DREAM BATHROOM
ART DECO AND MOROCCAN INFLUENCES JOIN FORCES WITH IMPRESSIVE RESULTS IN THIS BEAUTIFUL AND VIBRANT WET ROOM
Vibrant colour and striking fittings create the wow factor
DESIGNERS Paul Cuschieri, director, and Malcolm Abela Sciberras, interior designer, Rebirth at Cuschieri Architects, 00356 2122 0431, carchitects.eu.
THE PROPERTY A three-bedroom 1920s apartment in the art nouveau Balluta Buildings in St Julians, Malta.
DESIGN BRIEF The building had fallen into disrepair and the new owners of this apartment wanted it restored to its former glory, updating it with modern comforts. For the wet room, they requested a practical design with art deco influences that would leave guests in awe.
DIMENSIONS 3.9x1.9m
LAYOUT
This is the apartment’s second bathroom, which was converted into a wet room for the owners’ children and guests. The layout was mainly dictated by necessity. The apartment had various floors that needed to be levelled without impacting the impressive high ceilings. ‘As the floor couldn’t be raised, this left us with a usable depth of just 5cm under the bathroom to install a new plumbing system and drainage – 10cm is the norm,’ says Paul. This meant the
WC, basin and shower waste had to be positioned near the external wall. ‘The floor is gently inclined towards the end of the room where the shower drain is installed,’ says Paul. ‘Adding underfloor heating beneath tiles when there was precious little space to spare was particularly challenging.’
SURFACES
‘This is the most eccentric room we designed, in terms of the vibrant colours and striking fittings. The aim was to create an immediate wow factor,’ says Malcolm. ‘Taking inspiration from Moroccan baths, we used the geometric patterned tiles to protect the walls and floor where they come into direct contact with water.’ The remaining walls and ceiling are finished in Venetian polished plaster, which was colour-matched to the emerald green of the tiles.
FITTINGS
Paul and his team searched across Europe for fittings that would complement the apartment’s heritage, eventually arriving at Drummonds. A pair of outsized rain showerheads makes an instant strong statement. ‘We were seeking traditional-style sanitaryware to help break up the intensity of the room,’ says Paul.
‘The brushed-brass finish has a balancing effect on the large-scale fittings and provides a warm contrast to the overall colour palette.’
STYLING
The window at the end of the room is dressed with a Roman blind in white linen and a sheer screen for privacy. ‘The crisp white breaks up the green and helps create more depth within the room,’ says Malcolm. The vanity unit is also simply adorned with a pair of fluted-glass wall lights above a round mirror. The marble shelf below is perfect for fresh towels, while a hidden cupboard above the WC stores bathing supplies. Together with the underfloor heating, the floorstanding towel rail enhances the comfort level. ‘Using this room is a real treat for anyone,’ says Paul.