Canberra 70's bathroom reno plans
Melt In ACT
3 years ago
Grateful expert thoughts!
We would like to reno our Canberra master bath. It is an RJ Jennings home dating to the mid '70s and the bathroom is original.
Left picture is the current layout and right is our initial thinking. We want to minimise changing plumbing if possible, having heard that this is a good way to save costs. Thus everything is positioned the same place but we have removed the wall between the toilet and bathroom and closed off one of the doors to allow a much bigger frameless shower. Obviously neither is to scale (I won't be able to measure properly until I can get in to do a tenant inspection).
Photo of the actual bathroom is taken from the doorway that we would be aiming to block off.
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3 years agoMelt In ACT
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Comments (24)Hi everyone - just an update on our bathroom. Thank you again for all the suggestions. As all renovation projects go, we started with a basic touch up with tile paint and repainting the vanity; the tile paint was a disaster. To be fair it is very humid in Cairns at the moment, however the instructions were to leave it longer to dry. In the end we have ripped out both the floor and the wall tiles, we have reduced the height of the roman bath to a step in shower (we tiled straight over the shower floor with mosaic tiles). We managed to get a second hand vanity in fantastic condition, are replacing the shower glass from higrove (thanks for the tip) and even got some brand new tiles from the dump shop for $15.00. We thought we would try our hand at rendering and we are very happy with the effect of getting rid of the besser block walls. So for colours we have grey floor tiles, and white wall tiles. We are up to the wall tiles now and very excited about showing you our bathroom renovation which fingers crossed should be finished next week. Thank you again for all your comments. I have learnt a good lesson on weighing up the benefits of using what is existing in the space, to starting again and look for DIY tutorials on YouTube....See MoreEnsuite Reno suggestions, it's dated and dark...
Comments (14)Hello, the way to make the room feel bigger is to take out the ceiling up to the roof line and add an openable / remote operable roof window. Look at Fakro and Velux web sites. A bit of structural work to do in the roof but well worth the effort to achieve a light filled ventilated space. Ideally a " wet room " with no timber products and all stainless steel fittings. No chrome on base metal otherwise they will corrode in no time. If you can try and break through walls for the wall cabinet if there is a cupboard or robe behind this is also a space saving method. The window can be pushed out in a bay to enhance the space. Have not read much of the above but importantly remove all tiles, do not tile over old tiles. Waterproof the shower area walls before tiling. Don't take the glass shower screen to the floor, leave a gap and stand the glass on a stainless steel balustrade foot. Angle or channel fix the other edge to the wall. No need for a door on a wet room. Vanity cabinets are available in plastic but change the screws to stainless steel. Ideally no base cabinet and have a wall recessed cabinet as mentioned above. Don't think outside the square, think outside the box. Innovative design ideas from William Hall 628 drafting Darlington Perth WA...See MoreNeed help with an awkward 70's floorplan
Comments (20)siriusky thank you for the photos that looks beautiful (your exposed brick is stunning, sadly ours is a really ugly colour so we will be covering it up!). I am a big fan of 70s features - the high ceilings, raked beams etc and was looking specifically for one that needed renovating! I have 2 kids but I also work from home so need a study and I think a 4th bedroom upstairs would add value to the house. Can a bedroom have no windows? Because downstairs there are no windows in that little section and I dont think there is the possibility of creating one (built on a sloping block and it is built into the hill). That will be my study in the interim or long term if we decide not to change the layout upstairs. I really love the idea of the doors out to the balcony from the main bedroom too, will definitely investigate the cost to do that with the builder! definitely plan to open everything up upstairs as it is quite dark, opening it up will make a big difference. Tweeza thank you I really love that plan, and think the laundry and pantry like that would work very well! Jess I LOVE that first plan and all that lovely storage, if only we could find some way to incorporate a laundry. Hubby suggested a cupboard style laundry (washing machine behind doors) but I am just not a big fan of those! would probably have to sacrifice my lovely pantry for a laundry :) Thank you so much for everyone taking the time to help me I really appreciate it. Will post some photos after settlement and will be back for lots more advice!...See MoreRestoring a Interwar Queenslander that has 70s aluminum windows
Comments (13)I love that you're looking to invest in restoring it. I initially would have wondered whether there's still risk of it being bought by developers when you put it on the market again as they may retain the existing home to appease the heritage overlay but build others on the large block, especially if the area if growing in demand. In that case I would recommend keeping it simple, retaining cladding, just doing cosmetic changes plus fresh but inexpensive kitchen & bathroom. However, after reading your follow-up post, it sounds like you're actually going to be doing a lot with it and the integrity & heritage of the home is important to you, so I would do it well to attract a premium buyer, pricing it out of developers' budgets. In that case, avoid aluminium windows - even the more traditional style ones don't look quite right. And windows make such a statement visually so I think it would be ideal to invest in original style ones. My mum just did a renovation on a 1920s Tudor home and the windows that had to be replaced she ended up getting cheaper custom made by a local joinery than by the big Stegbars etc, but she did shop around. Alternatively there are building materials vendors/recyclers that could have good original windows, or even demolition homes listed on gumtree can come up with some great finds providing you're happy to remove yourself. And you need quite a few, I wouldn't worry about not having them identical from room to room which may be an issue finding so many matching, provided all your trims are painted say in a fresh white, they should tie in nicely together. And again, I was originally going to suggest keeping the cladding if you're doing a simple renovate to sell, however seeing all the work you're doing to the rest of the house, I'd be tempted to remove it and uncover the weather boards beneath. A once beautiful double-fronted Victorian house near me (unlike yours it was a complete dump - holes in the floor, had been derelict...) with vinyl cladding was sold last year and the new owners have removed the cladding and there was beautiful and very well preserved brick-pattern weatherboard underneath (I can't remember the name of it, it may not be common in your region). So you could have well preserved weather boards underneath. And if not, if you're both handy (and have trade friends) it is fairly straightforward and relatively inexpensive to replace them. And with your extension you'd want the weatherboards to all tie in too. It may also be easier and cheaper with wiring and insulation/sisalation too? And lastly, just make sure there's lots of light coming into that central lounge room from the adjacent rooms. Those features are amazing! Good luck! I'd love to see the progress photos!...See MoreMelt In ACT
3 years agome me
3 years agodreamer
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3 years agodreamer
3 years agome me
3 years ago
Shari Fox
3 years ago
Kate
3 years agoMelt In ACT
3 years ago@Shari Fox are you happy to share a sketch or plan of what yours will look like? Currently our main bathroom door and shower door crash together when both open. Many crushed childrens fingers!
The plumber that gave us a quote suggested a wet-room - he just did one 2 doors up from us. When I'm in Canberra I'll ask to take a look.
Here is a snip of what our current door layout is at that end of the house. It's a massive gaggle of doors, or whatever a family or doors is called.
Shari Fox
3 years agoMelt In ACT
3 years agoAnne Monsour
3 years agoShari Fox
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3 years ago
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