A wabi-sabi bathroom retreat
“ Water is the driving force of all nature ”
Artful living isn't reserved for grand living rooms or elegant dining spaces. Sometimes it's found in the quiet ritual of drawing a bath, the warmth of gentle lighting, and a room designed to restore both body and mind.
Wabi-sabi inspired design
Handcrafted details
Reimagined bathroom design
The renovation was about much more than creating a beautiful new bathroom. By combining the original bathroom with an adjoining spare bedroom, I was able to completely reimagine the space, transforming it into a private sanctuary designed for reflection, restoration and everyday luxury.
Every home has a story to tell, and this 1928 bathroom had faithfully served its family for almost a century. Apart from a replacement toilet and updated taps, very little had changed since it was first built. While rich in history and character, it no longer reflected the way modern families want to live.
Bathrooms don't have to be white, clinical or sterile. They can be warm, layered and deeply personal. My vision was to create a room that encourages slowing down – a place where the day begins gently and ends peacefully.
The hero of the room is the stunning Imperfection wallpaper by Mind the Gap. Inspired by the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, it celebrates the beauty found in nature, authenticity and the imperfect. Its rich textures and organic forms became the foundation for the entire design.
Rather than following the traditional rule of choosing a single metal finish, I deliberately layered gunmetal, brass and bronze throughout the room.
When thoughtfully balanced, mixed metals add depth, character and individuality. After all, some design rules are made to be broken.
Custom joinery was designed not only for practical storage but also to display a treasured collection of Chinese pottery.
Their handcrafted forms and subtle glazes beautifully echo the movement and colours within the wallpaper, creating moments of interest that reveal themselves over time.
The walls are painted in Resene Go Ben, a sophisticated golden green that wraps the room in warmth and complements the natural palette.
Soft LED lighting concealed within the joinery transforms the space after dark, allowing the wallpaper, ceramics and carefully selected materials to glow quietly, creating an atmosphere that feels more like a boutique retreat than a traditional bathroom.
This project was completed over four months and is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when skilled craftspeople work together with a shared vision. Sincere thanks go to Tyson Ford Carpentry for bringing the transformation to life, Hayden Cameron of Complete Interiors for the exceptional tiling, Steve Turnbull Decorating for the impeccable painting, Paterson Joinery for the bespoke cabinetry, Fine Floors and Simpsons Flooring Xtra for the beautiful tiles, Foleys Plumbing for the plumbing, and Murray Brown Electrical for the lighting and electrical work.
The result is a bathroom that honours the home's history while embracing contemporary living, a space created not simply for cleansing, but for pausing, reflecting, recharging and unwinding.