Verdant escape

Designed by Julia Shuttleworth, Hacker Kitchens

From the designer:

This bathroom was designed as a guest bathroom for a professional couple. 

Located next to the guest bedroom, it serves visiting parents and friends who stay for extended periods. 

As the only bathroom on the main living floor, it is essential for both convenience and creating a luxurious experience for guests. 

The owners desired a space that would evoke a sense of peace and relaxation, focusing on aesthetics over functionality.

They wanted a drama factor that would make guests feel immediately at ease upon entering. 

The project was a renovation of an existing character home in St Mary's Bay. 

The design concept centres around an oasis theme, with travertine-toned tiles transitioning into deep green tiles, symbolising the shift from the desert to a lush, serene space. 

This transformation aims to create a calming, visually striking environment for visitors.

I was involved in the design process from the very beginning, working closely with the homeowners, who were new to Auckland and had recently purchased the home. 

The bathroom, along with the kitchen, was outdated and was in need of a complete renovation. 

The original layout had presented several challenges, including an open walk-in shower that was the first thing visible upon entry, and a vanity placed below a window, limiting the space for a functional mirror. 

To address these issues, we repositioned the toilet behind a wall to improve privacy and moved the vanity to the focal point as you walked in.

To create a striking first impression, we chose a custom floating vanity fabricated from Neolith porcelain, paired with sconces to frame the mirror. This combination elevated the design while maintaining the owners' desire for a standout feature.

Due to the age of the home, it was challenging to add built-in niches into the existing walls in the shower and behind the bath. 

Instead, we brought the wall forward and incorporated lush green tiles, transforming these walls into bold design statements. 

This solution helped overcome construction limitations while enhancing the overall aesthetic.

Given the budget constraints – the owners had already overspent on the kitchen – we made sure to allocate the funds carefully. 

We focused on making key design elements stand out, ensuring that they created a lasting visual impact without compromising on quality. 

The bathroom was transformed into a relaxing, stylish oasis with striking design features that make it a unique, memorable space.

Throughout the project, I managed the design, selection of materials, and implementation, ensuring the homeowners' vision was brought to life while adhering to budget and timeline constraints.

Story by: Trendsideas