Black, white and elegant

Designed by Davinia Sutton, Detail by Davinia Sutton

From the designer:

The owners wanted a master ensuite space that offered an air of traditional refinement, exuded elegance and had a sense of spaciousness. 

They also desired the overall result to connect with the home’s 1900s era architecture and to include a strong graphic quality and high contrast scheme without feeling cold or harsh. 

A bathroom with ‘an appreciation of life’s little indulgences’ was the request.

Starting with a striking custom Tessellate tile floor in a two-tone palette of warm white and charcoal tiles provides the strong feature and feel for the bathroom.  

The tile format nods to the era of architecture and, paired with the hand glazed, brick bond wall tiles, brings a strong graphic quality to the space.

Viewed on entry, the bespoke free-standing vanity unit formed from aged steel with a polished granite top and custom stained oak interior is modern but reminiscent of the bygone wash basin. 

This piece brings a sense of warmth and detailed character to the space. Designed as a piece of furniture it provides personality, function and form, while the top mounted white vessel vanity bowls provide a fresh ‘pop’ against the polished granite top.  

Concealed power and storage are concealed in mirror-fronted, recessed wall cabinets. The mirror fronts, with mitred steel frames, have been designed to read as wall-hung mirrors, by the use of the negative detail set behind.

Refined rather than rustic, the tapware was specified in a ‘modern’ Cross head format over the vanity basins and simple small faceplate mixers to the shower zone. 

Both are in a living aged brass finish to provide an air of classic sophistication.

In a departure from the tapware but connecting with the mirror frames, the spacious double shower space with floor to ceiling glass has a black steel surround. 

The shower zone creates a spatial sanctuary for the owners to unwind and relax in and has a twin slide shower arrangement. 

Custom tiled niches provide for bathing products, while a drop-down channel drain, set within the pattern of the floor tiles, conceals the waste detail.

Further attention to detail is in the selection of the heated towel rail chosen to link with the home’s radiator system. The lighting is understated, yet practical and functional.

Elegant detailing, a sense of intimacy through a careful spatial layout and the interplay of light and dark features all adds up to a sense of traditional refinement, and is in keeping with the surrounding architecture.

Story by: Trendsideas

Photography by: Stephen Goodenough