Woodland Glade – Cannock, Staffordshire

Project type: Full ensuite bathroom refurbishment
Location: Cannock, Staffordshire
Property: Traditional Victorian home
Estimated duration: 12–14 days
Design style: Art Deco elegance meets National Trust-inspired colour and natural finishes

1. Project Overview

We are delighted to have been commissioned to redesign and refurbish an ensuite bathroom in a traditional Victorian home close to Cannock town centre.

The brief is to transform a dated 1970s bathroom into a luxurious, practical and beautifully considered space, incorporating both a freestanding bath and a separate walk-in shower.

Achieving this within the existing footprint requires more than simply replacing the bathroom suite. The project involves rethinking the layout, reclaiming valuable floor space, reconstructing the existing boiler housing and coordinating extensive building, plumbing and electrical work.

Our design brings together elegant Art Deco-inspired sanitaryware, natural wood-effect flooring, statement marble-effect porcelain tiles and carefully selected heritage colours to create a bathroom that complements the character of the property while delivering modern comfort and convenience.

2. The Challenge

The client had already invited several plumbers to assess the existing bathroom. Each had advised that accommodating both a separate bath and shower was not possible and that the existing layout represented the best use of the available space.

However, we believed there was an opportunity to challenge that assumption.

The existing bathroom presented several obstacles:

• An inefficient layout: The existing arrangement felt cluttered and failed to make the best use of the available floor area.
• A redundant cupboard footprint: A large enclosure in one corner, previously housing the hot water cylinder, restricted the usable space.
• Inconsistent fittings: Individual items had been replaced over the years, but the overall configuration had never been optimised.
• Poor lighting and ventilation: The room lacked a coordinated lighting scheme and adequate ventilation.
• A dated interior: The existing finishes no longer reflected the quality or style the client wanted to achieve.

The challenge was to find a way to incorporate both bathing and showering facilities without compromising circulation, comfort or the visual balance of the room.

Our objective was to demonstrate that, with careful planning and considered design, a more functional and luxurious bathroom could be achieved.

3. Our Design Solution

Our proposed design focuses on maximising usable space, introducing practical storage and creating a distinctive interior with a strong sense of character.

Rethinking the layout

The project will begin with a complete strip-out of the existing bathroom suite and finishes. The boiler housing will be removed and reconstructed to support the revised layout and help release valuable floor space.

All coving will be removed, with the walls and ceiling replastered to provide a clean, consistent foundation for the new finishes.

A luxurious bath and separate shower

The centrepiece of the design will be an elegant freestanding bath, manufactured from stone resin, with a wall-mounted bath-shower mixer.

This will provide a dedicated space for relaxation while creating a striking focal point within the room.

Alongside it, a separate shower enclosure will feature extra-large-format polished marble-effect porcelain tiles. Their dramatic veining and light finish will introduce a feeling of luxury while providing a practical, easy-to-maintain surface.

Art Deco-inspired sanitaryware

To complement the traditional character of the property, we have selected an Art Deco-inspired vanity unit with an inset basin.

The vanity will provide essential concealed storage, helping to keep everyday toiletries organised and the worktop uncluttered. A matching close-coupled WC with water-saving flushing will complete the sanitaryware arrangement.

The combination of traditional detailing and clean, considered lines will give the bathroom a timeless appearance rather than following a short-lived trend.

Natural textures and heritage colours

The flooring will feature wood-effect porcelain tiles, bringing the warmth and natural appearance of timber together with the durability and easy maintenance of porcelain.

These will complement the National Trust-inspired decorative tiles, creating a distinctive contrast between natural textures, heritage character and contemporary finishes.

The remaining walls and ceiling will be painted in carefully selected colours from the Little Greene Paint Company’s authentic National Trust Colours collection, bringing depth and cohesion to the overall scheme.

Intelligent lighting and improved ventilation

Lighting will play an important role in making the bathroom comfortable and adaptable throughout the day.

The proposed electrical scheme includes:

• Smart-enabled light switches linked to dimmable recessed spotlights.
• Motion-sensing occupancy control with low-level ambient lighting for night-time visits.
• An illuminated mirror providing convenient supplementary lighting.
• A high-capacity inline extractor fan installed in the loft space to improve ventilation.

Together, these features will allow the lighting to be adjusted to suit different needs, from bright task lighting during the morning routine to softer illumination for a relaxing evening bath.

The ventilation upgrade will also help manage moisture and condensation, protecting the newly refurbished space.

4. The Transformation

The refurbishment is expected to take approximately 12–14 days, with the work coordinated across plumbing, plastering, electrical installation, tiling and decorating.

The programme will involve:

1. Stripping out the existing bathroom and preparing the space.
2. Removing and reconstructing the boiler housing and completing the necessary building work.
3. Carrying out plumbing and electrical alterations.
4. Replastering the walls and ceiling.
5. Installing the new bath, shower enclosure, vanity unit and WC.
6. Completing the tiling, lighting, ventilation and decorative finishes.
7. Carrying out final checks, finishing touches and a thorough clean-down.

Careful coordination between the trades will be essential to maintaining the programme and achieving a consistent, high-quality finish.

The intended result is a bathroom that combines the charm of a traditional home with the convenience and performance expected from a modern installation.

5. The Planned Result

The completed design aims to deliver much more than an aesthetic upgrade.

More choice and flexibility: A separate bath and shower will provide the client with the best of both worlds, without sacrificing the practicality of the space.

A more efficient layout: Reconfiguring the room and addressing the existing cupboard arrangement will help make better use of the available floor area.

A distinctive interior: Art Deco-inspired sanitaryware, heritage colours, wood-effect flooring and marble-effect shower tiles will create a coordinated, individual look.

Improved everyday comfort: Thoughtful storage, adjustable lighting and upgraded ventilation will make the room more convenient to use and maintain.

Modern performance with timeless appeal: Durable porcelain finishes, water-saving flushing and contemporary electrical features will sit comfortably alongside the property's traditional character.

The design demonstrates how an apparently restrictive space can offer far greater potential when the layout, finishes and technical requirements are considered together.

 Before

Proposed design

7. Planning a Bathroom Refurbishment?

At BeneLava, we believe a successful bathroom refurbishment starts with understanding how a space can work better for the people who use it.

Woodland Glade is an example of our design-led approach: looking beyond the existing arrangement, identifying opportunities to improve the layout and bringing together the right materials, fittings and technical solutions to achieve a cohesive result.

Whether you are planning a complete bathroom transformation or looking to make better use of a challenging space, we can help you explore the possibilities and develop a design tailored to your property, lifestyle and budget.

Book your free 45 minute design consultation online or by phone at:

 www.benelava.uk

01543 577604

BeneLava Bathrooms

2 Queens Square, Cannock

Staffordshire