The Hellman family from Lidingö

A place to be together

The Hellman Family from Lidingö, Stockholm sees the bathroom as a room where they can get together and spend time with one another – just like in the kitchen. So when they renovated their bathroom, they decided to move a wall to make the room several square metres larger. They also put in a window for a lighter, brighter environment. “It was a great success,” says David Hellman, father of three and – now – bathroom builder. The house has another bathroom on the upper storey, but it is barely used today.

A room among others

Not having tiles on the wall is a conscious choice, with a view to making the room feel more like the other ‘meeting places’ in the house. And finding the right colour was a real challenge. To start with, the new room came across as big and cold, but the ambience improved greatly when the shower walls and furniture were installed. “Painting the walls is a big job, too,” says David. “It’s almost bigger than tiling them.” The walls take several days to dry, and this holds up work on the other things that have to be done in the new bathroom.

Lilla

Checklist

There is a lot to think about before renovating a bathroom. This list is based on Gustavsberg’s specialist knowledge as well as experience contributed by users including the Hellman Family from Lidingö.

  • Think carefully about your family’s needs
    A large bathroom can be divided into areas for three functions: toilet visits, shower and bath, and hands, teeth and face. And do you need to make space for the washing machine and tumble dryer? Draw and plan.
  • Bring in professionals – at an early stage
    Involving a professional architect boosts your chances of finding the best solutions at the drawing- board stage.
  • Go for quality
    Quality pays dividends in the long term. Energyand water-saving technology is kind on the environment – and on your wallet. And ugly solutions are hard on the eye.
  • Take the long-term view
    Needs often change as the years pass. Small children grow up, and grown-ups become elderly. Is functional adaptation required?
  • Don’t hide the lights
    Poor lighting makes a bathroom dull. A good rule of thumb is to have at least one light for ‘general lighting’ and one directed light for ‘face work’. Make sure to include reflecting mirrors in your calculations.
  • Good ventilation
    Air in motion – ideally combined with under-floor heating – helps the bathroom to dry and reduces the risk of moisture damage. Remember, it should feel fresh and life-affirming to be there.
  • Seek out quality-assured craftsmen
    Request offers from more than one company. Make sure to draw up a written agreement – and try to steer the fitter towards a fixed price project, with penalty clauses for delays.

The children are aged 2, 5 and 9. They enjoy bathing together so we built a large double shower, where they often end up together. Perhaps we should have built a triple shower instead…

The Hellman family

Some things you mustn’t save on.

The Hellman family