ALCHEMY HOUSE

and faultlessly rendered, this bathroom by Nicolette and Dylan Farrell is the pure embodiment of modern luxury. They have paired unique materials with dazzling vintage pieces to create a space that is truly one of a kind. From the outset, vibrancy was the most important consideration for this master ensuite, so we strategically placed the bathroom in the brightest corner of the house. For us, it is critically important that, when the option is available, a primary bathroom is filled with natural light all day. Theatrics and grandeur were key components of the brief, so we crafted monumental proportions that would comfortably house the likes of an over-scaled bath, a glamorous statement chandelier and plenty of opinionated details. Stage sets from 1930s Hollywood and neoclassical Parisian architectural detailing. While the space needed to be opulent, we wanted to juxtapose this wish with a sense of clean, fresh modernity. Ice-blue onyx surfaces are tempered by the warm, ochre tones of Calacatta Gold marble. Handpainted, weathered vanities are teamed with aged mirrored glass and crystal details. The stark, blackened steel doors are a striking graphic inside the otherwise soft and serene space. And – luxury aside – the space functions beautifully with ample linen and vanity storage and a neat, symmetrical layout with his-and-hers vanities. We opted for sparing dashes of brushed gold and grounded the ‘bling’ with the weathered-brass basins at the vanities. We mixed polished and honed marble surfaces to allow the gutsier marbles to take centrestage and the softer marbles to provide a gentler backdrop. The only furnishing in the space is the India Mahdavi ‘Bishop’ stool, selected for its playful lines and colour. This entire space is unabashedly luxurious. We sifted the vintage market for months to find the perfect chandelier – that being the nine-light Sciolari fixture above the bath. The curvaceous brass heading at its top so beautifully complements the contours of the custom bath. They say they enjoy the space tremendously. The all-day light gives the space an energetic and ethereal feel.