Reflected glory

This master bathroom uses lighting, mirrored walls and city viewsfor a modernist look that is both dramatic and relaxing

A view of the master ensuite, tiled floor bathroom, countertop, glass, interior design, black — A view of the master ensuite, tiled floor and walls, mirrors, lights, marble vanity, white sinks, chrome taps, wooden cabinetry.

A view of the ensuite, lights, tiled tub bathroom, billiard room, glass, interior design, room, black

A close up of the bath tub in bathroom, countertop, glass, interior design, black

A view of the entrance way to the furniture, interior design, room, gray, black

If you're faced with a small space for your master bathroom, it helps to know that you don't have to sacrifice drama in the quest to make every inch of space work.

The designer of this new master bathroom, a mere 14ft x 8ft, had just this challenge. Originally, the builders' plans specified a small tub and shower but the owner envisioned more luxurious facilities. He also wanted the room to be colorful, with a modern European aesthetic. And although the space is small, it offers prime city views, which were not being used to their full potential in the original plans.

The solution, says designer Ingrid Baltasi, was to run a deep bathtub along the length of the room, increase the shower size and position the shower seat so that it was level with the top of the tub.

"Making those elements as large as possible meant I didn't waste any space," she says.

While large objects in a small space can sometimes overcrowd it, Baltasi employed three devices to open and lighten the room: a 5ft x 5ft picture window, mirrored walls, and feature lighting. The entire bathroom, apart from the toilet area, was mirrored with large clear glass tiles.

The effect, she says, is to open the room up, and to create multiple reflections that intrigue the eye. The large picture window opens to the city skyline and enlarges the space further, while vertical Italian halogen lighting over the vanity sends reflected light cascading around the room.

"This is high drama in a small space, particularly at night, but it's also a very serene and relaxing room," she says. "The color scheme creates that ambiance, and so does the lighting."

It's also a minimalist space with few frills. "Everything is clean and tailored, with just a few decorative touches. This allows the major elements of the stone and the lighting to shine through."