Room of the Week: Mixed Materials Shine Bright in This Ensuite
A restrained hand and some complementary materials make this ensuite a delightful space
Vanessa Walker
30 April 2018
Houzz Australia & New Zealand Editor-in-Chief
In a Q&A format, we talk to the designers – and examine the creative thinking – behind some of Houzz’s most loveable rooms.
Photos by Martina Gemmola
Answers by Carmel Wylie, interior designer, GIA Bathrooms & Kitchens
Who lives here: A family with three children and a Groodle
Location: Caulfield, Victoria
Room purpose and size: An ensuite in a master bedroom that is 4 x 3 metres.
Answers by Carmel Wylie, interior designer, GIA Bathrooms & Kitchens
Who lives here: A family with three children and a Groodle
Location: Caulfield, Victoria
Room purpose and size: An ensuite in a master bedroom that is 4 x 3 metres.
Brief
A spacious room with a ‘hotel’ feel. They requested a freestanding bath and a large shower space.
A spacious room with a ‘hotel’ feel. They requested a freestanding bath and a large shower space.
Starting point
The client wanted to use colour and she had renovated part of her house with beautiful American walnut crown-cut veneers, so I wanted to pull that into the space to connect the ground and first floor. She had a very open mind about the palette, which enabled me to use finishes such as the encaustic tiles and brass tapware.
The client wanted to use colour and she had renovated part of her house with beautiful American walnut crown-cut veneers, so I wanted to pull that into the space to connect the ground and first floor. She had a very open mind about the palette, which enabled me to use finishes such as the encaustic tiles and brass tapware.
Key design aspects
Colour palette: Black, brass, blush pink and white
Materials palette: Brass, Viola marble (honed to soften it down), white gloss tiles, American walnut veneer
Key pieces of furniture and fittings: The custom-made vanity with the honed Viola marble top is a star of the space, with the brass round handles finishing it off nicely. Other important products are the Rogerseller Arc mixers in brass, the Shelley Panton round mirrors and Dowel Jones Lord sconces in brass.
Colour palette: Black, brass, blush pink and white
Materials palette: Brass, Viola marble (honed to soften it down), white gloss tiles, American walnut veneer
Key pieces of furniture and fittings: The custom-made vanity with the honed Viola marble top is a star of the space, with the brass round handles finishing it off nicely. Other important products are the Rogerseller Arc mixers in brass, the Shelley Panton round mirrors and Dowel Jones Lord sconces in brass.
Thinking behind the arrangement of fixtures
I like to keep the feature items near the entry of the room for the biggest wow factor. This was done with the vanity parallel to the freestanding bath. Then I pushed the toilet and shower to the back of the space for privacy.
I like to keep the feature items near the entry of the room for the biggest wow factor. This was done with the vanity parallel to the freestanding bath. Then I pushed the toilet and shower to the back of the space for privacy.
Challenges you worked around
There were a few small ones. The walls were solid brick so we packed them out with timber stud walls up to 1200 millimetres to allow access for plumbing. We also had to keep and work with the existing window in the space, as this was a steel frame in a double-brick home on the first floor.
There were a few small ones. The walls were solid brick so we packed them out with timber stud walls up to 1200 millimetres to allow access for plumbing. We also had to keep and work with the existing window in the space, as this was a steel frame in a double-brick home on the first floor.
Why do you think this room works?
Because it is big enough to handle the mixture of materials, with each still being able to be appreciated. I think the white glossy tiles as the base tiles bring a brightness that translates through the room. It is also very easy to have more than one person using the space at the same time, which all ensuites should try and cater for.
Because it is big enough to handle the mixture of materials, with each still being able to be appreciated. I think the white glossy tiles as the base tiles bring a brightness that translates through the room. It is also very easy to have more than one person using the space at the same time, which all ensuites should try and cater for.
Tell us
What do you love about this room? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like the story, and join in the conversation.
More
For more inspiration, take a look at last week’s Room of the Week: A Pale Pink Mid-Century Kitchen Full of Charm
What do you love about this room? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like the story, and join in the conversation.
More
For more inspiration, take a look at last week’s Room of the Week: A Pale Pink Mid-Century Kitchen Full of Charm
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Love the marble countertops
I love the benchtop!!!