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Building a new bathroom, complete with feature vanity but without a huge price tag, was an achievable challenge for experienced renovators Katrina and Jesse (therenolifetas.com.au). “We’re big on finding ways to achieve beauty for less,” says Katrina, who has completed two new builds and seven renovations with her husband. This ensuite, part of an extension to a 1950s cottage, was finished for $7000. “Obviously D.I.Y. had a lot to do with it – my husband’s a builder,” Katrina says. But their bottom line was also down to savvy purchases and a can-do attitude.
The curved shower wall is the standout hero of the ensuite, but was also the greatest challenge. “As a self-taught tiler, Jesse certainly wasn’t excited by it!” says Katrina. But after three days of painstaking work with fiddly kitkat tiles, the results are worth it. The space is completed with a brass showerhead and mixer and a simple glass shower screen. One of Katrina’s genius planning ideas was to place the mixer on the opposite wall to the showerhead, so you can switch it on without getting wet!
Frustrated by the inflated cost of high-end vanities, Katrina and Jesse decided to have a crack at making one from scratch. “We just bought a hardwood panel from Bunnings and made it into a rectangular box, which is a really simple thing to do,” says Katrina. Hinged doors were chosen to keep it simple and Porta ‘Cirque’ lining glued on for texture. A hard wax seal is more than adequate to protect the walnut-stained timber – though Katrina says they recently added an acrylic top to the similar vanity in the family bathroom, to make it more bulletproof for kids!
Providing sufficient natural light was another challenge. “It was on the southern side and right up against the boundary, so the skylight was essential to get the light,” says Katrina. Jesse made the skylight, saving on costs, while the main window was another budget success – a double-glazed aluminium window bought secondhand. A light, neutral colour scheme also keeps the room bright. “But I wanted to do it in a way that brought a bit of interest,” Katrina says. This inspired the choice of a deep walnut stain for the vanity and the beige (“I would call it a really subtle blush pink”) concrete basin, which picks up the oatmeal tones of the floor and wall tiles.
The Easycraft wet area VJ wall lining is a nod to the original materials used in this 1950s cottage, but Katrina says it’s also a favourite material across all their renovations. “We can’t get enough of it. It’s a really beautiful way to get a bit of texture, and it’s a nice way to finish an area, such as behind a vanity, without the extra cost of tiling.”
Check out our step-by-step guide to planning a bathroom renovation.
Photo Credit: J. Parsons Photography.
Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.
When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.
