Family value

Careful planning delivered a bathroom that works a treat for bathers of all ages.

Smart spatial planning was essential for this family bathroom makeover – there was a lot to pack into a fairly compact 2.6x2.85-metre footprint. Part of a first-floor addition to a Sydney semi, it needed to accommodate a vanity with double sinks for two school-age children, a decent-size shower and a generous bath for ritual relaxation.

“We considered a few different layouts before the final design,” says Lara Ette, the interior designer behind the slick new setup. “But when it came to the colours and finishes, the owner was clear that she didn’t want anything mundane.”The home’s coastal outlook provided inspiration for the new palette. “It felt right to acknowledge the elements of the sea, sky and sun when selecting the finishes,” says Lara. “Standing on the terrazzo, which is used as both floor tile and skirting, you feel as though frothy waves are enveloping you.” A custom-designed vanity in deep-ocean blue further emphasises the connection to nature.

“Given the room’s dimensions and the window location, it was logical to place the bath in the corner of the room. We had to ‘borrow’ about 5 centimetres from an adjoining bedroom to create a more generous shower enclosure, one that had a shower screen of adequate length to catch the spray as well as to prevent the opening from feeling too tight to manouevre,” says Lara.

And the end result? A highly functional and unique space that gets the tick of approval from the whole family.

Lara Ette Interior Design and Decoration; www.laraettedesign.com.