Category : Press

Feature article in the Home Design Magazine’s Annual Collectors Edition (2015) for the recently completed Vaucluse Main Bathroom renovation!

This classic bathroom encompasses everything you need with a simple aesthetic – The beauty of a neutral bathroom that focuses on the basics is that the colour scheme can be altered with ease using soft furnishings and décor items – Home Design Magazine

Apartment renovations can often be tricky in regards to available space and structural limitations; this bathroom had its original design limitations.   To ensure both design aesthetics and functionality was achieved, the team at Minosa redesigned the layout and complete flow of this bathroom which, in this case, also included the redirection of the existing plumbing.

The real success of this design apart from the design aesthetic is the function, now on entry you see the vanity and from a function perspective this is the centre of the space; generally the last thing you use so it makes sense to be the first and last item of view and use – Minosa

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The Award Winning Clovelly Bathroom is featured on the front cover of the HIA Guide to Bathroom Planning & Design!!

The HIA Guide to Bathroom Planning and Design is a comprehensive industry reference guide designed for both experienced designers and those new to bathroom design. Professionally presented – 300 pages, 13 chapters packed with information, expert tips, design elements and principles, walk-through winning projects and over 240 images, this new book is a must have for all industry professionals.

Purchase the guide here

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The Vaucluse Bathroom Project was one in which we shared with the team at Minosa Design.

The clients of the Vaucluse project contacted Minosa Design for their expertise in redesigning the main bathroom of their Eastern Sydney apartment. Being an apartment, and a small bathroom space at that, the plumbing of the bathroom was set in place – this was a hurdle to be overcome throughout the course of the project.

From the start of the project Liebke Projects met with the clients, alongside Minosa Design, to discuss the project scope taking into account the current construction of the bathroom layout. constant communication between the clients, designers and out team allowed for the project to run smoothly resulting in the design breif being met and client satisfaction along the way.

Published in the July 2015 edition of Home Beautiful Magazine as a feature article was one of our recent projects, the Vaucluse Bathroom. Read below, a snippet of the Home Beautiful Magazine article…

Who Lives Here? Corporate Professionals

Original Room: The main bathroom in a new contemporary apartment in Sydney’s eastern suburbs

Time Frame: Eight Weeks

Why The Makeover? The room had been finished with bland, budget fittings and was dominated by a bulky vanity.

The Works: The couple called on Darren Genner of design firm Minosa to renovate the room. Hampered somewhat by fixed apartment plumbing, the Minosa team ripped everything out and built a faux wall running the length of the bathroom to accomodate sleek, recessed joinery and allow the shower to fit in next to the bath.

Key Features: The vanity and the shower were repositioned and fresh fittings installed, with the toilet positioned behind a wall for privacy. The whole space was redecorated in a natural, luxe palette, resulting in a major style rebirth.

Lesson Learned: Working with fixed plumbing in an apartment might not restrict placement of new fittings as much as you think; if you’re planning a layout restructure, ask your designer, builder or plumber about the possibilities.

“The design of this bathroom plays with your eye and makes the space feel bigger”
– Darren Genner, Minosa Design.

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BATHROOMS have come a long way from the days when they were just somewhere to brush your teeth and have a wash, as the finalists in this year’s HIA-CSR NSW Housing and Kitchen & Bathroom Awards showcase.

When we now expect so much from our homes, the bathroom needs to perform a number of functions from a high traffic area on weekday mornings to an at-home day spa in the evenings and on weekends.

On the one hand, everyone needs direct and easy access to handbasins and showers while on the other, there needs to be a sense of sanctuary and luxury reflected in fittings and finishes.

The evolving role of the bathroom is on show in this year’s range of finalists, with careful consideration given to the choice of fittings and fixtures, as well as optimum functional design.

Stone continues to feature prominently, with marble slabs and marble tiles in shades of white and grey proving popular. Storage is streamlined and almost invisible, with floating joinery, handle-free drawers and shelving concealed behind mirrors.

There’s an emphasis on simple lines in tapware as well, with wall-mounted fittings making cleaning an easier task. Double basins have become de rigeur and vary between integrated and counter-mounted styles while the freestanding bath adds the sense of luxury and escape from the everyday that many homeowners are looking for.

As with every good bathroom, there’s a clever use of natural light without compromising on privacy with reflective surfaces bouncing light around the room.the deceptively simple bathroom packs in features from heated towel rails to a freestanding bath tub.

CATEGORY: BATHROOM DESIGN AND LARGE BATHROOM

Builder: Liebke Projects  |  Design: Minosa Design

The Minosa designed bathroom was created in a disused space off a bedroom.

Almost unbelievably, this bathroom was created in a disused space off the main bedroom of a traditional four-bedroom home in the beachside suburb of Clovelly.

“Very rarely are we presented with a space that is free from anything, a space that is square with good light, a clean slate,” says Darren Genner from Minosa. “This space was a dream to work with, but it still had its challenges.”

With a traditional restored frontage and architecturally designed minimalist modern extension, the home’s style dictated the style of the bathroom — a sharp, clean contemporary design with more than a hint of classic style.

“The approach to the room was to zone the functions, the toilet is in a separate area tucked away from the bathing space so the room was set out into three zones: bathing, vanity and hamper storage-come-seating area,” says Darren.

The washbasin was custom made from a single piece of solid surface material with two eco friendly bowls slumped out of the top surface.

Above the washbasin are ‘touch to open’ bi-fold lift-up doors that cater for personal effects storage while the drawers below house cleaning products and more towels.

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Desperate for a bathing space that was just for grown-ups in their traditional four-bedroom California bungalow, the owners of this jaw-dropping bathroom wanted to reconfigure an empty room next to their bedroom into an ensuite, to give them a bit of escapism from their large family of five children. Working within the design industry herself, one of the owners had an astute eye for quality design and construction, and both owners also had a clear idea of the contemporary style they wanted to achieve. With these precise objectives in mind, they approached the award-winning interior design company, Minosa Design, who collaborated with Liebke Projects to help them achieve their desire for a space that was remarkable, relaxing and above all, a private retreat.

Who lives here: A professional couple and their combined family of five children from the ages of 10 to 18 – a true Brady bunch!
Location: Clovelly, Sydney, NSW
Size: Approximately 20.5 square metres

“Very rarely are we presented with a space that is free from anything – a space that is a square with good light, a clean slate,” explains Darren Genner, founder of Minosa Design. “From the outset this room was a dream to work with, but it still had its challenges, most notably the difficult access to the space via a narrow staircase, and the fact there was no existing plumbing in the room.”

The homeowners appreciated contemporary design and modern living. With this in mind, the brief included bathing space for two, a large open shower and good task and ambient lighting. Natural materials had to play a starring role in the design, as did a monotone colour palette to achieve the simple yet striking look the couple wanted.

“The approach to the design was to zone the functions,” says Genner. “The toilet is in a separate area away from the bathing space, so the room was set out into three zones: bathing, vanity and hamper storage-cum-seating area.”

With the clients’ desire for a truly show-stopping feature, the designer elevated the bathing zone on a raised platform, which was then clad in elegant ‘Bianco’ Carrara marble from Marble and Ceramic Corp. As the clients had already chosen the dark grey Design Republic tiles early on in the design process, this striking marble was chosen as the natural element to warm up the space while sticking within the monochrome palette.

The marble was then extended up the back wall for added drama, and the edges were mitred to create a block-like feel and extenuate the contrast of materials. The round form of the classic Gubi mirror centred above the bath helps to soften the monochromatic and edgy design.

Gubi round leather mirror: Cult Design; Vola tapware: Dedece; stone freestanding bathtub: Apaiser

“By building up the back wall it allowed us to create recessed niches and also house accent lighting,” says Genner. The raised step also accommodates the night-light which is sensor activated. “Lighting in this space is very measured and layered,” says Genner. “The design allows the room to be bright in the morning or when there is the need to dress up, and it has the ability to tone down so you can rejuvenate and relax.”

To complement the wellness lighting, the designer chose to specify the three-millimetre Gessi showerhead. “Not only does it look sharp, but it has two other roles,” he explains. “Yes it is a rain soaker, but it also has a built-in waterfall option allowing the user a large amount of water when required.” An adjustable shower rail was also specified for complete flexibility.

Shower screen glass: Viridian Glass
With the clients’ wish to have an oversized bench and integrated wash basins, there was a clear decision to separate the bathing and vanity zones. The bespoke scooped wash basins were moulded from a single piece of solid surface to ensure a sleek, uninterrupted flow of benchtop. Above the basins, the dynamic touch-to-open lift-up doors take the doors away from the face, enabling easy access to the abundant storage behind. Below the basins, there are further drawers for extra towels and cleaning products.

Heated towel rail: Avenir

The room lighting comes via the LED uplights that run above the marble wall and above the recessed cabinets. These are also on a dimmer control, so the illumination can be softened when needed.

The designer chose to create a real sense of arrival, as the entry point to this new bathing space is through the wardrobe. The creation of a low, long hamper area with a marble top was designed as practical storage for extra towels or dirty clothes, as well as a seating space to create a spot for conversation or contemplation.

Two sky tubes set above the shower and the bath were created to bathe the space in more natural light, and allow glimpses to the sky to increase the feeling of space.

For Genner and his partner Simona Castagna, founders of Minosa Design, the final result is a clear example of their drive for ‘interior design with a refined balance of aesthetic and technical knowledge.’ The clean, simple monochromatic space is a well-balanced modern triumph that is the perfect place to start the day or unwind in the evening.

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Our Clovelly Bathroom Project,  which took out 2015 HIA CSR NSW Bathroom of the Year, features in this months Grand Designs Australia Magazine – Understated Elegance

• The Clovelly Bathroom Project
• Build: Liebke Projects
• Design: Minosa Design
• Images: Nicole England

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This months Australian House & Garden Magazine feature article 60 + Beautiful Bathrooms features our Cattai Ensuite!

• Cattai Bathroom Project
• Build: Liebke Projects
• Design: Minosa Design
• Images: Nicole England Photography

The natural light streaming through from the private outdoor courtyard is a key feature in lightening up this stunning black mosaic ensuite as in the  incorporation of the custom made reclaimed timber benchtops and ceiling panelling – bringing the outside elements in.

“The real success of this small dark bathroom is the way it has connected with the outdoor space, a personal & private planted out courtyard that you would only ever visit when weeding or pruning, it is now part of the interior and most importantly it feels like you are showering in it.”
– Minosa Design

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This months Inside Out Magazine features our Clovelly Bathroom within the Buyers Guide to Bathroom Storage article.

Finding that sweet spot between pure functionality and a soothing spa-like ambience is one of the biggest challenges when it comes to bathrooms. But there’s actually a really simple science behind making your space work harder and look better; smart storage.  (Clare Patience, Inside Out Magazine)

Minosa Design’s Darren Genner, Designer of the Clovelly Bathroom, talks to Clare Patience of Inside Out Magazine with his tips on bathroom storage.

If space allows, hamper storage can be great, it can even be concealed as a bench seat – custom options can hold towels, mats or sheets – he says.

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The Award Winning Clovelly Bathroom renovation was featured in this months Habitus Living Magazine.

Recently awarded 2015 HIA CSR NSW Bathroom of the Year & 2015 HIA CSR Bathroom Design of the Year (Minosa Design), the Clovelly Bathroom has had a great amount of interest, both in print and online, with the monotone palette and large scale standout features appealing to the wider audience.

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The Clovelly Bathroom renovation was entered into the 2015 HIA CSR NSW Kitchen & Bathroom Awards in two categories:

• 2015 NSW Large Bathroom of the Year
• 2015 NSW Bathroom of the Year

We are proud to announce that we won in both categories which will take us to the 2015 HIS CSR National Kitchen & Bathroom Awards!

The Clovelly Bathroom was also awarded 2015 HIA CSR NSW Bathroom Design of the Year to the creative minds behind the design – Minosa

“In this high quality bathroom everything comes together – the material choice, design, functionality and craftsmanship – in one cohesive package. Detailed ambient lighting for the raised bath and overhead cabinet all well executed. The opportunity to create an ambiance in the bathroom is created by having the toilet separated but still within the space – an artistic bathroom in every way.”
– HIA Housing Magazine

The ‘Bathroom of the Year’ award acknowledges quality of workmanship in the manufacture and installation of a complete single residential bathroom, as well as demonstrating technical & BCA compliance, innovation and design appearance (hia.com.au).

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