Eclectic bathroom in Perth with a built-in sink, dark wood cabinets, dark hardwood flooring, multi-coloured walls and recessed-panel cabinets.

Chris Snook
This is an example of a contemporary bathroom in London.

Double larder cupboard with drawers to the bottom. Bespoke hand-made cabinetry. Paint colours by Lewis Alderson
Photo of an expansive rural kitchen pantry in Hampshire with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, granite worktops and limestone flooring.

Williams Ridout Ltd. bespoke furniture www.williamsridout.com
Photo of a small traditional u-shaped kitchen in London with a belfast sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, grey splashback, metro tiled splashback and no island.

Alan Williams Photography
Design ideas for a contemporary wood curved staircase in London with wood risers and under stair storage.

This is an example of a large bohemian ensuite bathroom in Melbourne with flat-panel cabinets, red cabinets, a built-in bath, an alcove shower, a one-piece toilet, white tiles, porcelain tiles, red walls, a submerged sink, engineered stone worktops, black floors, an open shower, black worktops, a wall niche, a single sink, a built in vanity unit and porcelain flooring.

The house… Situated in the elevated and prestigious suburb of Clayfield, one of Brisbane’s oldest and most established suburbs, this two story federation style manor is reminiscent of an age gone by. The character and eclectic filled house was built in 1926 and whilst it has undergone various renovations over the years, the home still retains its appealing character and period features and proudly stands as a piece of Clayfield’s architectural history. The brief… Like many of the residents of Clayfield the owners are a professional middle aged couple and my client a female high court barrister. Whilst the home boasts a spacious master bedroom ensuite, my client desired a bathroom of her very own – her own ‘personal sanctuary’. The existing main bathroom on the 2nd storey (opposite the main bedroom) provided the perfect space. Elegant, soft and sophisticated were keywords used by the client to describe the desired feel of her proposed new bathroom and the brief she gave was clear - to design a ‘feminine but practical space’. She insisted that the room have the feeling and grandeur of the traditional home. However whilst she wanted to ensure respect was paid to the homes original features it was imperative that the bathroom incorporated the functions of a modern retreat. Another request from the client was for an open layout that still included a private space for both the water closet and shower. The solution… The first task was to re-define the new space. The dividing wall that separated the previous bathroom and an un-used storage room (positioned directly behind the bathroom) was opened up. This not only paved the way for a much larger room but also allowed for more natural light, which was now able to flood the room through the retained lead lighting on the far eastern wall (once only seen from the old storage room). We then set out to design a space that perfectly merged the traditional features in the room with a contemporary layout and understated modern finishes. To create consistency between the new and existing architecture we retained the raked ceiling and kept the original cornice, timber doorways and windows intact. Echoing the style of the home we drew inspiration from the existing ‘lady of spring’ leadlight window from the original home. Setting the theme of the space the stunning piece of artwork provided the ideal backdrop and a focal point when entering the bathroom. The challenge was to make the space private and intimate (as requested by the client) without destroying the sense of openness. To optimise the space we divided it up into task specific zones. The existing cavity between the two floors was large enough to allow us to reposition all services. A modern feminine take on the built in bath, a curved hob, follows the luxurious shape and softens the space. In keeping with the clients request for a private shower and toilet, a large and very private shower was strategically positioned opposite the bath. With this in place a water closet with wall hung toilet was purposely positioned in the back left of the bathroom as not to detract from the overall design and provide the ultimate privacy. At the front and entrance of the bathroom, custom cabinetry was designed to provide maximum storage and functionality. On the Southern wall a floating ‘double’ vanity and the Northern wall a dressing table complete with floating glass shelves offers a contemporary silhouette and functional eye level storage for perfumes and make up. Extending on from the dresser is a large daybed which includes built in storage for towels, mats and other bathroom necessities. Style & Feel The rich palette of materials and finishes offers plenty of texture and movement and complements the classic and eclectic style of the home. The use of a large format ‘Royal Beige’ marble tile throughout create an air of spaciousness and cocooning, while the Sicis feature walls of exquisite glass ‘chestnut’ mosaics provides visual interest in the space. Harmonising with the chestnut mosaic tiles, the richness of the Walnut stained Victorian Ash speaks the classical language and the profiled doors convey a sense of tradition in the redesign. Drawing on the colour red seen in the ‘lady of spring’ lead lighting and to provide a punch of colour and feminine sophistication, ruby red velvet was selected for the upholstery ottoman and day bed. The upholstery also helps balance the space and further softens the room. Elegant yet modern fixtures were selected again for their soft shape and feminie feel as well as being empathetic to the character of the home. Small touches also enhance the private space such as the ease of grabbing a cozy heated towel from the heated towel rack as you step out of a relaxing hot bath or shower. Even the simple inclusion of a dark painted boarder around the perimeter of the room creates a sense of warmth. Lighting Lighting for the re-designed room has been more directed at work areas with make-up lights strategically placed either side of both the vanity mirrors and dressing table mirror. Soft light for soaking in the tub is achieved with a wall dimmer connected to the main lighting. And adding a touch of opulence is a suspended classic ‘Larissa’ pendant from Custom Lighting. Summary It’s always a challenge designing a modern space that is sympathetic to a century old home and that conveys a sense of the age and the original architecture. But this design is proof that this can be achieved by creating a modern layout, layering classic finishes with contemporary forms. The end result is a bathroom that possesses everything the client desires as well as reflects the personality and spirit of this beautiful home.

Inspiration for a contemporary bedroom in Melbourne with white walls and carpet.

Photo of a medium sized eclectic ensuite bathroom in London with a freestanding bath, a single sink and a floating vanity unit.

This bathroom was made from solid Brazilian mahogany to create a clubby, masculine look. The worksurfaces, floor, backsplashes and shower areas were all made from solid carrara marble to offset the dark colour of the timber. The brief was also to integrate a great deal of storage for clothes into this bathroom hence the large number of drawers and cupboards. The way that this bathroom was designed with a large dressing table on the other side of the room means that both husband and wife have a combined dressing room and bathroom to suit them both. We created a bespoke bathroom for our clients with a stylish and elegant look. Designed and hand built by Tim Wood

This is an example of a contemporary home in Nantes.

Design ideas for a contemporary home in Other.

A fun and colourful kids bathroom in a newly built loft extension. A black and white terrazzo floor contrast with vertical pink metro tiles. Black taps and crittall shower screen for the walk in shower. An old reclaimed school trough sink adds character together with a big storage cupboard with Georgian wire glass with fresh display of plants.

MortonScarr has delivered the complete remodelling of a large two bedroom apartment in a converted warehouse in central London. Our client, a young professional, wanted a rationalised open plan living area, removing dead space and dark corridors. The design brief called for a contemporary mixture of warehouse and brutalist styles, with the use of concrete surfaces and exposed brickwork. The original apartment was fully stripped out, and a new layout formed which provides open plan living, dining and kitchen spaces, alongside two further bedrooms, a family bathroom and a master ensuite. Key features of the new design include doors to all rooms which fold back into walls to appear flush, full height pocket sliding doors to the living room and internal windows to provide borrowed light between rooms and increase the feeling of openness throughout the apartment. The open plan kitchen, living and dining spaces feature a micro cement floor throughout, with black painted shelving hung from the ceiling to act as dividers between the open plan areas as well as being populated with hanging and trailing plants. These shelves also feature in the hallway, lining both sides to act as a feature storage unit for the client, who had a background in DJing. The kitchen was of a bespoke design, part of a joinery package throughout which was designed by MortonScarr, which also included wardrobes and cloakroom joinery, alongside bathroom storage units. The bathrooms feature strong geometric designs, with tiled recesses and backlit mirrors. The Brutalist design aesthetic is also amplified by the use of cast concrete basins, and black painted taps. Photos by James Balston

MortonScarr has delivered the complete remodelling of a large two bedroom apartment in a converted warehouse in central London. Our client, a young professional, wanted a rationalised open plan living area, removing dead space and dark corridors. The design brief called for a contemporary mixture of warehouse and brutalist styles, with the use of concrete surfaces and exposed brickwork. The original apartment was fully stripped out, and a new layout formed which provides open plan living, dining and kitchen spaces, alongside two further bedrooms, a family bathroom and a master ensuite. Key features of the new design include doors to all rooms which fold back into walls to appear flush, full height pocket sliding doors to the living room and internal windows to provide borrowed light between rooms and increase the feeling of openness throughout the apartment. The open plan kitchen, living and dining spaces feature a micro cement floor throughout, with black painted shelving hung from the ceiling to act as dividers between the open plan areas as well as being populated with hanging and trailing plants. These shelves also feature in the hallway, lining both sides to act as a feature storage unit for the client, who had a background in DJing. The kitchen was of a bespoke design, part of a joinery package throughout which was designed by MortonScarr, which also included wardrobes and cloakroom joinery, alongside bathroom storage units. The bathrooms feature strong geometric designs, with tiled recesses and backlit mirrors. The Brutalist design aesthetic is also amplified by the use of cast concrete basins, and black painted taps. Photos by James Balston

To dwell and establish connections with a place is a basic human necessity often combined, amongst other things, with light and is performed in association with the elements that generate it, be they natural or artificial. And in the renovation of this purpose-built first floor flat in a quiet residential street in Kennington, the use of light in its varied forms is adopted to modulate the space and create a brand new dwelling, adapted to modern living standards. From the intentionally darkened entrance lobby at the lower ground floor – as seen in Mackintosh’s Hill House – one is led to a brighter upper level where the insertion of wide pivot doors creates a flexible open plan centred around an unfinished plaster box-like pod. Kitchen and living room are connected and use a stair balustrade that doubles as a bench seat; this allows the landing to become an extension of the kitchen/dining area - rather than being merely circulation space – with a new external view towards the landscaped terrace at the rear. The attic space is converted: a modernist black box, clad in natural slate tiles and with a wide sliding window, is inserted in the rear roof slope to accommodate a bedroom and a bathroom. A new relationship can eventually be established with all new and existing exterior openings, now visible from the former landing space: traditional timber sash windows are re-introduced to replace unsightly UPVC frames, and skylights are put in to direct one’s view outwards and upwards. photo: Gianluca Maver

Our main bathroom at our #NewSpacesxMonash project is simple in design, but packs a punch on functionality and space. Storage to service three kids as they grow was imperative, so the bathroom features a massive 1800mm custom vanity by @topshelf joinery including tall cabinet. A ‘wet-area’ design encompasses both the back-to-wall bath and shower space, with a hand-held shower positioned between for ease of cleaning, especially for the kids in the bath on hair washing night! This open shower design also means less shower screens to keep clean

Utilising thoughtful storage design and finishes notable for their materiality, we created a practical and feminine family bathroom with a vintage feel. A custom joinery unit conceals the pipework and cistern, and adds practical storage, whilst the elegant curve creates interest and drama. The freestanding bath adds a sense of grandeur to the room, whilst pink panelling and vibrant tiles add a sense of femininity. Brass hardware and lighting are a nod to more contemporary living, balancing a vintage feel with the everyday cleansing rituals of a modern family.

A Bold & Expressive Bathroom Redesign This bathroom and en-suite transformation was designed for a client with a daring and unconventional style. Our goal was to create a striking and highly personalized space that perfectly reflects her fearless design aesthetic. Statement Wallpapers & Vibrant Feature Walls The design centers around bold, eye-catching wallpapers that immediately set the tone for each space. These dynamic patterns add personality and energy, transforming the bathrooms into expressive, artful retreats. Brushed Copper Tapware for Warmth & Elegance To complement the statement walls, we selected brushed copper tapware, adding warmth and a refined touch. This combination balances boldness with sophistication, creating a visually stunning contrast. Functionality with a Personal Touch Beyond aesthetics, we ensured that both spaces were highly functional. Thoughtful storage solutions and a well-planned layout make these bathrooms not only stylish but also practical for everyday use. A Creative Collaboration This project was a true collaboration, embracing the client’s adventurous taste to craft a space as bold and expressive as she is. The final design blends personality, practicality, and creativity—delivering a bathroom and en-suite that feel truly one-of-a-kind.