In the picture

When a site has extensive and impressive views, one of the hard decisions to make is which rooms should be oriented to enjoy it and which will have to miss out.

In this apartment, furbished by interior designer Jean Foster, both the master bedroom and the ensuite bathroom have the advantage of enjoying a spectacular outlook. With a sliding shoji screen providing the only separation between the two spaces, the Japanese-style bathtub can be considered part of the bedroom.

"This enabled us to open up the bathroom, and in particular, the tub, to the view. From the tub, you look across the bedroom and through the sliding balcony doors to the lake and hills beyond. And with the screen, both the bedroom and bathroom appear more spacious," says the interior designer.

Alternatively, if privacy in the bathroom is preferred, the screen can be closed, and a smaller bifolding window over the tub still offers an impressive outlook towards the lake.

To keep the interior simple and allow the view to be the focus, Foster opted for a simple, black-and-grey colour scheme. The bathtub is a fibreglass shell that has been covered with black mosaic tiles. The same tiles continue along the back wall of the ensuite, behind the tub and hand basin. A wall-hung basin maintains the simplicity of the lines and adds to the sense of space in the ensuite.

The same soft, warm-grey floor tiles, with an eggshell finish, are used on the balcony and the floor of the bathroom, before wrapping up the side wall of the generous, double shower enclosure. An extra-large shower head is a luxurious detail tired skiers will appreciate after a day on the slopes.

Off-white curtains and roller blinds frame the windows without detracting from the view, and can be closed to create a cosy atmosphere on cold or snowy winter evenings.

Story by: Mary Webb