A lot of people tend to forget how much and how frequently we use a bathroom. And if your family is anything like mine, it doesn’t matter how many bathrooms you include in your floor plan – there’s always one that everyone gravitates to most often. For us, it’s the main bedroom ensuite.
As a young family of six, there were three must-haves I had in mind when designing the master ensuite in The Bluejay:
- It needs to inspire an instant sense of calm.
- It has to have an abundance of built-in storage.
- It needs to be easy to clean.
![](https://zero9.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/18BluejaySt-16-1024x683.jpg)
CALMING QUALITIES
For me, calmness comes visually with the ideal layout, a mindful colour palette and the use of texture. When choosing a colour palette, I keep hard finishes relatively neutral by choosing tones I won’t get sick of and then I add pops of colour and texture in the accessories. I almost always put a timber stool or stump in my bathrooms (they have 1 million uses, no exaggeration) and they offer a bit of warmth amongst the hard finishes that come with any bathroom design including the bathtub, tiles and tap ware. In The Bluejay, I created additional calm by styling the space with plants, luxe soaps and plush towels to make it feel like an oasis.
SORTING STORAGE
2 adults + 4 kids = lots of stuff. So when it comes to bathroom storage, I have some non-negotiables. The vanity needs built in draws, not cupboards, drawers. If possible, these draws, need draws or at least some internal organisers. Make-up, brushes, and those bits and bobs that don’t need a deep draw can still be accessible and insanely easy to keep organised when they have their own shallow spot! Behind mirror storage is a bonus and, if thought about early enough, can be recessed into the wall so the mirrors sit flush for a seamless finish. Ensure you have a tall (can be slim) cupboard somewhere in your space for towels, floor mats and bath toys, so it can all be hidden away within easy reach.
![](https://zero9.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/3fb76d89-16bc-43d1-b107-07534c5cf3f0-1024x683.jpg)
KEEPIN’ IT CLEAN
When it comes to cleaning a bathroom, my most dreaded chore is trying to get the shower screens sparkling. So, I left them out of the main bathroom in The Bluejay all together! Instead, I introduced a nib-wall cladded in the same tile used throughout the rest of bathroom for consistency. You do need to be mindful of this option in a smaller bathroom as glass often helps open up a small space, and so it may be the better option if you’re working with a more limited floor plan. The second wall finish we purposefully chose for it’s “easy to clean” convenience was polished render. The earthy gloss-finish product was “the new kid on the block” at the time of building, and boy was it a game changer! It offers the same waterproof product as a tile, but with no grout lines to clean (say what!?).
Creating a functional and beautiful bathroom is always a top priority of mine – it certainly was in the design of The Bluejay. Bathrooms are used so privately that we often don’t invest much time, thought, or money into them as we think “no-one but our family will ever really see this room”. But creating a space that is tranquil and practical can change the flow of your entire day by ensuring it starts and finishes in a space that feels like an escape.