Bathroom Design Archives

Bathroom Finishes for you!

The right bathroom finishes can either make or break your space. The finishes that you decide, have a great effect on how your space will feel as well as developing its personality. Choosing your bathroom finishes is an exciting part of your renovation project as in this stage you really see your space come to life.

Contemporary bathroom white & timber — Contemporary bathroom design

A bathroom is a space that is served several times each day so it’s important to choose bathroom finishes that are well functioned as well as making you feel good each and every time you use the interior space. We achieved this for our client, a young couple in North Ryde, where we designed multiple spaces in their home, including bathrooms and kitchen. Have a look at their kitchen here.

Candles decor bathroom — Candles add atmosphere to your bathroom

Little decor items such as in the image above add character and your own personal touch to your bathroom.

The Bathroom Finishes we chose

The bathroom renovated for our clients was designed with the contemporary interior design style in mind as this is the look they desired to create through their home.

Tiles

Tiles cover the majority of the open surface area in your bathroom. Floor tiles and wall tiles are very important bathroom finishes that work at creating the vibe and feel of the space. It also determines the final colour scheme you choose for the bathroom.

Our client’s bathroom is quite large in scale, therefore providing us the opportunity to choose a large square floor tile. Sourced from Amber Tiles in Chatswood it measures at 600 x 600mm. The colour is a deep and luxurious cappuccino colour, creating a modern and sleek contemporary design.

The wall bathroom finishes are also in the modern contemporary style as to tie the bathroom design together cohesively. The wall tile we chose is one whose design emulates the marble Calacatta look. Grey veins run through the tile’s design footprint.

Tapware

Tapware is a bathroom finish that has the potential to add a lot of character and genuine style to your interior space. It’s also a simple way to make your bathroom feel more luxurious. As we were designing this bathroom in the contemporary style we decided to use classic but stylish chrome tapware.

Wall-mounted Vanity

The gorgeous wall-mounted vanity features a dark and moody timber veneer finish. It features his and hers basins on the vanity’s stone top that is also in a deep and rich cappuccino colour. Having the vanity wall hung is another element in this bathroom that adds to the luxe look.

Above the bathroom vanity is a large rectangular mirror that is sleek, modern and contemporary in design.

Walk-in Shower

A beautiful feature of this contemporary bathroom design in North Ryde is the walk-in shower. It’s glass all around illuminating sleek lines. In the shower is a built-in niche just the right size to fit all your essential body washes, shampoos, and other toiletries. The showerhead sits on a rail to make it an adjustable element in this bathroom design.

Lighting

Adequate bathroom lighting is essential for any bathroom. It’s important for getting ready each and every day, so you’ll really want to get this bathroom finish right. For this design, we chose downlights as to illuminate areas that need the most lit up. We also included LED strip lights as to add a soft glow and ambiance.

This is our bathroom design in North Ryde complete with bathroom finishes that add style, character and flair to your space.

If you have any questions about your bathroom finishes and design in Sydney, please call me on 0434 498 450 or email to martina@martinahayes.com.au.

If you prefer, you can also use this contact form.

Bathroom Layout Planning

Many people dream of a bathroom design and layout that feels like a sanctuary. Some people love their bathroom design to include sleek clean lines, others indulge with a farmhouse style bathroom with dried flowers and decorative knick-knacks.

Irrespective of what your personal bathroom style might be, your dream bathroom begins with a great cutting edge bathroom layout.

Industrial style bathroom with a black freestanding bathtub — Bathroom design in North Sydney

What is a cutting edge bathroom layout?

Cutting edge design is the latest most advanced creation. It is one that best conquers the space implementing energy and artistic design in your home.

A great floor plan is all about achieving great functionality while also creating aesthetic design. It puts the beautiful items on show, e.g. vanity or freestanding bathtub which then has the ability to become the focal point of the space. The focal point is the place in the space which the eye is naturally most drawn to. On the other hand, the toilet pan should be hidden as much as possible and not to be the focal point of your bathroom.

Whether you wish to construct a new home or update an existing, it’s imperative to get the layout right.

This short video (below) explains key points to consider when planning your bathroom layout.

Key Points to Remember when creating your bathroom layout

Leave sufficient walking space

A successful bathroom layout allows for sufficient walking space in-between your bathroom items. It should never feel like a tight squeeze moving from your shower to your wash basin.

Spacious Counter Top and Wall Mounted Vanity

Great bathrooms always allow for a luxurious and spacious counter top. This then leaves plenty of space around the basin to place your cream pots, perfume bottles and personal items you wish to keep on top. A classic combination is incorporating a stone bench top on a wall mounted vanity with the basin sitting on top. Standard vanity widths are 900, 1000 and 1200mm incorporating a single bowl, and 1500, 1600 and 1800mm for double bowls.

Wall mounted vanity with basin on top of the bechtop

Accessible Windows

Any windows should be easily accessible, allowing you to open and close it as required without the need to bend over or stepping into the bathtub to reach the handle.

Balanced Bathroom Design

A successful bathroom design comes down to achieving a well balanced bathroom layout. This means the vanity should ideally stretch wall to wall avoiding cutting short. Everything sits snug in place as if it belongs right here in exactly this spot. This will wow your visitors and make you feel good every time you use the space.

Placement of Fixtures

Shower Placement

Walk-in-showers with a simple glass screen and no door are state of the art. But unless you wish to dry the floor after every shower session, I’d recommend selecting a glass panel of at least 1.4 metres in width. This way the water splashes onto the screen and not onto the bathroom floor.

Towel Racks

Once you have decided your bathroom layout, don’t forget to find a good convienient place for your (heated) towel rack.

Bathroom layout to consider

When planning your bathroom it’s important to consider how the layout will affect the space. A traditional bathroom layout is when fixtures are placed along the walls. This is a great way to design, but be aware there are newer layout of design to consider.

A state of the art bathroom layout should be largely in consideration if you are building or renovationing to resale as it could result in a higher resale value of the property. Kitchens and bathrooms sell houses!

Bathroom-Design-Latest-Layout-Trend-old-fashioned — Traditional bathroom layout – placement of fixtures along the walls

Floorplan showing bathroom layout — Cutting edge bathroom layout

To make this layout (above) work, the bathroom spaces needs to measure at least 3.3 by 3.6 metres.

Even with a smaller space than the above measurements there are endless design combinations. Designs and layouts are created to look fantastic as well as being functional for you.

Additional bathroom

If your dream is an additional bathroom for you to say good-bye to the queues in the mornings, have a read on how to add an ensuite to your master bedroom.

Get yourself some inspiration for your new bathroom and other projects I recently completed.

I can help you to create and develop your own bathroom layout, I would love to help.

Contact me here or send an email to martina@martinahayes.com.au. Alternatively, pick up your phone and give me a call on 0434 498 450.

To receive free information, please type in your name and email address below.

Ensuite bathroom in Waverton

My clients wanted to add an ensuite bathroom to their house. Therefore, they brought me in to help them with the design and the finishes of the space.

Ensuite bathroom with vanity and mirror — The ensuite doesn’t feel small at all

In 2018, they bought this 3 storey terrace style house with a stunning view
to Sydney’s skyline from its roof top.

View of Sydney skyline — A stunning view to Sydney’s skyline and glimpses of the Harbour Bridge

Second bathroom required

Equipped with 4 spacious bedrooms, the home had only 1 bathroom. Allthough there are only 2 people living at this North Shore address, they wanted to have a second bathroom.

Ensuite adjacent to master bedroom

Luckily, the master bedroom was large enough to cut-off a part of it. Therefore, this became the new ensuite bathroom for the home owners.

Small ensuite bathroom feels large

Though the ensuite is small, it doesn’t feel cramped at all. It has even an oversized shower with a glass screen that slides to the side saving valueable space.

ensuite bathroom mirror pendant lights — Black marble tiles and black tapware add sophistication

Marble adds touch of luxury

The black marble tiles with their luscious white veines add a touch of luxury to this bathroom. Simple white wall tiles and a charcoal coloured floor tile complement the gorgeous marble in addition.

Wall hung vanity in ensuite bathroom

When space is at a premium, I like to recommend a wall hung vanity to make a bathroom look bigger than it actually is. In this Waverton house, we fit in a 1.2 metres long vanity that gives plenty of practical bench space. Finished with the textured Ravine range from Polytec, the grey timber look ties in with the marble. With the shark nose edge on the top of the drawers we gave any handles a miss. Not only does this look contemporary and sleek. Above all, it is easy to clean and who doesn’t like that?

ensuite bathroom wash basin — The basin’s inlay matches the mirrors gold coloured finish

Stylish black tapware

Elegant is the wall mounted, minimalist water spout. The black tapware adds to the dramatic look of this ensuite bathroom. On top of the quartz stone counter sits a wash basin with a gold coloured inlay. This matches beautifully the large mirror with its frame in a distressed gold looking finish.

Tips for your own ensuite bathroom

In conclusion, if you wish to make a small ensuite bathroom look sophisticated, consider using:

wall hung vanity
large mirror
small sized tiles (such as subway tiles)

If you need assistance with the layout, design and finishes for your bathroom, please call me on 0434 498 450 or email martina@martinahayes.com.au. You can also use this contact form.

Add Ensuite to Master Bedroom

Have you considered adding another bathroom to your home, but you don’t have much space to play with? You might be asking yourself “How can I possibly add an ensuite to the master bedroom”, what is the smallest bathroom or ensuite I can have in the space that I have.

This video shows the smallest possible layout and advises on indicative costs that come with adding an ensuite to a master bedroom. Check it out!

Adding an ensuite to Master Bedroom

Let’s assume this is the floorplan of the room you would like to add an ensuite to. The room is 4.80 metres long and 2.2 metres wide.

Floorplan showing bedroom — Floorplan of bedroom where you wish to add an ensuite to

Smallest ensuite layout possible

The floorplan below shows the optimum layout for a compact ensuite.

Floorplan of the bedroom and ensuite — 2D Floorplan showing the updated bedroom plan now including an ensuite

You wish to erect a wall with a distance of 1 metre to the existing wall. This allows you to include a shower, a wash basin with vanity below and a toilet pan to your Master Bedroom.

New ensuite for master bed on 2.2 square metres

All it takes is 2.20 metres in length and 1 metre in width. All in all, you will be able to enjoy a fully functional ensuite on 2.2 square metres a wonderful addition to your Master Bedroom.

This is a look from the top in 3D.

3D view into ensuite from above — 3D view into ensuite from a birds eye view

Include a window in your bathroom

If you’re lucky enough to have an exterior wall, include a window that lets in natural light. This way, the ensuite will feel larger and more airy.

Add ensuite to master bedroom – 3D view

3D view of compact ensuite — The design is small & compact as well as being fully functional.

How much does the new ensuite cost?

How much do you need to allow for a small additional ensuite? Because it will require new plumbing, put aside at least $12,000 up to $25,000, depending on the finishes you wish to use.

Layout for large bathroom

If you are lucky enough to have plenty of space, go for a more generous layout. Here is my step-by-step guide on how to plan the ideal bathroom.

To get some inspirations for your ensuite and bathroom design, take a look at my gallery.

If you have any questions, please contact me via email martina@martinahayes.com.au or phone 0434 498 450.

You can also use this contact form.

5 tips on choosing tiles

Choosing tiles for your house is one of the key elements in a home renovation or new built.

But with so many options out there, what tile is right for you? Here are 5 tips on what to consider when choosing tiles.

New bathroom design in North Sydney — Choosing tiles for the bathroom: Hexagon tiles on the floor, herringbone pattern above the vanity

Porcelain versus ceramic tiles

Not even experts are able to tell one from another. The difference between porcelain and ceramic tiles lays alone in their manufacturing process. Porcelain is fired at a much higher temperature than ceramic tiles, and also for longer. This makes porcelain tiles hardwearing and the go-to tile for your flooring. But if you are thinking wall tile, feel free to select the more economical ceramic tiles.

Choosing tile size

As a rule of thumb, the larger your room the larger the tile size you can select. If you have an open plan kitchen-dining-living area, you can go for a large floor tile, say 600 x 600mm. But in reverse, a tiny bathroom may look best with small, mosaic style tiles. And if you wish to draw attention to your kitchen splashback, why not select a subway tile in a herringbone pattern?

Tile shape

Tiles don’t need to be square or rectangular. Bring a bit of fun into your bathroom by choosing a hexagon shaped tile for your floor or walls. Also on trend are tiles in a triangular shape which is everything but boring.

Colour and finish

Choosing tiles — Laundry design: subway tiles as splashback, patterned porcelain tiles on the floor.

There are so many colours to choose from. The best way to narrow them down is deciding whether to go for a lighter or for a darker shade. Lighter colours with a glossy finish will make the most of whatever light you have. Hence, your room appears bigger. On the other hand, dark colours with a matt finish make your space look cosy and add a bit of drama. Very elegant are tiles with shades of many colours. Have a look at the 1 minute video below that features a porcelain tile in a stunning gradient colour.

Grout

Last not least think about the grout colour. The smaller the tile size the more grout you would need to use. Selected in a contrasting colour, the grout can highlight the tile shape, such as an hexagon tile. But if you wish to achieve a seamless look without a visible grid, a grout colour similar to the tile colour is the way to go for you.

If you want to have as less grout as possible, why not go for an extra large tile, like the one featured in this short video below?

Still feeling daunted about the choices to make? I’m happy to accompany you to a tile store of your choice to assist you in making the right call.

For any questions in regards to choosing tiles that are right for you, please contact me.