This family home is located in Sydneys Inner West suburb of Haberfield. The architecture a traditional Californian bungalow with high internal ceilings, traditional cornices and mouldings. This bathroom was the only bathroom and with two children now young adults, this bathroom was no longer functional for the entire family. This family was desperate for a clever design, that was modern and fresh, however, complimenting traditional interiors. The clients required a vanity/bench to accommodate two people, freestanding bath, large shower, heated towel rails and towel storage. To fit all the requirements into the existing small footprint, and still have a functional space, was set to be a challenge! Additionally, on the back wall was a large framed window consuming space. The preference was for a more luxurious, contemporary style with timber accents, rather than ultra-crisp and modern. Maximising storage was imperative and the main difficulty was improving the access to the bathroom from the corridor, without comprising the existing linen cabinet. Firstly, the bathroom needed to be slightly bigger in order to accommodate all the clients requirements and as it was the sole family bathroom and it would be a final renovation –this justified increasing its size. We utilized the space where the linen cabinet was in the hallway, however replaced it with another that was recessed from the hallway side into the bathroom. It was disguised in the bathroom by the timber look tiled wall, that we repeated in the shower. By finishing these walls shorter and encasing a vertical led profile within, it gave them a purpose. Increasing the space also provided an opportunity to relocate the entry door and build a wall to recess three mirror cabinets, a toilet cistern and mount a floating bench and double drawer unit. The door now covered the toilet on entry, revealing a grand bathing platform on the left, with a bathtub and large shower, and a new wall that encased a generous shower niche and created a place for heated towel rails. Natural light is important, so the window wasnt removed just relocated to maximise the shower area.To create a sense of luxury, led lighting was mounted under the vanity and bathing platform for ambience and warmth. A contemporary scheme was achieved by using an Australian timber for the custom made bench, complimenting timber details within the home, and warmth added by layering the timber and marble porcelain tiles over a grey wall and floor tile as the base. For the double vanity the bench and drawers are asymmetrically balanced with above counter bowls creating a relaxed yet elegant feThe result of this space is overwhelming, it offers the user a real bathing experience, one that is rich in texture and material and one that is engaging thru design and light. The brief was meet and sum, the clients could not be happier with their new bathroom. Image by Nicole England