Before & After: How a Peachy Approach Made a Sweet Bathing Space
See how a dated Federation bathroom was transformed into a serene bathroom and separate powder room
Vanessa Walker
30 August 2021
Houzz Australia & New Zealand Editor-in-Chief
In a Q&A format, we talk to the designers – and examine the creative thinking – behind some of Houzz’s most loveable rooms.
The bathroom after works
All images by Kathleen Mackay of KMackay Photography
Answers by Louise Mackay of Louise Mackay Interior Design
Who lives here: A couple whose children have moved out of home
Location: Newcastle, NSW
Rooms’ purpose and size: A 2.1 x 2.4-metre bathroom with 3.2-metre high ceilings. We also gutted a linen cupboard to create a powder room.
Approximate budget: $67,000
All images by Kathleen Mackay of KMackay Photography
Answers by Louise Mackay of Louise Mackay Interior Design
Who lives here: A couple whose children have moved out of home
Location: Newcastle, NSW
Rooms’ purpose and size: A 2.1 x 2.4-metre bathroom with 3.2-metre high ceilings. We also gutted a linen cupboard to create a powder room.
Approximate budget: $67,000
The bathroom before works
The bathroom sits in a beautiful Federation home that has ornate ceilings, picture rails and original chandeliers as well as pendants. The bathroom required a much-needed update, as elements such as the clawfoot bath were falling apart and the tiles were porous.
Take your bathroom from ‘before’ to ‘after’ with the help of a specialised bathroom designer near you
The bathroom sits in a beautiful Federation home that has ornate ceilings, picture rails and original chandeliers as well as pendants. The bathroom required a much-needed update, as elements such as the clawfoot bath were falling apart and the tiles were porous.
Take your bathroom from ‘before’ to ‘after’ with the help of a specialised bathroom designer near you
The brief
The brief was to create a functional bathroom space while paying homage to the age and style of the home. The client’s requests included a vanity with a top-mounted basin (it previously only had a pedestal with no storage), more space, and a bathroom that felt like you were living in a resort.
It was also important to consider colour and natural light as the house is south-facing. It was essential, therefore, to bring a warm colour palette into this space, while keeping elements light and soft.
The brief was to create a functional bathroom space while paying homage to the age and style of the home. The client’s requests included a vanity with a top-mounted basin (it previously only had a pedestal with no storage), more space, and a bathroom that felt like you were living in a resort.
It was also important to consider colour and natural light as the house is south-facing. It was essential, therefore, to bring a warm colour palette into this space, while keeping elements light and soft.
The bathroom during works
The bathroom
Starting point
The starting point for this space was ultimately the functionality and size of the room. As the bathroom is quite small, the need for more space dictated where to begin.
I worked closely with the client and builder to consider all options, including an external extension, an internal extension and then finally, a gutting and repurposing of a nearby linen cupboard (to use as a powder room). Once we established what spaces and construction were available and required for the project, we could consider the space planning in the bathroom.
The choice of the peach clay herringbone tiles then led the design. It was important to find tiles that complemented the style of the home, while not becoming too contrived in trying to achieve an Art Deco look. By working with stunning handmade pieces, we could achieve a level of sophistication and age that worked well with the era of the home.
Starting point
The starting point for this space was ultimately the functionality and size of the room. As the bathroom is quite small, the need for more space dictated where to begin.
I worked closely with the client and builder to consider all options, including an external extension, an internal extension and then finally, a gutting and repurposing of a nearby linen cupboard (to use as a powder room). Once we established what spaces and construction were available and required for the project, we could consider the space planning in the bathroom.
The choice of the peach clay herringbone tiles then led the design. It was important to find tiles that complemented the style of the home, while not becoming too contrived in trying to achieve an Art Deco look. By working with stunning handmade pieces, we could achieve a level of sophistication and age that worked well with the era of the home.
Key design aspects
Colour palette:
Colour palette:
- Once we selected the beautiful clay herringbone tiles, the colour palette just flowed. It was an easy choice when presented with the peach clay tile; a warm but sophisticated tone for a cool, dark interior space.
- The herringbone wall tile was then paired with a porcelain marble-look floor tile with a peach vein pattern, bringing in a neutral white element with a nod of peach.
- We couldn’t move past the Nood Co concrete basins, further adding a kiss of pink to each space.
- Selections of brushed-brass tapware and hardware kept the palette warm and maintained the rich elements in the bathroom and powder room.
- We finished the room with a beautiful Haymes Paint Nutmeg-rendered wall.
Materials palette:
- Clay handmade tiles in peach. The herringbone pattern adds an element of direction through vectors, encouraging the eye to look up and out, making the space feel wider.
- Porcelain marble-look tiles in White and Peach.
- Peach concrete basins.
- Stone vanity tops feature a slight terrazzo speckle with hints of orange.
- Rendered cement walls in Haymes Paint Nutmeg.
- Glass pendant in peach and gold.
- Brushed-brass tapware and hardware.
Key pieces of furniture/fittings:
- Wall and floor tiles from Earp Bros.
- Peach concrete cube surface-mount basin and peach wall-hung shelf basin from Nood Co.
- Brushed-brass fittings in the tapware, ceiling-mount showerhead, shower taps, towel rails, powder-room backlit mirror and wall-hung bottle trap, all from ABI Interiors.
- Vanity and toilet from Reece.
- Wall paint in Haymes Paint Nutmeg.
- Bathroom mirror from Freedom.
- Bath from Harvey Norman.
- Floor-to-ceiling custom made shower curtains in Sheer White by Louise Mackay Interior Design.
- Electronic blind from Classic Blinds.
Thinking behind the arrangement of the furniture/fixtures in the bathroom
The feel of the room was an important element in designing the main bathroom. The client wanted a space that felt like she was arriving home to a resort every day.
I wanted to create a bathroom sanctuary in which the bath was positioned against the window, so the client can relax while looking out the window and take in nature. That came with its own complexities of course, as this would also be a bath/shower combination, so privacy was also an important factor.
A custom-fitted electronic blind was added to the window for easy opening and closing while showering or relaxing in the bath. Greenery was also planted outside the window for the client to take in while soaking in the tub.
I also added floor-to-ceiling sheer curtains to the bathroom for a sense of grandeur and drama. By taking the curtains all the way up to the 3.2-metre ceiling you not only lift the eye, but also take one’s breath away at the sheer scale and luxury of the room.
A large mirror above the vanity further extends and emphasises the grandeur of the room, which also allows two people to use the vanity quite comfortably.
Browse more beautifully designed Australian bathrooms
The feel of the room was an important element in designing the main bathroom. The client wanted a space that felt like she was arriving home to a resort every day.
I wanted to create a bathroom sanctuary in which the bath was positioned against the window, so the client can relax while looking out the window and take in nature. That came with its own complexities of course, as this would also be a bath/shower combination, so privacy was also an important factor.
A custom-fitted electronic blind was added to the window for easy opening and closing while showering or relaxing in the bath. Greenery was also planted outside the window for the client to take in while soaking in the tub.
I also added floor-to-ceiling sheer curtains to the bathroom for a sense of grandeur and drama. By taking the curtains all the way up to the 3.2-metre ceiling you not only lift the eye, but also take one’s breath away at the sheer scale and luxury of the room.
A large mirror above the vanity further extends and emphasises the grandeur of the room, which also allows two people to use the vanity quite comfortably.
Browse more beautifully designed Australian bathrooms
The powder room
What challenges did you work around?
Key challenges in designing this space were the floor planning and layout, while also adding much-needed space to this bathroom. As mentioned above, I worked with the client and builder on multiple floor plans to come up with this solution.
Other challenges then followed, including the door swing for the powder room and placement of the toilet for access and privacy.
The final decision saw the powder room door swinging out into the hallway to ensure plenty of space in the powder room and easy access for accessibility needs into the future.
What challenges did you work around?
Key challenges in designing this space were the floor planning and layout, while also adding much-needed space to this bathroom. As mentioned above, I worked with the client and builder on multiple floor plans to come up with this solution.
Other challenges then followed, including the door swing for the powder room and placement of the toilet for access and privacy.
The final decision saw the powder room door swinging out into the hallway to ensure plenty of space in the powder room and easy access for accessibility needs into the future.
The bathroom during works
The age of the house also presented other challenges. Once the original tiles came off, we realised the original render and gyprock also came off, exposing the brick.
What came next was an opportunity to bring some more texture into the space, as we needed to render the wall. This created a beautiful finish on the wall, rather than a flat gyprock finish.
Working around plumbing and waste access came next, and we needed to rebuild floors in the now-powder room as well as install a roof-flush system. By working closely with the builder and a plumber we could overcome all these challenges.
The age of the house also presented other challenges. Once the original tiles came off, we realised the original render and gyprock also came off, exposing the brick.
What came next was an opportunity to bring some more texture into the space, as we needed to render the wall. This created a beautiful finish on the wall, rather than a flat gyprock finish.
Working around plumbing and waste access came next, and we needed to rebuild floors in the now-powder room as well as install a roof-flush system. By working closely with the builder and a plumber we could overcome all these challenges.
Why do you think these rooms work?
A key element to the X factor of this bathroom is not shying away from colour. The peach tones speak volumes in transforming this space into a calm, warm and inviting bathroom, encouraging relaxation and rejuvenation.
No detail was overlooked in the decision making, from the tile materials and colour choice, to the materials in the tapware, to the complementary colours in the tiles and flowers. A truly sensory experience has been created for the client and her guests through an array of texture and a dramatic use of scale and colour throughout both spaces.
The aim was to not only deliver a room with wow factor, but to keep in line with a sophisticated and elegant bathroom design for this refined client and her historical home.
Your turn
What do you like about this bathroom and ensuite? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images for inspiration, like this story and join the renovation conversation.
More
Craving more great interior transformations? Take a look at this Before & After: How 3 Backyards Gain Privacy and Improved Views
A key element to the X factor of this bathroom is not shying away from colour. The peach tones speak volumes in transforming this space into a calm, warm and inviting bathroom, encouraging relaxation and rejuvenation.
No detail was overlooked in the decision making, from the tile materials and colour choice, to the materials in the tapware, to the complementary colours in the tiles and flowers. A truly sensory experience has been created for the client and her guests through an array of texture and a dramatic use of scale and colour throughout both spaces.
The aim was to not only deliver a room with wow factor, but to keep in line with a sophisticated and elegant bathroom design for this refined client and her historical home.
Your turn
What do you like about this bathroom and ensuite? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images for inspiration, like this story and join the renovation conversation.
More
Craving more great interior transformations? Take a look at this Before & After: How 3 Backyards Gain Privacy and Improved Views
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Beautifully executed but to me peachy colours are very 1980s…been there, done that.
Love the handmade tiles
I think it looks beautiful. It s funny how things come back I also did a peach bathroom in the 80s with gold taps. Not sure what the answer is but from a practical point of view a shower curtain should always be avoided at all cost this is just my opinion