Before & After: A Family Bathroom Gets an Elegant Makeover
Traditional styling and contemporary touches make a perfect pairing for a modern family bathroom in a Georgian terrace
Georgia Madden
13 January 2020
In a Q&A format, we talk to the designers – and examine the creative thinking – behind some of Houzz’s most loveable rooms.
Images by Amorfo Photography
Answers by Danielle Trippett, interior designer and principal at Danielle Trippett Interior Design
Who lives here: A family with three grown-up children, with one or two living at home at one time
Location: St Kilda West, Victoria
Room purpose and size: An upstairs bathroom measuring approximately 10 square metres that is used by the children when they are living here or visiting
Budget: Between $50,000 and $70,000
Interior designer and stylist: Danielle Trippett of Danielle Trippett Interior Design
Answers by Danielle Trippett, interior designer and principal at Danielle Trippett Interior Design
Who lives here: A family with three grown-up children, with one or two living at home at one time
Location: St Kilda West, Victoria
Room purpose and size: An upstairs bathroom measuring approximately 10 square metres that is used by the children when they are living here or visiting
Budget: Between $50,000 and $70,000
Interior designer and stylist: Danielle Trippett of Danielle Trippett Interior Design
Custom-designed shaving cabinets conceal storage shelves
Did you or the client use Houzz for this project?
Yes. The client found me on Houzz and I used Houzz to research classic-style bathrooms.
Dreaming of a beautiful bathroom? Find a local bathroom designer on Houzz to help bring it to life
Did you or the client use Houzz for this project?
Yes. The client found me on Houzz and I used Houzz to research classic-style bathrooms.
Dreaming of a beautiful bathroom? Find a local bathroom designer on Houzz to help bring it to life
Was this bathroom makeover part of a larger renovation?
It was part of a renovation of both upstairs bathrooms (the family bathroom and the master ensuite). I also redecorated a few rooms downstairs and the master bedroom.
It was part of a renovation of both upstairs bathrooms (the family bathroom and the master ensuite). I also redecorated a few rooms downstairs and the master bedroom.
The original clawfoot bath before works
What structural changes did you make?
The existing bathroom and powder room were gutted to enlarge the space and create room for a large, walk-in shower, a generous freestanding bath, twin basins and a vanity with lots of storage.
What structural changes did you make?
The existing bathroom and powder room were gutted to enlarge the space and create room for a large, walk-in shower, a generous freestanding bath, twin basins and a vanity with lots of storage.
The shower before works
Brief
My client is English and has a classic aesthetic. She wanted an updated and functional bathroom for her changing family needs, but also a beautifully appointed room to soak in the tub and spend time by herself.
What were the client’s must-haves?
Brief
My client is English and has a classic aesthetic. She wanted an updated and functional bathroom for her changing family needs, but also a beautifully appointed room to soak in the tub and spend time by herself.
What were the client’s must-haves?
- A large bath tub.
- A generous shower space.
- Plenty of storage.
The vanity before works
Where did most of the budget go?
On the building works, joinery, bathroom fittings, tile selections and tapware.
Where did most of the budget go?
On the building works, joinery, bathroom fittings, tile selections and tapware.
Starting point
A custom-designed, classic-style vanity was our starting point. From there, luxury and detail were added to the scheme with marble wall tiles laid in a herringbone pattern.
A custom-designed, classic-style vanity was our starting point. From there, luxury and detail were added to the scheme with marble wall tiles laid in a herringbone pattern.
What challenges did you face?
The first hurdle was finding enough space to update the bathroom to suit the family’s needs. This was achieved by combining two rooms – the original bathroom and a powder room.
The second challenge was working with two windows that were different shapes and sizes – a sash window in the original bathroom and an overlight window (not pictured) in the original powder room. By adding a substantially sized vanity and commanding shaving mirror cabinets (which were both painted in dramatic black) we were able to draw the eye away from the fact that the windows were two different sizes and shapes.
Why do you think this space works so well?
The bathroom is beautiful and glamorous, and somewhere that you’d want to spend time in. It’s also a large, open space that’s easy to move around in.
The bathroom is beautiful and glamorous, and somewhere that you’d want to spend time in. It’s also a large, open space that’s easy to move around in.
A mirrored niche runs the full length of the wall, providing storage for soap and shampoo, while reflecting light into the space
Key design aspects
Colour palette: Grey, black and white.
Materials palette:
Key fittings/fixtures:
Key design aspects
Colour palette: Grey, black and white.
Materials palette:
- Tiento Tiles Carrara marble 170 x 305-millimetre tiles laid in a herringbone pattern on the wall behind the bath.
- Tiento Tiles Carrara marble 300 x 600-millimetre tiles laid in a brick pattern on the other walls.
- Tiento Tiles Industrial Plomb 400 x 800-millimetre ceramic tiles laid in a brick pattern on the floor.
- Carrara marble vanity top with a classic lamb’s tongue edge to the vanity.
- Vanity finished in black-painted MDF with a two-pack polyurethane satin finish.
Key fittings/fixtures:
- Client’s own bath.
- Custom-designed shower, vanity and shaving mirrors.
- Danielle Trippett Interior Design wall lights and wooden shutters.
- Astra Walker Icon tapware.
- Astra Walker Pura wall-mounted toilet.
Your turn
Which idea would you steal from this bathroom makeover? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want more bathroom inspiration? Don’t miss 4 Great Small Bathrooms… and How They Did It
Which idea would you steal from this bathroom makeover? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want more bathroom inspiration? Don’t miss 4 Great Small Bathrooms… and How They Did It
What are you working on?
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It's a beautifully stylish bathroom renovation. The quality of which I'm certain the owners will enjoy for many years. I can only imagine how beautiful the rest of the project is and how it has added to the value of the house. Well done Danielle Trippett Interior Design.
It seems a few people may have misread the article. The article said the budget of $50k - $70k was for the whole project of which the bathroom was a part of.
Was this bathroom makeover part of a larger renovation?
It was part of a renovation of both upstairs bathrooms (the family bathroom and the master ensuite). I also redecorated a few rooms downstairs and the master bedroom.
If you are interested, here are a few before and after images of our 1st attempt at the renovation game.
Notice the hole in the wall? This is where a possum decided to take up residence in the wall. He nawd away the plaster in the wall which also opened up a hole in the adjoining bedroom. He also carefully rounded the timber nogging to be more comfortable. It was interesting getting him out.
Having a shave was interesting. Notice where the vanity mirror was?
The shower was only 800mm square and the ceiling in the shower was lowered to 300mm above the sliding door. It felt like you were in a small box.
This is the end result.
It was our 1st complete home renovation. We put in a lot of sweat equity. The reno cost us approx $70k, working every Fri, Sat and Sunday for 12 months while teaching Mon - Thurs in our Music Schools.
Our starting valuation came in as low as $320K. We spend $77k over 12 months and sold for $615K.
It was highly rewarding on so many levels "over and above" the result we received on the sale of the house.
Here is a link to the video of the completed project, if you're interested.
Video link to completed project.
We are in the process of updating & renoing the house - we are installing a free standing bath in a wet room - lots of negative comments on how I'm going to clean the bath ???? easy -it will be in a wet room, we have installed a hand held shower hose that can reach all the way around the bath including into the bath for cleaning :) - I think this reno of the bathroom is amazing
@Derek de Sousa
"It seems a few people may have misread the article. The article said the budget of $50k - $70k was for the whole project of which the bathroom was a part of."
No, the article says:
"Room purpose and size: An upstairs bathroom measuring approximately 10 square metres that is used by the children when they are living here or visitingBudget: Between $50,000 and $70,000"
Thus indicating they spent that amount on one bathroom.