spa bathroom – The Interiors Addict

Now more than ever, Australians are looking to take advantage of the increased time at home to practise mental and physical self care. Porter Davis Homes Queensland lead interior designer Janelle Miles shares some styling tips to help you transform an ordinary bathroom into a serene home spa to escape the stress of the day.

Lighting

Help create a spa-like atmosphere at home, with the addition of pendant and wall lighting to your bathrooms. This will help create a soft ambient light and transform this room to a more relaxed and tranquil space.

Feature lighting in woven rattan, smoked glass or frosted glass will not only create a resort-like feel, but will help diffuse and soften the lighting more than downlights. Remember to not shy away from windows in the bathroom as they help flood the warm and beautiful natural light throughout the earlier parts of your day, and the addition of soft window furnishings can still maintain your privacy while enjoying the morning sunshine.

Tiling

Unique tiling options are another great option. Using larger scale tiles for flooring creates the illusion of space and adds a luxurious texture to the room. Be sure to experiment with textures and patterns in feature tiling areas. This simple addition will help build on your chosen design style and add interest to your hard finishes and cabinetry.

The addition of mosaics, terrazzo, textured and patterned wall tiles can convert your bathroom to your own private day spa, whether it be a natural sanctuary escape, a breezy resort getaway or a lush Moroccan day spa, the options are endless.

Colour palette

Colour can also play a role in creating the ultimate spa experience. Bright whites throughout a space encourage feelings of cleanliness and purity and will reflect light effortlessly within the space, whilst the additions of emerald greens, cobalt blues, aquamarines and burnt oranges will play into the Turkish spa colour palete and will create a feature space to remember.

If a natural escape is more to your liking, the addition of neutral earthy tones like sage, fawn, stone and eggshell are a great way to replicate a nature-focused, Australian-inspired getaway.

Textures

Experimenting with the layering of various textures throughout these spaces can create a luxurious and lavish home away from home experience. Rattan and glass lighting and timber framed mirrors sit seamlessly alongside neutral toned linen and cotton towels and bring to life visions of an island spa. Be sure to use complementary colours across your main design style and accompany furnishings in order to create a cohesive space.

Final touches

Adding in those final touches can be the difference between an ordinary bathroom and a perfectly polished spa at home. Incorporating plants into the bathroom is a great way to liven up the space. Dried florals and botanicals continue to be popular across multiple rooms in the home and are another low maintenance way to play with natural textures within a room. Scent is also an important part of a relaxing spa experience, so experiment with scented candles, incense or fresh flowers to relax and unwind in your new at-home spa space.

–Porter Davis Homes was awarded the 2019 Housing Institute Association – Australian Professional Major Builder of the Year award, which they have won six times in their 20-year history.

Perfecting your en suite’s design and functionality, as well as adding sophistication, is the ultimate goal to master and conquer. The master en suite needs to be the idyllic getaway after a hectic day, a sanctuary to unwind in and to be pampered in.

But what makes the ultimate master en suite in a home? We asked Henley interior designer, Rebecca Burrows, to give us the lowdown on the en suite heaven.

En suite finesse features

According to Rebecca, ensuites are taking on a spa-inspired feel, promoting an atmosphere of relaxation and tranquility. “Clients want their bathroom to feel like a resort or day spa – a personal retreat, a place to escape. En suites are open and an extension of the bedroom – a stylish sanctuary. The current trend is focusing more on different finishes rather than colour.”

Elevating your en suite

En suites are usually timeless and neutral in colour and the focus is more on the materials and textures used – natural materials and finishes like marble, stone, timber, concrete. Floor to ceiling tiling is still very popular in large format tiles.

Rebecca adds: “You can either choose a subtle patterned tile to use for both floor and wall or choose one tile for floor and a different tile for walls. Using feature tiles to a full wall is the current design trend. Subway tiles are also still popular – try laying them vertical and stacked or vertical and bricked rather than in a traditional horizontal pattern/design.

“Three dimensional tiles like ‘relief’ pattern tiles and textured tiles are also a current trend that add some depth and interest to the space. When using tiles, also think about the grout colour – this is just as important as the selection of what tile to use. Contrast the grout colour with the tile to create more of an impact or to highlight a feature. Choosing a matching grout colour blends in with the tiles and makes the floor or wall look seamless and a consistent colour and finish.

“En suites can be earthy and organic or elegant and glamourous. Luxe and moody or light and airy. No matter what the theme or colour palette, en suites are filled with cold surfaces. Remember to add depth, interest and warmth with either a timber vanity, some soft fluffy towels, decorative lighting, a potted plant or freshly cut greenery.”

Dip your toes in

With an open concept en suite, a freestanding bath is often the main feature or hero of the space. It offers a sense of wellness and it is a place to relax and switch off after a hard day at work.

“A freestanding bath sitting on a podium or step with a floor mounted spout adds dimension to the room and has a real luxe feel. Baths come in all shapes and sizes so don’t be disappointed if you have a small space, you can still achieve a relaxing atmosphere where you can unwind and disconnect,” Rebecca adds.

Keeping it elegant and simple

Simple, uncluttered and minimal are the key ingredients to achieve that day spa feel. Storage is an important feature of any room so vanities, recessed mirrored cabinets and open shelves are all important things to consider.

“Wall mounted or floating vanities are still on trend which create a feeling of space. This style of vanity frees up floor space and makes cleaning simple. Open shelves below or above vanities or tiled shelves in showers are great for storage too or for showcasing personal items,” Rebecca says.

Shower me with style

When it comes to showers, the bigger the better. Double showers with twin showerheads give that day spa aesthetic. Rain head showers are the most popular and these are often paired with a handheld shower rail.

Rebecca adds: “If you are on a budget or looking to update your bathroom, basins and tapware are the easiest thing to transform a bathroom. These are easy and affordable. Countertop basins make a statement that are mounted on top of the benchtop. Nood has a range of statement basins in a range of different shapes, sizes and colours. Tapware becomes a feature when selected in a finish like matte black, brushed nickel, gunmetal and brushed brass. Remember to match showers, accessories, shower drains, waste drains and even door hardware to the same selected finish.”

And don’t forget

Other luxe features of en suites are frameless shower screens, rain head showers, backlit mirrors, underfloor heating and heated towel rails. “Colour and fun can be added with scented candles, storage baskets, towels and potted plants.” Rebecca adds.

Lots of light, preferable natural light is important when designing a bathroom. Task lighting must be planned and designed with thought. Feature lights like decorative sconce lights, LED backlighting, pendants and undershelf lighting are stylish and create a mood.

“Technology and smart bathrooms are becoming the norm in new homes – ie Google Home, sensor-activated toilets that are self-cleaning, seat warmers, integrated lights and integrated speakers while you soak in the bathtub.”

—Henley is Melbourne’s leading new home builder with over 30 years’ experience.