Designing a new main bathroom for a
classic villa doesn’t have to be an exercise in
stand-out contrast. Making the most of the
good bones of the existing interior dove-
tailed with sympathetic new elements is
another appealing, enduring way forward.
This bathroom, along with an adjacent
master ensuite, was designed as part of a
larger alteration and addition project to an
Auckland villa, says architect Chris Holmes
of CAAHT Studio Architects.
“The owners wanted a family bath-
room suitable for bathing young children.
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They also wanted it to include a generous
shower to provide convenience for future
teenage years,” says Holmes.
Due to spatial constraints within the
home they were also keen to include a
concealed laundry within this bathroom.
Holmes repurposed part of the villa’s
existing living room to form the new bath-
room. To anchor it comfortably within its
villa context, the architect retained and
restored elements of the original space.
These included maintaining the polished
wood floor, the double-hung window and
the original high, board & batten ceiling.
“We introduced a complementary palette
of lightly blonded birch plywood cabinetry,
along with subway tiles, glass and chrome,
for a light, clean, in-keeping aesthetic.
“Even the modern, chunky countertop
basin harks back to the sink styles of old
and, of course, is an ideal basin for kids.”
The required laundry is set behind
unobtrusive flush, floor-to-ceiling white
bi-fold doors. High cupboards were also
included to provide further storage with-
out adding clutter.