're head on. Quite tidy looking. Are you on Pinterest? Lots of ideas on Pinterest. Helps you get a feel of what you like too when you pin all the different things you like.

What is it with men by the way who need everything at the end of their arm?! My Dh is the same!

Maybe a sink unit with a shelf underneath, could put his shaving stuff there or in there in a basket.

Thanks for all the lovely replies! I’ll go through the points now:

• I don’t really want a basket or anything on the windowsill as it just looks messy, and invariably more and more things will start to have a home in it. I think I want some small shelves to the left of the mirror, will try to find a picture of what I want. Tbh I’m a bit frustrated DH can’t just use a cabinet like I can, but I’ve got to work with what (who!) I’ve got, I guess
• Wasn’t sure about blind inside or in front of recess... you say in front? I don’t want Venetian as it’s just more cleaning, but I love blinds2go and have used them before so I’ll see what Roman and roller options they have. I think Roman might be better if I’m going for a Victorian vibe?
• @newbathroomforme thanks for that, lots to think about! What colour loo seat would you put in? I like the idea of dark wood and then a Victorian patterned floor. I looked at some pictures on Houzz and there are some lovely ones with white in the middle and a patterned border but this house is so wonky it would probably look ridiculous. I think patterned all over is the way to go. We’ll be replacing everything except the toilet and the shower screen, I think. Would you mind sharing your best finds so far? Hope it goes well!
• I’m not usually on Pinterest but I think I have an account from ages ago so will log in and take a look- thanks!
• I think I want a vanity with storage below because the storage we have currently under the sink is very full. We can clear it out a bit but we do need that space, and I find baskets etc get very dusty, I Iike things put away in cupboards.

Will post some of the pictures of things I like so far...

This is the sort of vanity I mean. Actually that curved corner one looks ideal... goes to measure the space

Under floor heating mats are around £80
Plus installation - so not extortionate. You can link them to the central heating or stand alone switch/timer

Like the corner cabinet

Love Victorian floor tiles

I have a Roman blind in the bathroom, I’ll get a picture

I stay in hotels a lit. Some are starting to have dark brown luxurious looking wallpapers behind white fittings. Might work quite well with yours as it’s a nice light bathroom with a big window. I’d have white wooden slatted blinds at the window (also stop him putting things on the window..). Your white unit would work well in it too. Photo gives you an idea of one hotel I was in recently (not keen on the black marble sink top). I’m thinking of doing it in our en suite too.

@GreenTulips Thanks!

@Honeyroar Wow that’s very striking... DH is big on pastels, it’s controversial to him that I don’t want to paint the whole house a very light grey or cream... so I suspect dark brown will be too much! I’m definitely going to check out some hotel websites for inspiration...

The unit is too wide 😭 I’ve got about 80cm I can use, realistically, the 98cm is too much...

White loo seat, some say boring but IMO classy . I goggled luxury hotel bathrooms before posting only white loo seats in evidence look at this I think we're going to have the soft closing Philip Stark one, go understated. If you've got the money: white marble with black veining is pretty common in most luxury hotels. Mandarin Stone do some pretty good and cheaper porcelain imitations. We're having these I think (everything is still in their boxes) and a Hansgrohe shower, Axor and Hansgrohe make quality taps etc that last according to my husband who works in the high end construction business. With regard to tiles they are a nightmare, we went to the showrooms of Fired Earth and Mandarin Stone what I liked on line I hated in the flesh and choose tiles both floor and wall from Mandarin Stone that Id not considered when looking on their website its much better to see them. The sales rep at Mandarin Stone was really helpful suggested floor tiles that I wouldn't necessarily have chosen.
Our lights are coming from Hector Finch again not cheap but the only ones I could find that were even remotely acceptable bathroom lights can be really NAFF.
Im in love with Art Deco and at one stage tried to do an Art Deco inspired bathroom (last year I also looked at a Victorian look) but in the end we've ended up with a sleek modernish look that wont date and we wont tire of very similar to that which you see in; exclusive hotels grin.
We live in a very very old house, we have very eclectic tastes, we've inherited/bought lots of art and antiques. We have ono intention of moving we love our home so we decided that we would spend money on the bathroom as we would want it to last. If I was thinking of moving in the next 3-5 years I wouldn't have spent the sort of money we're spending but would still say clean sleek simple modern lines are more appealing, look more "up market", they don't date, your never going to think "oh go why did I buy that or put those tiles on the wall and its likely any buyer will agree if you might want sell.

We stayed in the MBS in Singapore these are there bathroom simple and understated. We also stayed in an amazing totally eccentric very expensive Boutique hotel in Paris cant find it now again no black loo seats just white sink loo etc white marble with black veining and simple lines but expensive taps etc gorgeous huge fluffy white towels. Ditto Pula Porto Rome KK.

We went art deco. Grey marble on walls and F&B Hardwick White paint above, black faux marble floor tiles, twin sinks, black (!) Loo seat, black framed walk in shower screen. Venetian blind which is v easy to clean (and frankly j tend not to look at it v much). The thing I like best of all is the cheapest bit. We had two tiny lights embedded in the skirting board linked to a movement sensor in the ceiling. Overall cost about £50. So when you stagger to the loo in the night there's no need to find the light switch. The little lights come on automatically and give just enough brightness so you don't wake up sleeping partner.

What's your budget?

However I think re tiling the shower is the only thing needing done and then buy some storage.

Personally I'd save the money and buy one of these instead.

Can you not put a narrow shelf on the wall behind the sink, below a mirror cabinet? That’s what we’ve done. All the bottles and stuff live on the shelf and it stays tidy and looks like it’s meant to be there. Stuff on a windowsill would irritate me - it looks like student living.

Tiles-wise I would go for natural stone. It looks very classy and doesn’t date. Then as a pp said, get a plain piece of glass installed instead of a shower cubicle. You could do a wet room floor instead of a shower tray if you like.

Quality, simple taps like Grohe. White fittings with as clean lines as possible. It’s a small space so avoid fussiness.