Ensuite with timber plank tiles achieves organic feel

Designing a guest bathroom is a careful balance between creating a space with a wow factor and yet making it functional in terms of accommodating a variety of visitors; and, of course, keeping it clean.

This bathroom by Celia Visser is one of six the designer was asked to create for her client's new rural property. The leading feature is the use of timber plank porcelain tiles on the walls and floor.

"The bathroom is part of a guest suite, and is the only bathroom on the ground floor of the house," says Visser. "Because we laid the same timber plank tile on the floor throughout the living spaces, we decided to use it exclusively in the guest bathroom, for a sense of continuity. And it also makes a strong design statement."

In contrast to the stand-out wall finish, Visser deliberately kept the vanity simple a bespoke, all-in-one, twin basin, in Corian. The taps are mounted centrally onto the floor-to-ceiling mirrors. Pendant lights above are doubled in reflection.

"Beneath the basin is a wall-hung vanity drawer, finished in Resene Beaten Track to complement the warmth of the timber plank tiles. The top of the drawer forms a shelf that can be used to store towels, or by guests for their toilet bags."

LED strip lighting under the drawer gives it a floating effect and provides a welcoming glow when entering the room.

The cantilever theme is carried across to the adjacent toilet, says Visser.

"Its wall-hung design was chosen for its straight lines, and ease of cleaning."

Rather than having a standard glass shower screen, the designer introduced a dividing wall to separate the walk-in shower. Clad in the same timber tiles as the rest of the room, the wall gives a sense of solidity and permanence, and provides guests privacy when taking a shower.

The designer says the shower stall is all about simplicity and utility, with a recessed nook for soap and shampoo and a discreet drain hidden under the tiles.

Story by: Charles Moxham

Photography by: Kallan MacLeod