This ensuite renovation resulted in a space designed for a wellness lifestyle

The word penthouse conjures a picture of the very best of everything. However, prior to this top-floor unit's ensuite renovation, the room had looked reasonably average. Designer Kim Duffin undertook the bathroom's comprehensive rethink.

"The existing space had been enclosed and housed a tub, single vanity, a small shower and a toilet all lacking a sense of luxury," Duffin says. "In its place, the owners wanted a modern ensuite that reflected their wellness lifestyle."

The new design was to incorporate a steam and shower room that would allow the user to look out to the master bedroom and city views.

"An early obstacle was the need to relocate the services from fixed drainage points."

Duffin says the ensuite's existing window sill led a design stroke that served several uses including addressing the services.

"We introduced a half wall reaching up to the sill's height and continued this around to the vanity wall and on into the new glass combined shower and steam shower enclosure, positioned where the bath had been."

Under the window, the wall conceals the toilet cistern and suspends the black toilet pan. Then, on the adjacent wall, it hides the relocated pipework that serves the vanity and shower."

The top of the wall provides a utility ledge for the vanities and for soaps and shampoos in the steam-shower enclosure.

The space between the ledge and mirrored wall cabinets above, forms a niche. Charcoal glass lines this, accentuated by diffused LED lighting. The mirrors add to the sense of space.

Duffin cut out a section of the wall between the bathroom and the rest of the suite creating a glass corner that looks across the bedroom to the city views beyond and brings in added light.

"When installing a steam shower, the ceiling inside the enclosed space needs to be raked at a specific angle so condensation runs off into the drain without dripping on the user again this was tricky in the tight apartment environment."

The combined matt black fixtures, charcoal wall and hexagon feature tiles and LED-lit niche create a sense of luxury. The predominant grey-black tones are complemented by the warmth of the vanity and wood-look tile floors.

"We chose the custom wall tiles and the pattern to be added to those on the half wall then the plain and patterned tiles were fired together, for a perfect colour match," says Duffin.

Story by: Charles Moxham

Photography by: Steve Ryan