Designed by: Julia Shuttleworth, Hacker Kitchens
Photography by: John Williams
This bathroom was designed as a guest bathroom for a professional couple.
Located next to the guest bedroom, it serves visiting parents and friends who stay for extended periods.
As the only bathroom on the main living floor, it is essential for both convenience and creating a luxurious experience for guests.
The owners desired a space that would evoke a sense of peace and relaxation, focusing on aesthetics over functionality.
They wanted a drama factor that would make guests feel immediately at ease upon entering.
The project was a renovation of an existing character home in St Mary’s Bay.
The design concept centres around an oasis theme, with travertine-toned tiles transitioning into deep green tiles, symbolising the shift from the desert to a lush, serene space.
This transformation aims to create a calming, visually striking environment for visitors.
I was involved in the design process from the very beginning, working closely with the homeowners, who were new to Auckland and had recently purchased the home.
The bathroom, along with the kitchen, was outdated and was in need of a complete renovation.
The original layout had presented several challenges, including an open walk-in shower that was the first thing visible upon entry, and a vanity placed below a window, limiting the space for a functional mirror.
To address these issues, we repositioned the toilet behind a wall to improve privacy and moved the vanity to the focal point as you walked in.
To create a striking first impression, we chose a custom floating vanity fabricated from Neolith porcelain, paired with sconces to frame the mirror. This combination elevated the design while maintaining the owners’ desire for a standout feature.
Due to the age of the home, it was challenging to add built-in niches into the existing walls in the shower and behind the bath.
Instead, we brought the wall forward and incorporated lush green tiles, transforming these walls into bold design statements.
This solution helped overcome construction limitations while enhancing the overall aesthetic.
Given the budget constraints – the owners had already overspent on the kitchen – we made sure to allocate the funds carefully.
We focused on making key design elements stand out, ensuring that they created a lasting visual impact without compromising on quality.
The bathroom was transformed into a relaxing, stylish oasis with striking design features that make it a unique, memorable space.
Throughout the project, I managed the design, selection of materials, and implementation, ensuring the homeowners’ vision was brought to life while adhering to budget and timeline constraints.
Find more design ideas and inspiration at trendsideas.com
Credit List
DesignerJulia Shuttleworth, Hacker Kitchens | Vanity cabinetryCustom sink made by Stone by Design; custom cabinet, built by homeowner |
BenchtopNeolith – Calacatta Luxe | TapsChap Wall Mount Mixer – Plumbline |
BathOasis 1650 Freestanding – Plumbline | Shower stallCustom glass shower |
Shower fittingsBuddy 200mm Wall Mount Rainhead & Buddy Round Shower Mixer – Plumbline | ToiletEvo Rimless Back To Wall Toilet Suite – Plumbline |
Heated towel railPlumbline Buddy Grab 900 Vertical | MirrorPlumbline Frame 600 Pill Mirror Black |
FlooringPorcelain Magic Stone Sand Gecko 60, from Tile Space | Wall tilesTile Space - Porcelain Navona Bone Vein Matt 60 – Tile Space; Gems Kitkat Caraini – Artedomus; Glass Vixel Tobacco – Artedomus |
LightingRoma Wall Mount Black & Opal glass, from ECC | AwardsTrends International Design Awards (TIDA) Bathrooms – Highly Commended |
This bathroom was designed as a guest bathroom for a professional couple.
Located next to the guest bedroom, it serves visiting parents and friends who stay for extended periods.
As the only bathroom on the main living floor, it is essential for both convenience and creating a luxurious experience for guests.
The owners desired a space that would evoke a sense of peace and relaxation, focusing on aesthetics over functionality.
They wanted a drama factor that would make guests feel immediately at ease upon entering.
The project was a renovation of an existing character home in St Mary’s Bay.
The design concept centres around an oasis theme, with travertine-toned tiles transitioning into deep green tiles, symbolising the shift from the desert to a lush, serene space.
This transformation aims to create a calming, visually striking environment for visitors.
I was involved in the design process from the very beginning, working closely with the homeowners, who were new to Auckland and had recently purchased the home.
The bathroom, along with the kitchen, was outdated and was in need of a complete renovation.
The original layout had presented several challenges, including an open walk-in shower that was the first thing visible upon entry, and a vanity placed below a window, limiting the space for a functional mirror.
To address these issues, we repositioned the toilet behind a wall to improve privacy and moved the vanity to the focal point as you walked in.
To create a striking first impression, we chose a custom floating vanity fabricated from Neolith porcelain, paired with sconces to frame the mirror. This combination elevated the design while maintaining the owners’ desire for a standout feature.
Due to the age of the home, it was challenging to add built-in niches into the existing walls in the shower and behind the bath.
Instead, we brought the wall forward and incorporated lush green tiles, transforming these walls into bold design statements.
This solution helped overcome construction limitations while enhancing the overall aesthetic.
Given the budget constraints – the owners had already overspent on the kitchen – we made sure to allocate the funds carefully.
We focused on making key design elements stand out, ensuring that they created a lasting visual impact without compromising on quality.
The bathroom was transformed into a relaxing, stylish oasis with striking design features that make it a unique, memorable space.
Throughout the project, I managed the design, selection of materials, and implementation, ensuring the homeowners’ vision was brought to life while adhering to budget and timeline constraints.
Find more design ideas and inspiration at trendsideas.com
[clean_tags]
Credit List
DesignerJulia Shuttleworth, Hacker Kitchens | Vanity cabinetryCustom sink made by Stone by Design; custom cabinet, built by homeowner |
BenchtopNeolith – Calacatta Luxe | TapsChap Wall Mount Mixer – Plumbline |
BathOasis 1650 Freestanding – Plumbline | Shower stallCustom glass shower |
Shower fittingsBuddy 200mm Wall Mount Rainhead & Buddy Round Shower Mixer – Plumbline | ToiletEvo Rimless Back To Wall Toilet Suite – Plumbline |
Heated towel railPlumbline Buddy Grab 900 Vertical | MirrorPlumbline Frame 600 Pill Mirror Black |
FlooringPorcelain Magic Stone Sand Gecko 60, from Tile Space | Wall tilesTile Space - Porcelain Navona Bone Vein Matt 60 – Tile Space; Gems Kitkat Caraini – Artedomus; Glass Vixel Tobacco – Artedomus |
LightingRoma Wall Mount Black & Opal glass, from ECC | AwardsTrends International Design Awards (TIDA) Bathrooms – Highly Commended |
Related Articles
Seaside escape
A master suite is transformed into a luxurious private retreat – the now light-filled space includes a walk-in robe, ensuite, the master bedroom that drinks in its ocean views and a library/study/reading zone
Shape of relaxation
Glossy marble wall tiles, gold-hued tapware and vanity top basins and a bath that would be at home in a sculpture gallery set off this lux master ensuite retreat
Tap Into Style: Choosing the Right Tapware for Your Bathroom
Tapware may be a small fixture, but it holds the power to define both the look and feel of your bathroom.
Portfolios
View Industry Specialists
Portfolios
View Industry Specialists
Askö
Furniture designed for life. Ethically made dining and living furniture and accessories by international and New Zealand designers where refined elegance meets sleek, contemporary form. Explore our extensive range of designer furniture via our Christchurch showroom or browse online.
Plumbing World
Plumbing World is New Zealand’s most prominent 100% Kiwi-owned national plumbing merchant, operating over 50 branches from Kerikeri to Invercargill. Plumbing World offers a wide range of bathroom, kitchen, laundry, heating, and hot water products, catering to trade professionals and homeowners.
Landmark Homes
Founding directors Paul and Debbie Clarke established Landmark Homes in 1977. Their vision was to offer “something more exciting” than the average home: a home that made creative use of space but was also beautiful to live in.
Poggenpohl
Poggenpohl is a premium German kitchen brand known for its innovation, timeless design, and precision craftsmanship, offering bespoke kitchen solutions that blend luxury with functionality.
Mastercraft Kitchens
Founded in 1985, we are the largest group of independently owned and operated kitchen businesses in New Zealand, operating under a national banner. Our licensees have been carefully selected and are experts in their craft. We share an absolute passion for the design, manufacture and installation of high quality, well designed kitchens and other household cabinetry provided with personalised, friendly local service. Think national - be local.
Kitchen Studio
At Kitchen Studio we are very proud of the fact that we are been voted the most trusted kitchen brand in New Zealand for the ninth year running, and there are good reasons why more Kiwis trust us to transform their kitchen than anyone else.
Box™
Box isn’t like other New Zealand architecture firms; we’re a building design company responsible for every part of the process, from design to construction. If you’re looking for a team of designers or builders in Auckland, we can help.
The best architects know what it means to design both beautifully and practically, ensuring the best builders can, in turn, build more efficiently and collaboratively with you and the designer or architect.
Our consistent and attentive involvement of each team throughout the entire design-build process includes our in-house cost estimation team, who value-engineer projects to ensure the highest quality and value, while respecting your vision as our client.