Real home: an open-plan master bedroom loft conversion

A central shower, feature slate wall and open-plan layout have given Paul and Shona Warnock’s master bedroom suite added wow factor

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‘When we built our three-storey house, the top floor was originally going to be for our son Hamish,’ explains Paul Warnock, who owns this house with his wife, Shona. ‘But once we started building, we realised it would make a much better master bedroom with open-plan en suite.’ To make it work, a wet room with a camber to the floor and waterproof membrane had to be installed.

The bedroom was designed to complement the couple’s open-plan bathroom choices. ‘As we’d decided to go with natural stone in the bathroom, that was our starting point,’ says Shona. ‘We felt a contrasting light brown leather bed would work well with the travertine and slate tones.’

Project notes

The owners: Paul Warnock, a former private yacht captain and marina manager, and his wife Shona, an ex-ship’s purser and corporate manager, now a full-time mum, live here with their son Hamish, nine.

The property: A three-storey, three-bedroom new-build house in Hartburn, County Durham

Total project cost: £9,450

1970s bungalow ready to be knocked down

The Warnocks knocked down this 1970s bungalow to build a new three-bedroom home more in keeping with the neighbouring properties

three bedroom house with an open-plan bedroom bathroom in the loft

The extra height has provided space for an open-plan master suite on the top floor

Costs

Bathroom fittings: £4,000

Total: £9,450

The open-plan bathroom

natural slate splashback in an open plan loft conversion

Natural slate tiles from Prices Paving provide a beautiful backdrop for the Maderno bath with Sterling floorstanding tap from Bathrooms.com. In the centre of the space, a ceiling- mounted Cifial shower head from HS Interiors makes the most of the head height. Abacus Vessini shower screen, James Hargreaves Bathrooms. Kartell stone stool in crystal, Barker & Stonehouse

open-plan en-suite bathroom in a loft conversion

To avoid head height being a problem, the Duravit WC with Grohe flush from HS Interiors has been wall hung on a built-out section. Remote-controlled LED spotlights have been fitted to the ceiling and down the wall between the two spaces, together with a circular garden light, all Electric Base

open plan bathroom with travetine flooring

Travertine floor and wall tiles from Tile Giant complement the neutral tones used for the bedroom décor, and contrast well with the slate tiles behind the Vanguard basin and cabinet from Hudson Reed. Impey underfloor heating and wet room flooring from James Hargreaves Bathrooms add comfort underfoot
Karen Wilson