Our client, living in a stone-built Victorian semi-detached home in Newport-on-Tay, was seeking a downstairs shower room to better meet their household’s needs. Our client sought to convert a space originally intended as a galley-style kitchen, currently used as a utility area, into a separate shower room and utility room. Having worked with our team on their upstairs bathroom and shower room renovation in 2003, and again on their kitchen project in 2025, they knew we were the right team to bring their vision to life.
Design Brief
Our client sought to convert their existing galley-style space into two distinct areas: a separate shower room and a utility room. They wanted a neutral colour palette that creates a bright, calming, and welcoming atmosphere. We carefully considered the layout to enhance the sense of space and ensure easy circulation throughout the room.
Shower Room Survey
Our team conducted an on-site survey to fully understand the client’s requirements and assess the feasibility of their vision. We engaged in a friendly, informal conversation to understand their design preferences, including products, materials, and finishes, and tailored the shower room renovation to their needs. We also assessed the existing space, including plumbing, drainage, ventilation, and structural conditions, to inform the design approach.
Shower room design
Our team reimagined the entire space, introducing partition walls to create a separate shower room from the utility room. We positioned the vanity unit to the left of the entrance, with a mirror mounted above it. Opposite the vanity area is a bespoke larder unit on the other side of the wall, allowing for extra storage and concealing the boiler.
The WC sits beside the larder unit, positioned beneath the window to maximise natural light and create a brighter, more open feel. The shower area sits beside the vanity and is carefully integrated into the layout to optimise functionality and flow. This thoughtful layout enhances the sense of space while maintaining a sleek, contemporary look.
Shower Room Approach And Product Selection
For the shower area, we selected the Matki EauZone hinged door for its clean design and proven durability. This is paired with a Matki shower tray, which provides excellent flexibility for bespoke cuts and installation. The vanity area features a two-drawer bathroom unit in a deep blue finish, complemented by a basin. Above the vanity, a HIB mirror which includes heated pads and integrated ambient lighting for added practicality and comfort.
We carefully removed the existing utility units and worktop up to the new partition line. Selected Keuco accessories, including a shower basket, toilet brush set, and grab rails, provide a balance of functionality and refined detailing. We enhanced the design with Ca’Pietra Cuba Infanta Blue porcelain tiles alongside Montblanc by Original Style, introducing a distinctive pattern and adding depth and character to the space.
Preparation
We laid dust sheets and carpet protectors from the entrance to safeguard the flooring and surrounding areas, ensuring the space remained clean and well-maintained throughout the project. We positioned an 8-yard skip in the driveway for waste removal and isolated the existing water supplies to the utility area before commencing work. Our team removed the existing utility units and worktop up to the new partition line.
Installation
Our plumbing and joinery works delivered a complete reconfiguration of the space, creating a new shower room and improved utility layout. We installed all hot, cold and drainage services, including soil vent pipe, core drilling, and waste connections, along with full installation of sanitaryware, shower fittings, heated towel rail, accessories, and a plinth heater. We neatly concealed the pipework for a streamlined finish, tested it, and completed it to a high standard.
Joinery works included forming new partitions to create the shower area and utility separation, plasterboarding, ceiling works with an access hatch retained, and installing a new door. Our team constructed a bulkhead, fitted new skirting, and provided structural support for all sanitary fittings and the shower screen. We installed a bespoke shower tray to suit the angled walls, along with a boiler housing unit with integrated shelving. We also reconfigured the utility area to accommodate the relocated appliances, creating a practical, easily accessible, and well-organised finish throughout.
Our tiling works included the preparation and installation of full-height tiles for the shower area and basin splashback in a brick-bond pattern, as well as patterned floor tiling on a Wedi-insulated subfloor. Our team completed full waterproofing, including joint taping, to provide long-term protection. We finished the tiling with grouting, sealing, and chrome profiles, delivering a clean, durable finish.
Electrical works include installation of chrome LED downlights, a dedicated shower ceiling light, external switches with separate utility/shower circuits, dimmer control, wiring for the illuminated mirror, shaver socket, and a ceiling-mounted inline extractor fan vented to the atmosphere, all completed, tested, and finished to a high standard.
Testimonials
‘From the outset, the service we received was first-class. The Project Manager provided clear daily communication, sending a text each morning at 7.30 am outlining which tradespeople would be on site that day. All trades were polite, respectful, and friendly, and each introduced themselves on arrival. They were consistently meticulous in keeping the site clean and tidy at the end of every day.
We were particularly impressed with the Designer’s taste in selecting tiles and fittings, to the extent that we didn’t feel the need to change a thing. She also provided a carefully curated selection of roller blind fabrics for us to choose from. We are delighted with the renovation, which includes a high-quality shower room and a practical, well-finished utility space. We would have no hesitation in recommending The Bathroom Company.’
Conclusion
Our team managed every aspect of the shower and utility room renovation from design through to installation, with a dedicated project manager overseeing the installation and our fully employed tradespeople delivering the project to the highest standards. This allowed the client to continue their daily routine while we brought their vision to life. We delivered the shower room renovation in Newport-on-Tay, Dundee, exactly as the client envisioned, and they were delighted with their new bathroom.