High above the city - Los Angeles apartment suite by Robert Hidey Architects

In any home, having a variety of different places to sit and relax makes sense. But the best place to enjoy time out is often the master suite.

Increasingly, seating areas are a key part of the design of a master bedroom some suites today are even equipped with mini kitchens, complete with coffee machines and small refrigerators.

This master suite is in a large apartment designed by Jon Krueger of Robert Hidey Architects, the firm responsible for the design of the Beverly West condominium's shared amenities and model interiors.

Not surprisingly, the suite was designed to maximize the spectacular view from both the bedroom and the separate his-and-hers bathrooms.

Wood floors feature in the bedroom, which is decorated in a contemporary classic style. The seating area is positioned within a lowered soffit that extends from the windows, creating a sense of enclosure.

"We were restricted by the 8ft height of the windows, so we introduced lower ceilings and cove lighting around the perimeter," says Krueger. "The ceiling then rises to 10ft above the main part of the bedroom. This adds considerable volume and is in keeping with the scale of the large structural columns in the building."

The bathroom shown on these pages is fully wrapped in polished Ambrato marble. The main part of the room is entered via a vestibule with the toilet and shower rooms on either side.

A matching vanity and make-up table on either side of the bathroom feature sapele wood cabinets that have been finished with multiple coats of high-gloss lacquer. Ambrato marble forms the vanity tops and sides, and the surround for the bathtub, which is the centerpiece of the room.

Marble also features on the floor, with tiles laid on the diagonal.

"Having the floor tiles on the diagonal helps break up the orthogonal lines of the tub and vanity cabinets," says Krueger. "It's a subtle way to create a more distinctive look."

The light, spacious look of the bathroom is reinforced by floor-to-ceiling mirror panels on both sides.

Story by: Colleen Hawkes