Best of both worlds

Designed by Natalie Du Bois, Du Bois Design

From the designer:

Project overview

This master suite renovation, including bedroom, wardrobe, and ensuite bathroom, transforms the top floor of an inner-city, three-storey townhouse backing onto a central city park. 

The owners, who frequently travel internationally and own multiple residences, sought a distinctive and original sanctuary for their Auckland city base.

Homeowner brief

As avid art collectors, the owners requested interiors as vibrant, imaginative, and engaging as their extensive art collection. 

Key requests included:

• A sophisticated interplay of diverse textures, colours, and patterns.
• Strong biophilic influences to balance the urban setting, creating a serene, restorative environment.
• A luxurious, innovative bathroom space that prioritises privacy without compromising natural light.

Design response

The design embraces a biophilic approach, selecting materials and finishes that evoke nature’s serenity, resulting in a calming oasis within a dynamic urban context.

Feature elements

Large-format porcelain mural tiles – mitred into window reveals, these tiles envelop the bathroom in an immersive forest-like experience, transporting users from an inner-city setting to a serene, natural retreat.

The iconic Patricia Urquiola Vieques tin bath, featuring an Iroko timber backrest and shelf – the tub is complemented by brushed bronze tapware to enhance the natural, raw aesthetic.

Floor and wall treatments – dark, richly textured timber-look porcelain flooring contrasts elegantly with mid-tone timber-strip tiles, swirling porcelain patterns, and vivid tree murals, delivering intriguing moments of delight and ensuring every surface captivates.

Functional innovations

Privacy and accessibility – teal-painted sliding doors (Resene Fast Forward) conceal the toilet, allowing privacy and ease of access while introducing vibrant colour and visual interest.

Enhanced natural light – skylights have been strategically introduced to maximise daylight, offsetting the existing frosted window necessary due to proximity to adjacent office buildings.

Lighting and accessories

The asymmetrical lighting arrangement adds artistic drama and balance, featuring an IP44 wall light adjacent to the generously sized shower enclosure; this is complemented by an IP20 pendant opposite, and anchored by a dramatic circular mirror. 

A matte-black, freestanding heated towel rail subtly enhances functionality while allowing mural tiles to shine.

Storage and vanity

A custom-designed floor-to-ceiling cabinet with mirror insert maximises both storage and the perception of space. 

The bespoke double vanity, fully clad in porcelain including bespoke porcelain basins, anchors the highly patterned backdrop, delivering visual harmony and refined functionality.

Flow and connectivity

The ensuite effortlessly transitions into the adjoining master bedroom – we removed internal doors to foster openness and seamless visual continuity, aside from the vividly coloured sliding door that defines the private toilet space. 

Relocating the wardrobe allowed for clearer spatial definition, creating comfortably proportioned, interconnected zones for resting, dressing, and bathing.

Bedroom highlights

The bedroom features a sculptural, dark timber bed with a richly tactile headboard, echoing the bold teal and earthy tones from the ensuite. 

Oval timber bedside tables and curated light fittings further complement the owners’ remarkable art collection. 

Luxurious, metallic-flecked carpet provides plush comfort underfoot, harmonising beautifully with porcelain accents and serving as a sophisticated contrast to the space’s vibrant personality. 

An L-shaped, wraparound dressing room/wardrobe provides generous, individualised storage for each owner, enhancing daily usability.

Tranquil retreat

This master suite exemplifies creative ingenuity, meticulous craftsmanship, and thoughtful biophilic design, resulting in a highly personalised retreat that seamlessly blends urban sophistication with nature-inspired tranquillity.

Story by: Trendsideas