DESKTOP

MOBILE

Designed by: Melanie Sa'u, Melanie Sa'u Design Studio

Photography by: John Williams

Designed by Melanie Sa’u Design Studio

From the designer:

|Inspired by boutique hotels, this family bathroom was designed to feel elevated, personal, and highly functional.

As a hardworking space in the home, it needed to balance everyday practicality, including a concealed laundry, with refined materiality and timeless detail.

The design is grounded in quiet luxury, achieved through a thoughtful layering of finishes and tactile contrasts.

The dark timber vanity in Melteca Boarders Oak anchors the room and echoes cabinetry throughout the home.

Its soft woodgrain contrasts with a soft travertine-look vanity top and round basin, offering a sense of calm and balance.

Warm Tuscan bronze tapware introduces a gentle, aged warmth to the palette.

Brass tapware and accessories complete the boutique hotel look.
Brass tapware and accessories complete the boutique hotel look.

White subway tiles wrap the walls in a clean, linear rhythm, while deep green tiles add framing and visual depth.

Their subtly undulating surface catches the light, softening the cooler tones of the tile and marble-look flooring.

Together, they form a palette that is both classic and contemporary.

A fluted freestanding bath sits proudly beneath the heritage window and is paired with a bronze freestanding mixer.

Its sculptural form and vertical detailing echo the repetition in the tile layout, creating a focal point that feels serene and grounded.

The laundry is concealed behind a set of original heritage-profile doors, seamlessly integrating into the layout.

This solution maintains the architectural language of the home while delivering practical storage and functionality.

Inspired by boutique hotels, this family bathroom was designed to feel elevated, personal, and highly functional.
Inspired by boutique hotels, this family bathroom was designed to feel elevated, personal, and highly functional.

The design allows for the laundry to be completely hidden when not in use, preserving the overall flow and cohesion of the space.

In the shower, mitred corners and custom niches speak to the level of detail carried throughout the room.

The niches offer practical storage while reinforcing the bespoke character of the build.

Reeded glass is used for the shower screen to introduce texture and privacy – diffusing light and creating a gentle separation within the space.

Each element, from tapware to tile junctions, was carefully considered and executed to enhance both function and experience.

In a compact footprint, this bathroom delivers a calm, intentional environment, balancing everyday needs with a sense of crafted refinement.

The result is a composed retreat, where practical elements are elevated through design.

Credit List

Designer
Melanie Sa'u, Melanie Sa'u Design Studio
Vanity cabinetry
St Michel Ivy 50
Cabinetry hardware
Hettich Atira
Benchtop
St Michel Cherry Pie Solid Surface, Grey Travertine
Basin
St Michel Respect
Taps/shower fittings
Plumbline Buddy
Bath
Newtech Willow, freestanding
Shower stall
Innovative Glass
Toilet
Zen back-to-wall by Plumbline
Accessories
Plumbline Buddy
Flooring
Marmi Bianco Carrara – The Tile Room; Black and Carrara Basketweave – Tile Space
Wall tiles
Rivers White and Rivers Green – The Tile Room
Paint
Resene Black White
Lighting
Light Co - Delie Wall Lights – Light Co; Mr Ted Opal Pendant – Mr Ralph
Awards
Trends International Design Awards (TIDA) Bathrooms – Highly Commended

Designed by Melanie Sa’u Design Studio

From the designer:

|Inspired by boutique hotels, this family bathroom was designed to feel elevated, personal, and highly functional.

As a hardworking space in the home, it needed to balance everyday practicality, including a concealed laundry, with refined materiality and timeless detail.

The design is grounded in quiet luxury, achieved through a thoughtful layering of finishes and tactile contrasts.

The dark timber vanity in Melteca Boarders Oak anchors the room and echoes cabinetry throughout the home.

Its soft woodgrain contrasts with a soft travertine-look vanity top and round basin, offering a sense of calm and balance.

Warm Tuscan bronze tapware introduces a gentle, aged warmth to the palette.

Brass tapware and accessories complete the boutique hotel look.
Brass tapware and accessories complete the boutique hotel look.

White subway tiles wrap the walls in a clean, linear rhythm, while deep green tiles add framing and visual depth.

Their subtly undulating surface catches the light, softening the cooler tones of the tile and marble-look flooring.

Together, they form a palette that is both classic and contemporary.

A fluted freestanding bath sits proudly beneath the heritage window and is paired with a bronze freestanding mixer.

Its sculptural form and vertical detailing echo the repetition in the tile layout, creating a focal point that feels serene and grounded.

The laundry is concealed behind a set of original heritage-profile doors, seamlessly integrating into the layout.

This solution maintains the architectural language of the home while delivering practical storage and functionality.

Inspired by boutique hotels, this family bathroom was designed to feel elevated, personal, and highly functional.
Inspired by boutique hotels, this family bathroom was designed to feel elevated, personal, and highly functional.

The design allows for the laundry to be completely hidden when not in use, preserving the overall flow and cohesion of the space.

In the shower, mitred corners and custom niches speak to the level of detail carried throughout the room.

The niches offer practical storage while reinforcing the bespoke character of the build.

Reeded glass is used for the shower screen to introduce texture and privacy – diffusing light and creating a gentle separation within the space.

Each element, from tapware to tile junctions, was carefully considered and executed to enhance both function and experience.

In a compact footprint, this bathroom delivers a calm, intentional environment, balancing everyday needs with a sense of crafted refinement.

The result is a composed retreat, where practical elements are elevated through design.

Credit List

Designer
Melanie Sa'u, Melanie Sa'u Design Studio
Vanity cabinetry
St Michel Ivy 50
Cabinetry hardware
Hettich Atira
Benchtop
St Michel Cherry Pie Solid Surface, Grey Travertine
Basin
St Michel Respect
Taps/shower fittings
Plumbline Buddy
Bath
Newtech Willow, freestanding
Shower stall
Innovative Glass
Toilet
Zen back-to-wall by Plumbline
Accessories
Plumbline Buddy
Flooring
Marmi Bianco Carrara – The Tile Room; Black and Carrara Basketweave – Tile Space
Wall tiles
Rivers White and Rivers Green – The Tile Room
Paint
Resene Black White
Lighting
Light Co - Delie Wall Lights – Light Co; Mr Ted Opal Pendant – Mr Ralph
Awards
Trends International Design Awards (TIDA) Bathrooms – Highly Commended

Related Articles

Contemporary bathroom featuring a uniquely shaped bathtub

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

lmpactful use of contrast in the vanity station is a feature of the bathroom.

Wonder wall

A focal point of this bathroom, a wall of Onyx, Green Natural tiles creates the effect of a larger slab of marble running from behind the vanity through to the shower/bath wet area

The use of natural stone and timber-look finishes acknowledges the seaside setting.

Tactile by the sea

How best to evoke a coastal theme for a bathroom by the sea? Here, the use of natural stone and timber-look finishes gets the vibe just right

Portfolios

View Industry Specialists