In the spirit of crafting an at-home sanctuary, we tap into the design elements that redefine the bathing ritual.
Designing an exceptional bathroom means balancing design elements that maximise relaxation and underpin a ritualistic connection with self. In this Insider’s Guide, we take a closer look at the details that unify this intimate and serene space with Australian premium bathroom, kitchen, and laundry retailer Abey. Having built an expansive and high-quality portfolio of fixtures and finishes, Abey Australia has been empowering designers and homeowners alike to push the limits of design for over sixty-seven years.
Through four individual spaces, we explore how Abey freestanding baths, contemporary tapware, and technology-driven showerheads can elevate a wet room into a place of restoration and rejuvenation.
In partnership with Abey
Rose Park Residence by Williams Burton Leopardi | Photography by Caroline Cameron
Rose Park Residence by Williams Burton Leopardi | Photography by Caroline Cameron
Rose Park Residence by Williams Burton Leopardi | Photography by Caroline Cameron
Rose Park Residence by Williams Burton Leopardi
A sense of flow and quiet luxury informed this bathroom scheme housed within a contemporary family home in Adelaide’s prestigious Rose Park. Paying particular attention to form and tactility, this bathing space emulates a living space – in the bathroom. An aesthetic centred around timelessness is distilled through classic details such as herringbone marble tiles, rendered finishes and linen curtains.
A freestanding Gareth Ashton Byron Stone bath from Abey adds a luxurious element to this bathing space with its gently rounded curves and deep fill. Gareth Ashton is a brand that is well regarded for its innovative designs, superior craftsmanship, and application of high-quality materials such as clay to craft functional and beautiful bathroom solutions.
DVB Residence by Designer Dries De Malsche
Asked to design a family abode in the Belgian coastal town of Knokke, designer Dries De Malsche crafted a peaceful place to call home through custom detailing and a reductive palette. “The architecture is embedded in the local context, near the coast, with respect to tradition and embracing the essence of life by creating a feeling of warmth and authenticity,” Dries says.
The gentle intertwining of simplicity, warmth, and minimalism makes this bathroom a restorative place designed to encourage the ritual of bathing. “We chose rough terracotta flooring… and combined it with tactile materials such as onyx which is perfect to combine with a warm, hidden lighting.” When it came to fixtures and fittings, Dries specified Gessi for their Italian craftsmanship and bespoke finishes. This wet room highlights the Gessi Incisco Three Hole basin mixer, Gessi Incisco Wall Mounted Three Hole basin tapware and Gessi Total Wellness showerhead with its rainfall and mist chronotherapy functionality – putting personal wellness first.
Residence DVB by Dries De Malsche | Photography by Thomas De Bruyne
Residence DVB by Dries De Malsche | Photography by Thomas De Bruyne
Residence DVB by Dries De Malsche | Photography by Thomas De Bruyne
Residence DVB by Dries De Malsche | Photography by Thomas De Bruyne
Nine-Square Bondi by Madeleine Blanchfield Architects | Photography by Anson Smart
Nine-Square Bondi by Madeleine Blanchfield Architects | Photography by Anson Smart
Nine-Square Bondi by Madeleine Blanchfield Architects | Photography by Anson Smart
Nine-Square Bondi by Madeliene Blachfield Architects
Madeleine Blanchfield Architects crafted this intimate bathing oasis within a home that rejects the typical archetype and embraces colour and eclecticism through art, objects, and furniture. The client’s previous interiors from time spent in Hong Kong, Brazil, Los Angeles, and Sydney are all woven throughout, resulting in a distinctive layered design language with maximum impact.
Like the rest of the home, this jewel-like bathroom is small in footprint, but what it lacks in square metres, it makes up for with personality. Echoing the rest of the apartment with its unexpected decorative aesthetic, the bathroom enjoys verdant views overlooking the garden and amplifies the calming green and blue colour palette. As the focal point in the wet room, the Gareth Ashton Formoso Natural Stone bath from Abey was selected for its simplistic yet modern shape and deep bathing area, encouraging a luxurious and generous soak. This intimate space provides the perfect mood lifter.
Bathroom Temple by Benoit Vianene
This monolithic-like bathing space is grounded in desaturated tones to inspire a calming, natural experience. “We wanted to create a safe space with the feeling of being sheltered from the outside while enjoying a morning or evening ritual,” designer Benoit Vianene says.
Calacatta marble, walnut, lime paint and rounded surface edges all heighten the space’s soft and organic character. “We selected sugared marble to balance the overall tactility and harmony of the different materials,” Benoit says. The freestanding bath and sophisticated tapware in an aged bronze finish tell the story of this space best. “The bathtub was placed on a pedestal, creating a temple for serenity and relaxation for body and mind.”
Bathroom Temple by Benoit Viaene| Photography by Thibault De Schepper
Bathroom Temple by Benoit Viaene | Photography by Thibault De Schepper
Bathroom Temple by Benoit Viaene | Photography by Thibault De Schepper
