Thanks everyone - I am sold on retaining the tub. I am a nomad - this is home number 7 and whilst I fantasise about a forever home, I have declared it before only to get itchy feet.. Ellen you sell the soak really well. The 21 year old son (who usually uses this bathroom) promises he is leaving home soon. I might create a seriously girly bathroom /laundry which might make a long bath appealing rather than a gross prospect. I can mediate to the sound of the dryer tumbling around.

I had 3 female joeys and two bedrooms which led to constant 2 -v- 1 situations so nights were generally a game of musical beds. There was always one child who needed time out or was given time out. When we added the extra bedroom, the serenity was bliss. They could still share when they wanted but it was all up to them, it was not forced on them so relationships definitely improved after that. I think the age of the children and the age difference is a very important aspect. Younger children are more than happy to share for the security and comfort when the lights go out. Older children need their space and privacy especially for study. Children after puberty can get extremely sensitive about their bodies and need privacy more than ever in this adjustment period. You cannot expect to put say an 8 year old with a 3 year old - by 8 kids are usually developing attachments to "special" keepsakes, something 3 year olds don't understand and this can cause a lot of resentment when things get broken or trashed. Pre children I always felt them sharing bedrooms would lead to wonderful relationships, the children would learn to share, care and appreciate each other. Now I'm older and wiser, separate bedrooms is sanity for everyone.

Jenny Yun, you need to check back on your original plans/marketing brochure. If they show a separate shower to a bath that is what you thought you were buying. A builder can't change from having a shower and a bath to having a shower over a bath without contacting the buyers. Get your solicitors advice if the builder has made this change without going through the proper channels. A Certificate of Occupancy certifies that a home can be lived in. It is a requirement of most local government councils that an occupancy certificate be issued prior to the purchaser of a home taking occupation. If I were you I would be getting my solicitors to confirm about the Certificate of Occupancy before moving in and asking some questions about drainage and mould growth under the bath. Your solicitor should represent your interests, and knows what the law says, so they should be helping you. It is such a pity you have already settled - I hope it is not too late. If there are a lot of apartments with the same problem you may need to consider a class action if you can't get proper rectification from the builder. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls.

As one of Sydney’s leading bathroom renovators we love transforming old an outdated bathrooms into showroom masterpieces. But it is then up the home owner to look after their bathroom to ensure it continues looking great for years to come. But with the expense of traditional bathroom cleaners, there is another option. How much money do you waist on your weekly shopping trip for bathroom cleaners? If the answer is a bit too much, then we have the perfect solution for you. Become a chemist and make your own bathroom cleaning solutions. Laundry Soap Make your own laundry soap by mixing some cheap, yet effective ingredients: castile soap bars, washing soda, borax and essential oil. You can alter the recipe by using your favorite essential oils and soaps. You will need a food processor to do the laundry soap. Chop the castile soap bars into small pieces and add them to the food processor. Add three cups of washing soda (remember to use the same measuring cup for all the ingredients) and pulse the processor for a minute or two. Stir and add the borax and the scented essential oils. This is a great alternative especially for babies, who have very sensitive skin. Bathroom cleaner The following recipe can be used to clean the toilet, the tubs, the sink, the floor and the ceramic walls of your bathroom. You can use an older empty spray bottle from other products and as ingredients, you need baking soda, castile soap, water, and lemon or lemon salt. This bathroom cleaner has a great smell and it is a good cleaner, removing stains. The recipe for a small bottle of around 16oz. includes one tablespoon of baking soda, two tablespoons of castile soap, water, lemon zest or one tablespoon of lemon salt. Mix all the ingredient and then spray the product on your bathroom furniture. Glass cleaner Glass cleaner can be pretty expensive as most of us use a lot for our mirrors, windows, and other similar surfaces. Your bathroom mirror, shower glass doors, and windows will look spotless with this recipe made out of natural ingredients. Use half a gallon of water, half a cup of ammonia, 16oz. of alcohol and one tablespoon of dish soap. The best part is that you can make a lot of it with cheap ingredients. You can even recycle a bottle from previous products you bought. Remember to write down with a marker what you have in each bottle so as to avoid unwanted accidents. Glass spots killer How annoying are those stubborn glass spots we try so hard to remove! There is an easy way of making them disappear and you need only two ingredients: water and vinegar. Mix the same amount of water with the same amount of white vinegar and apply it to stains. Leave it a couple of minutes and then just rinse it away. These natural ingredients are the answer to your spots and stains problems. Super Cleansing Reusable Cleaning Rags When we clean something, we do not only need the cleaning substance, but also a cleaning rag. It is quite easy to spend quite a sum of money on cleaning sponges and rags and what not. Learn to make your own and see how rewarding it feels. All you need is three cups of water, two tablespoons of castile soap, one cup of vinegar, one tablespoon of borax and some drops of essential oils. Make sure you choose antibacterial essential oils for a proper cleaning. Choose your favorite cleaning cloths in a big glass jar and mix it with all the ingredients mentioned.