A Luxurious Penthouse Ensuite in Striking Black

Photos by Steve Ryan

Bathroom at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two boys
Location: Brisbane, Queensland
Size: 19 square metres
Designer: Kim Duffin
Awards: 2017 HIA Queensland Bathroom Project of the Year.
2017 HIA Queensland Bathroom Design of the Year.
2017 TIDA Australian Best Designer Suite

The backstory: The master suite did not do the luxurious top-floor penthouse justice. The homeowners wanted a space that was worthy of the fabulous apartment, one that would help them unwind and that incorporated some of the style they had fallen in love with on many trips to Morocco.

The scope of work: This was a complete renovation that encompassed building new walls and ceilings, putting in new floors, installing sprinklers and new electrical system and relocating plumbing fixtures.

Before: “The homeowners were frustrated with the existing space,” says designer Kim Duffin. “It was a collection of small, dark rooms that did not create any flow or functionality between them. They also wanted the space to relate better to the overall luxe look and feel of the apartment.”

Wish list:

• an open plan in the master suite,
• a space that encouraged unwinding,
• dual showers and a freestanding bath,
• style that was luxurious and that nodded to Morocco,
• extensive shoe storage and increased clothing storage,
• full-length mirror, and
• easy-to-clean, low-maintenance surfaces.

Style: “The homeowners wanted to achieve a sense of luxury with elements and finishes that reflected their travels in the Middle East,” says Duffin.

Wall tile: The tile was one of the most important elements in this design and served as a jumping-off point. The first item Duffin selected was the large-format porcelain wall tile in ‘Iron Grey’ from Neolith. The tile pieces are so large that it almost crosses the line from ‘tile’ to ‘panel’. These panels are floor-to-ceiling (about 3.2 metres high) and approximately 1.5 metres wide. Mitred joints give them a seamless look. “Cladding a bathing space in this way brings a real sense of luxury to the design, but it is also easy to care for and low-maintenance,” he says. From there he suggested fixtures with a living bronze finish to add warmth and patina to the graphite-cladded space.

Notes on the large-format porcelain panels: Some tile companies will custom-cut the porcelain into large-format panels in the dimensions you specify using water-jet cutting machines. But Duffin also notes that several companies including Neolith, which he used here, now supply standard panels in this size. Holes for things like towel bars, robe hooks and tissue holders are machined off-site before installation.

Shower: A stepped curved shower wall accommodates two showerheads. The step in the wall serves as a shelf for toiletries and hides them from view from the rest of the room.

Open showers can have their issues, but in subtropical Brisbane temperature drops and drafts aren’t a problem. “The shower space is in the back corner of the overall master suite, so it is well protected,” says Duffin. Just to be on the safe side, they installed a central heating vent in the area. Also, there is an extraction duct hidden in the coffered ceiling to take care of the steam.

Floor tile: The floors are Platinum Travertine. “They not only are durable but complement and balance the finish choices,” he says.

Shower tile: He tiled the curved shower wall in the same travertine he used on the floor, but in smaller tile in a mosaic pattern. This blends the wall with the floor, which in turn lets those fabulous showerheads stand out.

Tapware and other fittings: “We achieved a sense of luxury by incorporating the handcrafted aged bronze fittings,” says Duffin. “The aged bronze brings out the warm copper tones in the porcelain wall panels and travertine floor tiles.”

Layout: This is a large bathroom with different zones, so let’s look at how each area flows into the next. While the bathroom is open to the bedroom (to the left of this plan), the room is laid out cleverly to control the views to specific design elements while concealing the more private areas. The sculptural bathtub, bronze planters overhead, live-edge wood vanity and Moroccan screens are the big view from the bedroom. The shower is tucked in the back (see curved wall on the right), and the toilet is in a concealed private room behind the tub.

Bedroom view: Now the luxurious bathroom is quite open to the bedroom. The newly configured wardrobe is on the right side behind the vanity.

Walls painted in ‘Pebble Grey’: Dulux; nylon carpet in ‘Sugar Cookie’: Carpet Court

Master suite plan (before). This before-demolition plan compared with the following as-built plan will give you a good idea of the tweaks made.

Lighting: The lighting scheme highlights different elements throughout the room, be it up in the ceiling, a reflection off the bathtub or a glow behind the vanity.

Towel bars and robe hooks: Sussex

Screens. A major part of achieving the Moroccan style the homeowners love was adding these intricate, laser-cut, powder-coated bronze screens. “They bring another visual and functional layer to the design,” says Duffin. They also help delineate the space between the bedroom and bathroom within the open plan.

Bathtub: A freestanding tub was big on the homeowners’ wish list, and Duffin found one shapely enough to double as sculpture when viewed from the bedroom. Big curves like the ones on the bathtub, the plinth it sits upon and the sinks soften the room.

Eclipse 1500 millimetre bathtub in Graphite Stone Composite: Apaiser; Voda tapware in ‘Living Bronze’: Sussex

The ceiling: “As the apartment was located on the top floor, we were able to utilise the substantial ceiling void and raise the height of the ceiling in both the bathroom and wardrobe,” says Duffin. He designed a coffered ceiling over the shower to conceal mechanical ventilation. Note all of the custom lighting that keeps the mostly graphite room well-lit.

Wardrobe: The area behind the vanity is the reconfigured master wardrobe. Duffin was able to reallocate some space from the adjacent dining room to create a larger closet. The full-length mirrors are doors.


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