KBDi Designer – Small Bathrooms NSW 2013 - Darren Genner of Minosa
About this winning entry: Quality fittings and fixtures, a freestanding bath, efficient storage solutions, double basins, separate shower, no grout and good use of natural and artificial light, were inclusions in the clients’ brief. Overall, they sought a design that was high-end, fresh and modern.The judges said, 'This is such a clever design. Not only are the European fittings wonderful examples of good design, but the entire bathroom screams style.'
Description of the House, its local &
occupants
….
Sitting at the dock of the bay… LOOKING STUNNING!! Situated in the amazing location of Walsh Bay
Pier 2, underneath the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge this early 1900’s iconic
Sydney landmark building, which was originally used as a cargo hold was
converted to residential apartments in the late 90’s. After purchasing this
incredible 3-bedroom two-storey apartment it was totally transformed. The
clients, a professional young family of three wanted “extraordinary” and that’s
what they got!
The Brief
This
professional husband and wife ooze sophistication and class. Simply they wanted a fresh, clean and hi-end
bathing space. The client was well researched on European bathroom brands and
was open to importing anything that the designer felt appropriate for the
project.
The end
result needed to co-exist with products such as Poliform, Bang & Olufsen, and
host of other high quality European designer brands.
This bathroom
had to be seamlessly connected to the dressing room that was located next to
the ensuite adjacent the master bedroom.
They wanted a good use of artificial light, as the bathroom had NO
window. The client detested grout and it was vital to the design that a
seamless product be applied to all walls and the shower floors.
CLIENT REQUIREMENTS:
· Good use of light
both artificial and natural
· Must include a
freestanding bath
· Efficient storage solutions
· Timber floors to
connect the dressing room
· Double basins
· Separate Shower
· NO grout
· Something
different
· High end - Quality
fittings and fixtures a must!
· FRESH AND MODERN
feel
CONSTRAINTS: -
·
No
window and deeply set into into the apartment making natural lighting difficult
to achieve
·
Difficult
location and neighbors
· European
importing timeframes
· The
MUST have timber floors
How the
requirements of the client brief were achieved & problems solved
The biggest challenge within this apartment space was
natural light (or the lack of), and the need for the ensuite to be connected to
the adjoining dressing room & bedroom with the selected timber floors. As
the remainder of the home was also being re-modelled to suit, the designer
chose to remove the wall between the dressing room and the ensuite. In its
place the Valeria sliding door system by Rimadesio was selected. Minimal black
aluminium frames with grey transparent glass slide effortlessly from only top
mounted rails. Delightful!
This allowed for full capitalisation of the northern
light entering the room and also the opportunity to reflect the amazing view
from the adjoining bedroom. It gave the ensuite the perfect connection
required.
Another significant design element is the timber
floor; at the clients request the designer selected an engineered Oak floor
from Salvage. As there is no movement (in this product) unlike traditional
timber flooring we could install tight to walls with the selected cladding finished over the top of this
floor with a detailed shadow-line. The
flooring plays on the space making it feel so much larger as it
runs throughout the entire apartment.
The cladding selected for the walls to eliminate the
grout issue was Corian®. This was all
installed onsite with beautiful curved corners and seamless joins. Soft and silky to touch the end result was a
perfect backdrop to the product selected.
The two main focal points are in the fittings, they are
the stunning Antonio Lupi freestanding bath and the floating wall hung Vanity
unit with the very impressive black Gessi Goccia tapware and oversized white
acrylic basins. These products sit effortlessly in the contemporary space. Accessories
from the same ranges sit alongside as complements and polish off the look.
As the walls were Corian, it was befitting to the space
to incorporate an Antonio Lupi Corian shower base system - XO. This created a watertight
showering environment coupled with the integrated shower screen from the same
Italian manufacturer all combined it creates a watertight environment.
Lighting was critical to this space. The designer
chose to create a recessed light pelmet with inset LED lighting as the primary
light source. This is dimmable so it can
be controlled to create different moods in the space. Task lighting (again LED)
sits over each of the zones to add the light required for set tasks.
The success of this space is the detail; it was
meticulously designed and planned with a client that demanded the best from all
product and persons involved.
The result is a fresh, modern bathing retreat that
defines this professional couple and their lifestyle. Sheer Heaven I think!
KBDi Designer – Small Bathrooms NSW 2013 - Darren Genner of Minosa
About this winning entry: Quality fittings and fixtures, a freestanding bath, efficient storage solutions, double basins, separate shower, no grout and good use of natural and artificial light, were inclusions in the clients’ brief. Overall, they sought a design that was high-end, fresh and modern.The judges said, 'This is such a clever design. Not only are the European fittings wonderful examples of good design, but the entire bathroom screams style.'
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