Clifton Hill Small Bathroom

This glorious small bathroom - an ensuite - was designed for clients we had previously worked with. The bathroom was ‘phase 2’ of an earlier whole house renovation that we’d designed many years earlier. The ensuite design had to fit with the styling of the earlier extension, but was in the older, original part of the Edwardian home. It’s also a very small room measuring only 2m x 2m, with 2 existing doorways limiting wall space.

The owners’ love of colour, texture and pattern led to the feature wall tiles being the starting point for the room. A plain white star tile has been instantly elevated with the use of a warm coloured grout. This is contrasted with the large format, flecked porcelain tile below. A hardwood recycled benchtop on the vanity continues the same benchtop material from the kitchen and family bathroom, as does the wall light to the side of the mirror - in this case being from Robert Gordan Interiors.

Space and storage were key to this room functionally working. The sizes of the shower and vanity had to be millimetre perfect, and putting the sink on one side of the vanity freed up full drawers for storage. A semi recessed shaving cabinet and shower niche maximise storage without taking up extra room, as does the integrated toilet cistern.

Visually the room feels larger due to the continuation of the floor tiles up the wall - this also helps with cleaning, keeping grout in highly used areas to a minimum. The floating vanity and frameless shower screen also make the sight lines larger helping with a sense of spaciousness.

Small spaces can be challenging to design, but often design challenges provide results that are extra special!