Subtle interplay of herringbone tiles and a muted palette in luxury bathroom

Designed with various roles in mind – from guest bathroom to bathing retreat – this versatile bathroom boasts luxe materials and a reflective ambience

Concealed lighting under the wall cabinetry washes down architecture, bathroom, bathroom design, black, white, tiles, vanity, Melonie Bayl-Smith, Andrew Lee, Bijl Architecture — Concealed lighting under the wall cabinetry washes down the eye-catching herringbone tilework in this bathroom by Bijl Architecture. Shutters outside the shower window conform to heritage regulations imposed on the cottage-style home.

This new bathroom partially steps outside the original bathroom, floor tiles, bathroom designer, tap, tile, black, white, basin

Oak-look vanity cabinet fronts complement the subtle tones architecture, bathroom design, sink, tap, gray, black, taps, vanity, Melonie Bayl-Smith, Andrew Lee, Bijl Architecture

Plan of bathroom suite by Bijl Architecture: 1 architecture, area, design, drawing, floor plan, line, pattern, plan, product, structure, text, white

Many elements can influence the look of a bathroom, such as exactly who will be using it and even how it relates to other bathrooms in the home. These considerations, among others, helped inform the look of this luxurious and subtly toned bathroom, by architects Melonie Bayl-Smith and Andrew Lee of Bijl Architecture.

This bathroom design is a careful response to several factors, says Melonie Bayl-Smith.

“Located in a reinvented and extended lower level of a cottage-style home, the new bathroom serves two guest bedrooms and a living space on this level. It’s also the bath retreat for the home as the other bathrooms don’t have a tub.”

For this reason – and to contrast the light, bright master ensuite upstairs – Bayl-Smith and Lee went for a subtle variety of tones that would appeal to a broad spectrum of tastes. The emphasis is instead on textures and patterns.

“The owners liked the way the light catches the herringbone-pattern tiles as it reminds them of the textures and colours of an old London mews, a look they were particularly fond of.”

This surface takes on different characters in the room – dark and rich on the side where the tub is positioned and lighter on the other side of the room where the cabinetry’s lighting washes over the tiles, lightening their tones slightly.

While the herringbone tile gives the room an intriguing character, the large-format tiles used on the floors and other walls offer a peaceful backdrop to the overall design. The oak-look vanity and concrete-toned engineered stone benchtop both fit within this subdued colourway.

The potential different uses also called for diverse functionality, too, hence the double basins and separate bathing and shower zones.

“The design is also influenced by the bath-room’s physical location,” says Andrew Lee. “It’s intended to orientate the user by offering views out to the front and back of the house. The window next to the bath gives a sense of the subterranean level of the excavated space, while the window in the shower overlooks the rear landscaping towards the water views.”