What was once an underutilised attic at The Manor House is now a generous, light-filled main ensuite that balances everyday functionality and understated luxury, thanks to a considered renovation by Earthborne by Design.
Kbdi Awards 2026 Entrants – Category – Master Suites Qld
Designer: Paul Coulson
Nominated for the Master Suites Qld award, this new room formed part of a broader transformation that reimagined the home’s roofline to create a new upper-level main suite. Within this space, the ensuite was designed to be a calm, contemporary retreat that reflected the home’s refined coastal farmhouse aesthetic through restraint, materiality and proportion.
Creating volume and inviting natural light were central to the design. A vaulted ceiling gives the room a striking sense of generosity, while a full-width window draws daylight deep inside while connecting the space to its surrounding landscape.
The homeowners requested a shower without screens or glazing, so the design and build team treated this as an important driver of the room’s spatial planning. Earthborne by Design embraced the brief with a generous open wet zone, carefully resolving scale, drainage, falls and separation from surrounding areas to ensure effortless functionality.
Privacy was extremely important to the homeowners, and the team took this into account when designing the space. A concealed WC sits discreetly within the plan, while the adjoining walk-in robe creates a natural flow through the primary suite.
The room’s restrained yet deliberately layered material palette brings warmth and texture, pairing custom timber joinery with soft stone surfaces and a subtly patterned floor. A freestanding bath anchors the vaulted space, complemented by a streamlined double vanity and wall-mounted tapware. Above, a sculptural chandelier adds a jewellery-like finishing touch. Layered lighting shifts the mood from bright and functional by day to intimate and atmospheric by night.
The result is a serene, highly considered ensuite which illustrates that creativity and expertise go a long way when it comes to renovating unusual spaces.
For more information
Earthborne by Design
A 5/507 Olsen Ave, Southport Qld
P 1300 924 629
E contact@earthbornebydesign.com.au
F Earthborne By Design – Interior Design & Decoration Services
I earthborne_by_design_