Words: Matt Baker // Photography: Chris Snook

The brief for their new ensuite from homeowners Nina and David McNab was clear: make it generous, light-filled and reflective of the building’s Art Deco roots, while aligning with the rest of the renovation project.

The space replaces a neglected storeroom, and the first challenge was daylight. With no option for ground-floor windows, Loud Architects reworked the ground-floor and first-floor layout to create a roof void large enough to satisfy planners and accommodate a substantial rooflight.

The result is a naturally bright bathroom that immediately feels premium, with a curved bulkhead and double height ceiling beneath the skylights.

The clients prioritised a large walk-in shower and double vanity, both increasingly standard asks in the mid-to-upper market. As Nina puts it: “We maximised the space for a large shower, which was our priority given we rarely take a bath.”

Although initially reluctant, through conversations with Kate Clare at Loud Architects and the local estate agent, the couple ultimately incorporated a bath to future-proof the home for family buyers – a reminder that resale considerations still matter, even in highly personal projects. Material choice was driven by continuity with the home’s kitchen.

Marble-effect porcelain tiles echo the kitchen worktop, delivering visual drama without the maintenance issues of real stone. Specified from Mandarin Stone, the Violetta Nouveau Matt marble-effect porcelain demonstrates how far premium porcelain has come. The product choices lean into Art Deco without becoming pastiche.

A BC Designs freestanding bath references early 20th-century fireclay forms, while brassware from the Cast Iron Bath Company nods to Bauhaus influences. Loud Architects created the bespoke shower – a half-height, custom wall which has become a trade mark of the company’s bathroom designs.

The finished space is elegant, confident and commercially savvy – proof that period inspiration, when handled carefully, can feel both current and highly marketable.

The finer details…

• Bath BC Designs
• Basin Built-in vanity by Aquaroc
• Shower Brompton Glass – custom-made shower enclosure
• Brassware Cast Iron Bath Company
• Heating Towel rail from JTP
• Flooring Violetta Nouveau Matt tiles from Mandarin Stone