TOP OF THE CLASS
Marble mosaics, a touch of oak and a lush rainfall shower set the scene for some me-time magic
One of the first things decorator Alix Helps did when transforming this dated 1990s bathroom into an elegant haven was to change round the floor plan, and reposition the door which hit the shower frame every time it was opened. A large, clunky bath was removed and a spacious showering zone – complete with rainfall shower – was created at the other end of the bathroom, far from that door.
Homeowner Edwina, a beauty therapist who shares her home on Sydney’s upper north shore with her retired mother, Winifred, adores the ensuite’s layout and functionality as much as its looks. “It’s so lovely in here that sometimes I don’t want to leave,” she says.
Using a mix of marble mosaics, large-format floor tiles, an oak vanity unit and an elegant feature pendant, Alix certainly delivered on the one word Edwina emphasised when describing her dream ensuite: sophisticated. “It’s such a relaxing environment,” says Edwina. “It’s where I like to spend me-time.”
The decision to forgo a bath – there’s one in another bathroom – allowed Alix to take advantage of the full width of the room and make it seem luxuriously airy. The finishes also contribute. “I love the feeling of space we created in what is quite a small room,” says Alix. “The Carrara marble mosaics are stunning and provide the perfect backdrop to the clean, clutter-free design and beautiful features.”
TIMBER TONES
Decorator Alix Helps specified a wall-hung Omvivo ‘Venice’ 1500mm vanity unit in Arlington Oak and twin Omvivo ‘Venice’ 450mm counter basins, all from Reece, to give the illusion of space (opposite & above right). Wall-hanging the vanity allowed her to install LED lighting underneath. “The lighting sheds a soft glow on the floor and the timber adds warmth and texture,” says Alix. The ‘La Roche’ 800mm x 400mm floor tiles in Grey from Amber Tiles (top left) look like pale stone but are actually porcelain. “Everyone who’s seen them asks me, firstly, if they’re granite, and then where they’re from,” says Edwina.
LIGHT APPEAL
One of Edwina’s favourite features is the Studio Italia Design ‘Sky-Fall’ crystal pendant light from Special Lights (below). Its gentle curves resemble a suspended teardrop. “If I ever move,” says Edwina, “I will take this light with me!” Its transparency lets the beauty of the feature wall tiles – ‘Montage’ marble mosaics in Tosca Glacier from Amber Tiles, which come in a variety of sheet sizes – shine.
From a PRACTICALITY point of view, a floating vanity is ideal. It maximises floor space and is easy to clean – ALIX HELPS, DECORATOR