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Renovation totally opens up new bathroom to the dressing room and bedroom, with views beyond

Architect Stefan Antoni turns a 1970s horror of a master suite into an open-plan space that’s become an everyday pleasure to use

Built in 1969, this home was inspired by architecture, bathroom, ceiling, interior design, room, black, gray
Built in 1969, this home was inspired by two iconic Mid-century Modernist houses. But when architect Stefan Antoni bought it, the interiors were in a very dilapidated state – especially the master suite. His reconfiguring of this part of the house combined the original separate bedroom, bathroom, dressing room and passageways, to create a large open-plan suite with a Zen-like resort look.

When architect Stefan Antoni bought the home featured here, he was attracted by its Modernist architecture, inspired by two iconic houses – Philip Johnson’s 1949 Glass House and Mies van der Rohe’s 1951 Farnsworth House.

What was less than impressive, though, was the poor state of some of the interiors – none more so than the master suite.

“The original master suite was a horror, with separate bedroom, dressing room and bathroom, all linked by small passages,” says Antoni.

“The home’s original dark brown quarry tiles had been removed from the floors and replaced with ugly blue-grey porcelain, and the vanity was awful.”


Travertine-look tiles on the floor of this renovated bathroom, interior design, room, gray, black
Travertine-look tiles on the floor of this renovated master bathroom were also used on the vanity splashback, the wall behind the bath and in the shower. Meanwhile, the off-white Silestone vanity top matches the bath and sanitaryware. Architect/owner Stefan Antoni says the Axor Urquiola mixers have a 1960s feel, in keeping with the era when the house was built, but still feel very contemporary.

First on the list was to take down the walls, which combined the three separate spaces into one open-plan area.

“That meant that from the bathroom you now look right through the bedroom to lovely views, while the bathroom can also open up to the back garden in the other direction.”

Placing the dressing room in the middle provides an ideal transition between the bathroom and bedroom.

“The reconfigured space now feels so much more generous,” says Antoni.

In this renovated master suite, the new bathroom architecture, interior design, black, gray
In this renovated master suite, the new bathroom is totally open to the dressing room and to the bedroom, with views beyond. There are also views from the shower to the back garden and pool. The toilet is behind the nib wall, providing a degree of privacy to that area.

Despite the open plan nature, the three areas are still very clearly defined, helped by the decision to raise the bathroom floor up one step.

Adding to the demarcation is the change to travertine-look tiles on the floor of the bathroom platform, with the same tiles also used on the vanity splashback, the wall behind the bath tub and in the shower.

“So when in the bathroom, you feel you are definitely in another space, yet still feel part of the overall experience.”

While the toilet sits behind a nib wall to give some degree of privacy, the bath, vanity and – to some extent – the shower are open to the rest of the suite.

“It may sound a bit clichéd, but every time I go into that space, it feels like I’m on holiday at some beautiful resort,” says Antoni. “And having the connections to views on both sides gives it a tranquil, Zen-like feel.”

Credit list

Architect
Stefon Antoni, SAOTA
Countertop
Silestone Noble Grey from Womag
Bath tub
Adelaide by Dado from Lara Bathroom Concepts
Taps
Axor Urquiola
Heated towel rail
Jeeves Classic
Vanity cabinetry
Duco sprayed MDF
Shower fittings
Hansgrohe Raindance shower rose and arm; Axor Urquiola shower mixer
Basin
Take Five
Flooring and wall tiles
Travertine

Story by: Paul Taylor

Photography by: Adam Letch and Stefon Antoni

02 Aug, 2018

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