Personality plus

Designed by Vanessa Webb, Dress My Nest

From the designer:

The setting

This project involved a full reconfiguration of the upper level of our owner’s home, encompassing the primary bedroom, walk-through wardrobe, ensuite, and a new second bathroom to service the guest bedroom. 

While the floor area was generous, the original layout was inefficient: the ensuite was small and outdated, the wardrobe oversized, and guests had no dedicated bathroom access – often walking through the master wardrobe or heading downstairs.

The brief

The brief was clear: create a luxurious, functional primary suite with custom wardrobe joinery and without compromising the main ensuite introduce a second upstairs bathroom. 

In terms of aesthetics, breathe personality into a space that, while large, had felt cold and under-utilised.

Our response

We began by reworking the layout, combining the ensuite and wardrobe into one large zone, which we then divided into two functional areas. 

The new design features a walk-through wardrobe that flows into a generous ensuite through a wide opening.

The wardrobe cabinetry is crafted from laminated birch ply with bespoke integrated handle details that allow the natural timber to shine as a feature and nod to the birch ply vanity. 

Despite halving the original footprint, clever spatial planning and custom joinery solutions have delivered storage well beyond the homeowner’s expectations.

In the ensuite, the hero is a custom 2.2m vanity made from birch ply with oak veneer and a ceramic benchtop. 

Sensor lighting and power inside drawers means the space is as functional as it is beautiful. 

Black concrete basins, large arched mirrors, and elegant lighting create a sense of understated luxury. 

Black tapware with fluted detail adds sophisticated personality. 

Indigo mosaic finger tiles nod to the deep navy ceiling of the adjoining bedroom, providing continuity, while white floor tiles reflect light and enhance the sense of calm.

The wet area includes a generous walk-in shower and a toilet concealed behind a half-height tiled wall. 

A fluted glass screen allows light from the large window to travel through the entire space while maintaining privacy.

In the master bedroom, soaring ceilings were transformed into a defining feature by painting them a rich navy. 

This bold move added depth, intimacy, and cohesion – our homeowners now describe it as 'sleeping under the night sky'.

We also designed a compact new bathroom for the guest bedroom, solving a long-standing functional issue along the way. 

The result is a beautifully resolved primary suite that balances form and function with refined, timeless detail – and tons of personality!

Story by: Trendsideas