Team KBB

How to create a harmonious ensuite design

Posted on 19th February 2025

ensuite design ideas for a seamless link

Wish your master suite felt and looked like one harmonious space? We’re breaking down some clever, expert ways to achieving a seamless link between your bedroom and bathroom…

From using the right materials to keeping a consistent colour palette, KBB journo Charlotte Luxford spoke to the designers behind three real projects to help provide some ideas and inspiration on creating a chic and cohesive ensuite design.

Ensuite for grown-ups

The brief for this property in north London was to revive the tired terrace into a warm and polished family home. The main bedroom and its ensuite are on the first floor – prized by the owners as a private parent zone – while the children have the top floor of the house as their own space.

“With that in mind, we wanted the master suite to feel distinctly grown up, and have a sense of sanctuary,” explains Emma Perkin, director at Emil Eve Architects.

White bathroom design with zellige tiles, marble surfaces and gold brassware. — The wall tiles in the ensuite are Zellige Nouveau white matt ceramic tiles by Mandarin Stone, while the marble was sourced from GD Stones.

In the ensuite, Emma used tactile materials to create a feeling of soft luxury, opting for bespoke ash joinery, paired with stone and ceramics to achieve a timeless elegance. Built-in storage in the shower and around the sink bring a spa-like feeling while keeping the surfaces uncluttered.

Neutral ensuite design with natural wood materials, zellige tiles, and marble finishes. — The Lauro countertop basin is from Lusso Stone and the tap and shower set are from Studio Ore.

The pared-back approach in the ensuite design extends to the bedroom, which features a limited palette and a small number of carefully chosen pieces. The warm-neutral colour scheme continues in this space, the ceiling here painted a tone darker than the walls for a contemporary look.

Neutral bedroom design with an upholstered headboard, neutral linen and compact furniture. — Tactile materials and soft shades in the bedroom make for a luxurious look, while creating a private, cocooning space as per the homeowners’ whishlist.

Harmonious retreat

When the owners of this property in north London approached Finkernagel Ross, they had one clear vision for their master suite: a retreat that felt personal, intimate and cohesive, explains Catherine Finkernagel, director at Finkernagel Ross. This needed reimagining, as the layout wasn’t quite right and the flow between the bedroom and the ensuite felt disjointed.

Neutral bedroom design with a four poster bed, neutral bed linen and parquet flooring. — In the bedroom, a Leif Wikner pine dressing table and stool, along with Frank Gehry’s recycled wood Wiggle chair, introduces natural, tactile elements that carry into the ensuite’s design.

Dressing room leading to an ensuite. — A spacious dressing room sits between the bedroom and the ensuite.

“We wanted the suite to feel like a retreat, where every element – from the bedroom’s ambiance to the bathroom’s clean, modern aesthetic – worked together harmoniously,” adds Catherine, who started by rearranging the original layout; this previously held the bedroom and a sitting area in one space, with a small door into the old ensuite. So, she got rid of the sitting area and relocated the wardrobes to create a spacious dressing room between the bedroom and the ensuite.

“We removed the doors between the bedroom and dressing area to add to the flow of the suite, now with cased openings providing access between the rooms while still indicating a separation of living space,” says Catherine. A foldable recessed door into the ensuite creates the illusion of one continuous, free-flowing space, but still offers privacy.

Modern, neutral bathroom design with wood furniture, dark marble worksurfaces and a white bath. — Organic materials and clean lines offer the bathroom a sophisticated spa-like look.

Shower design with a glass enclosure and dark marble tiles. — The statement shower enclosure tiles are Pietra Grey marble.

Neutral ensuite with a freestanding tub, a wood stool and spa-like decor. — The large-format floor tiles in the ensuite are Royan rough grain from Parkside. Photography: Anna Stathaki.

Textured master suite

According to Angela Simpson, creative director at Simpson & Voyle, having lots of space when designing a bathroom suite means there is room for both function and character, so it feels ‘less bathroomy’. The first choice Angela made when redesigning this master suite was the wood-effect floor tiles, which ground the space with warmth and texture.

Neutral bedroom design with pale pinks on the walls, wall art and textured soft furnishings. — These three interconnecting spaces are visually cohesive because the colours are so closely aligned, without any one area vying for attention.

Bedroom bathroom design with neutral colours and tactile finishes. — The bespoke joinery in the dressing area cost around £15,000.

“The dreamy view from the window, seeing both the pink blossom and plum-coloured leaves, pushed the palette naturally to echo the beautiful surroundings,” she adds. In the bathroom, a plum-coloured stone takes centre stage with its bold veining, and connects seamlessly with the other spaces in the suite.

“Although only the bottom section of the mirrored cabinets is operational, the optical illusion of them going all the way up to the ceiling has a huge impact on how the space feels,” says Angela. “Velvets in the bedroom, soft carpet underfoot, oodles of natural light, and careful choice of stone in the bathrooms make a dreamy combination of inviting materials, for a luxurious master suite,” she concludes.