Laufen – Restoration Man
Laufen makes UK TV appearance as part of luxurious restoration project
Leading sanitaryware manufacturer Laufen has a starring role in the latest series of UK’s The Restoration Man on Channel 4, with its products chosen for each of the four bathrooms in a former church in Devon, owned by the former Director of Architecture and Design of Hilton Worldwide hotel group
Episode 3 of the series, which is currently airing on Channel 4, sees architect George Clarke travelling to the picturesque fishing village of Brixham in Devon, to meet Jackie Robinson and Neil Worrell. Together the couple have restored the Church, which dates back to 1874, converting it into a four-bedroom family home, complete with four en-suite bathrooms and a cloakroom, all of which feature contemporary Laufen sanitaryware.
As the former Director of Architecture and Design – Europe for Hilton Worldwide hotel group, Neil had a natural eye for and a clear vision of what he wanted to achieve in each of the bathrooms and used his knowledge to create a high-end finish throughout.
Neil, who now runs his own design consultancy, Hotel Planning, restored the interior of the previously completely dilapidated building to maximise the internal layout and feeling of space within the old Church chancel area.
The programme follows the story from despair to delight as the couple struggle with the scale of the project and building their first home together to create a beautiful and striking modern interior making the most of the site and the materials and products selected for the build.
He comments: “We chose Laufen sanitaryware due to its outstanding contemporary quality and design, which we knew would complement our historic restoration with its two distinct areas; the master bathroom area with its slightly ‘period’ historic feel, and the remaining three bathrooms which were designed in a white modernistic style. Each bathroom is completely different, with its own unique design, sanitaryware, tiling and features.”
The Fisherman’s Church master bathroom features Laufen’s stunning solid surface freestanding Palomba bathtub, along with a 1.8 metre long Living Square washbasin and shelf. The black and white theme and decorative tiled flooring, lights and mirror complement the modern bathroom fittings.
Each of the remaining bathrooms has its own unique character, with the fittings chosen accordingly. The compact children’s bathroom, for instance, is fitted with Laufen’s space-saving Mimo bath and washbasin and has a ‘union’ jack theme with a Hollywood style mirror.
The two remaining en-suites both feature Laufen’s Palace collection, including a 1.8 metre shower tray and plate glass screen in one and a more compact 90cm square shower tray in the other, both with complementary washbasins and WC’s. All bathrooms are 2.8m high which adds to the feeling of space and luxury.
Laufen was even able to supply a space-saving solution for the downstairs cloakroom, with its compact Pro WC and matching small washbasin helping to maximise on space.
“We love the final effect achieved in the bathrooms which are both practical and elegant,” comments Jackie.
All Images © Laufen 2014