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Rachel Purcell on transforming her bathroom into a spa-like sanctuary

Niamh Devereux by Niamh Devereux
July 28, 2026
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Rachel Purcell on transforming her bathroom into a spa-like sanctuary

Rachel Purcell. Photography for Claire Nash for Irish Country Magazine

The entrepreneur and digital marketing professional created a serene space for her main bathroom in her new-build Co Tipperary home

How would you describe your overall interior style, and how does this bathroom reflect it?

I’d describe our style as minimal but striking. We like clean, simple spaces, but we also want one element in each room to stand out. In the bathroom, that comes through in the combination of the tiles and the wall colour. We’re both very decisive when it comes to interiors and have a strong sense of what we like and don’t like, which made the whole process much more straightforward and enjoyable.

What was the vision for your bathroom, and where did you draw your main inspiration from?

Our main aim was to create a warm, relaxing space. The bathroom is quite compact, so it was important to maximise what we had and make it feel more spacious through clever choices in finishes and fittings. We fell in love with the Bottega Caliza tiles from Porcelanosa as they instantly brought warmth to the room. Pairing them with the ‘Moves Like Jagger’ shade from Prestige by Fleetwood Paints – from the Róisín Lafferty Collection – added a pop of colour while still keeping everything polished and cohesive. The brushed brass finishes tie it all together beautifully in our opinion.

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The wall colour is stunning; tell us more about this statement shade?

We knew we wanted something bold for the bathroom but weren’t sure what shade would work best with the tiles and brass finishes. As soon as we saw ‘Moves Like Jagger’, we both loved it instantly. It radiates warmth and brings real character to the space without overpowering it. We used the Prestige by Fleetwood Multi-Surface Matt finish.

Interior designer Alison Dunne advised on the colour palette; her input must have been a great help?

Alison was incredibly helpful throughout the process. She looked at every room as a whole, taking into account everything from flooring and light fixtures to door handles and finishes. She guided us on what colours would work best in each space and really encouraged us to push beyond our comfort zone. Because of that, every room now has its own personality, which we love.

How did you find the quality and finish of the paint?

The quality has been excellent. Even our painters, Kenwall Painters, commented on how good the paint is and how well it applies and finishes. In our bedrooms, we used the Prestige by Fleetwood Air-Purifying Scrubbable Matte, which actively helps clean the air by breaking down harmful chemicals. That was a huge bonus for us, especially with our new little boy, Sonny.

Where did you source the other touches that bring the room so perfectly together?

We brought a few finishes with us from our previous home, but the rest were sourced from the following places: Tiles are from Bottega Caliza, Porcelanosa; the vanity unit is Roper Rhodes from Clonmel Plumbing; the bathtub and sanitaryware are from Porcelanosa; the accessories are M&S Home; and we got the mirror from Buy It Direct.

It must be so exciting to see your new build come together; are there any other spaces you’re currently finalising and other Prestige by Fleetwood  Paints shades that have caught your eye?

Most of the house has been painted using the Prestige by Fleetwood range. Each room is a different shade, chosen based on the atmosphere we wanted to create in that space. We really enjoy how distinct each room feels while still flowing nicely from one to the next. I particularly love the shades we picked for the bedroom, ‘Star Anise’ from the Arlene McIntyre Collection with Prestige by Fleetwood and ‘Chalking Deep’.

What’s the number one lesson you’ve learned since embarking on your new-build journey?

We were very lucky to work alongside my brother-in-law, who is a contractor and built our home. His guidance made a huge difference and removed a lot of stress from the process. One key lesson we’d share is to see things in person where possible. Visiting showrooms and viewing items before committing helped us understand scale, finish and quality, and made decision-making much easier. It does take time, but it’s absolutely worth it.

The Prestige collection by Fleetwood Paints brings together exceptional pigments, advanced resins and air-purifying technology in a refined, high-performance finish. Shop the collection at fleetwood.ie

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