Coastal cool
A petite ensuite is transformed to become big on style and warmth.
A coastal aesthetic was what the owner of this Sydney apartment requested for his ensuite – fitting since the property looks onto one of the city’s loveliest beaches. “It had to feel cool and light,” says interior designer Andrea D’Cruz, who worked on the renovation in tandem with Telgrit Master Builders. “It was important that it be low-maintenance too.” Andrea’s task was to make the compact ensuite – measuring just 2 metres at its widest point – feel as generous as space would allow. The Telgrit build team stripped the space back to its concrete shell, levelling the floor in the process. Andrea’s design centres on some smart material choices: running the baby-blue tiles – a colour the owner loves and specifically requested – vertically draws the eye upward. “A tall skirting in the same terrazzo that’s used on the floor also works to make the small space look larger than it is.” Bronze fixtures and the oak used in the vanity add a little warmth to the ensuite, which is completely devoid of natural light. “Selecting lights with the right colour temperature to replicate daylight was absolutely critical,” says Andrea. The owner’s desire for a heated towel rail was met with the inclusion of a vertical fixture. “It was really the only possibility for the space.” The bathroom now feels relaxed, sophisticated and well-equipped, says Andrea. “The owner gave us a lot of creative freedom and I’m thrilled to say he could not be happier with the result.”