Hidden extras

Problems can often be solved thinking outside the square. For example, local by-laws may not permit changes to the roof line, but that needn't stop the floor level being dropped to create additional space in a small attic room.

This is exactly how builder Cameron Ireland and his wife, interior designer Rachael Newnham, overcame the problem of improving the dimensions of a small ensuite. It was cramped and oddly angled, and tucked in beneath the pitched roof of their old double-bay villa. Council regulations precluded lifting the roof to gain space, so instead the owners decided to drop the floor level within the existing ceiling cavity of the floor below.

This created a compact, functional ensuite, finished from floor to ceiling with porcelain-like Italian sandstone tiles. It also included a long, narrow shower enclosure, a cantilevered hand basin and toilet, and a freestanding storage unit.

"The hand basin and toilet are very striking and modern, and have become dramatic centrepieces," says Newnham.

"With the addition of appropriately positioned roof windows, we increased the head height in key areas and improved the amount of light coming into the bathroom, so it feels light and spacious."

Story by: Trendsideas