The two key challenges of designing a
home in a tightly packed suburb are get-
ting as much natural light as possible into
all the rooms, and maintaining privacy
for the occupants. These goals may seem
at odds, because introducing light, means
having plenty of windows, which doesn’t
exactly promote privacy.
Designed by Tobin Smith, from CoLab
Architecture, this generous master suite,
on the first floor of a contemporary new
home, achieves both privacy and light,
without one compromising the other.
“The house is designed for a couple,”
says Smith. “They have grown up kids who
come and stay, but for most of the time, it’s
just the two of them. We scaled their bed-
room and bathroom so it can be a private
retreat for them, if needed, as there isn’t a
secondary living space in the house.”
Both rooms are filled with light. In the
bedroom, almost two walls are taken up
by floor-to-ceiling windows, screened by
sheers. In the adjoining tunnel-shaped
bathroom, the end walls are in frosted
glass, filtering natural light into the space,
These pages: Despite this home’s relatively
close neighbourhood environment, the master
bathroom and connected bedroom both achieve
complete privacy and a light-filled ambience. Giant
walls of frosted glass filter light into the spaces,
with little more than a shadow seen from the
other side. Having a glass shower stall adds to the
sense of openness and light. The owners preferred
a minimalist colour palette, hence the serene
look of white and off-white tones. Both the house
design and master suite are by CoLab Architecture,
with architect Tobin Smith as project architect.
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