A Bathroom Design Expert Reveals: 3 Things I Wish My Clients Knew
As part of our new series, a bathroom professional shares three important things she wishes every client understood
Georgia Madden
18 August 2017
Senior writer, Houzz Australia
Welcome to our new series, ‘3 Things I Wish My Clients Knew’, where we’ll be asking a range of experts in the design world to reveal three things they wish every client understood, whether it’s answers to questions they’re commonly asked, practical considerations that would speed up the design and installation process, or knowledge gaps they’d love us to fill… plus a useful golden nugget for you to store away in your memory bank.
We kick off with interior designer Stephanie O’Donohue from smarterBATHROOMS+, who talks us through the things she wishes every client knew before starting a new bathroom.
We kick off with interior designer Stephanie O’Donohue from smarterBATHROOMS+, who talks us through the things she wishes every client knew before starting a new bathroom.
1. Minimalism is (almost) never cheap
‘Clean, sleek lines’ is what my clients ask for – think single sheets of material, no joins, no handles and no grout lines. The most common misconception I come across is that this is a cheap look to achieve. People are fooled by the apparent simplicity of the aesthetic. But to achieve a truly beautiful, minimalist look the detail in the build needs to be precise.
Some of the simplest-looking spaces I have worked on have been the most expensive, due to the immense detail and meticulous planning required.
‘Clean, sleek lines’ is what my clients ask for – think single sheets of material, no joins, no handles and no grout lines. The most common misconception I come across is that this is a cheap look to achieve. People are fooled by the apparent simplicity of the aesthetic. But to achieve a truly beautiful, minimalist look the detail in the build needs to be precise.
Some of the simplest-looking spaces I have worked on have been the most expensive, due to the immense detail and meticulous planning required.
Specifying no cabinetry handles often means expensive opening mechanisms or hand-cut joinery. No joins in stone means buying oversized slabs and having an expert stonemason on hand to book-match the ends perfectly. And no grout lines means either huge, expensive tiles that take two tilers to lay (which doubles the labour cost) or porcelain sheets that can only be cut and installed by a stonemason – onto a wall that most likely has to be straightened instead of just packed.
10 Steps to an Organised Bathroom
10 Steps to an Organised Bathroom
2. Don’t DIY your tiling – ever
It’s just not worth it. Planning the tiling and tiling itself are both art forms. I have seen far too many new bathrooms that only look good when you’re not wearing your glasses. Once you see a crooked tile or uneven grouting it cannot be unseen.
A tiler who plans the space, tile by tile, to ensure the placement of cuts and grout lines will be perfect is worth their weight in gold. You may be tempted to tackle a job that seems straightforward, but don’t do it. Especially if you have contrasting grout.
It’s just not worth it. Planning the tiling and tiling itself are both art forms. I have seen far too many new bathrooms that only look good when you’re not wearing your glasses. Once you see a crooked tile or uneven grouting it cannot be unseen.
A tiler who plans the space, tile by tile, to ensure the placement of cuts and grout lines will be perfect is worth their weight in gold. You may be tempted to tackle a job that seems straightforward, but don’t do it. Especially if you have contrasting grout.
A good tiler will work more quickly than you could ever hope to, and they will be able to correctly use epoxy grout, giving you a superior and longer-lasting finish than you’d achieve yourself with a regular cement-based grout. They will also be able to disguise an uneven wall or an unsightly edge to a degree.
The tiles and grout are your first defence against water damage. Inferior tiling puts your whole room and subfloor at risk. Step away from the tiles and call an expert.
Biggest Bathroom Blunders
The tiles and grout are your first defence against water damage. Inferior tiling puts your whole room and subfloor at risk. Step away from the tiles and call an expert.
Biggest Bathroom Blunders
3. Tight budget? Stuck for a design idea? Go big!
This is one of my favourite tricks. Sometimes you can’t afford the Rolls Royce of every element in your space. But if you can distract from your more economical, practical design decisions with a wow feature, you can save yourself thousands in upgrading everything unnecessarily.
Oversized handles, for example, can add a touch of drama and interest to an otherwise plain bathroom. Have you got a high bathroom ceiling? Find the biggest pendant light your electrician can lift and fill the bathroom with an object so demanding of attention that it develops a personality of its own. You’ll find it gives your bathroom a real designer edge and detracts from the cheaper elements in the space.
This is one of my favourite tricks. Sometimes you can’t afford the Rolls Royce of every element in your space. But if you can distract from your more economical, practical design decisions with a wow feature, you can save yourself thousands in upgrading everything unnecessarily.
Oversized handles, for example, can add a touch of drama and interest to an otherwise plain bathroom. Have you got a high bathroom ceiling? Find the biggest pendant light your electrician can lift and fill the bathroom with an object so demanding of attention that it develops a personality of its own. You’ll find it gives your bathroom a real designer edge and detracts from the cheaper elements in the space.
You could also distract the eye with repetition, where you take one design idea and use it several times over in a space. Do you love penny round tiles? Pick a round basin, rounded tapware, a round mirror and towels with a circular pattern. Repetition of a theme will give the space a cohesive, thought-out feel where every design decision is deliberate.
It will also help you shop better as you won’t fall into the trap of picking 10 things you love and finding none of them work together.
Browse more contemporary bathrooms
It will also help you shop better as you won’t fall into the trap of picking 10 things you love and finding none of them work together.
Browse more contemporary bathrooms
The one thing I always get asked is…
‘How long does a bathroom renovation take?’ Many people are surprised when they hear that a quality bathroom renovation takes about four weeks. Renovation shows are not reality!
Many people don’t have a spare bathroom they can use while the renovation takes place. If that’s the case for you, plan ahead. Hire a portable toilet or shower from a reputable builder, join a nearby gym (there are often free trials you can take advantage of), or consider renting elsewhere for a month while the job is done. None of these are ideal, but if you’re going to build a bathroom to last 20-30 years, that month of inconvenience will quickly be forgotten when you step inside your gorgeous new space.
‘How long does a bathroom renovation take?’ Many people are surprised when they hear that a quality bathroom renovation takes about four weeks. Renovation shows are not reality!
Many people don’t have a spare bathroom they can use while the renovation takes place. If that’s the case for you, plan ahead. Hire a portable toilet or shower from a reputable builder, join a nearby gym (there are often free trials you can take advantage of), or consider renting elsewhere for a month while the job is done. None of these are ideal, but if you’re going to build a bathroom to last 20-30 years, that month of inconvenience will quickly be forgotten when you step inside your gorgeous new space.
My golden nugget…
Unless it’s a colour other than chrome, a tap is a tap. Something basic will be fine, so don’t spend your hard-earned cash there. Funnel your money into custom cabinetry instead. Having a smart drawer that fits your lipstick collection perfectly, in a colour you love and with a concealed bin, will be worth so much more than the bragging rights for Italian taps.
Unless it’s a colour other than chrome, a tap is a tap. Something basic will be fine, so don’t spend your hard-earned cash there. Funnel your money into custom cabinetry instead. Having a smart drawer that fits your lipstick collection perfectly, in a colour you love and with a concealed bin, will be worth so much more than the bragging rights for Italian taps.
Tell us
Which other experts would you like to hear from in this new series? Tell us in the Comments below. And if you enjoyed this story, don’t forget to like it, share it, bookmark it or save the photos. Join the conversation.
More
Find a bathroom designer near you
Which other experts would you like to hear from in this new series? Tell us in the Comments below. And if you enjoyed this story, don’t forget to like it, share it, bookmark it or save the photos. Join the conversation.
More
Find a bathroom designer near you
What are you working on?
Related Stories
Kitchen Renovations
11 Kitchen Hardware Inclusions That Will Change Your Life
These bright kitchen ideas will reduce workload, save time, conjure extra space and bust clutter
Full Story
Laundry Renovations
10 Top Design Tips for an Ergonomic Laundry
How to design a high-functioning laundry that's space smart, stylish and easy on your back
Full Story
Bathroom Expert Advice
10 Top Design Tips for an Ergonomic Bathroom
From where to put your towel ladders to where not to place your taps, we reveal smart designs for a stylish bathroom
Full Story
Kitchens
Pro Panel: The 8 Biggest Kitchen Blunders
We've asked a panel of experts to share some of the most common mistakes kitchen renovators make
Full Story
Trending Now
The Golden Rules of Proportion: Decor Laws You Need to Know
An interior designer reveals the essential rules for achieving a perfectly balanced interior
Full Story
Trending Now
Bathroom Essentials: Right Heights for Vanities, Mirrors & More
By Yanic Simard
Making some bathroom upgrades? Here’s how to place all your main features for the most comfortable, personalised fit
Full Story
Decorating Ideas
An Expert Reveals What You Need to Know About Custom Cabinetry
Thinking of splashing out on made-to-measure joinery? An expert reveals how to get the best bang for your buck
Full Story
How Do I...
How Do I... Choose Kitchen Lighting?
An expert sheds light on what to consider when choosing kitchen lights, and how to create a layered lighting scheme
Full Story
From The Pros
Look Closer! 10 Costly Items Missing From Your Drawings
By Adam Hobill
By overlooking the detail of these items, you are more exposed to unforeseen costs
Full Story
Recycle1, if you are referring to our post (ie, the under mount sink with pull out storage), please send us an email & we'll send you supplier info. The sink is ceramic and the top is stone. It's a good size - large enough to do what you need & small enough that it doesn't consume the space. Our email info@tansel.com.au (please put in email ATT: Tanya).
The appearance of a good design is protected for longevity by good waterproofing, and correct drainage ....
In general I agree with all of this. But our experience with tilers says that nobody cares about the finish as much as my husband does, so DIY is best every time! He has even had to remove and resite tiles done by professionals to get the standard he wants. It takes forever as you say but the end results are worth it!