The art of small spaces: creating a bathroom that works and wows

Each home and space have a story, and we’re always fascinated by the thought, care, and creativity that go into making a house feel like home. From bold colour choices to clever layouts in small spaces, it’s often the personal touches - those little design decisions driven by instinct or memory - that make a project truly special.

Today, we’re excited to share a recent conversation with Sophie, showcasing that even the smallest rooms can have the biggest impact. 

Hello Sophie! We’re delighted to speak with you since you completed your bathroom renovation. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. 

I live in the North of England with my husband, our 5-month-old son Hugo, and our Beagle, Nell. I studied Journalism at MMU and loved living in Manchester, but I’ve always felt most at home near the countryside.

I’m drawn to a ‘collected’ aesthetic—pieces gathered over time that tell a story and work together effortlessly. New furniture rarely catches the eye like old does. I’ve even designed entire rooms around a single vintage find, like a hand-carved Indonesian armoire we stumbled upon.

It’s a less traditional approach to design, but it’s bold, and much more fun! 

So tell us, what role has place and property style played in shaping your vision? 

We're based in South Cumbria, just minutes from farms, the beach, and the Lake District - it's a beautiful spot. Our home, built in 1914 (according to the plans we found stashed in the loft), is one of only eight of its kind in a mostly post-1950s estate. We'd always hoped one would come up for sale, and in 2022, my husband spotted a ‘For Sale’ sign while walking the dog. We got the first viewing, made the first offer - and the rest is history!

Before that, we lived in an 1872 sandstone miner's cottage but always knew a classic Victorian, Edwardian or Georgian style home would be where we ended up in the long run.

The house had been well cared for, with most of its original features beautifully preserved. It’s a spacious 3-bed, 1-bath with high ceilings, a large garden, and an allotment at the rear. From the start, we knew we wanted to retain and enhance its classic character while making a few structural changes to suit modern living and create a more harmonious flow. 

You used our Antique White Square tiles in your bathroom. What were your top priorities when redesigning that room? 

For the bathroom, I had three key goals.

First, the layout had to change. I’m someone who avoids spaces that lack functional flow, and the original layout was chaotic - an awkward chain-pull light, a bulky plastic sink, and a toilet positioned so poorly you had to twist around it. It’s a tiny room with a large Victorian door, and it simply didn’t work. We flipped the toilet 90 degrees and repositioned the sink alongside it, creating a clear walkway from door to window. The space instantly felt bigger and far more usable.

Second, I embraced the small size rather than trying to disguise it. All-white walls in compact spaces often sacrifice personality for the illusion of space, and I wasn’t interested in that. For me, small spaces call for mood. We used Farrow & Ball’s ‘Eating Room Red’ for a rich, romantic feel and layered in texture through tiles and accessories.

Finally, I rejected the idea that bathrooms need to be clinical. A high-gloss, sterile space shows mess more than it hides it. I’d much rather have muddy Beagle paw prints in a characterful space than water spots in a surgical suite. Checkerboard marble floors, deep red panelling, brass fittings, and tactile finishes made the room both functional and beautiful. It feels like an extension of the rest of our home - not a design afterthought. 

That is such a great point, Sophie. We love how you've transformed the room!  What drew you to Marlborough Tiles, and why did you choose our tiles for your bathroom?

We used the gorgeous Antique White Square tiles in our bath/shower area.

Originally, I was looking for a Zellige tile to create a varied, textured finish but with a stunning glaze for a bit of elegance. However, I realised Zellige tiles were leading me toward a more “unfinished” aesthetic, which didn’t align with the direction of the bathroom - or the rest of the house. So, I took a step back and considered the tiles we already had - original crackle-glazed metro tiles in soft blues and greens that feature in each of the bedroom fireplaces. The Antique White Square tiles offered a similar crackle-glazed finish and the texture I had hoped for with Zellige, but in a more refined and classic way.

The colour was perfect too - a rich, clotted-cream white that feels almost edible. Choosing these tiles created a sense of continuity upstairs, subtly linking the bathroom with the other rooms through material and style. 

What other pieces were key to making this bathroom such a great space?

As always, antiques make the room sing!  We added an Art Deco mirror, a 1940s French brass wall light with a marbled opaline bulb, and a wooden French bobbin stool under the window.

To make the bathroom feel more like the rest of our home, we included lots of fabric. A linen shower curtain and a café curtain at the sash window add softness and privacy, and I often switch up hand towels and bathmats to keep things fresh.

Of course, I must mention our two big splurges. First, the Thomas Crapper toilet, with its petrol pump–style flush, never fails to spark conversation. And second, the Italian brass hardware. I love how aged brass develops a beautiful patina over time; it’s the one of the standout features of the room. 

What advice would you give to someone planning a bathroom (or a whole home) renovation?  

Bathrooms are often the smallest rooms in the home, so embrace it.  

Small can be just as beautiful as big, so be bold. Forget the old rules about no wallpaper, fabric, or artwork; with a bit of care, all are possible. Treat your bathroom like any other room in your home, designed with beauty and personality in mind.  

Picture yourself in the bath: what do you want to see? And remember, it's not an operating theatre - so relax and enjoy the process. 

A huge thank you to Sophie for sharing her project with us! Follow along Sophie's house renovation journey on Instagram @axtonsophie.

We love nothing more than seeing your completed interior design projects. If you would like to see your home featured here, simply tag @marlboroughtiles in your project photographs on Instagram.