Rock & Roll Renovation: A Fun and Funky Bathroom Design

Welcome back to my exhilarating journey on The Big Interiors Battle! This week, we shifted our focus to a new and exciting challenge: designing the ultimate bathroom. As contestants, we were given the opportunity to transform a blank canvas into a stylish and functional retreat, embracing the challenge with passion and creativity. The bathroom, often a private sanctuary, required us to blend practicality with personal flair, making it a space that was both functional and a true reflection of our design sensibilities.

With only a single day less than in previous weeks to complete our designs, we had to navigate the tight timeline with precision and adaptability. Despite the constraints, each of us worked tirelessly to craft a space that stood out in both character and functionality.

If you missed the episode, you can still catch it on Channel 4’s on-demand platform to experience the innovation and excitement of this week’s bathroom design challenge: Watch episode 3

Join me as I delve into the details of my bathroom design journey, exploring the creative process from conception to completion as I aimed to create a unique and vibrant space that truly showcased my style and vision.

The Brief

Crafting a Unique Bathroom

Week 3’s challenge was to create a bathroom that not only met practical needs but also exuded personality and style. With a fit-out budget of £4000 and an additional £2000 for styling, I set out to design a bathroom that was not just functional but also a true reflection of my individuality. Adding to the challenge, we had one day less than in previous weeks to complete the design and execution (3 days instead of 4).

Design Focus

Individuality

The theme for the bathroom makeover challenge was individuality. And, as you know me, I’m all about colour! My goal was to create a lively and vibrant atmosphere that made every visit a cheerful experience. I decided to paint two arches on the side wall, using bright pink and orange to create a dynamic and energetic backdrop that instantly caught the eye. To enhance the visual interest further, I installed coloured shelves and round mirrors in the centre of the arches, adding layers of depth and fun to the space. These mirrors were given a playful twist with plastic films typically used for cars, giving them a unique, customised look.

The ceiling was painted a bold blue to echo the blue grout used on the floor tiles, creating a cohesive colour story that tied the room together beautifully. Even the grout between the white square tiles was coloured yellow on the walls and blue on the floor, ensuring that every detail, no matter how small, contributed to the overall vibrant aesthetic. Using coloured grout is my best go-to tip if you want to make a bathroom design that stands out without spending too much money. The bright grout really makes the white tiles pop out, giving the space a polished and unique look. By focusing on these distinctive touches, I was able to create a bathroom that truly reflected my personality and design sensibility, turning a simple space into a vibrant and inviting retreat.

By focusing on these distinctive touches, I was able to create a bathroom that truly reflected my personality and design sensibility, turning a simple space into a vibrant and inviting retreat.

Function

In a small bathroom, every inch counts, so I focused on creating a layout that maximized efficiency and met everyday needs. The upcycled blue storage unit wasn’t just a stylish addition; it provided ample space to keep essentials neatly organized and accessible. The trio of colourful hanging upcycled mirrors added a touch of whimsy and charm while serving their practical purpose. I strategically placed shelves and mirrors to ensure everything was within easy reach, maintaining an open and airy feel despite the limited space. By carefully planning the placement of each element, I created a bathroom that was not only functional but also a joy to use, proving that even a small space can be both practical and fun.

Zoning

Even in a small bathroom, a sense of zoning can enhance both aesthetics and functionality. I used a combination of colours and textures to subtly define different areas of the room. The bright pink and orange arches on one wall created a vibrant focal point, while the blue-painted ceiling and matching floor grout helped tie the design elements together. Instead of creating separate zones, I focused on integrating these elements to make the space feel cohesive and dynamic. The coloured grout between the white tiles added visual interest, making the tiles pop and contributing to a playful, organised feel. This approach ensured that the bathroom was both visually appealing and practical, balancing creativity with everyday usability.

My Approach & Inspiration

Design Aesthetics: Quirkiness and Colour

My design philosophy for this bathroom was to embrace bold colours and quirky elements that would transform a functional space into a vibrant and engaging environment. The use of white square tiles with yellow grout on the walls and blue grout on the floor created a striking contrast, making the tiles pop and adding a layer of visual interest. Painting the ceiling blue tied in beautifully with the blue grout on the floor, adding an unexpected element of surprise and cohesiveness to the overall design.

Given the small size of the bathroom, I wanted to avoid overwhelming the space with solid colours on all walls. Instead, I used shapes to bring in dynamism and visual intrigue. This is why I painted two arches on the side wall, opting for bright pink and orange to create focal points.

On the other walls, I chose white tiles with bright grout to maintain a playful touch without overpowering the space. The only feature I painted in its entirety was the ceiling, creating a striking statement that pulled the design together. The careful balance of colour and shape created a vibrant yet harmonious space, ensuring that the bathroom was both stylish and inviting.

Adding Unique Touches

One of my favourite quirky touches was upcycling a dinosaur toy into a colourful toilet paper holder. This whimsical element added a playful charm to the bathroom that both Dara and AJ appreciated. Additionally, I included a variety of fun, upcycled decor items, such as a rock and roll pink clock I created during a workshop with local artisan Ollie Miller. This clock, featuring a rock and roll hand sign, not only provided a functional element but also tied in with the curves of the painted arches, adding a personal and creative touch to the design.

The combination of bold colours, playful shapes, and unique upcycled elements made the bathroom a standout space. It was a blend of practicality and creativity, ensuring that every visit to the bathroom was an enjoyable experience. These thoughtful touches transformed the small bathroom into a lively, engaging space that was both functional and fun, perfectly reflecting my design sensibilities and love for quirky, bold aesthetics.

Challenges & Unexpected Twists

The Surprise Challenge: Collaborating with Local Artisans

A surprise twist during the week introduced a new challenge: to collaborate with local artisans and create a bespoke piece for our bathrooms. This was an exciting opportunity to incorporate something truly unique and locally crafted into our designs. Patrycja and I joined forces for this challenge and partnered with Ollie Miller, the founder of Kelham Island Concrete, located in the industrial heart of Sheffield. Kelham Island Concrete is renowned for his exceptional concrete creations, which have been featured in some of Britain’s most iconic buildings.

Together with Patrycja, we embarked on an engaging workshop where we crafted our own concrete objects. I chose to create a pink clock, featuring the iconic rock & roll hand sign. The clock was designed to resonate with the vibrant and playful theme of my bathroom, adding a touch of my funky personality.

The process of mixing the concrete was surprisingly strenuous—it felt like a full-body workout! Despite the physical effort, the experience was immensely rewarding. My clock emerged as a standout piece, perfectly complementing the bathroom’s quirky and dynamic design. It added a distinctive element that not only fulfilled the challenge but also brought a personal touch to the space.

Time Crunch

One of the biggest challenges during this week was the relentless time crunch. The stress of the time constraints was compounded by a worrying realization: the week before the bathroom challenge, I had learned that the other contestants’ tradesmen had completed their bathroom fit-outs well ahead of time. Seeing their finished projects made me anxious that mine, which was still incomplete by the second day, might fall short, and I feared that my incomplete space might lead to elimination. 

This anxiety was compounded by the feeling that I was falling behind in the competition. The mounting pressure was only exacerbated by the looming deadline, and I felt a growing sense of urgency to finish and perfect every detail of my design. The chaotic atmosphere intensified as I tried to meet the tight schedule, knowing that any slip-up could have serious consequences for my standing in the competition.

Adjusting to Space Constraints

The unexpected smaller size of the bathroom turned out to be a significant challenge. The initial space allocated to me was larger, so when faced with the reduced dimensions, I had to adapt my design on the fly. The compact size meant that the door was obstructing the space, bumping into the vanity unit and making the layout less functional. The door’s placement was an issue that affected both the design and the practical use of the bathroom. Faced with this problem and the filming crew’s request for last-minute adjustments, I decided it was best to remove the door entirely. This quick fix not only resolved the issue of the door interfering with the layout but also allowed better filming access. The constraint of a smaller space pushed me to creatively use every inch and rework my design to fit the new limitations.

Final Outcome

A Quirky and Colourful Success

Despite the many hurdles and last-minute challenges, the bathroom transformation emerged as a quirky and colourful triumph. Both Dara and AJ were charmed by the vibrant and playful design that infused the space with character and energy. The bold choice of colours, from the bright pink and orange arches to the striking blue ceiling and grout, created a lively atmosphere that stood out and left a lasting impression.

Dara, however, did point out some areas where the craftsmanship could have been improved, particularly with the hanging mirrors. She didn’t immediately realise that the painted-over structure extending onto the mirrors was a deliberate choice to enhance the rock and roll theme. This design decision was meant to add a touch of rebellious flair and integrate the mirrors seamlessly into the overall aesthetic. 

Despite this, Dara appreciated the unique personality that the bathroom exuded and was particularly impressed with the bespoke rock and roll clock. This piece, crafted in collaboration with local artisan Ollie Miller, resonated with Dara as it echoed the curves of the arches and showcased a distinctive blend of artistry and design. The clock became a standout feature, embodying both creativity and craftsmanship, and further highlighted the bathroom’s quirky charm. The overall response was positive, celebrating the bold design choices and the successful transformation of a challenging space into a visually stunning and functional room.

Resources

The transformation of the bathroom was made possible through a carefully curated selection of resources and design elements:

Basic Fit-outs

• Flooring: STOKES FC218 Elando with 172 SPACE BLUE grout 

• Sink: ZEST Vitra Nuo 500mm Basin 1 TH with overflow

• Tap / mixer: ZEST Vado Kovera Basin Mixer – Chrome

• Wall tiles: STOKES Ferrolite White 150mm x 150mm with 150 YELLOW grout

• Shower head: ZEST Vado Square Shower Head and Arm- Chrome with Vado Zoo integrated Hand Shower Wall Outlet – Chrome

• Shower controls: ZEST Vado Elements Concealed Valve

• Blue paint: Space blue RAL 280 50 25

• Yellow paint: Viking Yellow by Benjamin Moore

• Orange paint: Tangerine Fusion by Benjamin Moore

Fittings & Fixtures

Furniture

• Vanity unit from Gumtree (originally IKEA)

Lighting

• Lights: Spotlights V-TAC White

Styling

For the styling accessories, I went with quirky and colourful elements to bring even more playfulness, but also personal items from my own home.

• Towels and toothbrush holder from Habitat

• Bath mat ‘Splash’ from Dunelm

• Orange plastic shelves from Amazon

• Round wall mirrors and coloured film from Amazon

• Candle from Lush