Don’t let stress get the better of you when planning your bathroom renovation. Our expert, Certified Bathroom Designer John Spiteri, shares his expert tips on how to maximise the potential of your bathroom design and manage your bathroom renovation budget. John has been designing Sydney bathrooms for over xx years, so these tips should prove invaluable as your prepare for your own renovation!
Bathroom Renovation Success Tip #1: Find your Inspiration
Put together a scrapbook of your favourite bathrooms – either online or on paper. Don’t worry too much about what’s practical at this stage, just go for colour schemes you like and styles you think would suit your house and your family. This will give your designer many valuable insights into your taste which will help them in designing your bathroom.
Take some time to consider who will be using the bathroom space. Is it a main bathroom, shared by the whole family? Or is it a private ensuite with only one or two users? Or maybe it’s a powder room, only used occasionally by visitors? The answers to these questions will affect what needs to be included and what can be excluded from the new space.
Bathroom Renovation Success Tip #2: Know your Budget
Think carefully about budget and be realistic: don’t be afraid to share your budget with your designer or builder. And remember, always allow for the unexpected, particularly if renovating an older bathroom as you can never be sure what’s lurking behind the walls or under the floor and you won’t find out until rip out.
Now, here’s the hard part. Think carefully about your budget. Many people are apprehensive of sharing their budget with their designer/builder but knowing your spending limit helps us make suggestions on where you can invest your money (in your must-haves) and where you can save a few pennies. If we understand your expenditure expectations we can tailor a solution to suit your needs which we feel is a much more positive way to begin the process.
Bathroom Renovation Success Tip #3: Functionality
Functionality is the key to success: it’s very important to consider what functionality you need from your bathroom both today and into the future. Are you ageing and will therefore require additional assistance in the years to come? Or do you have a young family that’s growing so you’ll need more space in the future for multiple users? These considerations will have an impact on the success of the final design so share your circumstances with your designer for the best outcome.
Think about what style you like and whether this style fits the design of your home. Are you more in tune with the contemporary, pared-back style or do you love the friendly, inclusive tone created by a more traditional bathroom? Or something in between?
Now you’ll need to consider what fittings and fixtures are on your must-have list. For some, this may include items such as a heated towel rail, dual basins, make-up mirror or heated floor. For others it might be large format tiles or a luxury overhead rain shower head.
Bathroom Renovation Success Tip #4: Decide on a makeover or full renovation
The costs will differ substantially between and makeover and a full renovation so think carefully about what you need. A full renovation has the advantage of being able to re-design the space for maximum efficiency, rectify any waterproofing issues that may be present as well as possibly expand the room by removing or relocating walls. A makeover might brighten up the exterior but it can’t fix a dysfunctional room and it certainly won’t last as long as a full renovation. There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to bathroom design.
Bathroom Renovation Success Tip #5: Incorporate technology
We’re lucky to have access to a wealth of technology which can be incorporated into your bathroom to enhance your lifestyle and connect you to friends and family. Ask your designer about what is available that will suit the style and type of bathroom renovation you are planning. Shower heads can feature built-in speakers, for example, or a steam-free mirror might be of need in the mornings; televisions or mirrors or slide out or up from within cabinets then be tucked away when not required.
Today, there are options for toilets that can take care of every need, and plenty of storage solutions to make the most of every centimetre.
Planning a bathroom renovation can be one of the most exciting times of the year and we want the experience to be fun and fulfilling for all our clients. We know it can be overwhelming to consider a bathroom renovation so our job is to lend our expertise to ensure the end result is exactly what you had dreamed.
The most important part of any bathroom renovation is your relationship with your designer and builder. For the best result, look for a company with a builder’s licence as they are able to carry out a wider range of work and offer a higher level of service during your renovation.
Brindabella specialises in bathroom design and renovation. We custom-design all our bathrooms to suit the needs of the users, the style of the home, the available space, and the design requirements of our clients. So, why not allow us to bring our expertise to your design dilemma and let Brindabella build you the bathroom of your dreams?
