Beautifully bespoke: a bathroom transformation

At Marlborough Tiles, we pride ourselves on helping customers bring their design dreams to life, even when that means creating something bespoke.
In 2024 we worked with Tara Jenkins on a custom tile order for her beautiful home renovation project, and now that her project is complete, we caught up with her to learn more about the transformation.
 

Could you tell us a bit about your renovation project? What rooms or spaces were involved, and what was the overall vision?

The house hadn’t been touched in 50 years and was in desperate need of modernisation. A leak in the roof had damaged the top floor bathroom and hallway, so we took the opportunity to completely strip out and renovate the entire house. We reconfigured the internal spaces, added a patio, and redesigned both the front and back gardens.

The design was inspired by the arch of the original Victorian front door, a motif I echoed throughout the home. You’ll find it in the French windows looking out to the garden, a mural in the study, and in the Bauhaus-inspired shapes that front the kitchen units and hallway cladding.
 

What was your inspiration for the design of your bathroom?

I wanted the bathroom to feel like a peaceful, elegant retreat. Aside from the arch, I drew inspiration from Pinterest - I loved the look of contemporary style bathrooms that mixed strong marble veining with large vertical tiles. I used a bold, veined porcelain tile with a marble effect throughout the house to create cohesion - for the kitchen surfaces and island, the fireplace, and the bathroom walls and vanity unit.

Choosing the colour scheme was tricky! I was torn between pink and blue, but ultimately went with a watery blue to tie in with the blue tones used on the walls and ceiling of the master bedroom. Since the bedroom, dressing room, and bathroom form a suite, it was important the colours flowed together.
 

Lighting was also key - I used contemporary brass fittings from British maker BertFrank, which looked especially beautiful in the bathroom, particularly the mirror-mounted fixtures.

What drew you to Marlborough Tiles, and what was it like working with us?

I spent a long time looking online for tiles in a duck egg blue shade. It came down to two options - one from Fired Earth and one from Marlborough Tiles. But when I saw the Fired Earth tile in real life, it was too grey.

Marlborough Tiles offered the option to custom-make the tiles I wanted, which made it a no-brainer! The team was incredibly friendly and helpful, and the quality of the tiles was excellent. I loved that I could take a standard colour I liked - Soho SoSpruce - and apply it to a larger tile to achieve the look from my inspiration photos. It meant I didn’t have to compromise on my vision.
 

What other materials, finishes, or brands did you include in your bathroom design?

I used paint colours from Paint & Paper Library and Little Greene. The lighting was from BertFrank, and the cabinets were handmade by my contractor. The WC is by Duravit, and the bath is from Lusso. The oak-look flooring is actually a tile — it perfectly matches the real oak flooring used elsewhere on the first floor.
 

Did you work with any professionals on this project?

Yes, I worked with Fraher & Findlay architects to reconfigure the layout of the home. The interior design scheme was my own, but the architect was instrumental in designing the flow and overall look of the kitchen and bathrooms. My contractor, Sonsino Turcan, brought everything to life.
 

What part of the renovation are you most proud of?

Honestly, I love every element of the house. But if I had to choose, I’d say the colour drenching, using bold, consistent colours throughout. I’m lucky to have high ceilings throughout, which can take dark colours, and it really made every room feel unique and special, especially the dark blue living room at the front of the house.

Is there anything you’d do differently next time?

No! I’m really happy with how everything turned out.

Finally, do you have any tips for others thinking about using coloured tiles or renovating a bathroom?

Definitely see the tiles in real life - colours and sizes can look very different online. Be aware that tiles can appear a slightly different colour depending on your wall paint and the light in your space, too. And whatever you do, avoid using wood near sinks or on bathroom floors - it warps!

Most importantly, design your bathroom as a haven. It should be a relaxing, peaceful space.
 

Inspired by Tara’s vision?

Explore our collections to find your perfect combination of colour, shape and size - just like Tara did. Looking for something bespoke? We are here to help with that too! Find out more about our custom tile capabilities here.

Whether you’re renovating a single room or an entire home, we’re here to help make your ideas a reality. Contact us to discuss your requirements.