Room of the Week: A Small, Modern Bathroom in Charcoal and White
Small but utterly classy, this tonal bathroom has squeezed in a lot of functionality with very little fuss
Vanessa Walker
28 January 2019
Houzz Australia & New Zealand Editor-in-Chief
In a Q&A format, we talk to the designers – and examine the creative thinking – behind some of Houzz’s most loveable rooms.
Images by Thorson Photography
Answers by Maria Cerne, interior designer, Studio Black Interiors
Built by R.E.P. Building Services
Who lives here: A young couple and their daughter
Location: Canberra, Australia
Room purpose and size: A 3x2.17-metre bathroom
Answers by Maria Cerne, interior designer, Studio Black Interiors
Built by R.E.P. Building Services
Who lives here: A young couple and their daughter
Location: Canberra, Australia
Room purpose and size: A 3x2.17-metre bathroom
Brief
For their new family home, the clients wanted the design aesthetic to be ‘modern neutrals’: lots of bold charcoals, black, pale greys and whites. They were after a sophisticated and timeless interior that they could add their personal touch to through accessories and soft furnishings.
For their new family home, the clients wanted the design aesthetic to be ‘modern neutrals’: lots of bold charcoals, black, pale greys and whites. They were after a sophisticated and timeless interior that they could add their personal touch to through accessories and soft furnishings.
Starting point
The clients wanted their bathroom to reflect their design aesthetic – modern, minimal and fuss-free with a feeling of sophistication, even though the space was small.
The clients wanted their bathroom to reflect their design aesthetic – modern, minimal and fuss-free with a feeling of sophistication, even though the space was small.
Key design aspects
Colour palette: Bold charcoals, black, pale greys and whites. A resin vase with fresh flowers, soft colourful towels and timber accessories were added to bring the owners’ character to the space.
Materials palette: The material palette included porcelain tiles from Italy, white-pearl subway tiles laid in a stacked vertical pattern, a wall-hung vanity with an integrated benchtop and basin, and black fixtures.
Key pieces of furniture/fittings:
The tiles were from Italy and sourced through Blackrock Tiles, the black fixtures are from Phoenix Tapware, the round mirror is from Design Twins, and the vanity is by Forme. Accessories are from Fenton & Fenton and Timber and Tailor.
Colour palette: Bold charcoals, black, pale greys and whites. A resin vase with fresh flowers, soft colourful towels and timber accessories were added to bring the owners’ character to the space.
Materials palette: The material palette included porcelain tiles from Italy, white-pearl subway tiles laid in a stacked vertical pattern, a wall-hung vanity with an integrated benchtop and basin, and black fixtures.
Key pieces of furniture/fittings:
The tiles were from Italy and sourced through Blackrock Tiles, the black fixtures are from Phoenix Tapware, the round mirror is from Design Twins, and the vanity is by Forme. Accessories are from Fenton & Fenton and Timber and Tailor.
Thinking behind the arrangement of furniture/fixtures
Functionality was key in this room, as the space is quite small. Having a built-in bath was great for the clients’ young daughter and meant the bath could run from wall to wall, taking advantage of the space.
A wall-hung vanity gives the illusion of more space, and a semi-frameless shower also makes the space feel bigger than it actually is. The large 800-millimetre mirror is a lovely feature in this bathroom and plays a big role in bouncing light from the window around the space.
Functionality was key in this room, as the space is quite small. Having a built-in bath was great for the clients’ young daughter and meant the bath could run from wall to wall, taking advantage of the space.
A wall-hung vanity gives the illusion of more space, and a semi-frameless shower also makes the space feel bigger than it actually is. The large 800-millimetre mirror is a lovely feature in this bathroom and plays a big role in bouncing light from the window around the space.
The floor plan
Challenges you worked around
I was fortunate there were no real challenges in this space; the only challenge was convincing the client and builder to try a stacked vertical subway tile, which they both hadn’t seen before.
Why do you think this room works?
I think this room works as it uses a classic palette, fixtures that work in a small space, and it has elements of surprise. I love the look of the stacked vertical subway tiles reflected in the background of the large round mirror. The mirror has black details that match the tapware. The pin lever tapware is modern and sleek, which adds to the feeling of sophistication in this space.
For me, good design is about the little details that make a home unique. Pairing a classic palette with beautiful accessories is timeless.
Tell us
What do you love about this bathroom? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story, and join the conversation.
More
Craving more great interiors? Take a look at last week’s Room of the Week: Olive Green and a Trio of Tiles Make a Bathroom
Challenges you worked around
I was fortunate there were no real challenges in this space; the only challenge was convincing the client and builder to try a stacked vertical subway tile, which they both hadn’t seen before.
Why do you think this room works?
I think this room works as it uses a classic palette, fixtures that work in a small space, and it has elements of surprise. I love the look of the stacked vertical subway tiles reflected in the background of the large round mirror. The mirror has black details that match the tapware. The pin lever tapware is modern and sleek, which adds to the feeling of sophistication in this space.
For me, good design is about the little details that make a home unique. Pairing a classic palette with beautiful accessories is timeless.
Tell us
What do you love about this bathroom? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story, and join the conversation.
More
Craving more great interiors? Take a look at last week’s Room of the Week: Olive Green and a Trio of Tiles Make a Bathroom
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Sharon Nilsson, I believe 'FW' means floor waste
Sharon, I think FW means floor waste (ie the drainage). I love that the shower and bath are separate (no having to wipe up around the bath all the time) and that the bath is built in. Free-standing baths look lovely but just aren't practical for cleaning unless they can be away from walls. We had a cavity slider retro-fitted into our small ensuite when we bought our house. Makes a big difference and means we now have room for towel rails! Beautiful grey tiles.