Bathroom makeover: warm and neutral

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The bathroom, along with the kitchen, is one of the most expensive rooms in the home to renovate. But if you choose classic, quality fittings and materials which will stand the test of time, your new bathroom should stand you in good stead for years. Alexia Biggs explains how $17,000 transformed this bathroom into a warm, neutral-toned oasis.

Before
Work done by the previous home handyman had resulted in a few rough finishes and a large slipper bath that hadn’t been plumbed-in, and simply drained into the shower tray. The room lacked cohesion in colour and design.

In the finished bathroom the bath has been framed in an island setting, stretching along the length of one wall and enhancing the feeling of space. Taupe tiles have replaced the black floor tiles and continue along the bath surround, giving the space a warm feel, while large white tiles open up the room visually, making it feel bigger.

• The toilet suite we installed is the latest SmartFlush model from Caroma. With a 4A water conservation rating, it’s better for the environment and your water bills, as it can save you up to 35,000 litres of water each year.
• By keeping the toilet, shower and basin in the same positions as the original fittings, we were able to use the existing plumbing, thus saving a considerable amount. (Changing plumbing typically involves replacing the floor, plus the costs of labour and parts.)
• An efficient exhaust system is a must in a bathroom – we installed a 150mm wall exhaust fan from HPM. The system has shutters to prevent backdraft, noise and dust, and works to keep the bathroom mist-free.
• Tiling can be an expensive business – our tiles cost $1,170, plus an additional $6,094 for the installation (although this did include water-proofing the room). Consider updating your current bathroom by having tiles re-grouted and resealed, then covering them with a lick of White Knight Paints’ Tile Paint.

Step-by-step attaching towel rail to tiles

1. Hold the complete towel rail in the spot you think it is best suited to. Pick the tile that you will be drilling into, and bear in mind that you don’t want to drill too close to the edge – it should be at least 2cm away. With a pencil, mark where the rail will be fixed. Remove chrome casing to reveal the plate (supplied with the towel rail) that will adhere to the wall. Mark holes to be drilled with a pencil, then cover with masking tape – the tape prevents the drill bit from slipping across the tiles. Carefully start drilling, using a masonry bit and the drill (not masonry) setting.
2. Insert wall plugs into holes. To prevent cracking around the edge of the tile, use an old screw to screw in the plug then use a hammer to tap the wall plug below the surface of the tile. Remove screw. Using the screws and plate supplied with the towel rail, firmly affix rail to wall. 
3. Most bathroom fittings come with an allen key to affix the chrome cover – use this to fit the rail in place. We used a Sonia Tecno chrome towel ring from Reece, which complements the chrome tapware and vanity handles.

We got most of our beautiful bathroom pieces from Caroma and Reece. For more about their fantastic products, visit their websites:

Reece: www.reece.com.au

Caroma: www.caroma.com.au

Production & styling: Alexia Biggs. Photography: Sam McAdam.