Because it is in the centre of the house it can always be kept a very cosy 30°C. The back of the radiator is painted dark to turn the wall into a heat store. During the day the room is well lit with natural light through a skylight onto the mezzanine and through glass blocks facing the sunny south bedroom. Electric lighting is from low energy bulbs in car boot sale fittings.

Salvage is used wherever possible. The large medical sink and the door are both from local salvage yards. The bath is paneled with the offcuts from the loft doors on the mezzanine. One panel opens as a laundry shoot into the utility room below.

Wherever possible we economise on water use The toilet is fitted with the excellent "Ecoflush" device to control the amount of water used per flush. Grey water from the bath and shower water feeds the cistern for the downstairs toilet.

Environmental paint is used throughout. The blue tiles were hand made for us by a friend, Matt Sharratt, who teaches ceramics. The floor is sealed and sanded boards.

More on the bathroom..