Bathrooms / powder rooms
Great example of before/after transformation.
Natural light is an essential ingredient in any successful ensuite. If your location doesn’t allow for an external window, consider a skylight. An operable skylight is ideal to aid natural ventilation, but a fixed skylight will provide invaluable daylight if your budget doesn’t extend that far. Also consider forming a skylight shaft to fit across the space to flood an entire wall with natural daylight.
Include a shower ledge or recessed alcove, extending across the full width of the shower to visually elongate the room and create a sense of generosity within the design. A generous shower ledge or alcove also gives you plenty of room to store shampoo and soap, without the need for an applied shelf.
Put the shower at one end of the ensuite so you can use a single piece of glass as a shower screen rather than a screen door. A screen door would require glass-patch fittings or hinges which cannot be hidden from view, whereas a simple shower screen can be fixed along the bottom and side, creating a clean, minimal aesthetic. Easier to clean too.
Wall-mount your vanity and toilet pan as it instantly makes your bathroom look larger, plus it’s easier to clean. Wall-mounting the vanity and toilet pan means your floor tiles can extend to the walls, which makes the fixtures appear to ‘float’ above the floor. It’s particularly effective if you have a large or dark-coloured vanity as it means it won’t visually dominate the space.
A single overhead light is a thing of the past. Think decorative wall sconces, LEDs around the mirror or i under the vanity so the unit appears to float, and imaginative skylights. This bathroom features a sliver of a ceiling opening at the end of the shower area that draws a gentle wash of light into the space.
The client wanted to incorporate terrazzo tiles and colour. They have a loft apartment that had been converted from an old warehouse and wanted to maintain the industrial style, however give it a trendy vibe. We looked at many different terrazzo-style tiles and settled on the Ergon Medley Pink Classic. They also wanted an open/walk-in shower and to create a spacious ensuite in a small space.
Tuck storage into dead space. Often, there will be a narrow gap between the end of a bath and the wall. It could be tiled over and used as a small, extra surface, but if more storage is required, how about this clever idea, created by Best Builders in Vancouver, Canada? The very slim space is fully maximised with storage that goes up to the ceiling. The pull-out function also makes it easy to access everything inside, leaving no wasted space.
Ditch the shower tray. Using a flush, tiled-over shower tray is now the standard way to create a wet room floor. It’s also a fantastic space-optimiser, since it allows tiles to run uninterrupted across the whole room, giving a sense of more space than if they stopped to accommodate a raised shower floor. Forgo a vanity unit to give the wall more space to ‘breathe’ around the basin. The lack of storage is compensated for by a generous bank of mirrored (so space- and light-boosting) cabinetry. Space on the right side of the basin for setting down toothbrushes and cosmetics, and an open ledge for placement of more decorative items, making use of the area created by hiding the plumbing for the concealed-cistern toilet.
Don’t buy a toilet or tapware with a one-year warranty They won’t stand the test of time and you will find yourself having to replace them and potentially having to redo tiling – which, in the long run, will cost you more. We would recommend at least two- to three-year warranties on parts and replacements.
A shallow, full-length shelf in the shower offers up space for shampoos and soaps.
Recessed, tiled niche in the bath or shower rather than a shelf affixed to the wall
Create zones rather than one big open space.
Shower wall is partly solid. which enables easier for adjoining storage and lighting bar above vanity. Towel/washcloth bar on one side while tiled on shower side. Narrow framed glass requires less cleaning, yet doesn't make shower seem confined. Also like large hung mirror across from vanity.
Wall hung toilet has smaller floor profile and doesn't need full height ceiling. Note custom joinery for storage.
Large bath has room at either end and wall niche for items. Shower hidden behind part wall.
Shower tucked behind short wall with towel rods on other side. No need to separate shower from bath, Note drain to left of shower close to half wall.
Half wall covered in same tile as floor hides plumbing and provides ledge for items.
Interesting window treatment - offers privacy while letting in light.
Narrower sideboard fits neatly in the compact space. It has sliding cabinet drawers and splayed legs, and the toilet-roll holder mounted on the side complements the black-framed mirror. The piece of furniture you transform into a vanity may not reach 850 millimetres, in which case you can set the basin on top of the vanity to add some extra height. A vessel sink sits higher than a top-mount or under-mount sink, making it a good choice to compensate for a lower vanity.
Mid-century sideboard has plenty of cupboards, drawers and surface space. The basin set on top of the vanity has curves to complement the sideboard’s legs and the bathtub across the room. Also note triangles in mirror and tile floor.
Wall-to-wall niche for shower and vanity. Mirrored medicine cabinet provides storage and reflects light.
Combined wet area: Japanese bathtub with toiletries niche and shower with glass separator from dry area.
Patterns shower floor tiles
A bath that flows into the shower and creates a seat. Also shower niche trimmed in black.
High ribbon windows for privacy and natural light. Cool tile floor.
Bold wall paper contrasted with darker tiles. Cool
Great use of tight awkward space with angled teak seat and cool 3D tiles.
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