Bringing modern comfort to a 200-year-old farmhouse

Designing for a period property is often about finding the right balance between preserving its character and making it work beautifully for modern life.

For this East Sussex home, the brief was to create a bathroom that embraced contemporary comfort while sitting comfortably within a Grade II listed home that is almost 200 years old.

Modern technology played an important role in the design, with a digitally controlled Wi-Fi shower and anti-mist mirrors bringing everyday convenience. Rather than allowing these features to dominate, the wider palette was deliberately chosen to feel quiet, natural and timeless.

Soft green paint wraps around the upper walls and ceiling, creating a gentle backdrop for terrazzo-inspired porcelain tiles whose earthy tones echo the surrounding countryside. Natural textures and simple forms help soften the more contemporary fittings, allowing old and new to sit comfortably alongside one another.

One of the things I enjoy most about designing period homes is that they don't have to become museums. It's entirely possible to embrace modern living whilst still respecting the history and character that made the building special in the first place.