Medium Contrast

The bathroom is the most significant room in any home. At least, we think so! Bathrooms are a special class of room, which, along with kitchens and ensuites, are more suited to expressive approaches than other more mainstream interiors. The limited nature of these types of rooms, in conjunction with their special purposes, lends them towards interesting design possibilities. 

An ensuite renovation may be an opportunity to create an individual identity for a new room, a partnership with an existing room (e.g. the main bathroom), or it may arrive somewhere in between. Either way, like any bathroom renovation, the personality of the room must be reimagined towards an outcome compatible with the renovation goals – while being aligned to meet a budget and retain a sense of integrity. It’s not a trivial undertaking!  

The best thing about this Gold Coast ensuite renovation is the way it arrives at this intersection between style, restraint, and workmanship. There are no over-the-top features, rather a perfectly assembled collection of subtle attributes that work together to create a wonderful new room ready to add value to the property as well as to the lifestyle of residents. 

We explore the ways this room is working below. If you’d like a free consultation and quote for your main bathroom or ensuite from the Gold Coast’s leading renovation company, please contact Armrock Constructions today.

Before & After

Ensuite Shape

Because our team is led by a builder (business owner Roland Balo) structural modifications are always an option in our Gold Coast bathroom renovation projects. This might include changes such as taking out a wall, combining rooms, modifying plumbing and suchlike. In most renovations, this one included, we usually find ourselves working with the original space. Like many ensuites this one has a rectangular shape, and with limited space a carefully planned approach was required. Having said that, there has never been a bathroom reno where that’s not the case! 

Ensuite Colour Scheme

The colour scheme is always going to be one of the most important aspects of a bathroom design. Regardless of other factors, colour has the capability to make the strongest initial impression and facilitate the immediate decision of “I like it” (or not). This bathroom uses a medium-toned colour scheme where white walls surround and embrace an interior floor-wall strip of textured marbled tiling. 

This book-ends the room, concluding a culmination of focus towards the shower at the back of the space. The timber colour in the vanity is in sync with the flooring, although of a lighter tone, creating a sense of emergence and elevation from this feature inclusion. Finally, the brushed brass features (tap ware, shower-head, towel-rails) are a highlight which is complementary to the general colour scheme. Unlike a strong contrast bathroom (e.g. white room with black highlights) the relative closeness of the colour tones helps to integrate the overall impression of this room. 

Learn about using colour to create a holistic bathroom

Ensuite Contrast

Ensuites, like bathrooms, can successfully utilise a variety of different solutions in contrast to achieve different results. From high contrast (e.g. black and white) to lower contrasts (e.g. all one colour, charcoal, perhaps, or beige) the contrast in a room largely determines how the room feels. This bathroom uses a medium/strong amount of contrast, with mid-tone tiles juxtaposed against white walls in an approximately 50/50 ratio. This solution creates a pleasant rhythm and a strong sense of integrity and balance in the room. It’s a friendly and accessible feeling – just right for a bathroom! 

Bathroom Patterns / Textures

The extent of pattern & texture used in a bathroom adds depth and interest to the design, as well as a sense of hand-craft, natural materials, or process. Used minimally or extensively, in different degrees, textures and patterns can enliven and inform spaces even when they are of the same colour. This ensuite is quite textured via the extensive marbled floor / wall tiles, but, like the colour note mentioned above, this produces a medium / strong amount of contrast which reinforces the colour choice. 

Timber Look Vanity

This vanity unit is custom-made and includes timber-look laminated draws and cabinet, with a white bench top, mounted basin and brushed brass tap ware. It is a simple, minimal design, and in a style popular in many of our Gold Coast renovations. In deference to the small space offered within the ensuite, the custom vanity  also includes a toilet-roll holder on the side. In any bathroom, the vanity unit is always the centerpiece. A custom-made vanity is a fabulous way to truly embrace the sense of style you’re looking to accomplish. In addition to the size and shape of the unit, they can also be styled to your exact requirements. 

Learn more about timber-look laminate vanities

Brushed Brass Fixtures

Brushed brass fixtures are a great option to add a luxurious touch to your bathroom aesthetic. They’re very versatile and work with a number of different contrast and colour solutions. They’re particularly popular with white bathroom backgrounds, which is a practical thing because many bathrooms are white.. and they go great with timber finishes, especially lighter timbers. In this bathroom, they work within a similar colour range to other tones in the room, and accentuate these whilst also bouncing off the white walls for a fresh and bright feeling. 

Curved Shower Glass & Arched Mirror

How to make a small ensuite feel bigger – use curves! Curves help to break up the room and create a sense of space and freedom. Even in a small ensuite, curves make a big difference. In the case of this Gold Coast renovation, the curved shower glass works together with the arched bathroom mirror not only create this sense of space, but also establish continuity within the room. 

Horizontal Line

One of the challenges in any bathroom renovation is reconciling the different elements in the room. Bathroom fixtures and fittings tend to be different shapes and sizes, and especially in a small room like an ensuite, careful planning is required to ensure things don’t feel like they’ve been jammed together. One way we have resolved this challenge in this particular renovation is a continuous horizontal line which wraps around the room, defined by the towel rail, shower ledge, and the base of the arched mirror. Details like this help to tie the room together and establish relationships between otherwise disparate features. 

Shower Ledge

A tiled shower ledge is a great bathroom inclusion that adds a sense of dimension to the room. It’s also a practical feature that provides a spot to store bathroom essentials such as shampoo and conditioner. (Shampoo is better than conditioner!) Another structural storage solution which is popular in many of our Gold Coast projects is a tiled bathroom niche. Both of these are great ways to solve the storage issue, whilst also adding value to the room. 

• Read about the design advantages of a built-in shower
• Read about tiled bathroom niches

Discrete Tiled Drainage

A tile-inset strip drain, or a series of them, are a great bespoke addition to add a sense of customisation to your Gold Coast bathroom or ensuite. Utilising existing tiles for the drain maximises continuity in the floor, whilst showcasing a subtle touch of workmanship that helps your bathroom to go the extra mile.  

This Gold Coast bathroom renovation is a showcase of our capabilities. It involved a wall removal, an integrated dual renovation (main & ensuite bathroom), a high-contrast solution (charcoal tiles & light timber vanity) and a variety of other interesting features. It was a satisfying project to work on and complete. Before we look at the project in greater detail, don’t forget, if you are interested in discussing a renovation for your bathroom, please contact our team for a free quote:

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