On England’s Lane, you’ll likely have seen Ripples – the bathroom showroom located on a corner, usually with an open front door. Director Lisa Kyme has been the owner of Ripples London for 24 years, and based in England’s Lane for the last 14 years. I sat down to talk to her about the family business and their approach to renovating bathrooms which will last for 20-30 years.
What is the Ripples origin story?
Lisa: My dad, Roger Kyme, was working for Travis Perkins and got the chance to move to Toronto when I was 17. Whilst we were there, one of his biggest customers was a bathroom designer importing fixtures from Europe. My dad knew there was nothing like that in the UK, and so we came back. In 1988 he and my mother Sandra opened a showroom in the centre of Bath. Over the following decade, they franchised the business and we now have more than 25 showrooms across the UK.
How did your dad come up with the name?
He was in his car when the Genesis song, Ripples, came on the radio. At the same time, it was raining, and he saw the raindrops rippling on the puddles – so that’s how the name was born. The funny thing is that, years later, he designed a bathroom for Peter Gabriel!
Were you forced to work in the family business?
When we were in Canada, I did some reception work for a large bathroom company who liked my British accent. I found I had good office skills and managed well in my role ordering hundreds of baths, so it felt natural to join the family business. Honestly, I’m glad to be carrying on my parent’s heritage and feel incredibly proud to run my own Ripples showroom.
How did you come to be in England’s Lane?
After the 2008 recession, we decided to relocate our London showroom. I kept driving past England’s Lane, which at the time had real interiors focus – there were two kitchen shops and two flooring shops. It felt like the perfect fit! I love being in Belsize Park, which has a great family feel. Every home is lived in, there are lots of schools nearby, and living locally means I’m really part of the community.
Ripples London Showroom in England’s Lane
So how does the process work?
Our designers are absolute experts at what they do. They take the time to understand clients’ lives and needs before designing a bathroom. Every project is bespoke because no two clients, or homes, are ever the same.
I always encourage people to visit a showroom before investing in a bathroom – for inspiration and to see what’s possible. We then follow this up with a home visit to measure the bathroom but also to gain a better understanding of how people live. Often on a site visit, people will say to me, “Oh, my bathroom is in such a state!” and I’ll reply, “If it weren’t, we wouldn’t be here.”
With a Ripples renovation, apart from decorating and window treatments, we manage everything. That said, our designers will always suggest paint colours and advise on window coverings to ensure the finished space feels cohesive.
In 2025, Jo Sangster, Senior Designer at Ripples London, won the KBBFocus Award for Bathroom Design of the Year. Tell me about Jo?
As a team, Jo and I work perfectly together. She has an incredible ability to bring function and style together. Jo takes a client’s inspiration, whether it’s minimal Scandi or Gothic glam, and makes sure that it ties in with the rest of the house too. Most bathrooms are starved of storage and lighting is hugely important. Jo understands how the right balance of focal points, colours and textures is what creates a feeling of relaxation.
Part of the award-winning Ripples bathroom design
Finally, what’s the latest bathroom trend?
There’s more desire to bring the spa experience into bathrooms, such as having steam or a sauna. Future-proofing is important too, and large walk-in showers with seating and Japanese shower toilets are ideal for the older generation. Once people have experienced a shower toilet they rarely want to go back! They’re comfortable and hygienic and are becoming one of the biggest trends we’re seeing.
Ripples London is located at 26 England’s Lane, Belsize Park, NW3 4TG.
www.ripplesbathrooms.com
Phone: 020 7449 9594
