Green dream A designer creates a playful bathroom for her family
A DESIGNER CREATES A PLAYFUL BATHROOM WITH POPS OF COLOUR FOR HER YOUNG CHILDREN
LET THERE BE LIGHT
When the original room was chopped in half, the portion allocated to be the new main bathroom was windowless. To allow in natural light, a window area above the bath was designed, yet with a tight heritage covenant on the house, the window style had to be approved by council. “I wanted black aluminium frames for the casements, but council specified white timber surrounds which were in keeping with the home’s original windows,” explains Carmel, who ended up adding her own touch with black accessories.
Although GIA Renovations interior designer Carmel creates stunning spaces for a living, when it came to her own family bathroom in the home she shares with husband Ben and sons Oliver, four, and Alfie, one, she admits the pressure was on. “As our forever home, I wanted it to be just right so I considered about 10 different palettes,” she says. “In the end I chose finishes and fixtures I’ve always loved.” Part of a larger renovation to the couple’s Melbourne home, the property’s Victorian heritage inspired the classic black and white palette. Florence Broadhurst wallpaper and a new window framing a wall of ivy in the garden incorporate Carmel’s love of green, while round lights and accessories add playfulness, which
Oliver and Alfie have given a big thumbs up to. “The boys think it’s fun,” says Carmel. “Ollie particularly likes the wallpaper.” ORIGINAL ROOM: A dated 1980s hotel-style bathroom with lots of heavy marble, mirrors and no storage. TIME FRAME: A six-week design phase, followed by a six-week build. WHY THE MAKEOVER? “The house only had one large bathroom, so we divided the original space into two, which allowed us to create a separate ensuite and bathroom,” says Carmel. “This is far more functional for a family of four.” THE WORKS: The room was completely gutted and the layout changed to suit the dimensions of the carved up space. MAJOR CHANGES: Everything is new, from the floor tiles to the fixtures. The window space was created above the bath and a new doorway to the room was added. LESSONS LEARNED: “If you’re organised, don’t discount January as a time to renovate,” says Carmel. “People often think everyone will be on holidays, but I had all the materials delivered on site before the job started and the renovation went really quickly and smoothly. Because it was after the mad Christmas rush and there were no time pressures, all the trades were in a good mood, too.”
ACCENTS
Black features such as Phoenix tapware, vanity handles and a black stool from Temple & Webster pack a punch. “I just love matt black accessories and the way they contrast against crisp white,” enthuses Carmel. “They’re incredibly forgiving and unlike chrome, they don’t show water marks.”
TILE FILE
The classic white handmade subway tiles from Minted Tiles are a nod to the home’s heritage. Aesthetics and functionality prompted Carmel to run them the full height of the wall. “Taking tiles to the ceiling looks neater, is more durable and while the initial outlay might be more expensive than a painted plaster wall, you don’t have the ongoing costs of having to repaint every four years.”
WET ZONE
Partly inspired by traditional Japanese bathrooms where the wet area is segregated, a single pane of glass defines the zone for the shower and a freestanding bath. “It works so well for the kids,” explains Carmel. “Ollie loves to have a little splash with the handheld shower and it can also stretch over to the bath, which is great when the kids wash their hair. When they step out of the bath, water just drips in the shower area.” The layout also maximises a compact space. “The footprint of the shower floor is only 800mm x 1800mm, but it still feels spacious up the top where you need it,” says the designer.
COOL CURVES
Carmel had dreamt of using the round ‘Lucciola’ wall lights by Flos for a long time and the main bathroom presented the perfect opportunity. To form an eye-catching trio, she teamed them with an LEDlux Disk LED black wall light from Beacon Lighting. The circular theme was carried through to the round ‘Flynn’ mirror from The Shelley Panton Store and custom oversized drawer handles in matt black.
LOOK AT ME VANITY
The custom floating vanity by Antic Cabinet Makers is a stand-out feature in the room. An Omvivo ‘Neo’ double wall basin from Reece paired with sleek wall-mounted Phoenix
‘Vivid’ Slimline basin mixers, sits atop cabinetry clad in V-Grooved panelling in a 2-pac satin finish in Resene White Pointer double strength. To maximise storage, Carmel opted for drawers top and bottom, to ensure easy access for towels down low and smaller items like toothbrushes up high. To tie in with the circular mirror and lights, oversized round drawer pulls, which split in two, add a little fun.
classic “SUBWAY TILES ARE AND I FIND THEY HIDE wall tiles” MORE SINS THAN LARGE WHITE – CARMEL, DESIGNER & HOMEOWNER