From working around construction challenges to amplifying light and wellbeing, the five walk-in robes of each main bedroom show how thoughtful skylight placement can contribute to both the design and feeling of a space. We asked Steph Ottavio, winner of The Block 2023, to explore the walk-in robe reveals alongside Carl, our VELUX skylight expert. Together, they look at how each team has used VELUX skylights to bring daylight into these spaces, and why the benefits can extend well beyond function.
Houses 1 & 2: Good design is all about problem solving.
House 1 and House 2's walk-in robes presented a construction challenge, with a roof truss running through the centre of the space. Rather than letting the constraint compromise the design, two VELUX fixed skylights were positioned slightly off-centre to the wardrobes to work with the structure. For Steph, it's a great example of how thoughtful design can respond to practical challenges without compromising the overall result. “[It's] why good design is all about problem solving.” – Steph
House 1: Adam & Jolene
House 2: Chantel & Wyatt
House 3: Bringing light and wellbeing into the room.
Lisa and Rosco took out the win in House 3 for their main bedroom reveal. One of the standout features is the amplified light and amenity of the room. While the practical benefits of natural light are easy to recognise, the experience of being in a light-filled space can extend to wellbeing – an often-overlooked consideration when designing functional areas of the home. “The value-add that skylights really do bring into this space is increasing your wellbeing without you even knowing.” – Steph The winning room demonstrates that natural light isn't just for living and entertaining spaces. Bringing daylight into a walk-in robe can make the room feel more considered, comfortable and enjoyable to spend time in.
Houses 4 & 5: Making the skylights the hero.
House 4 and House 5's walk-in robes take a different approach to the others, with three fixed skylights becoming a hero feature across the ceiling of each narrow space. At approximately 2.4 metres wide, the rooms presented a different design challenge to some of the other walk-in robes. The skylights help open up the narrow spaces by bringing natural light from above and distributing it through the length of the room. Courtney & Sev’s House 4 walk-in robe also demonstrates how natural and artificial lighting can work together. With two bulkheads running through the space, downlights have been cleverly incorporated into the bulkheads to provide lighting at night without taking away from the impact of the skylights during the day. Rick & Tayla’s House 5 walk-in robe features three fixed skylights, creating three individual shafts of natural light across the space. The result is an abundance of natural light that becomes an integral part of the overall design. For a walk-in robe, protecting clothing from UV exposure can also be an important consideration. VELUX skylights provide 99% UV protection, helping protect clothing and furnishings from UV exposure. For additional light control, a VELUX blind can also be added.
House 4: Courtney & Sev
House 5: Rick & Tayla
VELUX products featured this week on The Block
Discover how VELUX skylights can help transform your space with natural light, ventilation and greater privacy.