A bathroom should be a place where you can escape the pressures of life, where the shower's cascading water helps rinse off the day's worries and sliding into the tub eases stress instantly.

It should also be a peaceful environment that exudes relaxation - so choosing a natural colour scheme is a great idea!

KEEP IT NATURAL

Carole Korokhay says her bathroom used to be "oh so 1970s" - and then laughs, because the rest of the place was too. This isn't entirely surprising, however, as that's when the house was built. But nowadays, design ideas from the '70s are certainly showing their age, which gave Carole the perfect opportunity to start afresh.

The bathroom was high on the to-do list and its transformation is astonishing. "It doesn't even look like the same room," she says, amazed.

She joined forces with talented designer Jodie Carter for the makeover and they came up with a great concept for it. "Actually, I can't take much of the credit," says Carole. "It was mostly Jodie's doing."

Carole's one requirement for the bathroom was a good shower and she was happy for Jodie to play with the rest - and that's exactly what she did! The result was a stunning, very natural bathroom. It's completely tiled and the colours are quite raw and earthy, which gives it a soothing air - with no bright hues or harsh lighting. There's a varied selection of tiles, with larger ones over most of the surfaces and smaller, darker ones for the basin splashback and as a feature under the window.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Carole also wanted the space to be well utilised and Jodie's ideas certainly did that. The glass shower cubicle makes the room look bigger, as does the large mirror above the vanity. Another was to install small spotlights low on the wall at each end of the bathtub to create a warm glow. These provide enough light to see what you're doing, but also afford a relaxing aura for soaking in the tub.

Above the tub there's Jodie's pièce de résistance - a small recess that's perfect for toiletries and other odds and ends. Candles are lovely in there too, and work well with the lighting around the tub. Keeping it natural is definitely the way to go for a heavenly bathroom.

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Story by Simone Costi
Styling by Justine Wilson
Photography by Tony Potter