DESIGNING YOUR IDEAL BATHROOM

Written by: Kara Kirk, Harbour City Tiles & Carpets

Bathrooms are one of the most exciting rooms in the home when it comes to tiles. I believe it is one of the areas in the house where you can show off your unique style. 

There are plenty of trends that come and go, but it’s important to stick to your own taste and individual style, and not include too many features in a small space.  

LARGE FORMAT TILES

A trend that we see emerging is the use of large format tiles. A popular option has been using the same 600×600 tile for the floor and walls which creates the visual effect of a larger space. Large format also helps with minimal grout and ease of cleaning.  

With the reduction of grout joints, using the large format tile helps the area look less busy and it visually opens up the area. 

NOTE! Check with your tiler on the extra costs of laying the larger format tile and a rectified edge.

CHOOSE YOUR UNIQUE FEATURE

To successfully design a unique bathroom, you simply choose a feature to reflect your own style!

The tile market is flooded with new and different feature tiles almost on a weekly basis which can be overwhelming. Choose the feature that best reflects the aesthetics of the space you are designing. Each feature has its place, whether it is something as simple as having the same tile floor and wall and using your vanity as the feature; or doing a full patterned wall. The choice is yours!

A popular way of adding a focal point to a bathroom is to use feature tiles on a single wall to create a backdrop for a statement bath. Or feature floor tiles to make your white bath really pop.

INVEST IN TIME

Choosing the right tile for your bathroom takes time. There are a huge range of colours, shapes, and textures available to suit your needs. We strongly recommend borrowing samples to test how they look in your home and the unique lighting conditions of your bathroom. 

If you need help in making your dream bathroom a reality, please feel free to pop down for a chat at Harbour City Tiles & Carpets. 

PLUMBER TIPS FOR YOUR KITCHEN & BATHROOM RENOVATION

Written by: Danielle Straatmans, SE Plumbing

You’ve decided to renovate your kitchen or bathroom, congrats! At this stage it’s safe to assume you have savings set aside, an idea of what you’d like to change, and you’re ready to take the next step. Since both kitchens and bathrooms involve water, you’re going to need a plumber. But who should you go with and what should you look out for?

SELECTING A PLUMBER

When engaging a plumber for your next kitchen or bathroom renovation, ensure you select a fully licensed and insured contractor with a good reputation. You want to deal with a company that will be in the local area for years to come, who offers coverage to protect you, your family and your home. These companies will generally have a quality guarantee, will happily follow up replacement parts when required, and will assist to have a faulty item replaced under warranty, free of charge, if they initially provided the supply and install.

LAYOUT

If you’re on a budget, it’s best to leave the fixtures in the existing location to minimise the cost of relocating pipework. If you do choose to change the layout, engage a plumber first, to ensure your water and drain locations are feasible. Otherwise, it can add additional time and costs to the renovation.

SELECTING TAPWARE & FIXTURES

Select quality tapware and fixtures with good warranties that have readily available replacement parts, especially with in-wall fixtures. Remember, the cheapest option isn’t always the most cost-effective in the long run. Eventually, flick mixer cartridges will fail, inlet and outlet toilet valves will become faulty, and pop-up plugs will seize. If these replacement parts can’t be sourced, you may need to replace the entire fixture or pay excessive fees to find a similar after-market part. Many reputable plumbing suppliers such as Reece Plumbing, Tradelink and Kens Plumbing offer a great range of options.

Once all of these items are considered, you’re ready to renovate your kitchen and bathroom! Enjoy the process, and remember to take Before and After photos so can reflect on your renovation journey and enter #renovate4680 next year!