Bold and theatrical

While natural light is a vital ingredient for most parts of the house, it isn't always possible to incorporate it into every room. Many times, it is the bathroom where the sacrifice must be made.

When interior designer James Swan was asked to remodel the interior of an 1960s apartment, he decided it was in such poor condition it would need to be gutted.

As it was in a stacked high-rise building, the plumbing could not be moved, and the owners had no choice but to retain the internal bathroom.

"Because the space was completely internal, with no windows and no other sources of natural light, we decided to treat the bathroom as if it was a cave. We set about creating a dark, dramatic, richly colored space that did not rely on exterior light," says Swan.

The master suite includes the bedroom, which has French doors opening onto a terrace, and a walk-in closet on the opposite wall. Leading from this is an internal bathroom with a large tub, shower, two vanities and separate toilet.

Also influencing the design was the owners' large collection of art and antiques that they wanted to display but they did not want a modern interior as a background.

"We took the cave theme from the bathroom through to the bedroom. Our interior design ignores the windows, which are covered with blackout drapes to create the ultimate sleeping environment completely impervious to light and outdoor sounds," says the interior designer.

A traditional color palette using a rich, dark brown on a green base for the walls was established from the creamy, chamois-colored limestone floor that features in the public spaces of the apartment.

To complement this, countertops, vanities, dressing table and tub deck are made from honed Absolut Black granite. Cabinetry, lacquered in a matte black finish, has simple, polished nickel door and drawer handles. Exposed plumbing is also in the same polished nickel finish.

The dramatic atmosphere is heightened by the use of large mirrors on the walls and indirect lighting concealed under the soffit on the ceiling.

"While this is quite a compact bathroom space, the use of mirrors and the dark color scheme create a spacious feel," says Swan.

Story by: Mary Webb