We had the ugliest bathroom, it was old & green – a clever hack instantly made the space bigger & it looks incredible
A COUPLE has turned the “smallest bathroom in the world” into a bright and spacious highlight of their home.
And they have shared their top tips exclusively with Fabulous to help others do the same.
Caitie Keen, 26, bought her 1960s property in 2020 with her husband Aaron and they took on the mammoth job of renovating it into their dream home.
The detached house in the Cotswolds stood empty for two years before the creative couple took it on, and required some imagination to see the potential.
Caitie said: “It was a big risk, the house was a wreck.
“Aaron didn’t want to buy it when we viewed it for the second time but it was in a great area and we could do whatever we wanted with it, so I convinced him it was a good idea to buy it.
“We moved in a couple of weeks before the Covid lockdown but it didn’t affect us too much as we were doing everything ourselves.
“Aaron is a plumber and heating engineer so he had the required skills.
“We were both working full-time during the pandemic so we did the renovations in the evenings and at weekends.
“I often had a paint brush in hand at midnight.”
With Aaron’s expertise, the bathroom being the first port of call made the most sense to the new buyers.
But they still had their work cut out and a strict budget of £3,000.
Caitie explained: “It felt like the smallest bathroom in the world.
“It hadn’t been updated since the house was first built in the 60s – it was dark and green.
“There was an airing cupboard so we were able to take out and use the space for a shower enclosure.
“Then we just went with a light colour scheme so it felt clean and bright and would last through any trends.”
Following the latest interior craze is one thing Caitie advises others to avoid in their renovation projects.
She added: “Go with what you like and don’t be swayed by what’s popular. Trends come and go.
“I also went with some multi-panelling for the bathroom instead of tiles. It’s easier to clean and it’s also cheaper.
“The multipanel is so easy to put up, you can do it yourself.”
While there are some jobs homeowners often feel more comfortable having a professional do, Caitie believes there are perks to doing the odd bit of DIY.
“Don’t be afraid to just have a go, you could uncover a hidden talent you never knew you had,” she added.
“Since I started it’s become a passion. I’ve found I can do more than I ever thought I could.”
Jennifer Shaw, of bathroom specialists Plumbworld, said: “Caitie and Aaron’s bathroom is a great example of what you can achieve even when size isn’t on your side.
“Using light colours and a panelling with one block pattern creates the illusion of space as it’s less cluttered than small tiles.
“With some clever use of space, they’ve got everything they wanted and needed from their bathroom.”