Renovating
Before & After
Before & After: 3 Small Bathrooms Transformed
See how three designers turned small, drab bathrooms into beautiful, functional spaces (and pick up some great tips!)
Have a renovation of a small bathroom on the cards? You won’t want to miss this: three interior designers reveal how they maximised space, functionality and style in their clients’ awkwardly small bathrooms. Get ready to take notes!
What were the main issues before?
The bathroom was small, dark and 87 years old. There was only one slender window and very little space between the vanity and toilet.
The client wanted something fresh and simple that referenced the clean lines of the Art Deco period.
Is your bathroom crying out for an upgrade? Find a local bathroom designer on Houzz
The bathroom was small, dark and 87 years old. There was only one slender window and very little space between the vanity and toilet.
The client wanted something fresh and simple that referenced the clean lines of the Art Deco period.
Is your bathroom crying out for an upgrade? Find a local bathroom designer on Houzz
What did you do?
- We kept the layout as the client was happy with most of it. This meant we could use the budget for new materials and finishes.
- We kept the same tiling height on the walls so we didn’t have to make any expensive changes to the walls.
- We had the original bath professionally cleaned. We then had it resprayed, which cost around $700.
- We laid a Carrara marble mosaic-tiled floor to bring in pattern and texture, while acknowledging the apartment’s Art Deco origins.
- To keep the bathroom light, we decided to play on pattern and movement by creating harmony between the floor tiles and vanity panels.
- As there was only a small amount of space between the toilet and the area for the vanity, we designed a compact, floating vanity at a specific height so it doesn’t hit the owner’s legs when she sits down.
- We custom-designed a cabinet mirror with a brass frame to go with the brass fixtures.
2. Moody and Dramatic
Interior designer and commentator: Alishia Minett-Johnson, design director at Minett Studio Architects + Design
Location: Carlton North, Victoria
Bathroom size: Approximately six square metres
Who lives here: A midwife and her housemate
Budget: Between AU$12,000 and $15,000
Interior designer and commentator: Alishia Minett-Johnson, design director at Minett Studio Architects + Design
Location: Carlton North, Victoria
Bathroom size: Approximately six square metres
Who lives here: A midwife and her housemate
Budget: Between AU$12,000 and $15,000
What were the main issues before?
The main bathroom in this single-storey Federation worker’s cottage was old and had tired fittings, the shower was over the bath, and the tiles were missing grout.
The client also wanted to bring it up-to-date with easy-to-clean finishes, and incorporate a European laundry.
The main bathroom in this single-storey Federation worker’s cottage was old and had tired fittings, the shower was over the bath, and the tiles were missing grout.
The client also wanted to bring it up-to-date with easy-to-clean finishes, and incorporate a European laundry.
Epoxy polished-concrete waterproof finish in Silver Slate (walls) and Cloud (floor): Granicrete; vanity, mirror and gunmetal-finish tapware: First Choice Warehouse.
What did you do?
What did you do?
- We kept the position of the existing plumbing to focus the budget on the finishes and fixtures.
- We swapped the bath for a walk-in shower. This created more space and a cleaner, contemporary feeling.
- Removed the original tiles, waterproofed the room and finished the walls and floor with an epoxy concrete finish.
- The floor is in a light grey epoxy waterproof finish called Cloud, which matches the floor in the kitchen and living spaces for a sense of cohesion.
- The walls are in a darker grey finish, Silver Slate, which reflects the northerly light and creates a sophisticated look. Running this finish up to the high ceilings gave the impression of a larger space.
- We replaced the dated vanity with an affordable off-the-shelf style. Budget was paramount for this project, so we worked with styles that could be purchased off-the-shelf to avoid custom joinery costs and long lead times.
- The mirror doubles as a shaving cabinet. As the client would be renting out the other bedroom to a friend, it was crucial to have lots of storage.
- Repainted the window and removed the architrave to create a more contemporary, square-set architrave.
- Added a European laundry (not shown).
3. Modern Coastal Cure
Interior designer and commentator: Allie Duval, director at Coastal Hamptons Design Studio
Location: Sans Souci, NSW
Bathroom size: Approximately 3.3 square metres
Who lives here: A couple
Budget: Around AU$10,000
Browse more images of stylish small bathrooms on Houzz
Interior designer and commentator: Allie Duval, director at Coastal Hamptons Design Studio
Location: Sans Souci, NSW
Bathroom size: Approximately 3.3 square metres
Who lives here: A couple
Budget: Around AU$10,000
Browse more images of stylish small bathrooms on Houzz
What were the main issues before?
It was small, dark and dated. It is the couple’s main bathroom so it needed to work harder in terms of space allocation and storage, and to be a more beautiful space to spend time.
It was small, dark and dated. It is the couple’s main bathroom so it needed to work harder in terms of space allocation and storage, and to be a more beautiful space to spend time.
What did you do?
We completely changed the whole look of this main bathroom in order to create the illusion of a bigger bathroom by:
We completely changed the whole look of this main bathroom in order to create the illusion of a bigger bathroom by:
- Extending the tiles from floor to ceiling.
- Using a lighter colour palette to bring more light in.
- Being restrained with our use of colour to give it a more consistent, stylish look.
- Created a feature marble-tiled wall to add interest and a focal point. Running it floor-to-ceiling also helps visually elongate the space.
Star Carrarra Fishscale wall tiles; Carrara Bianco tiles to other walls and the floor; Eden brass showerhead and basin mixer: all from Design Tiles; Madison 600-millimetre vanity custom-finished with a Carrara marble benchtop and brass handles: Tradelink; LED mirror: Beacon Lighting.
- We splashed out on the feature tiles. In my mind, this was money well spent as it creates such a striking statement. As it wasn’t a large space to tile, it worked within the budget.
- We maximised the sense of space by using the corners of the room for the shower and toilet, and leaving the centre free.
- We chose a streamlined vanity with some depth that was a touch more dominant than the toilet seat to draw the eye to it and make the toilet recede into the background.
- We selected a slimline vanity mirror that wouldn’t add bulk to the space.
Your turn
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More
Want more on small bathrooms? Don’t miss this story Room of the Week: A Small and Stylish Monochrome Family Bathroom
1. Art Deco Revival
Interior designer and commentator: Eleanor Jesse, principal designer at Kenz Interiors
Location: Waverton, NSW
Bathroom size: Approximately six square metres
Who lives here: A retired musician
Budget: Around AU$30,000