The shower, like the front entry space, has a semi-transparent polycarbonate roof that lets in light and the sound of rain. The floor is timber decking and the walls are covered with limestone tiles. “The bathroom was inspired by memories of showering in houses and hotels while travelling in Asia,” says Ellway. “During the day it is a light-filled space that feels almost open to the sky. At night the space becomes a dark cave with a dim source of warm light near the entry.” The blackbutt boards in the wet space offer a warm, free-draining surface underfoot with regular floor tiles beneath them. Solasafe 90 percent UV-translucent ceiling in Silver Mist from Ampelite; blackbutt decked flooring and Whittle Waxes water stopper: Britton Timbers
The next best thing to showering outside is to build a door next to the shower. In this terrace house in San Francisco, architect Malcolm Davis built this beautiful shower and door combination opening off a deck. Bonus: it’s easy access when you come in from the beach or the garden and don’t want to tramp through the rest of the house first.
“The best advice I can give regarding bathrooms is to take all of the cheap stuff in the bathroom that came with the place down — shelves, towel bars, medicine cabinets, knobs — get it down to the bare bones and start over,” Clem says. “There are so many great inexpensive accessories today, and it makes a huge difference when you can create a cohesive look for yourself,” he says. He added these glass and chrome shelves, and the artwork is from a performance piece his brother put on years ago. An alabaster lamp adds a traditional touch and contrasts nicely with the black.
5. Wall decals. Decals are bold and flexible, and they can add a big punch of energy for relatively little cost, particularly ones that are wall-size. They’re especially good for rentals that have lease limitations on decorating. Unless you’re artistic or you have the budget to hire an artist, decals might be your best route for adding pattern to your child’s walls.
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