3 BATHROOMS THAT ARE FUN AND FUNCTIONAL FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
At House 17, as always, our goal was to create bathrooms that are not just beautiful but also bursting with personality, practicality, and a sprinkle of sparkle. Whether you’re brushing tiny teeth, taking a long hot soak, or getting ready for the day, these three distinct spaces, the main bathroom, the ensuite, and the powder room, prove that family-friendly can absolutely mean fabulous.
Take a look at how we struck the perfect balance between fun and functional in our latest project…
MAIN BATHROOM: Where Style Meets Splash Zone
This is the kids’ bathroom - you know the one that services muddy little people, bath toy mayhem, endless toothbrushing dramas. But in House 17, it’s a serene space as well as bring a practical powerhouse.
We started designing this bathroom by nailing the layout (because you know we believe layout is queen) and then chose fixtures and fittings to deliver the perfect combo of luxe looks and great functionality. Here’s what we did:
Put the vanity front and centre – it’s the first thing you see when you walk in, and if you’re just ducking in for a quick hand wash, it’s right where you need it. We chose the ISSY Cloud 1200mm Vanity with Limed Oak from Reece for its elegant curves, and the bonus is that it comes with a Corian benchtop, so that’s one less piece of stone you’ll have to order.
Chose a vanity with legs – a subtle flex that makes cleaning the floors a breeze and leaves room for a kiddie step stool to slide underneath like magic. Paired with the Omvivo Villa Thin Edge Basin, also from Reece, it’s equal parts form and function.
Pick quality tapware – the Reece Sussex Scala in Brushed Platinum Gold has looks and grit. High glam, low maintenance, perfect for sticky fingers and tired parents alike.
Installed hidden powerpoints – for all the electric toothbrushes and hair appliances… we’re planning for the future!
Added a dreamy wall sconce – the TANIMI Wall Light in natural by Beacon Lighting sets the mood for wine-in-the-bath evenings once the kids are in bed.
Tucked the toilet out of sight – because, let’s be honest, no one needs a view of the throne from the hallway. We’ve gone with the Roca Meridian Rimless Wall Hung Pan with the sleek Geberit Sigma 70 Flush Plate in matte white, both from Reece.
Positioned the freestanding bath along the short wall – it’s the ultimate space-savvy move that feels both luxurious and considered. Our pick was Reece’s Omvivo Villa Freestanding Bath for its compact 1500mm length and great depth.
Opted for a freestanding bath filler – a Sussex Scala Floor-Mounted Mixer Tap (with handshower - makes hair-washing a breeze!) keeps taps out of reach of curious hands and far from bumpable heads.
Created a double shower wet zone – we went for a fixed shower screen with a door which is ideal for wrangling multiple mini-mes and keeping splashes contained at shower time, complete with the Milli Mood Twin Rail Shower and a custom shelf topped with Calacatta Viola stone from Signorino, for that grown-up wow moment.
Chose slip-rated porcelain floor tiles – Kirribilli Travertine Look tiles from TileCloud give a timeless, natural vibe that hides the mess and holds its own. Their matte finish and P4 slip rating make them perfect for wet spaces.
Went with floor-to-ceiling wall tiles – taking your tiles up the entire wall makes a bathroom a true wet room and gives real luxe vibes. In the shower, we created the pattern with a combo of TileCloud’s Newport Gloss Mini Subways and Newport Gloss Square Tiles in Sage Green. The rest of the walls are in the same Kirribilli Travertine Look tiles as the floor.
Avoided white grout – Trust us: white grout is a heartbreak waiting to happen in high traffic areas, so we usually recommend skipping it on floors unless scrubbing is your cardio. On the main walls and floors, we used Mapei Ultracolour Plus Grout in ‘Caribbean’ for softness and sanity. On the shower walls, we chose Mapei Ultracolour Plus grout in 'Silver Grey’, for a touch of vintage-meets-modern magic. They’re both from TileCloud, where the team is fab at recommending grout colours to suit your tiles.
This bathroom is more than just pretty – it's built to survive real life with real people, and it’s got every trick in the book to keep things looking fresh and functioning beautifully.
🛁 ENSUITE: A Sanctuary in Slippers
The ensuite is where calm meets clever. A grown-up escape designed for moments of peace. In House 17, this one brings a whole lot of style in a small but functional space.
Here’s what we did to achieve this look:
Double vanity, double win – because no one should have to fight for sink space during the morning rush. We went custom with Carrera by Design cabinetry, crafted with Calacatta Viola stone from Signorino for a luxurious touch. And two Omvivo Villa Thin Edge Round Basins from Reece sit pretty, offering clean curves and elevated elegance.
Tapware that talks – we used Sussex Scala curved mixers in the same Brushed Platinum Gold finish we used throughout the house, striking that perfect balance between glam and practical.
Added a feature tile moment – enter the TileCloud Noosa Wall tiles in soft Beige, for a subtle, tonal highlight behind the vanity.
Walk-in shower of dreams – the open shower is tucked around the corner for a level of privacy with a Milli Mood Twin Rail Shower and Scala tapware from Reece, and lined with large format (600x1200mm) Kirribilli Ivory Matte tiles from TileCloud, which run from the main space right into the shower. Durable, natural, and just the right amount of texture.
Perfected the lighting – good lighting in a bathroom is key! It helps you nail your makeup, avoid shaving mishaps, and makes the whole space feel fresh and fab. We chose Beacon City III LED Downlights to achieve the right amount of lighting in the room, coupled with a Velux electric skylight, which floods the space with natural light by day, and a peek at the stars by night.
This ensuite is where functionality meets fantasy. A space that lets you exhale, unwind, and reset away from the rest of the family - without needing to check into a hotel.
POWDER ROOM: The Little Room with Big Energy
Small but mighty, that’s the powder room. And in House 17, this pocket rocket of a space punches way above its weight in style, surprise, and sass.
Here’s what we did to fit out this little beauty:
Hello checkerboard – TileCloud’s Bronte 200x200mm Terracotta tiles give the floor its heartbeat - warm, bold, and wipe-friendly.
Basin goals – The Omvivo Venice Basin and Pedestal from Reece is compact and chic, ticking the box for both space-saving and style.
Statement tapware – Because small spaces can do glam too. We went floor-mounted with the Sussex Scala Mixer Tap in Brushed Platinum Gold - a power move for a petite room.
Wall-mounted loo for the win – The Roca Meridian Rimless Wall Hung Pan from Reece keeps the floor clean and the look streamlined. Paired with the Geberit Sigma 70 Flush Button it's practical elegance.
Details that elevate – From the Sussex Scala Toilet Roll Holder and Towel Ring to the Stormtech Brass Tile Insert Waste, all in Brushed Platinum Gold and all from Reece, every detail earns its keep.
This powder room may be compact, but it brings all the confidence of a full-sized bathroom.
Every bathroom in House 17 was designed for real life - the toothpaste smudges, the bath-time chaos, the quiet cuppa while the kids splash. Whether you’re five or fifty-five, these spaces make the everyday feel just a little more lovely.
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