Room of the Week: A Luxe Bathroom & Wardrobe for Busy Parents
See how a designer created a magnificent parents' retreat in a 100-plus year old home with no ensuite and poor storage
Georgia Madden
8 August 2022
In a Q&A format, we talk to the designers – and examine the creative thinking – behind some of Houzz’s most loveable rooms.
Images by Martina Gemmola. Answers by Alan Nasrallah, interior design director at Indulge Renovations
Who lives here: A couple with a daughter, aged eight
Location: Glen Iris, Victoria
Room purpose and size: An ensuite measuring around 8 square metres and a walk-in wardrobe measuring around 10 square metres, both connected to a main bedroom as part of a parent’s retreat
Intrior designer: Alan Nasrallah at Indulge Renovations
Who lives here: A couple with a daughter, aged eight
Location: Glen Iris, Victoria
Room purpose and size: An ensuite measuring around 8 square metres and a walk-in wardrobe measuring around 10 square metres, both connected to a main bedroom as part of a parent’s retreat
Intrior designer: Alan Nasrallah at Indulge Renovations
What is the house like?
A circa 1900s Arts and Crafts home.
When was the bathroom last renovated?
1999.
What wasn’t working for the clients?
They wanted to create a luxurious parent’s retreat, complete with an ensuite and walk-in wardrobe that was separate from the rest of the house.
A circa 1900s Arts and Crafts home.
When was the bathroom last renovated?
1999.
What wasn’t working for the clients?
They wanted to create a luxurious parent’s retreat, complete with an ensuite and walk-in wardrobe that was separate from the rest of the house.
The original floor plan.
What were the client’s must-haves?
What were the client’s must-haves?
- A double shower.
- A double vanity.
- A walk-in ‘robe.
The floor plan after works.
Did you change the layout?
Yes, we enclosed a small portion of the original hallway in order to convert the three spaces (the bedroom; the study, which became the new walk-in ‘robe; and the main bathroom, which became the new ensuite) into a private master suite.
Did you change the layout?
Yes, we enclosed a small portion of the original hallway in order to convert the three spaces (the bedroom; the study, which became the new walk-in ‘robe; and the main bathroom, which became the new ensuite) into a private master suite.
What did you identify as the main issues with the bathroom?
The small shower space, the single basin and the lack of storage.
What was your starting point for the new bathroom design?
The original black steel-framed window frames.
What are the main elements of the bathroom colour and finishes palette?
Walnut cabinetry, terrazzo floor tiles matt-black tapware.
The small shower space, the single basin and the lack of storage.
What was your starting point for the new bathroom design?
The original black steel-framed window frames.
What are the main elements of the bathroom colour and finishes palette?
Walnut cabinetry, terrazzo floor tiles matt-black tapware.
What look and feel did you want to create here?
We wanted to maintain the sense of space and keep the bathroom in with the feel of the original home.
We found an old terrazzo floor underneath the ‘90s floor tiles, so we then decided to incorporate terrazzo flooring into the new design.
The home has a lot of exposed timber. Adding timber in the cabinetry helped us make the bathroom feel harmonious. We incorporated black tapware to connect the original black window frames with the new space.
We wanted to maintain the sense of space and keep the bathroom in with the feel of the original home.
We found an old terrazzo floor underneath the ‘90s floor tiles, so we then decided to incorporate terrazzo flooring into the new design.
The home has a lot of exposed timber. Adding timber in the cabinetry helped us make the bathroom feel harmonious. We incorporated black tapware to connect the original black window frames with the new space.
Where did you spend?
The cabinetry.
Where did you save?
Re-laying the original carpet, which was only a few years old, in the new walk-in wardrobe and corridor.
Browse more images of Australian bathrooms featuring lashings of white on Houzz
The cabinetry.
Where did you save?
Re-laying the original carpet, which was only a few years old, in the new walk-in wardrobe and corridor.
Browse more images of Australian bathrooms featuring lashings of white on Houzz
What was your starting point for the new dressing room design?
The client’s desire for the wardrobe area to double as a study if need be. This led us to introduce a dressing table that can double as a desk into the space.
What are the main elements of the walk-in wardrobe colour and finishes palette?
Walnut, pale grey and a Calacatta marble-look sintered stone.
The client’s desire for the wardrobe area to double as a study if need be. This led us to introduce a dressing table that can double as a desk into the space.
What are the main elements of the walk-in wardrobe colour and finishes palette?
Walnut, pale grey and a Calacatta marble-look sintered stone.
What challenges did you face?
Old solid walls and floors can be problematic, and with a home that is more than 100 years old, there is no reprieve. Our builder had a few hurdles to jump, but he was good in coming up with solutions that didn’t compromise the original design.
Was there anything you had to work around?
Not really. The major challenges were the suspended concrete slab floor and the fact we couldn’t change the plumbing significantly, which meant that most of the bathroom components had to stay in their original locations.
Old solid walls and floors can be problematic, and with a home that is more than 100 years old, there is no reprieve. Our builder had a few hurdles to jump, but he was good in coming up with solutions that didn’t compromise the original design.
Was there anything you had to work around?
Not really. The major challenges were the suspended concrete slab floor and the fact we couldn’t change the plumbing significantly, which meant that most of the bathroom components had to stay in their original locations.
What do you think made the biggest difference in the bathroom?
The vanity and mirrored cabinets The clients didn’t have a functional vanity or very much storage in the original bathroom. The new vanity is larger and contains significantly more storage than the old one.
Why does this bathroom work? Because it gives the homeowners the same components as the original space, but adds double basins and a double shower without compromising on space. It eliminates a door that had no purpose and enclosed three rooms into one to create the ultimate main suite.
The vanity and mirrored cabinets The clients didn’t have a functional vanity or very much storage in the original bathroom. The new vanity is larger and contains significantly more storage than the old one.
Why does this bathroom work? Because it gives the homeowners the same components as the original space, but adds double basins and a double shower without compromising on space. It eliminates a door that had no purpose and enclosed three rooms into one to create the ultimate main suite.
Materials palette:
- Polytec Florentine Walnut veneer on ensuite joinery and the tops of dressing room table and chest of drawers.
- Polytec Stone Grey Matt veneer on walk-in wardrobe.
- Cerdomus Studio tiles.
- CDK Stone Neolith Calacatta Luxe sintered stone benchtops.
- Dulux Sky Painting SN4B1.
Key fixtures/fittings:
Your turn
What ideas have you picked up from this beautiful ensuite? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images for inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want to see another great ensuite renovation? Don’t miss this Before & After: A Fresh & Zesty Makeover of a Clunky ‘90s Ensuite
- Kaskade Stone bath and basins.
- Meir Matte Black tapware.
- Articolo Lighting light.
- Thermogroup towel rail.
Your turn
What ideas have you picked up from this beautiful ensuite? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images for inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want to see another great ensuite renovation? Don’t miss this Before & After: A Fresh & Zesty Makeover of a Clunky ‘90s Ensuite
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Interesting to know the cost please?
Hi David,
There was a lot of extensive structural works on this project which increased the over cost. The works include the ensuite, WIR, main bedroom and small hallway we created. The overall cost of this project was $125K.
Thank you.
@sofieroberts thank you. It's a beautiful space.