Open-plan or privacy? This master suite design achieves both

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Motorised ceiling blinds provide a flexible connection between this renovated master bathroom and bedroom

Part of a complete home remodel by designer ceiling, fireplace, hearth, interior design, living room, room, gray — Part of a complete home remodel by designer Mick De Giulio, this master suite has a very open connection between the bedroom and bathroom. But there is provision for privacy motorised blinds concealed in the ceiling can drop down to screen off the bath/shower area and the outdoors, if desired.

Designer Mick De Giulio says having such an fireplace, floor, flooring, hardwood, hearth, home, house, interior design, living room, room, window, wood, wood flooring, gray

To create the distinctive look on the cabinetry bathroom, ceiling, floor, flooring, interior design, window, gray

Four different formats of brushed Iceberg Quartzite tiles architecture, bathroom, floor, flooring, interior design, plumbing fixture, tap, tile, wall, gray

The clean lines of the tub and shower bathroom, bathtub, floor, flooring, interior design, plumbing fixture, product design, sink, tap, tile, wall, gray

With no windows, this large closet is the bookcase, cabinetry, ceiling, closet, flooring, furniture, interior design, lobby, room, wardrobe, red, gray

This extensive closet space features custom-designed storage on cabinetry, countertop, flooring, furniture, interior design, kitchen, wood, brown

Master suite renovation plan by designer Mick De area, design, diagram, drawing, floor plan, line, plan, product, product design, structure, white

While most of us see the benefits of having kitchen, dining and living as one open-plan space, we can be more reticent about taking an open approach to our bedroom and bathroom design.

It's not so much a perceived problem with condensation good quality extractors can overcome that but more an issue of privacy. There are times when we want to relax and soak in the bath without feeling like we're on display.

In this master suite, designer Mick De Giulio shows that it's possible to have an open connection between bedroom and bathroom, yet still have the flexibility for privacy when it's wanted.

The master suite is part of De Giulio's extensive remodel of a lake house that was only eight years old. Despite its fairly recent build, the house had only a small master bathroom, so De Giulio extended this to make the room longer and wider.

An early decision was to position the bed so as to get the best views of the lake, leaving the interior space behind the bed for the new master bathroom.

"Then the idea was to have an open concept for the bedroom and bathroom," says De Giulio. "But installing concealed motorised blinds in the ceiling meant the bathroom could be sectioned off, too."

This sense of openness includes an almost full height window to the side of the bath. And another blind can drop down here to block the view of the bath from the outside, if wanted.

The shower is largely screened from the bedroom by the partition wall behind the bath. On the shower side, this houses two sets of shower fittings, while the window inside the shower enclosure is frosted for permanent privacy.

"The owner is well travelled, with very sophisticated taste. He didn't want a typical lake house style, but asked for something more modern and clean lined."

De Giulio's selection of bath tub reflects this, as does his use of quartzite on walls and floors in the bathroom area.

"Brushed Iceberg Quartzite was used in four different formats 760mm x 760mm tiles in the bath area, 100mm x 100mm on the shower floor, 405mm x 405mm for the shower walls, and in slab form for the wall behind the bath," he says.

The large format floor tiles extend from the side of the bath and shower to the area housing the other bathroom components the vanity and toilet.

There's an interesting arrangement here, too, with his-and-her toilet enclosures as well as his-and-her vanities. Sliding pocket doors also allow this area to be opened up or closed off to provide various privacy configurations.