MIX & MATCH

A sumptuous blend of marble and timber makes this a bathroom its owners rarely want to leave

DESIGN TIP

One of the most luxurious elements is the sheet of honed (highly polished) Arabascato marble (try CDK Stone) used for the splashback to boost the five-star ambience. “It’s probably a luxury in a bathroom but is incredibly practical as well,” says Briony.

We saw the BLACKBUTT SASSAFRAS timber at a woodworker’s in Tasmania and were drawn to it –

After a challenging day of golf, homeowner Lyn likes nothing more than relaxing in a bath. So when she and her husband, Craig, built their new home in Melbourne’s south-western suburbs, the first priority for their family bathroom was a tub that was long and deep enough for two. “Generally when we’ve got a bit more time,

I love to soak away in the bath salts,” says Lyn.

It’s not just those salts that make the stress of the day – or golf course – vanish. A gorgeous charcoal and white palette, punctuated by a timber vanity, lifts this bathroom into an otherworldly realm.

“Craig is a joiner,” says architect Briony Darcy of DE Atelier Architects, who designed the bathroom with Leon Eyck as part of a total home makeover. “So we knew that the joinery was going to be special because of his involvement. It was Craig who put the beautiful blackbutt sassafras timber that I love on the vanity.” The boldly patterned veneer, which is expertly matched across the cabinetry, also appears elsewhere in the house. “We often work with a grey and white palette but the veneer really gave oomph to the bathroom,” says Briony.

The simple lines of this bathroom – the cabinetry is suspended to float above the charcoal-tiled floors, while the separate toilet is wall-mounted – make cleaning easy, which is a little bit of domestic luxury that Lyn appreciates. “There’s really nothing

I’d change,” she says. “Our bathroom is useable, it’s easy to access and there’s plenty of room for two people in there.” PRIVATE SANCTUARY Louvred windows and a voile curtain (above) filter light and a gentle breeze, while towel rails positioned over a floor vent make sure damp towels are a thing of the past. “Finding and positioning towel rails in bathrooms and coordinating the space is important,” says Briony.

“It makes sense, in a family bathroom, to have that additional hanging space – it shouldn’t be an afterthought. Bathrooms have to be functional to work. We like them to be beautiful as well.”

COOL CABINETRY A wall of mirrored cabinets with lots of storage keeps the countertop of this family bathroom clutter-free. The frameless shower (seen in the mirror) is designed to virtually disappear. “It made sense because it doesn’t become a...

CLOUD FLOATING Set into a sunken area, the Decina ‘Lago Dolce Vita’ 1795mm acrylic bath (try Tradelink) floats against 600mm x 600mm ceramic tiles (for similar, try Beaumont Tiles’ ‘Alpine’ in Charcoal). With cushioned headrests at either end and Dorf...

STYLED TO SIZE “It’s not a large room,” says Briony, “so designing the space to be clever and making the most of it was one reason why cantilevering the shelf over the bath [opposite & above right] made sense.” The hamper-style cabinet in 2-pac Dulux...