A luxury space.

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From the get-go, this was going to be an exquisite space.

 

A retired professional couple in Harborne wanted their sizable ensuite completely refurbished; the 25-year-old design, though in good condition, was now very dated. I visited and spent time with them noting what they wanted from the space.

I ascertained what they did and didn’t like and listened to their own, well-researched ideas. I asked questions about the house, the water and heating systems, the general infrastructure, preferred colour schemes and generally got to know them.

I took pictures, measurements and began designing. My brief: luxury, smart, quality – we set to work on the plan.

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During the second visit I shared my designs on a tablet using photo-realistic images. I always take care and invest time to make it as detailed and as realistic as possible. Customers get to see a photorealistic 3D-rendered version of the proposed design from multiple angles and viewpoints, with a commentary and rationale. I encourage them to pose further questions and discuss their impressions, thoughts, and feelings about the images to help me gauge how close we are to their ideal.

At this stage I could share an accurate price for the project, having considered the role of other trades, how long it will take, what background materials are needed, price brackets for fittings, and the cost of disposing of waste from the project. If all are happy to proceed, then I produce a comprehensive document, detailing the project and respond to further queries.

As we neared the start date, I encouraged the customers to make choices using a shared online folder with product information and images, and ordered samples, brochures when required. and Visits to showrooms which whom we work can also be arranged, if desired. Customers can be as involved, or not, as they wish.

We take great care when working at properties – these are your homes and we are very respectful of your space. We ensure that furniture and fittings such as staircases, bookcases and anything else near our working area, are covered and carpets and hard floors are protected. We set up our (quite extensive) tool area.
We set about stripping the room back to suitable surfaces, top to bottom.

In this case, an old stud wall was removed, along with a bidet and most of the room was stripped back to bare brick. A half-height stud wall was built under the window to match the face of the existing chimney breast. All new plumbing pipes were installed within along with a concealed cistern to hang the wall-mounted w/c on. Another stud wall at the back of the room provided the depth for the lit feature niche and filler tap location. We had no access from above the space so all the spotlights had to be routed from below before new boarding, skim, and décor.

The shower area was to be a wet room design with feature tiling. A sleek, linear stainless-steel trough and precision envelope cut tiling will make wet rooms a really special feature. Electric underfloor heating controlled by a smart, digital, thermostat ran throughout the shower area and across the rest of the floor keeping the porcelain nice and warm. A concealed thermostatic twin-outlet shower valve with overhead drencher, and adjustable riser is the perfect combination of functionality and style. Finishing touches included a lit niche for bathroom essentials.

A double wall-hung vanity unit was the ideal match and above this, the triple, lit luxury cabinet bounced attractive reflections about the room. The rooms primary heating was provided by a classic bar-on-bar chrome towel radiator, which was from the central heating system and fitted with its own heating element within controlled by an adjacent timed controller. The room was wrapped in matt porcelain, giving it a real earthy, sculptured feel. Metal trims were added throughout and a custom-made fitted faux-wooden blind.

The finished product was luxurious and smart, and exuded quality and style.

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“We are delighted with our new bathroom […] The workmanship is of the highest standard. Justin had great ideas from design to completion.”

Harborne, Jo & Peter