Room to relax

The small room is an apt description for many bathrooms and ensuites. However, for some homeowners, small is no longer enough. As a result, we are seeing more spacious bathrooms, with levels of finish that are equal, or in many cases superior, to those of luxury hotels.

Architect Nicholas Murray was responsible for the extensive renovations to this Italianate villa. The home, which sits on a prestigious street with heritage preservation zoning, features an ornate streetside facade. While the opulent style of the original design is replicated in the lower front rooms, a contemporary approach was adopted for the home's back section and the upper level, which includes the master suite.

One specific request from the homeowners was for a spacious ensuite bathroom.

"Modern lifestyles dictate that during the week, most of our time will be spent in the kitchen and master bedroom, so it was important that these rooms be as comfortable and roomy as possible," says the homeowner.

Murray says it is a sense of transparency that makes the master suite work so well.

"The bedroom features an interior view, past the freestanding wall, into the ensuite, and then out to the exterior through vertical windows on each side of the vanity. However, the key is that it is still very private."

Light spills through the glass panel above a freestanding wooden wall, reinforcing the idea of transparency. The entrance to the bathroom is arranged around this piece of bedroom furniture, which, with a built-in shelf and attached lights, is as functional as it is decorative.

A change in flooring marks the transition from the bedroom to the ensuite, which has a floor tiled in brown marble. Combined with the blue-gold mosaic wall tiles, this creates a wet-room effect.

Designed with optimum convenience in mind, the bathroom can be accessed from each side of the bed. Mixers have been installed at both ends of the shower area to provide even more functionality.

A segment of toughened glass fixed to a rectangular column separates the shower from the rest of the room. A wall-hung toilet and basins keep the space uncluttered and clean. The wide mirror does double duty as a medicine cabinet, and the ledge below provides a convenient stand for accessories.

Story by: Mike Barrett