WOODEN wonder

With its sinuous grain, welcoming tones and tactile warmth, wood is undoubtedly a feel-good material. Given a little maintenance and care, it can be used in endless ways in the bathroom. Owen Architecture’s small but perfectly formed space calls on joinery and an entrance clad in honey-toned timber to counter its minimalist, clean-lined design (opposite). A generous onsen-style tub is the focal point in this space (above left) by interior designer Pamela Shamshiri, with pale planks on the the floor segueing seamlessly into the rest of the room. Source Architects (above right) has played with the contrast of rich teak cladding both walls and floor with cool concrete. The combination can also be seen in this Tandberg Arkitekter-designed space ( below left), where a sensational ripple of curved ply counters the brutalist-style floor. For a more refined feel, take heed of Flack Studio’s sleek use of oak panelled walls and sink, which reveal a flash of opulent marble within ( below right). (owenarchitecture.com.au; studioshamshiri.com; sourcearchitects.com.au; tandberg-arkitekter.no; flackstudio.com.au)