Room Of The Week
Architecture
Rooms of the Week: How 5 Bathrooms in One Home Found Their Flow
See how cool granite, retro peach tiles and a 'same but different' design approach created cohesion in five bathrooms
In a Q&A format, we talk to the designers – and examine the creative thinking – behind some of Houzz’s most loveable rooms. This week, architect Robert Davidov reveals how he personalised five bathrooms in a mid-century Melbourne home, while simultaneously fostering a sense of connection between the different spaces for the family of four who lives here.
Ground-floor plan (bottom) and first-floor plan (top) after works.
What was the home like originally?
A very neglected, late-1960s house that captured some of the iconic aspects of design from that period, including a central courtyard and a low-slung, flat roof.
These five bathrooms were part of a complete renovation and extension of the original house.
Of the five bathrooms, only the main ensuite on the ground floor was here originally. We completely redesigned it and added a new powder room downstairs, plus three new bathrooms in the new first-floor extension.
What was the home like originally?
A very neglected, late-1960s house that captured some of the iconic aspects of design from that period, including a central courtyard and a low-slung, flat roof.
These five bathrooms were part of a complete renovation and extension of the original house.
Of the five bathrooms, only the main ensuite on the ground floor was here originally. We completely redesigned it and added a new powder room downstairs, plus three new bathrooms in the new first-floor extension.
Main ensuite on the ground floor.
What did you identify as the main issues with the downstairs ensuite?
It had not been updated in 50 years. Its layout was poor and all the fixtures needed replacing.
Ready to renovate your own bathroom? Find a bathroom designer near you on Houzz
What did you identify as the main issues with the downstairs ensuite?
It had not been updated in 50 years. Its layout was poor and all the fixtures needed replacing.
Ready to renovate your own bathroom? Find a bathroom designer near you on Houzz
Main ensuite on the ground floor. Custom vanity in G603 granite; G603 granite floor and wall tiles; tapware: Phoenix Tapware.
Main family bathroom on the new upper level. Solid-surface vanity: Omvivo; wall tiles: Classic Ceramics; G603 granite floor tiles; tapware: Phoenix Tapware; bath: Reece.
What was your brief?
The brief for the bathrooms was for very functional and low-maintenance spaces that would allude to and complement the subtle cues the [overall house] design made to the mid-century era.
Our brief overall was to utilise as much of the existing, dilapidated house as possible, but to make a few substantive changes – most notably the addition of a first floor for additional bedrooms and bathrooms, and converting a carport to an enclosed garage.
What was your brief?
The brief for the bathrooms was for very functional and low-maintenance spaces that would allude to and complement the subtle cues the [overall house] design made to the mid-century era.
Our brief overall was to utilise as much of the existing, dilapidated house as possible, but to make a few substantive changes – most notably the addition of a first floor for additional bedrooms and bathrooms, and converting a carport to an enclosed garage.
Main family bathroom.
Where did you look for inspiration?
The small-format, square ceramic tiles and their peach colour along with the tiled shower enclosures were all inspired by the period of the original home and our memories of practical mid-century wet areas.
Browse more images on Houzz of Australian bathrooms with orange-based palettes
Where did you look for inspiration?
The small-format, square ceramic tiles and their peach colour along with the tiled shower enclosures were all inspired by the period of the original home and our memories of practical mid-century wet areas.
Browse more images on Houzz of Australian bathrooms with orange-based palettes
Main family bathroom.
Tell us about the colours
Soft grey tones are an extremely strong aspect of the interiors throughout the rest of the house, so we felt it was important to bring them into the wet areas, in particular the main ensuite and family room downstairs.
Peach was a colour that we wanted to introduce to the project not only to soften the feel of the children’s bathrooms, but to make a subtle nod to the 1960s design era.
Tell us about the colours
Soft grey tones are an extremely strong aspect of the interiors throughout the rest of the house, so we felt it was important to bring them into the wet areas, in particular the main ensuite and family room downstairs.
Peach was a colour that we wanted to introduce to the project not only to soften the feel of the children’s bathrooms, but to make a subtle nod to the 1960s design era.
Main family bathroom.
How important was it to create cohesion between the five bathrooms?
It was important for the rooms and spaces on the ground floor, including the main ensuite and powder room, to be cohesive and have a more formal feel. As the children’s rooms were all located upstairs, this presented an opportunity to add some colour and playfulness.
The soft greys of the powder room and main ensuite are intentionally extensions of the colour palette of the main house, while the children’s bathrooms, with the peach tiles, are a clear departure.
To achieve some cohesion between all five bathrooms, we used grey granite floor tiles throughout, chose tapware with a similar aesthetic and took a similar approach to the design of the shaving cabinets. Low diving walls as a design device also feature in the different bathrooms.
How important was it to create cohesion between the five bathrooms?
It was important for the rooms and spaces on the ground floor, including the main ensuite and powder room, to be cohesive and have a more formal feel. As the children’s rooms were all located upstairs, this presented an opportunity to add some colour and playfulness.
The soft greys of the powder room and main ensuite are intentionally extensions of the colour palette of the main house, while the children’s bathrooms, with the peach tiles, are a clear departure.
To achieve some cohesion between all five bathrooms, we used grey granite floor tiles throughout, chose tapware with a similar aesthetic and took a similar approach to the design of the shaving cabinets. Low diving walls as a design device also feature in the different bathrooms.
Main family bathroom.
Tell us about the shadow play in the family bathroom and second ensuite
These shadows were created with venetian blinds. We have long been advocates of the use of venetian blinds, especially in wet areas were the desire for natural light and privacy are often at odds.
Tell us about the shadow play in the family bathroom and second ensuite
These shadows were created with venetian blinds. We have long been advocates of the use of venetian blinds, especially in wet areas were the desire for natural light and privacy are often at odds.
Ensuite two on the new upper level.
The five bathrooms share a visual identity, but each has their own personality. How did you achieve this?
That was led more by the individual bathrooms themselves. Each space had to solve a particular design challenge and meet a specific brief, which led to a series of bathrooms that share materiality and aesthetic language but vary in their layouts, proportions and detailing.
The five bathrooms share a visual identity, but each has their own personality. How did you achieve this?
That was led more by the individual bathrooms themselves. Each space had to solve a particular design challenge and meet a specific brief, which led to a series of bathrooms that share materiality and aesthetic language but vary in their layouts, proportions and detailing.
Ensuite two. Solid-surface vanity: Omvivo; wall tiles: Classic Ceramics; G603 granite floor tiles; tapware: Phoenix Tapware.
What are the key elements of the materials palettes?
What are the key elements of the materials palettes?
- Grey granite.
- Peach ceramic tiles.
- White solid-surface vanities and white bathroom accessories.
- Chrome tapware.
Ensuite two.
Did you use any of the finishes in these bathrooms elsewhere in the house?
The granite was used as the ground-floor material, both inside and out, as well as on the new staircase.
As a studio, we have a preference for maintaining a limited materials palette and selecting materials that can be used throughout our projects in order to achieve a strong level of visual cohesion and flow between spaces.
Did you use any of the finishes in these bathrooms elsewhere in the house?
The granite was used as the ground-floor material, both inside and out, as well as on the new staircase.
As a studio, we have a preference for maintaining a limited materials palette and selecting materials that can be used throughout our projects in order to achieve a strong level of visual cohesion and flow between spaces.
Powder room on the ground floor. Custom vanity in G603 granite; wall painted in Brume: Dulux; tapware: Phoenix Tapware.
Why did you choose to paint rather than tile the powder-room wall?
When thinking about the design of rooms where we wish to deny their ‘bathroom-ness’, the absence of tiles is the first move.
We design wet areas and powder rooms to perform functionally, but have a feeling that is more consistent with a dressing room or living space rather than a bathroom.
Your turn
Have you taken a ‘same but different’ approach to the design of your bathrooms? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Want more interior inspiration? Don’t miss this contemporary Room of the Week: A Relaxed Coastal Kitchen in White and Timber
Why did you choose to paint rather than tile the powder-room wall?
When thinking about the design of rooms where we wish to deny their ‘bathroom-ness’, the absence of tiles is the first move.
We design wet areas and powder rooms to perform functionally, but have a feeling that is more consistent with a dressing room or living space rather than a bathroom.
Your turn
Have you taken a ‘same but different’ approach to the design of your bathrooms? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Want more interior inspiration? Don’t miss this contemporary Room of the Week: A Relaxed Coastal Kitchen in White and Timber
Who lives here: A couple with two young children
Location: Caulfield North, Victoria
Room purposes and sizes: A main ensuite (seven square metres) and powder room (five square metres) downstairs; and a main family bathroom (nine square metres) and two ensuites (four and five square metres respectively)
Architect and interior designer: Robert Davidov at Davidov Architects
Builder: Rom Constructions
Budget: These five bathrooms were part of a whole-home renovation that cost around AU$800,000
Project started: 2018
Project completed: 2019