This master bathroom by Nathan Gornall Design was introduced to a large heritage listed property in Sydney's Killara, improving the home's amenity whilst remaining sensitive to the period of the rest of the home.

Inspiration for a small modern bathroom in Melbourne with light wood cabinets, a wall-mount toilet, gray tile, mosaic tile, grey walls, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, grey floor, grey benchtops and a floating vanity.

This lovely Malvern home saw a total transformation of all wet areas, including the main bathroom, ensuite, kitchen, and laundry. A professional couple with two young children, our clients tasked us with turning their newly bought Malvern property into their dream home. The property was in great condition, but the interiors were outdated and lacked the functionality to support a young family’s busy lifestyle. Because this was their forever home, we designed the spaces collaboratively with our clients focusing on nailing their aesthetic brief while providing them with a high level of functionality to suit their present and future needs. Our brief: The design needed to be child-friendly but with a sophisticated aesthetic All materials needed to be durable and have longevity A fresh, modern look with textures was a must The clients love cooking, so a kitchen that was functional as well as beautiful was paramount. The kitchen really is the central hub of this busy home, so we wanted to create a modern, bright, and welcoming space where all the family could gather and share quality time. The first thing to go was the outdated, curved floor-to-ceiling window, which didn’t align with our client’s vision for their dream home. We replaced it with large modern bi-fold stacking doors that let natural light seep in. We also removed an impractical external double door and replaced it with a tightly waterproofed servery bi-fold window, which our clients loved. The existing U-shaped kitchen was impractical with only one access, which created accessibility issues. Our solution was to completely redesign the kitchen to create an L-shaped layout with a large central island and two accesses for even flow. The table-like island was a priority in our client’s wish list because they wanted a spot where they could sit together and share meals and where the children could do homework after school. They loved the idea of sitting facing each other instead of in a line like you do in standard islands. That’s why we installed a custom-made powder-coated steel leg on the island, which looks beautiful and allows the family to sit on either side of it. To update the room’s aesthetics, we selected high-quality and durable materials for a fresh and modern look. The sleek white cabinetry features a super matt melamine finish with anti-fingerprint technology, which is low-maintenance, easy to clean and great for when there are kids in the house. To maximise every inch for functionality, we included smart storage solutions throughout the cabinetry, as well as a spacious pantry that can be tucked away when not in use. To create visual intrigue and add a textured layer to the space, we juxtaposed the smooth surfaces of the cabinetry and porcelain benchtop with a textured, hand-made look tiled splashback. The splashback is easy to maintain thanks to its epoxy grout, which is waterproof and repels dirt and grime. We also included lovely natural timber handles to add an organic touch to the design. We wanted the room to feel bright and happy, so LED downlights were evenly distributed throughout, complete with dimmers for when mood lighting was needed. We also used LED strip lighting under all overhead cabinetry and an automatic light in the pantry. The finishing touch was the lovely hub pendant above the island, which certainly takes the room’s aesthetics to the next level. To continue with the same modern tactile look in the laundry, we used a handmade square tile paired with led lighting to showcase the texture in the tile. Because the space also needed to be easy to maintain (and child friendly), we used super matt melamine with anti-fingerprint technology for the cabinetry with porcelain benchtops for ultimate durability. We used large-format tiles, which are easy to maintain and create the illusion of space, perfect for this small room. Lack of storage was solved with large floor to ceiling cupboards, which allowed us to use every inch of the room. To add a warm touch to this bright and airy space, we used circular timber handles. For the family bathroom and the ensuite, we continued the child-friendly theme by utilising large-format tiles pair with anti-fingerprint finishes for the cabinetry. In line with the modern aesthetic of the kitchen and laundry, we wanted to create a sophisticated space that felt unique to the home. Because we also wanted the bathrooms to feel calm and serene, we introduced curves in the design for a softer look and feel. The circular shape theme proposed by the custom mirrors continues in the basin, large free-standing bath and natural timber handles. The client loved the idea of using gunmetal finishes instead of the traditional chrome finish, so we selected gunmetal tapware which looks amazing paired with the custom arch mirrors. The led lighting around the mirrors provides function and form, being a decorative feature that creates mood lighting and additional task lighting. LED downlights were also evenly distributed throughout the spaces- all with dimmers for versatility. Drawers were the preferred method of storage, and they include concealed power points for practicality which was a critical point of our brief.

Large contemporary master bathroom in Geelong with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, an open shower, gray tile, mosaic tile, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, an open shower, grey benchtops, a double vanity and a built-in vanity.

Photo of a mid-sized tropical master bathroom in Geelong with light wood cabinets, porcelain tile, grey walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, grey benchtops, a double vanity and a floating vanity.

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary kids bathroom in Melbourne with light wood cabinets, gray tile, grey walls, an undermount sink, grey floor, grey benchtops, a double vanity, a floating vanity, a freestanding tub and ceramic floors.

Contemporary bathroom in Other with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, a freestanding tub, white tile, white walls, an undermount sink, blue floor, grey benchtops, a single vanity and a floating vanity.

Country bathroom in Brisbane with shaker cabinets, black cabinets, a freestanding tub, a curbless shower, white tile, white walls, an undermount sink, multi-coloured floor, a hinged shower door, grey benchtops, an enclosed toilet, a double vanity, a built-in vanity and planked wall panelling.

This is an example of a large contemporary master bathroom in Salt Lake City with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, a corner shower, a one-piece toilet, gray tile, porcelain tile, white walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, beige floor, a hinged shower door and grey benchtops.

Large shower featuring 2 horizontal decorative bands, quartz caps on the pony wall, rainhead shower head, travertine looking porcelain on the walls, and hexagon tiles on the shower floor. Photo Credit: David Elton

The rectilinear shape of the room is separated into different functional areas for bathing, grooming and showering. The creative layout of the space is crowned with the seated vanity as the anteroom, and an exit beyond the opening of the shower leads to the laundry and back end of the house. Bold patterned floor tile is a recurring theme throughout the house, a nod to the European practice of giving careful thought to this feature. The central light fixture, flare of the art deco crown molding, centered vanity cabinet and tall windows create a variety of sight lines and an artificial drop to the ceiling that grounds the space. Cove lighting is color changing and tunable to achieve the desired atmosphere and mood.

Inspiration for a beach style 3/4 bathroom in Orange County with light wood cabinets, blue tile, grey walls, an undermount sink, grey floor, grey benchtops and shaker cabinets.

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary master bathroom in Toronto with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, porcelain tile, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, grey benchtops, a double vanity, a freestanding tub, gray tile, white walls, grey floor and a built-in vanity.

This is an example of a large country master bathroom in Charlotte with blue tile, cement tile, beige walls, marble benchtops, brown floor, blue cabinets, dark hardwood floors, an undermount sink, grey benchtops and shaker cabinets.

This is an example of a transitional bathroom in Other with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, an alcove shower, gray tile, an undermount sink, grey floor, a hinged shower door, grey benchtops and a freestanding vanity.

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional master bathroom in Chicago with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a freestanding tub, a corner shower, a one-piece toilet, gray tile, marble, grey walls, marble floors, an undermount sink, marble benchtops, grey floor, a hinged shower door, grey benchtops, a niche, a double vanity, a built-in vanity and decorative wall panelling.

DEMO - We removed the tub shower combo, flooring, vanities, commode room walls, and removed the mirrored doors to the master closet. THE REMODEL - We created a large zero threshold walk-in shower that is complete with 24x48 Charme series Calcatta Gold LARGE format tiles and a a 12” deco column down the middle with a 2x6 Abaco Mosaic. For the vanity, we added a beautiful floating cabinet topped with Monte Cristo Granite in a Satin finish. The under cabinet lighting and light up Mirror were supplied by our client. The wood look tile flooring was also installed throughout the bathroom, bedroom, and a few other rooms throughout the home. Finally, After removing those walls for the commode room, we were able to open up more room for the overall bathroom and then we reframed the Master Closet opening to add double doors & framed a new entry door.

The ensuite is a luxurious space offering all the desired facilities. The warm theme of all rooms echoes in the materials used. The vanity was created from Recycled Messmate with a horizontal grain, complemented by the polished concrete bench top. The walk in double shower creates a real impact, with its black framed glass which again echoes with the framing in the mirrors and shelving.

This Australian-inspired new construction was a successful collaboration between homeowner, architect, designer and builder. The home features a Henrybuilt kitchen, butler's pantry, private home office, guest suite, master suite, entry foyer with concealed entrances to the powder bathroom and coat closet, hidden play loft, and full front and back landscaping with swimming pool and pool house/ADU.