End those morning battles for the family bathroom by adding a spacious-feeling personal en suite with spa-grade style
FEATURE LINDA CLAYTON
MAKE AN ENTRANCE Thanks to the extra protection provided by the bedroom door, there are fewer privacy concerns inside an en suite, meaning the door is often left open during use. Professional designers tend to plan the entrance view with this in mind, setting up a vignette of attractive items framed by the doorway. ‘Always think about what you can see when you look into an en suite,’ advises Mia Karlsson, who has positioned a feature basin in prime position in this en suite. ‘Try to avoid the WC in front of the door, but if this isn’t possible, add some beautifully styled shelves or plants to make it a more attractive viewpoint.’ Semaphore Celeste tiles, £39 per m22; Confiserie Blush triangle mosaic tiles, £79.88 per m 22, both Claybrook Studio. &klevering zigzag mirror, £87.60, Made in Design. Iva basin in blush, £2,261. Kast concrete tubes radiator in pink, £958, Scaletta. Project by Mia Karlsson Design
PHOTOGRAPH BEN SAGE (MIA KARLSSON DESIGN)
They may be small, but en suite bathrooms can prove mighty on the design front. Master en suites are particularly satisfying to decorate, compared to the family bathroom, too. There’s no pressure to impress guests, or concerns about child safety and grubbyfinger-resistant surfaces to weigh you down. ‘Once you’ve got the layout and storage provisions locked down, you can afford to go bold with the scheme or try out some of your more daring decorating ideas,’ says interior designer Mia Karlsson.
There are two popular approaches when scheming an en suite mood board. The first is to plan the colours and finishes in tandem with the bedroom, so the two spaces flow seamlessly in a serene manner for a cohesive look. ‘I like to make the en suite and bedroom feel subtly connected by pulling some of the bedroom colours into the bathroom accessories or tiles,’ explains Mia. Alternatively, opt for completely different décors for the two spaces, to create that design friction needed to change up the mood from still sleepy to wide awake and ready for the day.
SEE THE LIGHT While windowless en suites are sometimes unavoidable, you’ll never regret making the effort to get natural daylight in, especially if it’s part of a master suite, not just for occasional guest use. For en suites that are part of an extension, consider installing skylights or roof lanterns instead of vertical windows. You’ll free up more wall space for bathroom fittings while still letting in plenty of natural light. Skylights are also a good solution for side extensions where regular external windows are not architecturally suitable. Elements basin unit in Matt Sea Green, £394; Sopra basin mixer tap, £103; Vela thermostatic shower, £185; RefleXion Classix pivot s
