Laundry & Bathroom Renovation Elwood

A client recently emailed some photos (thanks PH!) of a completed laundry and bathroom renovation I worked on late last year so I thought I would share them on the blog.

The client's brief was to turn the pokey laundry/toilet into a powder room & secondary bathroom as well as a laundry space - a tall order from a room measuring just 2200mm x 2400mm!! They also wished to extend their existing family bathroom into the hallway to give them enough space to have a separate bath & shower as well as a toilet & vanity. I've included some plans to show how we reworked the spaces. The house is late Edwardian and the joinery style, colours and materials were chosen to give a nod to the era of the house but with some contemporary flavour.

LAUNDRY / POWDER ROOM 

This room had some very shallow impractical storage and for guest using the facilities, it really did feel like the toilet had been plonked in the corner of the laundry. The clients were keen to give the room more of a 'powder room' feeling also incorporating a shower so it could be used in conjunction with the family bathroom.

Powder & Bathroom facilities in Laundry

Beautiful & Functional - Powder Basin / Laundry Trough

 FAMILY BATHROOM

The bathroom had an existing pedestal basin and medicine cabinet on the side wall - no bench space and no where near enough storage for a family of four! It also had a tiny 1200mm bath with a shower over the top - compromising both the ability to relax in the bath or enjoy the shower. We overcame this by having a shower open to the bath on one side, making the room feel much more open and allowing both a full sized bath and a walk in shower. 

Bathroom BEFORE SHOT

Walk in Shower & Hob Bath

Bathroom Vanity with Medicine Cabinets Above

Bathroom Before & After

Well its taken about 6 months but our 50's bathroom renovation is finally complete!  As I previously mentioned on the blog, I decided to keep the original lilac bath tub as it's the perfect size for a small person and keeps some of the homes original personality.  I contrasted it with charcoal and chalk porcelain tiles, shiny new chrome tapware and an Oak Timber vanity unit to bring it up to date.  I also added a mega-sized mirror to the right hand wall to make the room feel larger and to reflect the beautiful embossed feature tiles on the left hand wall.

Oak Vanity Unit & Sleek Black Towel Rails - Mega Mirror on the right

Original lilac bath set in new hob - charcoal floor tiles & embossed chalk wall tiles bring the colour up to date.

Bath hob extends into shower to become a shelf

BEFORE shot - Ugh!

Pantone Colour for 2014

Pantone, the worlds foremost colour authority for designers, has just released its 'IT' Colour for 2014. I must admit, I had noticed this colour coming through in design magazines, fashion and even graphic design over the past 12 months or so. Perhaps its because I live in a 50's house with the original lilac bath & basin - I seem to be drawn to this colour lately as it is so versatile!

 

What Pantone has to say about Radiant Orchid for Interiors
"Spruce up interior spaces by incorporating this eye-catching hue in paint, accent pieces and accessories. As adaptable as it is beautiful, Radiant Orchid complements olive and deeper hunter greens, and offers a gorgeous combination when paired with turquoise, teal and even light yellows.
Likewise, the vibrant color is sure to liven up neutrals including gray, beige and taupe. Uplifting and bold without being overpowering, Radiant Orchid re-energizes almost any color palette and provides a unifying element for diverse spaces."
From the Pantone Website 

We are currently renovating our little bathroom and controversially we have decided to keep the teeny-tiny lilac bath as a feature piece in the new design. Looking forward to sharing some pics on the blog once its complete!

Sophisticated Update

Magazine article from Australian Home Beautiful Essential Bathroom Guide 2010

The Green Room

 Magazine Article from Australian Home Beautiful Essential Bathroom Guide 2010

More Aberfeldie

The second of two townhouses in I have been working on this year is now up for sale

5a Vida Street, Aberfeldie.

Built in buffet unit & fully equipped kitchen

Beautiful joinery by A-Line Joinery

Simple, classic bathrooms

Images courtesy Marston Cook Real Estate

For Sale in Aberfeldie

One of the projects I have been working on this year is finally finished and now on the market. This is the first of two townhouses on Alma Street, Aberfeldie designed by Instyle Drafting & Design and styled on the original Californian Bungalows prevalent in the area.

RBID specified the external colour scheme including selection of roof tiles, brickwork, garage door & front entry door. Inside, I was responsible for the layout design of all areas, finishes & materials selections, bathroom fixtures, kitchen appliances, and feature light fittings (furniture by another company). I was keen to design an interior that was sympathetic to the exterior yet had a slightly more edgy, contemporary feel. Feel free to visit one of the open for inspections as listed on the website.

Generous Kitchen and Walk in Pantry through door to Left

View towards kitchen

Family Bathroom - Images Courtesy Marston Cook Real Estate

 

Coloured Taps!

Vola from DeDeCe

 Coloured tap ware is HUGE at the moment. Everyone from Ikea to Vola are making a range in black, white and a multitude of colours in between. A powder room or kids bathroom is a great opportunity to add a splash of colour with the tap ware - particularly if you are keeping the cabinetry & tiling very 'neutral'.

Vola from DeDeCe

My favourite taps! - Astra Walker 'Icon'

Astra Walker 'Icon' in Matt Black (sooo good!)

Zuchetti 'Isy' Wall Taps in Glossy Red

Zuchetti 'Isy' in understated White

Reece Nobili Mixers

Ikea 'Glittran' Traditional Mixer in Matt Black

Ikea 'Ringskar' Kitchen Mixer in Glossy Black (or White)

And its not just the bright block colours that rate a mention; companies like Astra Walker & Gessi are releasing their tap ware ranges in delicious finishes like Copper, Brown Bronze, Iron Bronze, Brushed Platinum and even Gold...

Astra Walker 'Metropolis' in Copper (swoon!)

Astra Walker 'Metropolis' in Iron Bronze

Gessi 'Mimi' in Gold

Bolon by Missoni

I caught up with the lovely Stephanie from TAG earlier in the week who showed me 

the latest 'Create' collection from Bolon. 

Bolon - from the Create Collection

Bolon is a Swedish company who make 'woven vinyl flooring' which is somewhere between vinyl and carpet. Its an inspiring product with a multitude of uses. Recently I was inspired by seeing an SJB Architects job where it was used floor and wall in a bathroom.

SJB Architects - Bolon floor & wall

I was particularly excited to learn that Bolon have also collaborated with Italian fashion house Missoni to develop a new collection currently being launched at the 

Milan Furniture Fair. Cannot wait to see this collection 'in the flesh'!

Bolon - from the Missoni Collection