The Bathroom Edition

Saturday, 26 April 2025

It’s finished!

Our family bathroom has a gorgeous tiled shower. The glazed titanium steel, low profile shower tray is easy to clean. We are loving the luxury of the combined slide and rain shower heads. Plus there's a ledge running along the back wall for shampoo and body wash bottles. White globe lights positioned either side of the mirror cabinet and two on the ceiling reflect light around the space.

One tile

Applied vertically and horizontally creating a basket weave style pattern. The green grout that matches the tile colour helps create the basket weave pattern. We mixed green with a bit of charcoal grout for a completely customised look.

A little sparkle

A Kartell Jellies Coat Hanger becomes a decorative robe hook above the stool.

To add balance

The opposite wall was battened in a grid formation and painted Dulux Musket Bay.

Here's my best bathroom tips

How many bedrooms should your bathroom service?

Ideally the more bedrooms, equates to a proportionally sized bathroom with good vanity storage. Our bathroom services three bedrooms with ample vanity and cabinet storage.

Modern bathrooms

Ideally open onto a gorgeous vanity. Install the largest vanity that appropriately fits the space. Wall hung vanities provide less storage than floor standing models. Our 1200mm vanity with one vessel provides four drawers plus plenty of bench space.

For balanced lighting

Place your light fittings either side of your mirror. Lights placed above a mirror create shadows.

Shower niches are out

Ledges are in. More space for everyone's bottles.  Plus I don't like to spoil the look with different bottles on the ledge, so I've decanted them into matching bottles.🤩

Swap a round mirror (so over used now)

Above your vanity to a recessed mirror cabinet.  You wont regret the extra storage. Use a round or oval vessel / basin instead.

Avoid coloured bathroomware.

Keep basins, baths and toilets to white. It's modern and timeless. That's also true for chrome tap ware.  

Always invest

In new towels for a new bathroom. There's nothing appealing about old thin towels hanging to dry. You want a minimum of 600gsm. They are softer, more absorbent and last longer.

If you have budget constraints…

Tile your shower only

Tiling a wall that is not getting wet will soak up $$$’s. I installed an up stand (same material as the bench top) to keep within budget. In this newsletter from last year I shared from my inspiration file, how to work with painted walls in a bathroom.

       AND

Run all water services 

Along one / two walls max. Makes the design less complex and lightens the plumbing bill.

      AND

Don’t indulge

In two basins and tapware, that’s twice the cost of materials and plumbing. 

Past bathroom and ensuite projects I've completed.

Mesmerising Blue.

Clients selected this lovely blue tile. It's paired with a white round penny tile for texture. Both tiles use charcoal grouting.

Glamorous Ensuite

The mitred tiled edges on the shower wall are just as good as the wow wallpaper.

Keeping it neutral.

Using the same tile in plain and textured variations adds visual interest. That's a flooring standing vanity.

Project Updates

The Penthouse Apartment

Project planning has taken a year. The brief from these stylish apartment dwellers is two words cosy and wow. My inspiration for this interior design concept comes from a large triptych artwork of forest trees, hanging in the hallway. It's so stunningly beautiful it's moving to the living space.  

The large open space comprising kitchen, dining and living is east facing with views over the city and harbour. The challenge was turning cool bluish daylight into a warm and inviting interior.  Above is a mood board of ideas that we're working with.

The Penthouse Apartment Plan

• New deep toned oak flooring in a wide plank and laid on the diagonal.
• A stunner of a kitchen in gold, green and black tones.
• The addition of an electric fireplace in the living space.
• Display storage that doesn't require constant cleaning.
• Sheer curtains to pull across on a winter's day, but still see  

     the view.

• Wallpaper to add visual warmth and texture and a warmer white paint.
• A rug to add warmth under foot in the living space.
• Occasional chairs to complement their black leather sofas.
• A gorgeous coffee table.
• Re upholstery of dining chairs.
• New / re upholstered bar stools.

Work in progress

Here are a couple of images from install day for the blinds with pelmets.  Painting completed. Lighting installed. Next up new flooring. Even that old fence outside is going to get a lick of paint!