SHOWERED WITH COMPLIMENTS
The bathrooms in My Ideal House are awash with thoughtful inclusions and beautiful, highly efficient fixtures.
From the inviting tub that will take pride of place in the family bathroom to the soothing showers in the ensuite, each bathroom element in My Ideal House has been designed to create a haven of relaxation. Refined, elegant and luxurious, these rooms are shaping up to be standout spaces in the house. And given this is a property overflowing with beautiful finishes and details, that’s quite an achievement.
“A great bathroom always starts with the right layout,” says Madeleine Blanchfield, Sydney architect and winner of the My Ideal House design competition.
“It should feel comfortable and spacious, have ample storage and be easy to move around in.”
Flooded with natural light that pours in through a cedar-framed window, the family bathroom fulfils Madeleine’s intention that it should be thoughtfully zoned and fitted out. “The shower and toilet are discreetly tucked away so the freestanding bath
and vanity can shine,” she says. And d shine they will. A roomy 1700mm Kado Lussi freestanding bath (below, left) from m Reece has been specified for the space. “It’s a cast solid-surface bath that’s luxurious in feel and timeless in style,” says Daniela Santilli, bathroom marketing lead for Reece.
Across from the bath will be a generous 1800mm Rifco ‘Acqua’ wall-hung vanity with a blackwood timber top. It’s from Reece, like all the bathroom’s fixtures.
“This is an Australian-designed and made piece of bathroom furniture,” says Daniela. “Being wall-hung, it’s clean-lined and space-efficient, and will have a lovely, light presence in the room.”
The vanity will be topped with a pair of Alape ‘Unisono’ 375mm above-counter basins. They’re formed from a single piece of steel pressed into shape and coated with three layers of a special glass/ceramic glaze. “The result is a crisp, thin edge and a contemporary look,” says Daniela. “And Mizu ‘Soothe’ wall mixers (left) marry well with the basins. They’re an elegant choice because of their gently rounded form.”
For a cohesive look, all the bathroom tapware and accessories – from robe hooks to the bath spout and towel rail – are drawn from the Mizu ‘Soothe’ collection.
Hidden away behind the bathroom door is an ingenious toilet: the Roca ‘Meridian’. This in-tank model (below, right) is water-efficient and integrates the cistern and button seamlessly into its pan. The fixtures in the main bathroom have been kept deliberately low-key, says Madeleine. “This is so the room feels less like a wet area and more like any other room of the house.”
When it came to the ensuite in My Ideal House, Madeleine designed a fresh, open space. “I wanted it to feel like part of the dressing area,” she explains. To achieve this effect, the shower and toilet are zoned to the right of the centrally placed vanity, with his-and-hers walk-in wardrobes to the left. “By having the functional things tucked out of the way, the view from the main bedroom will be of a handsome vanity.”
The vanity specified for the ensuite is the same design as in the main bathroom, only a little smaller at 1500mm. It will also be topped with an Alape ‘Unisono’ basin and Mizu ‘Soothe’ mixer, a very efficient tap with a 4-star WELS rating that uses just
7.5 litres of water per minute.
Ceiling and rail showers work in tandem in the ensuite, offering the home’s future owners great flexibility. The overhead shower selected is the 200mm Mizu ‘Drift’ (above). “It will deliver a drenching shower that feels very luxurious, thanks to its ability to create a voluminous spray from a minimal amount of water,” says Daniela. Likewise, the Nikles ‘Pure 105’ rail shower (far left) features turbine technology within its showerhead, mixing air with water to deliver a powerful, massaging spray.
Downstairs, the powder room features a compact Roca ‘Meridian’ back-to-wall toilet and AXA ‘Cento’ 450mm wall basin. “This is a great space-saving design,” says Daniela.
There’s a beautiful cohesiveness to the bathrooms in My Ideal House, she adds. “Each fits perfectly with the aesthetics of the house. They’re thoughtful and understated, but also practical and efficient.”