Stickybeak of the Week: Monochrome Bathroom Plays With Pattern
This Port Melbourne bathroom makes the most of geometric patterns and shapes and sleek lines
This boldly patterned yet simple bathroom renovation, located in Port Melbourne and completed in September 2016, has an understated elegance to it. The geometric shapes and monochrome features make it the ultimate continuation of a beautifully renovated Victorian terrace. The homeowners, a young professional couple who have a two-year-old daughter, wanted a bathroom they could all use at the same time without feeling cramped. This was particularly important as it is the only bathroom in the house. The renovation of this bathroom has involved a complete strip out and rebuild, and now meets the homeowners’ specific functional and aesthetic needs.
“The homeowners wanted a bathroom they’d be proud to leave the door open, and one that was functional for their two-year-old daughter,” says Katherine Siketa, kitchen and bathroom designer at smarterBATHROOMS+. Their daughter needed to be able to use the vanity and get in and out of the shower easily.
The bathroom had been renovated less than 10 years before the most recent renovation. “Unfortunately, the room layout and poor build quality meant that the bathroom had aged much faster than it should have,” says Siketa. Quality fixtures and fittings had been used, but their application was all wrong. This lead to water damage, hidden crevices for dirt and mould to build up in, cramped spaces and a bottle neck in the shower and vanity position.
The bathroom had been renovated less than 10 years before the most recent renovation. “Unfortunately, the room layout and poor build quality meant that the bathroom had aged much faster than it should have,” says Siketa. Quality fixtures and fittings had been used, but their application was all wrong. This lead to water damage, hidden crevices for dirt and mould to build up in, cramped spaces and a bottle neck in the shower and vanity position.
The layout was the focus of the renovation, as they knew the previous configuration was all wrong. It was changed by removing the old heating duct wall to make the room bigger, and by keeping the ‘wet area’ to one side across the back wall. The new floor layout allows for flow and multiple users. There is quick access to the vanity and toilet on entry, with the vanity placement maximising the natural light through the large louvred window.
The Dekton bench surface was paired with Laminex Riven timber laminate vanity. “The timber laminate was incorporated in the custom vanity design to soften what may otherwise be a hard monochromatic colour scheme,” says Siketa.
The design of the bathroom maximises storage with the large mirrored shaving cabinet positioned above the vanity.
Fittings and fixtures: Rogerseller
The design of the bathroom maximises storage with the large mirrored shaving cabinet positioned above the vanity.
Fittings and fixtures: Rogerseller
Geometric feature tiles add to a sense of playfulness in the room.
Luckily, the bathroom faces a wall to the side of the house so there is no issue with privacy. “They’re lucky to have such beautiful natural light,” says Siketa.
The stool placement in the bathroom is a handy way to create flexible seating for the homeowners while bathing their daughter. It’s also the perfect place to sit candles and decorative items when not being used. “The beautiful timber of this stool brings in natural textural warmth to otherwise manmade surfaces,” says Siketa.
An unusual feature of the room is the inclusion of pull-down attic stairs. They had to make sure these didn’t interfere with the shower screen or make it difficult to climb up and down the stairs. “Given the home is a small terrace, these provide periodic access for the owners to store larger, rarely used items,” says Siketa. The bathroom needed to provide enough air and floor space for these to be pulled down.
Bath: Kado
Bath: Kado
They had problems finding sufficient wall space for adequate towel drying, as there were so many family towels to dry each day!
Multiple spaces were incorporated into the design for the drying of towels, including an electronic heated towel rail, which is hidden from immediate view on entry to the left of the door. There’s more space for easy access to towels from the bath, with two heated bar towel rails above the bath.
Multiple spaces were incorporated into the design for the drying of towels, including an electronic heated towel rail, which is hidden from immediate view on entry to the left of the door. There’s more space for easy access to towels from the bath, with two heated bar towel rails above the bath.
A towel hook next to the shower allows for convenient access when showering. Creature comforts such as a heated towel rail, feature lighting, a freestanding bath and walk-in shower were also important parts of their brief, says Siketa.
In a small terrace, “home storage was a critical consideration to enable the owners to live in a clutter free environment,” says Siketa.
TELL US
What do you like about this monochrome, geometric bathroom? Tell us in the Comments.
TELL US
What do you like about this monochrome, geometric bathroom? Tell us in the Comments.
Who lives here: Professional couple with their daughter, 2, and two inquisitive pooches
Location: Port Melbourne, Victoria
Size: 6.4 square metres
Designer: smarterBATHROOMS+
Wanting to complement the striking and mostly monochromatic style of the rest of their renovated terrace, the homeowners had a clear design vision for what they wanted for their bathroom. Their terrace is contemporary, has abundant natural light, is highly functional with a modern edge, so it was fitting that they introduce a play on shapes and geometry in the design of the bathroom.