This family bathroom is very much a work in progress, but I wanted to share it now — while it’s still living in that exciting in-between stage. The stage where the plans are set, the orders are placed, and my camera roll is full of screenshots, saved tiles, and notes to myself that say things like “brass bath waste and toilet handles”.
Unlike most renovations, this room didn’t start with tiles, taps, or even a layout plan.
It started with an antique mahogany dresser. 
The kind of piece that instantly feels like it has a story. Beautiful proportions, aged wood, and far too much character to ignore. One of those finds that doesn’t quietly fit into a space — it asks the space to adapt around it. The dresser will become our vanity, topped with a marble surface, an inset sink, and taps to suit its age and charm. Easy, right?
That’s what I thought.
My husband jokes that he leaves the design decisions to me and he’ll do the work. I’m not sure he fully appreciated what that agreement would lead to — namely me redesigning an entire family bathroom around one antique piece of furniture.
Sorry, husband. Love you.
(He absolutely regrets this now.)
“Some rooms don’t start with a plan — they start with one beautiful piece and an idea”
The brief (simple… in theory)
Once the dresser was decided, the brief followed naturally.
Simple, really:
Heritage-inspired.
Warm.
Practical for family life.
And quietly indulgent.
Not a show-home bathroom. Not something trend-led. A space that feels like it belongs in the house — and will still make sense years from now.
The walls will be panelled and painted in Drop Cloth and School House White by Farrow & Ball, two colours I keep coming back to again and again. They’re soft, warm, and incredibly forgiving. Calm without feeling flat, and perfect for a room that needs to balance character with light.
They work beautifully with the natural light in the house and allow older pieces — like the dresser — to feel at home rather than out of place. Our house is over 100 years old so I want to put as much character back into our redesign where possible.
Traditional details, family-proof choices
The bath will be a freestanding white bath, paired with white sanitaryware and a black toilet seat. It’s a small detail, but one that grounds the room and nods gently towards traditional Victorian bathrooms.
Those little choices matter. They’re the bits that stop a room feeling generic.
All taps and fittings will be antique brass, bringing warmth and tying everything together visually. Brass feels right with the age of the dresser, works beautifully with marble, and adds that slightly indulgent feel without being flashy.
For the shower, we wanted something a little more dramatic — without overpowering the room. The tile I’ve chosen is dark, with warm gold veining, and it will be used in the shower only
Design in progress (and learning as we go)
Everything is currently in the ordering process, which feels equal parts exciting and slightly terrifying. Because once it’s ordered, it’s real. This stage always feels full of promise — and nerves.
There are still decisions to make. Panelling and flooring are very much works in progress. The floor, especially, has me going back and forth. It needs to be non-slip, genuinely child-friendly, and still fit the look we’re aiming for. Aesthetics matter, but practicality wins in a family bathroom.
I’ll get there. Eventually.
(Ask me again next week and I’ll probably have changed my mind.)
Sharing the process, not just the finish
I’ll be sharing this bathroom properly when it has come together — and the lessons along the way. I’ll share what worked, what surprised me, and whether the finished space matched the vision I’ve been carrying around in my head.
For now, this is very much the beginning.
Wish us luck — we’re working to a deadline with a new baby arriving around March 2026, so bring on the dust, the delays, and the inevitable “why did we start this now?” moments. Yikes.
Suppliers so far…
- Antique Dresser – sourced from a local antique seller (proof that scrolling does count as shopping)
- Paint –Farrow & Ball
- Bathroom- Ordering from Sanctuary Bathrooms. Brass Taps & Fittings – Crosswater, mostly their Belgravia range.
- Shower Tiles and Marble Top– Al-Murad
- Shower– Grohe
