Bright outlook

Master bedrooms are often positioned to make the most of a great view. These days, ensuites are just as likely to benefit from a spectacular outlook thanks to the priority now given to creating bathrooms that are luxurious retreats.

This penthouse apartment interior, designed by Anita Fijn, gives equal status to the master bedroom and bathroom. Both are spacious and both have floor-to-ceiling windows that maximise expansive city and harbour views. With a large opening between the two rooms, they are also intimately connected, effectively forming one large space.

Key features of the bathroom include a freestanding tub, positioned so the owners can enjoy the view while bathing, and a mirrored wall that ensures the view is visible from all angles.

A rain shower inset in the ceiling in the centre of the room is another point of difference.

"The shower makes this a wet room, but there is no obvious drain," Fijn says. "The water flows through a gap between the floor tiles, dropping through a grate beneath the floor."

A cantilevered, trough-style Carrara marble basin enhances the contemporary look, and the sense of space. Similarly, frosted glass doors separating the bedroom and a separate toilet room help retain the spacious look, by providing a translucency, and bringing natural light into all areas of the bathroom.

Fijn says the dark slate floor slabs and custom-designed, handmade wall tiles help these areas visually recede into the background, again ensuring the view commands the attention.

"The suite has been designed so the owners can enjoy spending time here," says Fijn. "It is almost like another living area. The bedroom incorporates a comfortable bench seat at the end of the bed, and there is also a kitchenette so they can enjoy a cup of coffee in the mornings."

Story by: Colleen Hawkes