Francesca said: “What a difference a splash of paint has made in this bathroom. I love Ali’s bold design including painting the ceiling black. It makes a statement while creating a more cosy and intimate space.”
Francesca says using a vinyl wrap on the cabinets and counter is a great way to update the space with a bold pattern but had concerns over its durability.
“As much as vinyl can be waterproof, in a bathroom with heavy condensation it may not stand the test of time and will bubble,” she said.
“You would also need to be careful in the maintenance of the vinyl on the countertop. Using trays to hold toothbrushes, for example, may save it slightly but the vinyl itself isn’t particularly hard wearing, and if caught by accident will easily tear.”
Francesca recommends painting the cabinets as an alternative to using vinyl. “Hard wearing bathroom paints are readily available in a range of colours and are easy to apply,” she added.
The use of plants, says Francesca, elevates the space and painting just one row of tiles means that if touch-ups need to be made from time-to-time maintenance is low.
The nursery
Ali and Paul’s nursery, the bedroom for their youngest son aged two, typifies the makeover approach they have used throughout the house. Dull papered walls have been given a lift by being stripped and washed in Egyptian Cotton white, personalised with murals painted by Ali.
“I wanted a mural in the room but I didn’t have the budget to buy mural wallpaper. Instead, we created a rainbow which I drew by hand with chalk and then painted it using tester pots.
“The furniture is a combination of items that we already had, second-hand furniture or pieces from Ikea to give it a Scandi feel while also being slightly vintage,” she explained.
Ali has also created a play area with a sunbeam painted on the white wall and prints from Junique.co.uk with yellow and pink colours to brighten up the corner.