Bathing beauty

When an entire house is designed to optimise its dramatic surroundings it makes sense that the family bathroom would follow suit.

Augmented by three ensuites in the home, this upmarket, contemporary family bathroom has a spectacular view. The initial design was by Jalna Eve Warren, and the finishes were chosen by the owner, in collaboration with Lockwood Southern Lakes representative Julie Batt.

An obvious requirement was to direct the attention to the outlook, says Warren.

"One approach to this was to separate off the shower area from the main part of the bathroom so the first thing your eye is drawn to is the mountain and lake setting. The double shower is accessed from the left of the privacy wall.

"Another request of the owners was to have the bathtub in the prime position for enjoying the view, and to an extent this led the design," says Warren. "As well as placing the tub up by the window, I dropped the ceiling height in this area to create a snug, enclosed feel."

The generous use of mirrors above and below the vanity and on the inner wall of the bathroom both doubles the sense of space and bounces light around the room.

Specifying natural materials was another way to make a connection with the views, says Julie Batt.

"All the walls and floors and even the vanity are finished in the same pale, veined stone. The generous use of this material gives the bathroom a high-end feel, and suits the contemporary lines of the design."

A blonded wood ceiling, including in the area over the tub, adds to the organic appeal.

"Recessed niches ensure the space has a clean, uncluttered profile," says Julie Batt. "The dazzling chandelier fittings echo the sparkling aesthetic of the stone walls and mirrors, and bring an even greater sense of luxury to the bathroom."

Story by: Charles Moxham