Light moves

If your bathroom has no source of natural light, it's still possible to create a bright and welcoming space.

In this project, completed by Nouvelle Designer Kitchens, the original bathroom was an awkward triangular shape that ran over two levels, says designer Steve Mahlo.

"At one end was a spa bath and separate shower, which wasn't really working visually or practically," he says.

Both owners were looking for an open, uncluttered room on one level and a large shower space with no steps, says Mahlo.

The ambience of the bathroom also needed to complement the rest of the renovated home a fourth-floor apartment overlooking the beach in Sydney. Bright accent colours, such as blue, red and orange, had been introduced, along with neutral walls and taupe floor tiles. Overall, the home had a minimalist, open-plan and natural feel.

First, the spa bath was removed and the floor laid with concrete to create one level, ready for tiling. Next, a large custom-designed vanity unit was installed. This narrow unit doesn't take up too much space, allowing owners ample room to manoeuvre, even when both of them are using it.

For visual impact, the designer selected bright blue glass tiles, and installed them in thin stripes down the walls and across the floor.

"This gives the illusion of extra width and height in the room. The tiles also bring a strong feature element to the room, echoing the colourful accents used elsewhere in the apartment."

Surface-mounted vanity basins with wall-mounted taps were selected to complement the blue glass bench tops, for a contemporary feel. Frameless two-way glass shower screens were specified, allowing ease of access to the shower.

The ends of the glass bench tops were curved and the high-gloss cabinetry was raised off the floor, for ease of cleaning as well as visual appeal.

Soft downlights were positioned to highlight the feature tiles and introduce task lighting. A large towel ladder was installed to provide storage and drying facilities.

For more information, contact Nouvelle Designer Kitchens, Pennant Hills: 372 Pennant Hills Rd, Pennant Hills, NSW 2120, phone (02) 9484 8299; Willoughby: 152 Mowbray Rd, Willoughby, NSW 2068, phone (02) 9967 5622. Email: sales@nouvelledesign.com.au, or visit the website: www.nouvelledesign.com.

Story by: Trendsideas