The Challenge
When Mr. L reached out to Absolute, he had recently welcomed his mother to live with him. She uses a walker due to balance difficulties, and while her overall mobility is still quite good, including being able to manage stairs, both mother and son felt it was the right time to plan ahead. Their goal was clear: convert the downstairs WC into a compact, accessible wetroom to make daily routines safer and more convenient for Mrs. L, now and into the future.
The existing space was modest in size, measuring just 2100mm in length by 1380mm in width. It was being used as a standard cloakroom with a toilet and small basin. Mr. L wanted to know if a full small wetroom installation was even possible in such tight dimensions. He was also keen to keep a toilet in the room while improving functionality and accessibility with a new layout.
James, our experienced bathroom designer, visited the property to assess the space and better understand Mrs. L’s needs. During the appointment, James met both Mr. L and his mother and was able to observe how she moved around the space. While Mrs. L used a walking frame for stability, it was clear that her mobility was otherwise quite strong, she could stand unassisted and was still comfortable using stairs.
Still, both she and her son wanted to plan with the future in mind. As James explained, converting the room into a wetroom would be possible but would involve a number of considerations: the repositioning of plumbing, waterproofing, ensuring safe and level access, and integrating fittings in a way that maximised space while allowing for ease of movement.
It was an involved job for such a small room, particularly with the requirement to reposition the basin and toilet. But with careful planning, the vision for a safe and stylish small wetroom installation began to take shape.
The outcome
Our skilled installation team, Martin and Joe, took on the project with precision and attention to detail. The space was carefully stripped back to allow for the necessary structural adaptations. The floor was fully waterproofed and graded to ensure efficient drainage for the walk-in shower area. New plumbing runs were installed to accommodate the repositioned WC and basin, creating a much more functional and open layout.
Despite the limited footprint, the final design maximised every inch of the room. Clever use of wall-mounted fittings and a compact basin helped to maintain an open feeling, while slip-resistant flooring and grab rails were discreetly incorporated to support Mrs. L’s balance without making the room feel clinical.
The choice of neutral Fibo Wall Panels and soft lighting gave the room a modern, calm atmosphere, aligning with Mr. L’s request that the wetroom feel like a natural extension of the home, not just a care adaptation. Importantly, the walk-in shower provided a seamless transition for Mrs. L, ensuring she could shower safely and comfortably without the need to step over any thresholds.
The final result was a complete success. Both Mr. L and his mother were thrilled with the transformation, particularly with how the room remained compact yet fully functional and future-proofed.
This small wetroom installation not only met their current needs but gave them confidence and peace of mind for the years to come. With expert planning, skilled craftsmanship, and a focus on both practicality and design, we turned a basic downstairs WC into a highly effective and attractive wetroom solution.
