How does a small footprint bathroom become brilliant?
Let’s face it: The origin of the bathroom is utilitarian in nature. But as home design trends have evolved over time, they’ve slowly inched their way into a new category, becoming a space that is cherished for its self care and relaxation potential. We encounter a lot of incredible bathroom design at Never Too Small, so we’ve decided to revisit our Brilliant Bathroom series to celebrate some more of our favourites. Let them serve as inspiration for your dream home, next big renovation, or as simple eye candy.
Small bathroom? Consider adding a window
As one of the most high traffic areas of any home, the bathroom needs to be able to withstand all sorts of uses and be easy to clean, to boot. For this reason alone, they deserve a great deal of consideration — both in terms of aesthetics and functionality. Architects Ben Edwards and Nancy Beka of Melbourne-based Studio Edwards applied their innovative approach to striking this balance with the bathroom design of The Shrine in Melbourne. The moody bathroom, defined by its sombre palette of blacks and charcoals, is described by Edwards as moving “from function to retreat”. It begins with a more utilitarian corridor – featuring the toilet, basin, and storage – before opening into a large spa-like room with a tub and large shower. It is easy to imagine how one could spend hours here, relaxing in the wooden Japanese soaking tub that looks out onto the view of the Shrine by way of a sliding panel window that opens onto the apartment window. Edwards and Beka took things a step further by cleverly using the space to showcase pieces from the owner’s extensive art collection, with artefacts and artworks on display throughout..
Gone are the days where the bathroom was closed off. Interior windows into the bathroom, it turns out, are in. Tokyo-based architect Yutaro Ohta devised his own unique take on this in his 48sqm/516sqft industrial-style home by inserting a large acrylic window on one side of his central steel-lined bathroom pod. This feature serves to not only make the bathroom space feel larger but also to ensure he could shower with a view of the Sumida River just outside his window. And for those worrying about privacy, there’s no need, according to Ohta, who laughed while noting how living alone solves that problem easily. As for guests, there’s always the steam from the hot shower as a plan B.
Feature tiles forever
If a view into your bathroom isn’t your thing, Paris-based architect Jean-Malo Le Clerc of JMLC Studio offers an alternative for gaining some natural light in interior bathrooms: fluted glass, as seen in his stylish 53sqm/570sqft home. Or, you can skip the windows entirely and instead choose to focus on the glorious ten-by-ten blue tiles that line almost the entirety of his en suite – creating a relaxing (and vintage) vibe. Founders of architectural studio tra•ma Patricia Carrasco and Ricardo Mancho also leaned into the feature tile at their 55sqm/592sqft Madrid home, commenting how a wall of artisanal tiles behind the sink helped to offer essential character to the home: “Instead of hiding the sink, we decided to turn it into a feature for this area of the apartment to improve the spaciousness of the house”. Visible through the door frame and – you guessed it – another interior window, the white-and-pink tiles lure you into an open-concept bathroom area with a walk-in shower and dressing area that can all be easily shielded by a curtain.
Architect and co-founding director of TRIAS Jennifer McMaster also ditched the doors for the bathroom on the second storey of a 47sqm/506sqft terrace house in Melbourne, opting instead to cleverly hide the privacy-demanding elements within it. The toilet, for example, is enclosed within a timber block, while the shower is tucked into a niche in the far corner of the room, beside a window that opens onto a lush rooftop garden. Without a main door, the bathroom is able to feel generous and relaxing, while also making it easy for a couple to share.
Check out our Directory for a list of architects, interior designers, and photographers featured on Never Too Small.
