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RILUXA CLIENT PROJECTS

For This Dutch Master Bath, Eclectic with a Touch of Luxury Is the Order of the Day

Artfully marrying the old with the new to create a characterful space was the design challenge in this home in the Netherlands. With a bathroom that just didn’t measure up to the rest of a house full of period architectural charm, Marjan de Bruijn knew that an entirely new design was called for. But there’s a certain skill involved in blending vintage and modern pieces into a cohesive scheme, where no one item dominates the whole. 

Read on for a masterclass in mixing and matching modern pieces with some eclectic vintage finds to create a unique room scheme that’s both light and elegant.

First of all, a little bit about yourself—are you a homeowner or a design professional, and where do you live? 

I’m Marjan (46), I live in a very small town called Hulst in the Netherlands. I used to have my own lifestyle shop in fashion- and home-accessories. At the moment, I work in a men's fashion store, and I am dreaming of making more sustainable house interiors or a sustainable “tiny” house with old building materials. I love colours, furniture, textiles and wallpapers from the past, combined with new designs. 

Tell us about your bathroom project—was it a renovation or did you start from scratch? How long did it take and did everything go as planned, or were there any unpleasant surprises along the way? 

A few years ago, we bought this old house with many characteristic elements like high ceilings, different coloured floor-tiles, panelling on the walls. That is, apart from the bathroom; I think the last time it was renovated must have been in the 70's. It didn't compare with the other rooms and was also leaking, so we had to do a complete renovation. It took about 3 months in total. The constructor did all the work himself, except for jobs of the electrician and the plumber, and I did the paint job myself. It's the end result that counts for me, not the time that it took.  

Tell us the story of your Riluxa relationship – how you found us and what your experience has been?

I had been endlessly searching for an (old) roll top bath on the internet and finally I found Miram – it was like love at first sight; I didn't look any further! I had very pleasant email- and phone contact with Ann at Riluxa. She gave me the trust and belief that the bath and washbasin would survive the trip from Spain to the Netherlands. 

What Riluxa pieces did you buy for your project? 

The Orion washbasin and Miram solid surface bath in 160cm. 

What attracted you to these specific pieces? 

The material (Corian® solid surface) and their modern design. And, also, the matt finish of the pieces. 

What design style were you going for – and what inspired your choice? 

The bathroom had to fit with the old characteristic features of the house, without feeling at all old-fashioned. It was very hard to find the coloured tiles I had in mind, until I finally found a store that specialised in old building materials, they sell floor tiles from old French houses. The pattern of the tiles is like a carpet and I didn't want anything that would overwhelm that pattern. This determined that the bath and furniture had to be raised on legs.

My design inspiration came from the golden accessories like the mirror, the wall shelf and the fish on a pedestal that I had already collected over the years. My dream was for the bathroom to feel like an old bathing house and a room to come to rest in. The result is powdery white-coloured, with a touch of luxury, and it feels very cosy. 

Tell us what you think of your project now that it's finished: 

I enjoy my bathroom every day! Especially the bathing moments with my little daughter: first we take a bath bomb from the fish, then we position the iPad on the golden wall console to watch a nice programme together while we’re taking a bath. 

Anything else you’d like to convey to our readers? Do you have any advice for future Riluxa customers wanting to create their dream bathroom? 

Take your time to find out what you really like to have in your bathroom and keep the practical things in mind; nobody wants to spend lots of time on cleaning. It might take a while to get it right but you’ll find that you can manage it without going beyond your budget! And you’ll have a unique, one-of-a-kind bathroom of your own! 

If you would like your bathroom project to be featured on Riluxa's Client Projects Showcase, tag #riluxa @riluxa on Instagram or upload your images directly by clicking here. We love nothing more than seeing how our customers have used Riluxa products to create their dream bathrooms.