Timeless Elegance, Italian Craft: Reimagining Bathrooms in Historic Wellington Homes

Wellington’s Victorian and Edwardian homes carry a quiet grandeur - ornate cornices, timber floors, and stories etched into every architrave. Yet behind their stately façades, bathrooms often remain untouched relics of another era. When a pair of homeowners approached BelloCasa, they had already engaged a designer whose proposals leaned heavily into historical replication. While the bathrooms paid homage to the home's heritage, they felt out of step with the clients’ bold, modern aesthetic - an interior rich with contemporary art, sculptural chandeliers, and confident furnishings.

The result was a visual disconnect: a kind of Disneyfied Edwardian pastiche that clashed with the home’s present-day personality. BelloCasa offered a different approach. By anchoring traditional elements—tiles, tapware, and vanities - along the architectural envelope, and introducing modern forms into the heart of the space, the design struck a deliberate balance. The juxtaposition was refined through meticulous attention to finishes, especially the metal components. Every tap, handle, and vanity leg was unified in a brushed bronze tone, creating cohesion without compromise.

The most fun was had when the clients wanted to add a bathtub. How do you fit one in such a small space? Sometimes you don’t. A quick walk around the house revealed a hidden asset - a gloriously lit lean-to laundry, underused and overflowing with boxes and drying racks. By reimagining the space, the laundry remained in place but was tucked behind shaker-style cabinetry. In its place emerged a sculptural bath, bathed in natural light and surrounded by artisanal tiles from La Diva - one of my favourite brands. The effect was transformative: a space that invites pause, relaxation, and a sense of connection to the garden beyond.

This wasn’t about choosing between old and new - it was about creating a bathroom that respects the past, but lives fully in the present.