A tropical twist for a luxurious London feature wall
We talk with Aurore Martial about her latest extravagant renovation; from the roll top bath to a botanical bathroom mural
Just imagine enjoying a leisurely soak in this astonishing bathroom.
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The work of interior designer Aurore Martial, of Domus Venus, this spectacularly maximalist space combines a variety of EKBB’s favourite things: a striking print on the wall, a splash of marble and a generous sprinkling of shimmering gold details, too.
Here’s how it came together.
The project in a nutshell:
The property: A Victorian townhouse in Little Venice, London
Who lives here? A pair of City workers and their two small children
The designer: Aurore Martial at domus-venus.com
Budget: £10,000
When Aurore first set eyes on the space – an en-suite in a master bedroom – it had ‘lots of potential’. “It was a case of tiles-all-over and lots of white paint,” she tells us, “with a very old-fashioned shower and bath tub.
“I knew it could look amazing – it has high ceilings and a lot of natural light.
“Its rectangular shape meant it was very easy to work with – all we needed to do was change the water points and work our magic!”
With Instagram a key source of inspiration for her vibrant interiors styling, Aurore admits she finds ideas everywhere: “In museums, going shopping at Selfridges and Liberty – I have this thing with all things over-sized and maximalist, and I always suggest options in those directions to my clients – it’s a great way to make an impression!”
It was a match made in heaven; the client was keen to create a bathroom that oozed ‘wow-factor’, giving Aurore carte blanche to do as she saw fit with the space.
The homeowners wanted to add ‘a bit of craziness’ to their lives; with the rest of their home largely minimalist, the playful styling of the bathroom sets it apart as a true oasis within the home (with the foliage and extravagant birds effortlessly adding to that exotic vibe).
A dazzling mural from Back on the Wall helped to set the scene for the tropical feel that Aurore decided to create for the city – a polar-opposite theme to the property’s city-central location.
“I wanted to create something truly different,” she explains.
“It’s the place where the parents can relax in the evening, and it had to feel warm and luxurious, too,” she says. The joy of a wall mural is that whilst it drips glamour, it’s actually a relatively budget-efficient way to transform a space; “and it’s a fraction of the cost of an over-sized painting,” Aurore adds.
The bath tub was an eBay bargain, restored and repainted by Aurore; she cites it as ‘one of the biggest challenges’ of the whole project. “Buying a tub new would have pushed us over budget,” she explains, “so I waited patiently for something to come up on eBay.
“It was originally all white, and we painted it pink with golden feet.”
A gold-effect shower, heated towel rack and taps were chosen to accentuate the luxury of the space, whilst a plastering effect was used to create texture on the walls; wood and marble-effect porcelain were used throughout to complete the look. “Marble-effect porcelain is cheaper and more resistant than real marble,” Aurore explains.
On the note of resistant bathroom materials, Aurore has a smart-yet-simple piece of advice for anyone who’s currently considering their own bathroom redesign: “Always order sample materials and test water, shampoo, hair colourants and any other products you use regularly on them before investing,” she suggests.
