RAW APPEAL

A stunning stone is the star of this tranquil Melbourne bathroom.

The brief

When builder Dean Atkinson turned his attention to the main bathroom of his own home he placed an emphasis on introducing organic elements. “The whole house has been designed to be sustainable, so using stone is an aesthetic reflection of this,” says Atkinson, a director of Atkinson Pontifex. “This bathroom is primarily used by our two children and we wanted it to have a natural, practical feel.”

The design

“Natural materials are durable and don’t date,” says Atkinson, “plus they help a bathroom take on the feel of a sanctuary.” Once he’d selected the Alpine Drystone from Eco Outdoor his goal was to show the stone to its best effect. This involved running it right to the ceiling, building in a stone niche and ensuring all other fixtures and materials were understated so as not to compete. “We chose an Apaiser bath in Cotton, a soft cream, and had the vanity top, with its integrated basins, made to match.” A shower and toilet are tucked away near the room’s entrance, allowing the bath and feature wall to take centrestage. Atkinson Pontifex, Cheltenham, Victoria; atkinsonpontifex.com.au

‘A GOOD BATHROOM HAS AN EFFICIENT FLOOR PLAN THAT

UTILISES THE ENTIRE SPACE AND ENABLES EASY CIRCULATION .’

Dean Atkinson

An Apaiser bath was chosen for its ability to be custom-made to match the vanity top. This stone has been used inside and out, to ensure continuity throughout the house.