Bathroom Renovation - Fresh Approach

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The owners of this Melbourne home were in the fortunate position of having a very large ensuite bathroom attached to their bedroom.

"I was asked to carve off part of that space to create this adjoining second ensuite for the couple's son," says interior designer Peter Schaad of PS Design Studio. "I was lucky to have about 2.5x4m to work with."

The design solution

While on a trip to the UK, the owners fell in love with and purchased a traditional-style Perrin & Rowe shower mixer for their ensuite. "It made sense to let this tap inform my design for the new space," says Peter.

Complementary fixtures were sourced from The English Tapware Company and Calacatta Oro marble tiles selected for the floor of the new 2.5x4m ensuite. "I chose the tiles for their glossiness and ability to bounce light around, but also because nothing says 'quality' in a bathroom quite like marble does."

The same marble is used on the vanity top. "It was tricky to source, but the effort was definitely worth it." Peter designed the vanity with subtle moulding on the doors as a nod to the home's heritage character.

The elongated subway tiles chosen for the shower recess are the perfect complement to the marble floor tiles and the oblong vanity. Peter had a broad-framed mirror custom-made to suit the proportions of the room perfectly.

The ensuite is painted a crisp white (Dulux Lexicon) and the toilet tucked behind a door with vintage leadlighting and moulding, a reminder of the home's heritage.

The details

• Calacatta Oro marble vanity top, $2100, from Parthenon Marble.
• Custom 1600mm vanity, constructed by PMP Contracting, about $2680, designed by PS Design Studio.
• Perrin & Rowe shower set with 310mm rose and lever wall valves, $1385, basin taps, $895, oval undermount basin, $775, double towel rail, $419, bottle basket and soap tray, $469, and bath filler, $2520, all from The English Tapware Company.
• Bryant wall lights, about $394/each, from Cromwell.
• Italian 200x50mm subway tiles in White, $60/sqm, from Signorino Tile Gallery.
• Calacatta Grigio 610x305mm marble tiles, $325/sqm, from RMS Natural Stone & Ceramics.

How to use classic tapware

Traditional-style tapware is experiencing a resurgence in popularity, and for good reason, says Stephan Marshall, managing director of The English Tapware Company. "Homeowners today want a bathroom that's warm, nurturing and well detailed, and classic fixtures are a beauty to look at and a joy to use."

Here are Stephan's top tips for taps:

• The timelessness of traditional taps makes them equally at home in classic and contemporary bathrooms. "There's no need to adhere to one particular style; instead, seek inspiration from a variety of sources to create a highly individual scheme. Tapware and accessories are like jewellery for your bathroom."
• "Classic metal finishes are enjoying a revival, with nickel and bare brass newly appreciated for their ability to bring warmth and colour into a bathroom scheme."
• If you're buying traditional-style taps, buy the best quality that you can afford. "Check that they're true to the original design and precision-engineered."