Photography: Maree Homer
Positioned in the heart of Sydney, this ensuite bathroom is a calming reprieve from the cacophony of sounds floating up from the city streets below. That is, at least in part, thanks to the idea of quiet luxury which underpins this space.
The apartment was built in the late 1990s with a tired beige scheme in the bathroom. “We started by rigorously refining the materials selection so there was a clear palette,” says Brendan Wong, principal designer at Brendan Wong Design, who was tasked with completing the bathroom renovation in 2022.
What is quiet luxury?
The brief was inspired by the concept of quiet luxury. Quiet luxury is a style that emphasises understated elegance and the beauty of quality materials. In this case, quiet luxury is created with high quality natural materials.
Swathes of carrara marble set the tone, as square wall and floor tiles and slabs on the bath fascia and vanity benchtop. From there, juxtapositions provide balance. The cool, neutral marble is offset with warming touches of timber and brass in the joinery and tapware.
Contrasting shapes also speak to each other. “The surrounding walls, bath fascia and shower screen are rectilinear so we intentionally contrasted this with the curved vanity, benchtop profile and handles for balance of form and to add soft sculptural elements,” explains Brendan. The result is a sophisticated space that proves opposites do attract.
Brodware ‘City Plus’ tapware in Brushed Nordic Brass continues the quiet luxury theme alongside Nest Studio ‘Organic’ pulls from Spark and Burnish in Blackened and Polished Brass. The organic form contrasts with the angular lines of the custom reeded glass shower screen as well as the custom bronze frame. This frame was also used on twin rectangular mirrors. Beneath, dual ‘Loop & Friends’ basins from Villeroy & Boch carry these straight lines through.
The opposing play of curves with straight lines brings balance as well as harmony to this ensuite.
A bespoke vanity shape
“We designed the vanity to almost appear like two suitcases sitting in between shelves,” says Brendan. The curved fronts of the American oak vanity are sandwiched between slabs of carrara marble from Earp Brothers. This evokes visual equilibrium.
The shape also aided size constraints. “The separately curved fronts introduce a rhythm and softness of form, while also reducing the visual bulk of the size of the vanity,” adds Brendan.
Looks like quiet luxury is a concept that can be applied to bathroom design with glorious effect.
Source book
Interior design: Brendan Wong Design, brendanwong.com.
Builder: Built Complete, builtcomplete.com.au.
Joinery: XYZ Joinery, xyzjoinery.com.au.
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