Bathroom Project Part I - Start with Art

Mantle styling with reed diffusers

Most of my travel time is spent scrolling through interior design inspiration and processes as I try to learn more on the subject. Moodboards are crucial in pulling together design inspiration, textiles and textures to convey the mood of a project. A common way to start drawing on ideas for a moodboard is to start with Art.

Art within interior design creates ambiance, personality and helps determine the colour scheme of a space. When choosing artwork, it’s inportant to choose pieces that stir an emotion in you and reflect you.

There are 2 pieces of artwork I have fallen in love with in my time and I’m lucky enough to have both pieces at home. They are by an East London artist by the name of John Coster / Gill. I first met John in my pop up store in E3 when we shared a gallery retail store space whilst he had an exhibition there.

The largest of the 2 pieces and my favourite hangs in the bathroom and the other is in our living room. Each year, we spring clean our apartment and touch up where needed from our large supply of Brilliant White Emulsion. This year, in the spirit of change, I’m trying to embrace something new.

I asked my daughter Emelia (all of 6 years old) for her opinion on colours and she was very sure that our bathrooms new hue should be Farrow & Ball’s Setting Plaster. I was apprehensive at first. A pink bathroom wasn’t really the direction I wanted to go in but the more images I found on Pinterest, the more I could see it working in our tiny bathroom.

I stared to put together a colours and ideas on Morpholio which is a fantastic app you can use to pull together your interior look. Setting Plaster works really well with our artwork and there are other colours I can pull from the painting to bring the scheme together. A mix of African and Scandinavian influences.

I included features that would remain (such as the light fitting, flooring, rug, wood effect panelling, white ceiling, tiles, door and frame and accessories) and added in the new additions (Setting Plaster walls and new light cord pull).

It was a fresh but not too drastic a change. A cross between Nordic minimalism and East African arid landscapes. I love it.

Once you’ve set on your moodboard, keep referring to it and if you’re still content, you’re ready to bring your vision to reality!