The fashion for open-plan living shows no sign of abating as more of us are opening up to the idea of merging our bathing and sleeping spaces.

"With limited floor space, designers are having to come up with new ideas to unite areas to make properties feel more roomy and work harder, " reasons interior designer Sophie Paterson. The upshot is open-plan badroom-bathroom arrangements that fulfil multiple functions."

Case Study
Architect: Katie Thornburrow, Granta Architects
Interior designer: Cate Burren, Angel + Blume
The Clients: A busy professional couple
Location: Suffolk
The Brief: To convert a '70s style barn into a master bedroom and bathroom
Approximate cost: A similar bedroom and bathroom would cost around £25,000

This space was an unused, derilict barn divided into two storage spaces. It is a listed building and needed quite a lot of structural work such as underpinning walls and replacing rotten timbers.

The space was converted into a large, open-plan bathroom and ensuite with nothing but the bed head and a small partition behind the WC dividing the two areas.

"The couple wanted the design to be sympathetic to the barn's origins so while the layout is very contemporary and hotel-like, many of the fixtures and fittings such as the towel rail and taps have a more traditional feel," explains Cate.

"we were very careful when choosing a colour palette to avoid the usual cream you would expect to find in a country home.

Therefore we opted for soft brown silk curtains so as not to detract from the sweeping views and natural coloured travertine tiles and mosiacs in the bathroom area."

Original article featured in Kitchens, Bedrooms and Bathrooms August 2011.
Image credits: Mark Box www.markboxphoto.co.uk