Before and after: a bold blue paint fills this bathroom with colour and character

When they bought their three-bedroom Victorian semi in Surrey, this couple knew they had their work cut. 'The house had been gutted in the Seventies and the original features removed, so we've been trying to put the character back,' they say.

Have a nose around more makeovers – check out our bathroom ideas

The bathroom was particularly dated. 'It had a grubby pink carpet, which was quite nasty, and we ripped it up straightaway. The layout was poor and didn't make good use of the space. And there was a large bath, but no shower.'

'We chose the Stiffkey Blue paint from Farrow & Ball before we'd made our minds up about the rest of the room,' says the owner.' We were inspired by the vivid blues we'd seen in Morocco and were keen to incorporate that colour into the new room.'

'Then, to give the space more character, we went for a Victorian-style bathroom with a modern twist.

Get the look
Buy now: Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue Estate emulsion, £45 for 2.5ltrs, Homebase

To make room for the big shower we wanted, we took out a built-in cupboard and moved the bath to the opposite wall. We gave the Brighton Bathroom company a £5,000 budget for the sanitaryware

Get the look
Buy now: Similar Burlington Harewood slipper bath, £419, Bathroom Village

The couple swapped a Seventies-style window for a more classic design.

'We wanted to give the bathroom period style, so we chose these star tiles, which have an aged appearance. They look incredible!'

Get the look
Buy now: Scintilla Black tiles, £29,95 per sq m, Walls and Floors

'The basin has an open chrome frame and shelving underneath, which gives up additional storage options,' says the owner.

Buy now
Get the look: Clearwater small roll-top basin with stainless steel stand, £500.65, Victorian Plumbing

'There are built-in storage recesses around the room and even in the shower, which help keep toiletries tidy,' says the owner, who learnt not to be afraid to go with his gut instinct during the makeover.

Another traditional makeover: Before and after – using a room's varying floor levels puts the bath centre stage

'We were a bit nervous of the dark blue paint finish, but we bit the bullet, and now we love it. Sometimes it pays to take a risk. It's a proper family bathroom now,' says the owner. 'All ready for the future and the birth of our first child.'