Bathroom designer Michael Manzi turns his talents on this tiny bathroom, with some stunning results. Incorporating natural finishes with streamlined fittings, he has created a contemporary bathroom space with a touch of old-world charm.
As the last space in their home to be renovated, Kim and Lisa's small bathroom was long overdue for the contemporary treatment. "The bathroom was two-thirds of the size it is today, with a combined bath and shower, toilet and washer and dryer," says Kim. "There was no room for a sink, so we had to wash our hands in the kitchen!"
As their home also incorporates a dental surgery, it was important that their new bathroom, even if small, was suitable for their clients to use as well. So, with their sights set on a more contemporary bathroom space, the couple contacted award-winning designer Michael Manzi of Fluid Design by M Manzi for their small bathroom renovation.
According to Michael, the late-Victorian style of the home posed no problem for designing a modern, if tiny bathroom, as the rest of the home's interior had been renovated and furnished in a contemporary style. He did retain some of the original elements, however, such as the stained-glass window, which provides a gorgeously coloured view from the shower.
With a keen interest in design, the couple were open to Michael's suggestions for fittings and surface materials. "We really wanted a wooden finish somewhere in the bathroom and were originally going to incorporate it in the floor," says Kim. "But Michael came up with a fantastic idea to use a wood panelling system on the wall instead, and we're so happy we did."
As Kim and Lisa wanted a bathroom that was easy to keep clean, Michael chose to use a glass panel in the shower, rather than tiles. "Glass is used a lot in kitchen splashbacks, but it's great in bathrooms too, as it minimises the use of grout and is much easier to clean," says Michael. "Its reflective qualities can also open up the room, and because it's less complicated than tiles, it can create the illusion of a larger space."
The most challenging aspect of the small bathroom design for Michael was the toilet. Because the bathroom backs on to a stairwell, there was not enough space to put in a cistern, so he opted for a mainsflush system, which runs directly from a water main. "It was a very new system and there weren't many people who had experience with it, so we had one of the technicians come out with my plumber and we talked the whole thing through," he says.
The finished bathroom is a beautiful mix of streamlined fittings, natural textures and dazzling light, and the couple couldn't be happier with the result. "We love our bathroom and everyone who uses it comments on it," says Kim. "We highly recommend Michael and his team; they were clean, efficient and Michael spent time with us to make sure we had the products and finishes we were after."
Michael Manzi, from Fluid Design
What was the client brief for this small bathroom renovation?
They had a laundry and a poky, tiny little bathroom that they wanted to combine into a larger, more functional space. They also wanted an interesting, contemporary bathroom that reflected their interest in design.
Does the style of the bathroom match the rest of the home?
The bathroom is a contemporary space put into a late-Victorian-style home, but the interior and furnishings in the rest of the home lean toward a more modern aesthetic.
Was the stained-glass window an original feature?
Yes, it's an original feature of the home. The glass in that window is probably quite old, as it has a richness of colour that you don't tend to see in stained-glass windows today.
Why did you use a glass panel in the shower rather than tiles?
Colour-backed glass is used quite a lot in kitchen splashbacks, but it's great for bathrooms too, as it minimises the use of grout and is much easier to keep clean. Its reflective qualities can also open up the room, and because it's less complicated than tiles, it can create the illusion of a larger space.
Were there any challenges with the project?
Getting that mains-flush system for the toilet up and running was really the only challenge. It was a very new system and there weren't many people who had experience with it, so we had one of the technicians come out with my plumber and we talked the whole thing through.
Kim and Lisa, the home owners
What was the existing bathroom like?
Our original bathroom was very small - it was at least two-thirds of the size it is today, with a combined bath and shower, toilet and washer and dryer. There was no room for a sink, so we had to wash our hands in the kitchen! On the other side of the wall was a single toilet that was part of our dental surgery.
What was your brief to your designer?
It was a boring, tiny bathroom and it was the only room left in the house that hadn't been renovated, so we needed more space and definitely a sink. We wanted something that was easy to keep clean and for the sink to be the talking point.
Did you bring any strong ideas to the design process?
We really wanted a wooden finish somewhere in the bathroom and were originally going to incorporate it in the floor. But Michael came up with a fantastic idea to use a wood panelling system he had recently discovered on the wall instead, and we're so happy we did.
What is your favourite aspect of the new bathroom?
It has a contemporary feel and never looks used. We love our bathroom and everyone who uses it comments on it.
Would you recommend Fluid Design to others?
We highly recommend Michael and his team. They were efficient, cleaned up after themselves on a daily basis and Michael spent the time with us to make sure we had the products and finishes we were after.
