Simple modern wet room to complement the traditional elements of the room

Peter Clarke

photography: Sebastian Zachariah

Master Bathroom

Project Description Set on the 2nd floor of a 1950’s modernist apartment building in the sought after Sydney Lower North Shore suburb of Mosman, this apartments only bathroom was in dire need of a lift. The building itself well kept with features of oversized windows/sliding doors overlooking lovely gardens, concrete slab cantilevers, great orientation for capturing the sun and those sleek 50’s modern lines. It is home to Stephen & Karen, a professional couple who renovated the interior of the apartment except for the lone, very outdated bathroom. That was still stuck in the 50’s – they saved the best till last. Structural Challenges Very small room - 3.5 sq. metres; Door, window and wall placement fixed; Plumbing constraints due to single skin brick walls and outdated pipes; Low ceiling, Inadequate lighting & Poor fixture placement. Client Requirements Modern updated bathroom; NO BATH required; Clean lines reflecting the modernist architecture Easy to clean, minimal grout; Maximize storage, niche and Good lighting Design Statement You could not swing a cat in there! Function and efficiency of flow is paramount with small spaces and ensuring there was a single transition area was on top of the designer’s mind. The bathroom had to be easy to use, and the lines had to be clean and minimal to compliment the 1950’s architecture (and to make this tiny space feel bigger than it actual was). As the bath was not used regularly, it was the first item to be removed. This freed up floor space and enhanced the flow as considered above. Due to the thin nature of the walls and plumbing constraints, the designer built up the wall (basin elevation) in parts to allow the plumbing to be reconfigured. This added depth also allowed for ample recessed overhead mirrored wall storage and a niche to be built into the shower. As the overhead units provided enough storage the basin was wall hung with no storage under. This coupled with the large format light coloured tiles gave the small room the feeling of space it required. The oversized tiles are effortless to clean, as is the solid surface material of the washbasin. The lighting is also enhanced by these materials and therefore kept quite simple. LEDS are fixed above and below the joinery and also a sensor activated LED light was added under the basin to offer a touch a tech to the owners. The renovation of this bathroom is the final piece to complete this apartment reno, and as such this 50’s wonder is ready to live on in true modern style.

Agglotech’s Venetian terrazzo was a featured contribution to construction, in Pozza di Fassa. Agglotech provided a personalized color of terrazzo, Custom REG1271, a variation of our traditional marble-cement terrazzo but with aggregate of dolomite stone in place of the marble chips typically used.

A bathroom with geometric patterns and bold contrast create an appealing bathroom.

We created a amazing spa like experience for our clients by working with them to choose products, build out everything, and gave them a space thy truly love to bathe in

This ensuite bathroom was completely remodelled. What was a dank, dark, badly designed small space, became a serene sancturary for the clients, with a walk in shower and raised roof to bring yet more light and space to the surroundings Photography by Nick Smith toiletries courtesy of Aria

We reconfigured the space, moving the door to the toilet room behind the vanity which offered more storage at the vanity area and gave the toilet room more privacy. If the linen towers each vanity sink has their own pullout hamper for dirty laundry. Its bright but the dramatic green tile offers a rich element to the room

These custom build sauna benches have some great curved backrests that feature fiberoptic lighting. The lighting is provided by a remote projector and with a wireless remote the user can change the color to anything in the rainbow, Chris Veith

Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW This master bath remodel is the cat's meow for more than one reason! The materials in the room are soothing and give a nice vintage vibe in keeping with the rest of the home. We completed a kitchen remodel for this client a few years’ ago and were delighted when she contacted us for help with her master bath! The bathroom was fine but was lacking in interesting design elements, and the shower was very small. We started by eliminating the shower curb which allowed us to enlarge the footprint of the shower all the way to the edge of the bathtub, creating a modified wet room. The shower is pitched toward a linear drain so the water stays in the shower. A glass divider allows for the light from the window to expand into the room, while a freestanding tub adds a spa like feel. The radiator was removed and both heated flooring and a towel warmer were added to provide heat. Since the unit is on the top floor in a multi-unit building it shares some of the heat from the floors below, so this was a great solution for the space. The custom vanity includes a spot for storing styling tools and a new built in linen cabinet provides plenty of the storage. The doors at the top of the linen cabinet open to stow away towels and other personal care products, and are lighted to ensure everything is easy to find. The doors below are false doors that disguise a hidden storage area. The hidden storage area features a custom litterbox pull out for the homeowner’s cat! Her kitty enters through the cutout, and the pull out drawer allows for easy clean ups. The materials in the room – white and gray marble, charcoal blue cabinetry and gold accents – have a vintage vibe in keeping with the rest of the home. Polished nickel fixtures and hardware add sparkle, while colorful artwork adds some life to the space.

Filled with light from the new central courtyard, the bright airy bathroom features hand made encaustic cement tiles as a backdrop to the freestanding solid copper bath. Compressed cement sheeting wall lining and concrete floor with in floor heating provide a robust modern bathhouse to the home. Laundry and storage services are hidden behind folding door panels.

Aaron Citti