Private means

Let's face it, if asked to name our favorite room in the house, few of us would automatically answer the bathroom. Once viewed as purely utilitarian spaces, bathrooms often suffered from rudimentary attempts at design.

Much has changed however, and a little forethought can lift a bathroom from being purely serviceable and give it an identity of its own, says Don Zivkovic, principal of Zivkovic Associates.

"You want it to be a space that you would feel comfortable spending time in. To do that, it's important that you focus on getting the bathroom laid out well determine how it is going to interact with the spaces around it. That way the functionality of the room will enhance the design scheme and vice versa."

The bathroom featured on these pages is positioned between a guest bedroom and sitting room, both of which were sited to capture exterior views. A terrace, also facing the view, can only be accessed from the bedroom via the bathroom, giving it extra importance as part of the overall suite.

For the design scheme, Zivkovic says the intention was to give it the feel of a turn-of-the-century gentleman's club similar to upmarket club venues in the city.

"As the bathroom only services the guest suite, we decided that we would be able to incorporate that scheme into the suite, and still be in keeping with the architectural style of the home."

The darkly stained paneling, doors and vanity, along with the heavy proportions, reinforce the masculinity of the bathroom. Yet this is tempered by the Toile de Jouy-style wallpaper, which lightens the overall scheme and adds a feminine touch.

"The color scheme and pattern of the wallpaper were chosen to complement the style of the suite, reflecting its status as more than just an elementary space," says Zivkovic.

Story by: Trendsideas