Timeless Bathroom Renovation Inspiration: Inside Katie’s Characterful Second Home Project

For Northern Ireland content creator Katie, known online as pretty.old.home, beautiful interiors are more than a passion. They’re part of everyday life. Her own home previously captured the attention of viewers across the region, becoming a finalist on BBC Northern Ireland’s House of the Year, a testament to her distinctive eye for design and her ability to balance character with comfort.

When Katie embarked on her second renovation project, she approached it with the same attention to detail and commitment to quality that had defined her previous home. For this project, creating bathrooms that felt both luxurious and full of personality was a key priority. To bring her vision to life, Katie partnered with Bassetts, working alongside Klaire at Bassetts Lisburn showroom, whose design expertise helped guide product choices and ensure each space felt both stylish and practical.

Across three bathrooms: a cloakroom, an ensuite, and a shower room, the result is a collection of carefully considered spaces that feel cohesive yet entirely unique. By incorporating different ranges of traditional brassware throughout, each bathroom retains its own identity while maintaining a consistent sense of timeless elegance across the home.

The Cloakroom: A Bold First Impression

The cloakroom sets the tone for the home with a space that is both playful and design-led. Katie embraced the growing trend of colour drenching, enveloping the room in a deep tone that creates an intimate, cocooning feel. The result is a cloakroom bursting with personality, perfect for making a memorable impression on guests.

A sleek Roca Ona Compact basin introduces a contemporary floating design that keeps the room feeling open and uncluttered. The wall-hung style allows the dramatic colour palette to remain the focal point, while still delivering practical functionality for everyday use.

Traditional elements bring balance to the modern styling. The RT Large Lansdown W/C and matching Lansdown basin mixer in chrome add a classic note, reinforcing the timeless feel that runs throughout the home.

Completing the space is the Aqualla Luca flat radiator, which provides both warmth and a refined finishing detail. Together, these elements create a cloakroom that feels both expressive and elegant, a perfect example of how small spaces can deliver big design impact.

The Ensuite: A Luxurious Retreat in a Compact Space

Although the ensuite presented a smaller footprint, clever design ensured the room feels indulgent and beautifully balanced. At its centre is the Adamsez Capri Freestanding Bath, an elegant 1500mm bathtub that introduces a sense of spa-like luxury. Its classic silhouette pairs effortlessly with the Aqualla Georgia Chrome Bath Filler, reinforcing the room’s timeless aesthetic.

Alongside the bath, a beautifully designed shower enclosure creates a dedicated space for everyday practicality. The Spa Jet quad tray paired with the Flair Verve Bifold Door shower enclosure offers a stylish yet efficient layout solution, allowing both bathing and showering to coexist comfortably within the room. The Aqualla Georgia Drench Shower continues the traditional design language while delivering a luxurious rainfall experience.

One of the most striking features of the ensuite is the Kristan Devon wall-hung vanity unit in Forest Green. This rich, earthy tone adds depth and warmth, grounding the space while providing a sophisticated contrast against the chrome fixtures. Paired with the Aqualla Georgia Basin Mixer and the classic RT Large Lansdown W/C, the vanity becomes a standout focal point that perfectly captures Katie’s love of characterful design.

A tall Aqualla Luca Heated Towel Rail completes the room, adding both practicality and an additional chrome accent that ties the space together seamlessly.

The Shower Room: Practicality with Polished Style

The shower room was designed to deliver maximum functionality without sacrificing visual appeal. Anchoring the space is a spacious showering area featuring a Spa Jet 1200 x 900 shower tray paired with the Flair Verve Sliding Door. This combination creates a sleek, streamlined look while offering generous showering space for daily use.

The Aqualla Georgia Traditional Drench Shower continues the home’s classic design theme, ensuring the shower room remains stylistically connected to the other bathrooms while still feeling distinct in its own right.

For the vanity area, Katie selected the Roca Tenet Wall-hung Vanity Unit in Walnut, introducing warm wood tones that add texture and depth to the room. The two-drawer design provides ample storage while maintaining the clean, modern aesthetic of a floating unit. Paired with the RT Large Lansdown Basin Mixer and matching Lansdown W/C, the result is a space that feels both elegant and effortlessly practical.

During the design process, Klaire helped Katie refine the layout and product selection to ensure the space balanced practicality with the overall aesthetic of the home.

Finishing touches such as the RT Large HD25 towel rail complete the look, ensuring the room remains as functional as it is stylish.

Cohesion Through Craftsmanship

What truly ties Katie’s bathrooms together is the thoughtful use of traditional brassware and showerware ranges throughout the home. While each bathroom features its own colour palette, layout, and focal points, the consistent use of timeless chrome fixtures ensures a harmonious flow from one space to the next.

Working with Klaire at Bassetts Lisburn showroom allowed Katie to refine her ideas and select products that complemented her vision while maintaining the high-quality finish expected throughout the home. The result is a collection of bathrooms that feel personal, characterful, and beautifully designed, spaces that reflect Katie’s signature style while showcasing the quality and craftsmanship that Bassetts is known for.

For homeowners embarking on their own renovation journey, this project highlights the value of thoughtful design and expert guidance. Whether working with compact cloakrooms or luxurious ensuites, the right combination of products and professional design support can transform everyday spaces into something truly special.

If you’re planning your own bathroom renovation or self-build project, visit one of Bassetts 10 Showrooms across Northern Ireland and discover how their expert team can help bring your vision to life.