When this homeowner undertook a complete renovation of their Auckland dwelling, a new and stunning ensuite was created where once there was none. Walls were knocked down, others were added and voilà – a spacious and rather luxurious master ensuite appeared.

Whilst not overly large and with no natural light, this space feels perfectly balanced, light and welcoming. The layout and material selection combine beautifully to create an uncrowded and practical ensuite with plenty of room and some gorgeous design features. With tiles and bathware sourced from Tile Depot, the client was able to bring the materials and design of their ensuite vision together in one place. There were, of course, multiple visits and refinements throughout the design process, but the ability to explore and adjust bathware and tile combinations within the same showroom made the process both practical and efficient.

The tile combination is exquisite, and you would be forgiven for thinking the two tiles used were part of the same collection. In reality they are completely different materials from two different manufacturers. One of the joys of the creative process is combining tiles and discovering pairings that simply work beautifully together.

The large format tile used across the floors and most of the walls is Isla Canyon Ivory 596 x 1197mm. A beautiful matt porcelain tile from Italy, its generous format allows the realistic stone aesthetic to flow throughout the space with minimal interruption, enhancing the sense of openness and creating a calm, high-end feel. Layout decisions further reinforce this feeling of spaciousness, including the wall-hung vanity, tile drenching and full-width shower.

The shower traverses the full width of the room and feels welcoming and luxurious — a space designed for lingering and slowing down. A half-height nib wall runs the length of the shower, creating a practical shelf while introducing the Colosseum Travertine mosaic as a feature. This natural travertine has been shaped into beautiful half-round, reeded fingers, resulting in a striking fluted texture that adds depth and tactile richness to the wall. The eye is drawn to it immediately upon entering the room — a real scene stealer and arguably the hero of the space. Its compatibility with the Isla Canyon tile is remarkable; they appear almost cut from the same stone, simply expressed through different forms and textures.

To complete the look, the homeowner selected copper tapware, enhancing the warmth of the space and drawing out the subtle rusty tones within the tiles. A timber vanity adds further richness, while carefully considered lighting — including ceiling lights, an LED arch mirror and feature lighting above the vanity — ensures the room feels warm, welcoming and beautifully balanced.

The result is a thoughtfully resolved space and a huge credit to the homeowner who had this inspired vision.