An owner’s desire for a dark shower has become a vision of tile and terrazzo

With a white base in their other bathrooms, the owners ventured into dark territory with this ensuite

“I like the idea of having a shower in the dark. Black gave [the light room] something more, a bit of richness” KARLY, HOMEOWNER

before

It was the views that seduced Karly and David to build their new home just south of Newcastle. Happily ensconced in a house nearby, Karly says she had no intention of moving again until David spied a prime block of land in Merewether Heights. “He was like, ‘I just want you to come and have a look,’” she says. “I said, ‘I’m not moving.’ Then he goes, ‘Just come and look.’ I looked and I went, ‘Oh bugger. It’s good.’ The block had a beautiful view and it was just very difficult to say no. My husband can be a persuasive man.”

The couple decided to build a new three-storey home. Although experienced ‘builders’ (this is their fourth house), they decided to employ an interior designer this time around: New Lambton-based local Stewart Horton of Horton & Co. After seeing the work he had done for some of their friends, Karly and David asked him to manage the entire process from the DA stage through to the fit-out of all the rooms.

during

Karly has always loved a monochromatic palette, which was the brief she gave to Stewart, and for the ensuite she wanted a luxurious, indulgent space. The three bathrooms in the house have a similar palette, but the powder room and children’s bathroom feature white as the base. “I wanted something a little more boudoir-ish,” says Karly. “I like the idea of having a shower in the dark. Everything else in the room is quite light and fresh, but the black gave it something more, a bit of richness.”

Karly and David originally wanted the floor to be polished concrete, but site considerations made it difficult and expensive, so Stewart suggested terrazzo tiles as an alternative. “Looking back on it now, I would have hated the concrete,” says Karly. “Concrete is very industrial and bland-looking, and the terrazzo just gives it life and character that concrete wouldn’t have provided.”

after

Working with a limited colour palette, Stewart used different textures and patterns to create a contemporary feel. “The ensuite has quite a lot of intricacy and interest,” says Karly. It also includes a black shelf running from the entry into the shower, to store products and accessories. “The space almost has a theatrical kind of feeling to it, especially when you are in that shower,” says Stewart. “It’s very dark and cave-like, with a very dramatic vibe, and I think that’s what they really love about it.”

the result

The smooth texture of the terrazzo tiles is Karly’s favourite element of the ensuite. “It has a silky-satin feel under your feet,” she explains. “And I do love a nice dark shower. Sometimes I don’t get home until late, and having a shower with a really low light in the dark just feels like I’m decompressing the day. It’s a luxurious feeling rather than a chore.”

For more of Stewart’s work, see hortonandco.com.au

Who lives here Karly, a dietitian, and David, a business owner, with their two daughters aged 13 and 16. Type of project An ensuite in a contemporary home, newly built in Newcastle, NSW.

VANITY (opposite) Designer Stewart Horton used a mix of textures to create a sense of luxury. The Dolomite stone benchtop in Super White from CDK Stone allows the Abstrakt terrazzo tiles from Fibonacci Stone to remain the hero. Polytec Venette MDF joinery in Black is teamed with J Pull handles from Index + Co. The Covet Short Clip bath sconce is by Kelly Wearstler. SHOWER Extreme Black porcelain tiles from Earp Bros add to the mystery. BASIN DETAIL The Laufen Pro A under-counter basins and Milli Glance tapware are both from Reece. An Oscar bowl by Greg Natale and a Diva dish by Kelly Wearstler bring polish to the elegant space.