Not so plain sailing

Several design prerequisites and aesthetic considerations were met for this downstairs powder room to achieve a luxurious, upmarket nautical feel

Designed by Andrew Bartholomeusz, SAAJ Design

From the architect:

Requirements

To create a guest powder room with a sense of journey descending from the main living/dining sections of the house – a space that is private and has a wow factor.

Due to planning height & setback restrictions, the roof deck is located directly above, creating unique ceiling profiles and pockets of void to occupy.
How to create a continuous flow from the upper first floor living/kitchen/dining to the lower first floor main bedroom suite and also be able to close off the main bedroom suite when entertaining.
How to create the powder room door function to auto close to avoid blocking the return air grille adjacent, provide a privacy snib function and have a recessed push-pull handle to one side to enable the door to open up without fouling adjacent joinery.

Guests experience the journey to the powder room like how one feels when descending from a super yacht deck to the hull below – doors are arched to fit into the shell shape so that similar sinuous shapes are experienced.
Walls are lined with full height stone panels and mirrors to help bounce light and create the illusion of a larger space.
Each surface texture and colour is thought about to create the ambience – integration of exhaust fan grilles, double reflections, intersecting curved walls and ceiling planes, composition of the freestanding vanity, a circular mirror above and pendant lights all play a part.
The outer powder room foyer is considered just as important with joinery finishes wrapping from return air grilles to practical storage to arched doors – natural light is funnelled through the curved ceiling planes.
Custom handles were designed to fulfil all the practical applications yet hold onto the nautical experience of the journey.