Designer Tips: Creating An EnSuite That Exudes Contemporary Convenience And Old-School Glamour

Located in The Hills district on the semi-regional fringes of Sydney’s north-west, our very own interior designer Antonina Scotti’s family home is the epitome of relaxed modernity. A fivebedroom, six-bathroom residence on a peaceful two-hectare block, Antonina says the ensuite is a personal highlight. “I love it,” she shares. “It’s one of my favourite rooms in the house.” Surprisingly, it was Antonina’s husband Anthony, a property developer, who was the one to request floor-to-ceiling marble in the space. “The home was mainly a collaborative effort,” explains Antonina. “But the ensuite brief was really from Anthony – he wanted the luxury of marble walls and slabs from top to bottom.” With a towering 3.6-metre ceiling height, this was a challenging job, but well worth it according to the couple and their family. “We all love using it,” she says. “I don’t get to use the bath as often as I’d like, but my youngest son loves to jump in!”

Style Notes

Antonina laid out the ensuite to ensure she and Anthony could use the amenities at the same time – a lifesaver for the busy working couple and their three children, especially during the morning rush. The shower and toilet are each discreetly hidden behind a vanity unit on either side of the Parisi bathtub. “We can even leave the door open while using the shower or toilet, and it’s still private,” she adds.

Designer Tip

Choosing the right marble was hugely important to Antonina as it covers almost every surface, from floor to ceiling. “We didn’t want anything too in-your-face. We chose a softer marble with texture,” she shares of the beautifully veined Ajax marble from Gitani Stone. To inject movement and balance out the large-format wall tiles, the marble was cut and laid in a herringbone pattern to form the flooring. >

The Details

Antonina chose fixtures and fittings in subtle textures and gentle tones to complement the marble’s grey and taupe striations. Architraves, wall panelling and skirtings were finished in Dulux Complex Beige Half, with the joinery in Dulux Smoke And Mirrors. “We introduced the panelling to add softness and a little bit of a traditional feeling,” says Antonina. The custom aged brass of the Parisi tapware will patina beautifully in time, while a Kelly Wearstler ‘Melange’ elongated brass sconce provides warmth and muted illumination, tying in with both the tapware and vanity shadowline trim. The pleated ‘Glaze’ sheer curtains in Pristine from James Dunlop Textiles introduce an air of effortless elegance.