Family Bathroom Renovation in Melbourne. Bohemian styled and neutral tones anchored by the custom made timber double vanity, oval mirrors and tiger bronze fixtures. A free-standing bath and walk-in shower creating a sense of space

Brunswick Parlour transforms a Victorian cottage into a hard-working, personalised home for a family of four. Our clients loved the character of their Brunswick terrace home, but not its inefficient floor plan and poor year-round thermal control. They didn't need more space, they just needed their space to work harder. The front bedrooms remain largely untouched, retaining their Victorian features and only introducing new cabinetry. Meanwhile, the main bedroom’s previously pokey en suite and wardrobe have been expanded, adorned with custom cabinetry and illuminated via a generous skylight. At the rear of the house, we reimagined the floor plan to establish shared spaces suited to the family’s lifestyle. Flanked by the dining and living rooms, the kitchen has been reoriented into a more efficient layout and features custom cabinetry that uses every available inch. In the dining room, the Swiss Army Knife of utility cabinets unfolds to reveal a laundry, more custom cabinetry, and a craft station with a retractable desk. Beautiful materiality throughout infuses the home with warmth and personality, featuring Blackbutt timber flooring and cabinetry, and selective pops of green and pink tones. The house now works hard in a thermal sense too. Insulation and glazing were updated to best practice standard, and we’ve introduced several temperature control tools. Hydronic heating installed throughout the house is complemented by an evaporative cooling system and operable skylight. The result is a lush, tactile home that increases the effectiveness of every existing inch to enhance daily life for our clients, proving that good design doesn’t need to add space to add value.

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 The property was in great condition, but the interiors were outdated and lacked the functionality to support a young family’s busy lifestyle.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.

Photo of a contemporary bathroom in Perth with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a curbless shower, gray tile, white tile, white walls, an undermount sink, grey floor, an open shower, white benchtops, a single vanity and a floating vanity.

Inspiration for a beach style bathroom in Hobart with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a curbless shower, white tile, white walls, a vessel sink, grey floor, an open shower, white benchtops, a single vanity and a floating vanity.

Bob Fortner Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized country master bathroom in Raleigh with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a freestanding tub, a curbless shower, a two-piece toilet, white tile, ceramic tile, white walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, marble benchtops, brown floor, a hinged shower door and white benchtops.

Tiny master bath has curbless shower with floor-to-ceiling Heath tile. IKEA floating vanity with marble vessel sink, and wall matte black faucet. Vintage mirror from Salvare Goods in LA. Wall niche with marble hex tile. Hanging sconce Kohler matte black shower set. Ceiling fixture from Rejuvenation

Photo of a country 3/4 bathroom in Other with medium wood cabinets, a curbless shower, white tile, white walls, an undermount sink, multi-coloured floor, a hinged shower door, a niche, a shower seat and flat-panel cabinets.

Inspiration for a large transitional bathroom in Cincinnati with recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, a curbless shower, gray tile, marble, white walls, marble floors, an undermount sink, marble benchtops, grey floor, a hinged shower door and grey benchtops.

This is an example of a contemporary bathroom in London with a freestanding tub, a curbless shower, beige tile, white walls, a trough sink and an open shower.

Thomas Leclerc
Design ideas for a mid-sized scandinavian master bathroom in Paris with light wood cabinets, blue tile, white walls, a vessel sink, wood benchtops, multi-coloured floor, an open shower, an undermount tub, a curbless shower, terra-cotta tile, terrazzo floors, brown benchtops and flat-panel cabinets.

Photography: Philip Ennis Productions.
Inspiration for a large modern master bathroom in New York with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, gray tile, white walls, marble floors, marble benchtops, a two-piece toilet, subway tile, a curbless shower and a vessel sink.

Design ideas for a small contemporary master bathroom in Other with shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, a curbless shower, a one-piece toilet, green tile, ceramic tile, white walls, ceramic floors, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, grey floor, an open shower, white benchtops, a niche, a double vanity and a built-in vanity.

Guest bath. Floor tile Glazzio Greenwich Hex in Urbanite color. Wall tile Happy Floors Titan 4x12 Aqua color.
Small modern 3/4 bathroom in Tampa with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a curbless shower, a two-piece toilet, blue tile, ceramic tile, white walls, ceramic floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, blue floor, a hinged shower door, white benchtops and a single vanity.

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary bathroom in Seattle with a freestanding tub, a curbless shower, gray tile, white walls, mosaic tile floors, grey floor and an open shower.

Stunning master bath with custom tile floor and stone shower, countertops, and trim. Custom white back-lit built-ins with glass fronts, mirror-mounted polished nickel sconces, and polished nickel pendant light. Polished nickel hardware and finishes. Separate water closet with frosted glass door. Deep soaking tub with Lefroy Brooks free-standing tub mixer. Spacious marble curbless shower with glass door, rain shower, hand shower, and steam shower.

A small master bathroom the size of a modest closet was our starting point. Dirty tile, old fixtures, and a moldy shower room had seen their better days. So we gutted the bathroom, changed its location, and borrowed some space from the neighboring closet to compose a new master bathroom that was sleek and efficient. ​Still a compact space, the new master bathroom features a unique, curbless tub/shower room, where both the shower and tub are grouped behind a simple glass panel. With no separation between tub and shower, both items are not only designed to get wet but to allow the user to go from shower to tub and back again.

This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury master bathroom in Phoenix with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, a curbless shower, a one-piece toilet, gray tile, porcelain tile, white walls, porcelain floors, an undermount sink, engineered quartz benchtops, grey floor, an open shower, white benchtops, a niche, a double vanity, a built-in vanity and wood walls.

Large transitional master bathroom in Cincinnati with recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, a curbless shower, gray tile, marble, white walls, marble floors, an undermount sink, marble benchtops, grey floor, a hinged shower door and grey benchtops.