As part of a whole-house project, architect and designer Donna Collins at Dot Projects created a unique bathroom that took its inspiration from a pair of colourful basins.

KEEPING THE CHARACTER

‘The overall brief was to retain the formality of the period property while adding the feeling of a Parisian apartment with generous high ceilings, spacious flowing layout and elegant but contemporary touches,’ says Donna. There was no main en suite, only a family bathroom that was drab and dated at the other end of the house – as a result, she was tasked with transforming three bedrooms into the main en suite and dressing room, to create a calm interior with punches of colour punctuating the space.

PRIDE OF PLACE

‘The bathroom in the principal suite keeps the original proportions of the existing bedrooms so it still feels like a comfortable living space rather than a bathroom,’ says Donna. ‘The yellow basins were a must-have from the beginning. The client had absolutely fallen in love with them, so we designed the whole space around them.’ The basins provide the main focal point as you enter the bathroom from the bedroom, while the room divider not only serves as a wall for the taps and mirrors, but it also conceals a private double shower area.

SURFACE STYLE

Keen to create a feel of calm and serenity, Donna sourced floor tiles in a beautiful neutral limestone. ‘On the internal partition wall, we used smaller-format zellige-style brick tiles in a mixture of square and rectangular shapes to add subtle interest, with arched recessed cabinet mirrors,’ says Donna. ‘This created the perfect backdrop for the yellow basins.’

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

According to Donna, this project presented a unique challenge, but was also immensely satisfying. ‘We were able to combine the best of both worlds here – the charm of a period property with the sophistication of Parisian style,’ she says.