For as long as I can remember I have been interested in interiors, and luckily for me I have been able to turn this into my day job. I work as an interior architect, and after working for a couple of wonderful Melbourne design firms, I started my own practice, Hearth Studio, in 2012.
A lot of my clients come to me seeking assistance with two of my favourite spaces to create: kitchens and bathrooms. These spaces are really important, and require careful consideration as they are often the buzzing hub of the home! They also happen to be places where you can really get creative with materials and textures.
I used to find bathrooms challenging. They do require extreme practicality, but I love the opportunity to create a peaceful and personal place to start and end the day. I often have my best ideas and revelations in the bathroom. Here’s some of what I have learned along the way.
Hearth Studio’s Approach to Bathroom Design
A bathroom can be a tricky space to design, as often we only allocate a small, tight area to bathrooms when designing a home. It’s best practice to maximise the designated space in a practical way. I like to try and have a ‘wet area’, a separate toilet, and a generous shower when I plan a bathroom, despite the constraints.
Bathrooms are very private spaces and it is a very personal process designing a bathroom for a client. People have to discuss everything from toilet paper to toothbrushes and shower rituals. It is so important to get the little things right, and to ask the right questions. Like, how big are your shampoo bottles?
Top Considerations
Always consider what you see when the door to your bathroom is open. I always try and hide the toilet suite from initial view, as a toilet is a toilet, and ideally shouldn’t be the focal point of the room!
Try to create a ‘wet zone’. Having the shower and bath adjacent to each other can be very useful when you have a family. For example, you can hose down your muddy toddler before popping them in the bath! The shower waste can also be the perfect insurance against a bathtime ‘splash party’.
Don’t be afraid to inject some personality into the bathroom, a little colour and texture can make this intimate room feel special and personal, even if the rest of the house is more of a blank canvas.
