Accessible & Luxurious Bathroom Renovation

Our clients approached us to renovate the guest bathroom of their 1920s gentleman’s bungalow in Toorak Gardens. This long-awaited transformation came with a clear brief: create a traditional-style bathroom that honoured the home’s heritage while also delivering practical features for accessibility.

This multi-generational home needed a guest bathroom that welcomed everyone. One close family member uses a wheelchair, so the design had to allow easy movement and provide space for a carer to assist. At the same time, the homeowners wanted the room to feel beautiful, with quality finishes and a timeless style that would endure.

Accessible Layout & Features

The original bathroom, with its blue fixtures, was dated and impractical. The layout was not only restrictive but also inefficient, since it used only part of the available footprint while the remainder functioned as an entryway. The bath was positioned flush against the wall, making assisted access difficult, and the sink offered no benchtop or storage. As a result, toiletries were gathered on the window ledge.

Our designer worked closely with the homeowners to address the space accessibility and functionality. The first step was to optimise the layout, beginning with the removal of the dividing wall between the entryway and the linen cupboards. By reclaiming the full room, we created a more functional footprint. From there, the space was carefully reconfigured to provide unobstructed wheelchair access between the toilet, shower, and vanity zones.

Luxurious & Personal

Over the years, the family collected special items from across Australia, which they dreamed of including in their new bathroom. Our team carefully incorporated these cherished pieces, including the striking, solid cast-iron bathtub and the Birch solid wood vanity.

To achieve both accessibility and visual balance, we centred the freestanding bath and added a protruding ledge for the polished brass tapware. This thoughtful placement allows carers to assist safely from either side. For the shower, we selected a unique frameless pivoting panel. When open, it provides clear entry and generous space for wheelchair manoeuvring, and when closed, it contains splashing effectively. To further support safety, the shower floor was subtly contoured so that water drains efficiently without pooling.

Our client’s wish list includes a traditional tessellated floor, a tiling style that is rarely seen today and one that demands true craftsmanship. Our team laid each tile by hand in a precise pattern that combines Olde English styling with a Balmain border. We combined black and white Winckelmans tiles of octagon, white dots, black square fillers, and white strip borders. This labour-intensive process requires great precision, but when executed correctly, it delivers a bespoke, authentic heritage look with a luxurious feel. To complement the striking floor, crisp white tiles in a brick pattern create a modest yet refined contrast. New architraves, skirtings, and cornices match seamlessly with the home’s original heritage features.

BATHROOM trANSFORMATION

The renovated guest bathroom provides generous space between each zone, supporting accessibility and allowing smooth manoeuvring in a wheelchair. Equally important, it offers ample storage because our clients wanted the bathroom to remain well organised. The bespoke linen cabinet rises to the 3.2-metre ceiling, crafted in a traditional shaker style and finished with Castella knobs. Beside the vanity, a recessed wall cabinet with an internal power point keeps essentials neatly stored and benchtops clutter-free.

Every detail, from the thoughtful bath placement to the discreet recessed storage, is carefully designed for usability and lasting quality. In addition, polished brass fittings pair beautifully with the dark timber vanity and granite top, enhancing the traditional aesthetic while adding warmth.

As a result, the bathroom now meets the family’s practical needs while also honouring their appreciation for traditional design. Moreover, the owners are delighted with the outcome, and with their vision realised, they are already planning the laundry and ensuite renovations.