For Olivia of @oliviahardyhome, home has always been a creative outlet, something to shape and slowly bring to life over time. She lives in a 1940s property with her husband Dom and their two dogs, Mabel and Coco, and the couple have recently welcomed a baby girl into the family too.
When they first got the keys, it had been sitting empty for around a year and was ready for a fresh start. While the property had plenty of potential, many of the interiors felt dated, giving Olivia and Dom the perfect opportunity to reimagine the space entirely.
“I’ve always loved interior design and get so much joy from styling spaces and watching them come to life. When we bought the house it really felt like a blank canvas, and we’ve been gradually pouring love back into it and making it our own.”
One of the first rooms on the list was the bathroom. It still had its original layout, including a separate WC, and felt particularly stuck in the past. Rather than trying to work around it, they decided to rethink the space entirely.
“We decided to completely rework the space to make it feel more modern while still keeping it warm and cosy. Our goal was to create something calm, elevated and a little bit indulgent, almost like stepping into a boutique hotel.”
From the offset, Olivia had a very clear vision for the space. Inspired by the luxurious feel of high-end hotel bathrooms, she wanted to recreate that same sense of calm and understated drama in her own home. The key to achieving that look came through the tiling choice. Olivia wanted something bold and striking, in a material that would instantly elevate the room and create a real focal point.
“The inspiration for the project came from wanting to create a space that felt a little bit luxurious and special within our home. I love the feeling of walking into a beautiful hotel bathroom and instantly feeling that luxury vibe. I knew I wanted dramatic, eye-catching marble on the walls. Something that would create a wow factor when you walk into the room.”
Bringing that key vision to life, Olivia chose the Calacatta Viola Nouveaux Matte Porcelain Tiles. The striking design and rich burgundy veining immediately sets the tone of the room, capturing a sense of drama while still maintaining that calm, luxurious atmosphere Olivia wanted to achieve.
Used across the walls, the tiles create a really cohesive backdrop that's striking, but still soft enough to keep that calm, the boutique hotel aesthetic she had imagined from the beginning.
“The tile effect adds so much depth and elegance to the space, it instantly gives the room that high-end, spa-like feeling.”
While transforming a previously neglected property hasn’t been without its challenges, Olivia says the results have made every step worthwhile. The bathroom has ended up being one of the most standout spaces in the house. Somewhere that feels calm and a bit indulgent, but still very much them.
“It’s been really rewarding transforming a house that had been sitting empty into a home that reflects our style and feels special to live in every day."
Choosing the right tiles played a big part in pulling everything together, and Olivia says the whole process felt straightforward from start to finish.
“Our experience with Stone Superstore has been fantastic. The tiles themselves are absolutely beautiful and the quality is incredible, they’ve really helped achieve the dramatic, high-end look we were hoping for. At one point we realised we hadn’t ordered quite enough tiles, and the team were so helpful. I was even able to collect the additional tiles the very same day, which made a huge difference to keeping the project on track.”
“Overall we’ve had such a positive experience and I would highly recommend Stone Superstore to anyone planning a renovation or home project.”
Olivia continues to share the renovation of her 1940s home online, documenting the design decisions, transformations and everyday moments along the way. Follow along with her journey on Instagram @oliviahardyhome to see more of their family home project as it unfolds.
Shop The Look
Calacatta Viola Nouveaux Marble-effect Tiles
