Before & After: A Plain Bathroom Gets a Splashy Redo that Makes Clawfoot Tubs Even More Appealing

Sometimes in bathrooms, function can squash the fun. At Lissi Walker’s 100-year-old Leicestershire,  UK home, the shared family bathroom worked well enough, but the gray-on-gray color scheme wasn’t exactly inspiring. “This bathroom gets used daily by us all in some way,” says Lissi. “So had to be practical and durable while making us smile every time we open the door!”

The gray laminate floors, grayish wall tile, and past-its-prime toilet were all on the chopping block, but Lissi knew she wanted to keep the fab clawfoot tub and sink intact.

Lissi and her husband took on the whole project themselves, removing the tub to make room for the reno and tearing out the old laminate and wall tile. Over the course of a few weekends, they totally transformed the bathroom from bland to bold.

Behold the after: New matte cement-look tiles from British Ceramic Tile add tons of spunk underfoot, while newly paneled walls (painted Hague Blue by Farrow and Ball) bring an old-school feel that suits the century-old home. In a fresh coat of juicy custom-blended orange, the tub (from Heritage Bathrooms) looks totally modern.

On the wall by the (new) toilet, Lissi installed Thibaut paper with a whimsical jellyfish print; its orangey coral background color was the inspiration for the tub’s new hue. “I wanted something to pop against the dark blue cabinets,” says Lissi. “When I came across the jellyfish design in the perfect colors, I knew it was meant to be.”

Now, the bathroom brings a punchy sense of joy morning and night. “It’s much more reflective of us, but it’s still a practical place to bathe our toddler and let her splash around,” says Lissi. Total cost for the high-impact redo: £800. Happy place achieved!

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