Family bathroom renovations add up

An interior designer revives a sad ensuite and matching downstairs family bathroom to create more space for this small family - giving these parents and their teenage daughters some much-needed space and two modern bathrooms.

Busy working couple Michelle and Bob decided they had suffered enough with their "dark and gloomy" ensuite. They initially considered upgrading a few things themselves, but plans quickly escalated and they found themselves searching yellowpages.com.au to find a professional to bring the room back to life.

They found Fiona Hutchinson of Revive Design, who offered a luxurious plan for the ensuite and second bathroom downstairs. The capable builders from Kitchen and Bathroom Exclusive worked closely with Fiona to bring the plans to life.

With a wish list including more light and space, an existing bath tub in the ensuite was removed and a new floor laid. This meant the shower area doubled in size and, to make the most of this, Fiona installed twin showerheads for a luxurious start to the day.

As the bathroom is on the second floor of the home, structural changes were difficult, but the redesign managed to achieve more privacy and space. "The wall dividing the ensuite and master bedroom was increased in height in order to achieve a more balanced scale for the room and a little more privacy," says Fiona.

Michelle requested the main bathroom downstairs be restyled with the needs of her adolescent daughters in mind. Boasting a funky modern style, it features a beautiful freestanding bath and spacious shower recess with a generous 'rain' head.

Fiona was also able to make this bathroom more functional, with some changes to the original layout. "The existing bathroom had two entry doors," she explains. "We closed one off, as it was rarely used, and that allowed more space."

The two bathrooms are quite different in style, with the ensuite featuring more dramatic colour contrasts. "For impact, we added gloss vinyl wrap doors in dark brown for the ensuite, with mosaic features for texture," says Fiona.

The downstairs bathroom has a much lighter colour scheme, using oyster laminate for the cabinetry. The rooms do correspond with their essentially light and breezy tones. Both have quality CeasarStone benchtops and boast an open and luxurious ambience.

Each bathroom suits the needs of the various family members well, enhancing a harmonious home life for all.

Fiona Hutchinson, from Revive Design

How did this job come about?

The clients originally planned to just update the tiles and fixtures in the ensuite, but soon contacted Revive Design for a consultation. After gaining an understanding of their lifestyle and taste, we proposed some ideas for how the space in the ensuite and main bathrooms could be maximised. We then partnered with Kitchen and Bathroom Exclusive, who carried out the renovations.

What did you do with the ensuite?

The existing ensuite was dark and gloomy. The clients wanted a much lighter look and a greater sense of space, with a luxury resort feel. The existing bath was never used, so the shower recess was enlarged and the area where the bath once sat was turned into a separate room with glass shelves for storage and a heated towel rail.

What about the main bathroom?

As it's used by two growing teenage girls, the main bathroom needed a large shower area, a bath and plenty of storage space! The large shower space incorporates a ceiling 'rain' shower and the modern freestanding bath sits in front of a frameless floor-to-ceiling glass panel, which creates a centrepiece for the bathroom.

How did you choose the bathroom colour scheme?

Plain white tiles were used with Laminex cabinets for a modern look. The clients were happy with the proposed colour and material theme; it was just a case of finding the perfect tiles, as this material takes up the most expanse. The ensuite was renovated first, so once the clients saw the result, choosing the selections for the main bathroom was a quicker process.

Were there any difficulties involved?

Both bathrooms were renovated by Kitchen and Bathroom Exclusive (KBE), who are very experienced in bathroom renovations. Although there were some challenges in the ensuite due to the major changes required in the shower and old bath area, they were overcome and KBE did a fantastic job in achieving the desired vision.

Michelle, the homeowner

How did you find a bathroom designer?

By browsing the yellowpages.com.au.

How did the bathroom renovations come about?

I originally contacted Fiona because we wanted to put floorboards throughout our house and wanted an expert's view as to whether or not it would suit the style of our home. I mentioned that I wanted to change our ensuite as well and she came up with a concept that I loved.

How did you trust Fiona to make the design decisions for you?

Fiona just seemed to know what I liked, which made it very easy for me.

Were there any struggles with the renovations?

At the time we were doing floorboards throughout, as well as renovating our ensuite and also the second bathroom. I remember at the time thinking, 'Never again!' But now it's all done, I love it and would definitely renovate again. But only with Fiona's help.

Are you happy with the end result?

There are so many things that are great about both bathrooms. I love them.

Featured bathroom products

• Ensuite cabinets - Laminex dark brown gloss vinyl wrap doors
• Taps - Reece
• Showerheads - Rain showerheads by Reece
• Benchtops - CeasarStone
• Basins - Reece
• Tiles - European Ceramics
• Ensuite cabinets - Laminex 'Oyster Linea'
• Shower screens - Frameless glass panels

Buy these and other bathroom products from a retailer near you: