Country classic: a low cost bathroom renovation
With plans for a bigger renovation down the track, HB creative director Imogene and her husband Jim achieved a fast and fabulous makeover at minimum cost.
With her husband Jim, she has transformed it into this country-chic haven. The couple inherited the solid wood washstand, but weren’t happy with its red-brown finish. Several coats of Dulux White on White solved the colour issue, while a sink found in a Beaumont Tiles sale and a Mondella ‘Maestro’ mixer from Bunnings replaced the original plastic basin.
Who lives here? Imogene, HB’s creative director, her husband Jim; and their children, Will, 12, and Chloe, four.
Original room: A tired, terracotta-tiled shower room in a heritage-style cottage in the NSW Southern Highlands.
Time frame: Three weeks.
Why the makeover? It was likely that somewhere down the track, the couple would relocate the family bathroom as part of a bigger renovation. But in the meantime they couldn’t live with the ancient shower enclosure, cracked and broken tiles and dated decor.
The challenge? A whole new look that would chime with the rest of the home, achieved on a strict budget.
The works: To save on plumbing costs, the couple left the layout as it was, but replaced the shower, sink, toilet and tapware, with Jim doing the majority of the work himself. The original tiles were ripped out and the whole room was decorated from scratch.
Key features: A gorgeous revamped vanity, plus new tiles, wall panelling and paint colours.
Lessons learned: “We tracked down some prime cost items, such as the loo and the heated towel rail online, and elsewhere looked at end-of-the-line and sale items.” The couple would also consider farming out some of the trickier jobs next time. “Jim managed to fit the shower screen perfectly in the end, but it was a struggle,” recalls Imogene. “The air was blue!”
“If you’re looking to keep costs down, do your research”
Imogene
Vanity
Imogene thought her original bathroom was so hideous that when friends came to dinner, she actually taped the light switch so it couldn’t be turned on, and illuminated the room with candles to hide the worst of it!
Walls
A length of Hardigroove cladding from Home Hardware runs around the room – it creates the appearance of traditional wainscoting but is actually one length of board, swathed in Dulux White on White. Above the dado, the walls are swathed in Dulux Pearl Ash, a soft grey. The handsome mirror was a bargain buy from Zap Variety in Mittagong.
Tiles
The original tiles were ripped out and replaced with ‘Gloss’ White subway tiles on the walls and ‘Haven’ Charcoal textured 600mm x 600mm floor tiles, all found at Beaumont Tiles. The couple retained the existing timber console (above) for extra storage, and to host Imogene’s elegant displays.
“The heated towel rail, which we found online, is a must in the Southern Highlands”
Imogene
Budget Breakdown
Basin $200
Mirror $59
Paint $30
Shower screen $600
Tapware & showerhead $300
Tiles $300 Toilet $160
Towel rail $55
Wall cladding $150
Total cost: $1854*
* Some costs are based on owners’ estimates and will vary actual paint colours may vary on application
