Emily Harnaz
A Bold Bathroom Transformation in a Victorian Villa
Blending colour, character and comfort with design-led radiators
Intro
When renovating their Scottish Victorian villa, Emily and her husband set out to create a space that balanced bold, contemporary design with the home’s original character. The result is a striking family bathroom that feels both playful and perfectly in keeping with the property’s heritage.
The Challenge
Although the property spans three storeys, it originally had just one bathroom, and it hadn’t been updated since the 1960s.
As Emily explains, “traipsing down the stairs in the middle of the night was far from ideal,” so the couple decided to convert one of the four bedrooms into a new family bathroom, sacrificing space in favour of comfort and accessibility.
The Vision
As a colour consultant, Emily wanted to bring personality and vibrancy into the space while still respecting the home’s period features.
She describes her style as “bold, playful and eclectic,” drawing inspiration from platforms like Pinterest and Instagram to explore colour, texture and pattern before committing to the design.
The aim was to create a bathroom that felt fresh and modern, yet still sympathetic to the character of the property.
The Radiators
Radiators played a key role in the overall design, not just functionally, but as visual features within the space.
As Emily explains, “we absolutely love them because they bring a traditional feel to the space whilst allowing us to both heat the room and dry our towels too.”
The chosen styles help to ground the bold colour palette while maintaining a sense of heritage throughout the room. At the same time, they provide practical benefits, effectively heating the space and offering a convenient solution for drying towels.
“The radiators were a crucial part of our design process, they anchored the design and ensured the space still felt sympathetic to the property’s heritage.”
The Experience
Reflecting on the process, Emily found everything straightforward from start to finish.
“The ordering and delivery process was super easy, the team were really helpful in answering any questions we had, and the website has useful tools to choose the right sizes.”
Installation was equally seamless, with no issues reported by their plumbers, helping to keep the project running smoothly.
The Result
The finished bathroom is a complete transformation, both visually and practically. Gone are the 1960s textured wallpaper and the drab cream fireplace, which once blended into the wall and created an uninspiring look. In their place is a bold, refreshed palette, a striking moss green fireplace, baby blue painted walls, and a mustard yellow accent that really nails the contemporary influence.
“It’s completely transformed, we absolutely adore being in the space now,” says Emily.
The radiators’ design features add to the space and help unify the overall theme
“They’re both practical and visually impactful, and they tie the whole design together beautifully.”
Friends and family have also been impressed with the transformation, particularly noting the impact of the radiators and the added comfort of the heated towel rail.
Lessons & Advice
As first-time renovators, the project came with a learning curve, particularly when converting a room without existing plumbing into a fully functioning bathroom.
Looking back, Emily notes that more detailed planning at each stage would have helped build confidence when working with tradespeople.
Her advice for others:
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Take the time to find a plumber you trust
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Don’t be afraid to ask questions
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Speak up if something doesn’t feel right
Final Thoughts
“Radiators Direct have been brilliant, great service and great products, and we couldn’t be happier.”