RUCKERS HILL HOUSE

Studio Bright

EXHIBITING COLOUR and contrast, these bathrooms designed by Mel Bright of Studio Bright cater to everyday rituals with a dash of fun. They prove that strikingly modern fixtures can be the perfect choice for a home where old and new meld together seamlessly. What was the brief? The project is an addition to an existing Edwardian house on a corner block in Melbourne’s Ruckers Hill. The original part of the house now hosts the bedrooms and their attendant bathroom facilities, which suits the traditional cellular room floorplan really well. The shared family bathroom gets its own immersive hues of turquoise and blues in a suite of brightly coloured bedrooms. To accommodate the family’s needs, the vanity’s trough-style basin has been extended to fit the three children shoulder to shoulder in their morning routine, with each having their own tap and towel rail. What were some of the influences that shaped your design concept? Our strategy for the newly inserted functional elements has been to ensure the period distinction is held in sharp contrast. The basins are, for example, of unmistakably modern fabrication and detailed as items of freestanding furniture – inspired by schoolyard bubblers, where all the kids have to negotiate and share. We see it as a communal space like that, so there is room for everyone to use it at once. How would you describe the completed bathrooms? Communal, playful and sensitive to a period house and calming spaces to start the day. What informed the selection of fittings, surfaces and furniture? The dark pinks in the ensuite basin and vanity tie in with the distinctive colour palette of the main bedroom, while the shared family bathroom gets its own enveloping hues of turquoises and blues. Strong colours that flow from wall to wall and reeded glass in the shower screen further enhance this room. What luxury items did you specify for these bathrooms regardless of budget? The custom vanities. While they’re not intended to be the aesthetic focus of the rooms, we think the vanity in the family bathroom manages to capture the particularities of the family members and the essence of the project – it’s functional without compromising on personal expression. Both vanities incorporate sinks, storage, towel rails and toilet roll holders, too. Were the clients happy with the bathrooms’ execution? They were especially delighted with the outcome of the family bathroom because it has allowed the morning routine of getting the kids ready for school to become a fun and communal activity. studiobright.com.au

RORY GARDINER

JESS KNEEBONE