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Bathroom, laundry, kitchen refresh

Hi everyone,

I'm hoping to get some ideas for how to update a bathroom/laundry/kitchen space. I'm living in here at the moment but it may be rented out in the future when I move so I'm hoping to use durable/hard wearing components.

My aim is to update the area so it's visually appealing and functional, but ideally with minimal structural changes to reduce costs.

Floor plans:

Low-fi floorplan

My thoughts so far have been:

1. ProjectPete style laundry benching along the side wall of the bathroom. Ie a wooden benchtop to cover the washing machine and enclose a sink, with subway tile splashback. I was thinking of omitting the upper cabinets to avoid cramping the room too much. https://www.workshop.com.au/t5/Bathroom-and-Laundry/My-laundry-reno/m-p/4618

2. Possibly knocking down the wall separating the toilet and vanity and re-orienting the toilet. The toilet room is very small as it stands and you can't close the door if sitting on the toilet.

3. Demolishing that corner cut out section where the stove is. As much as I want to minimise structural work, it takes up so much room in a small kitchen, and I'd like to add more benchspace, as well as a enclosure for the fridge, microwave and space for a dishwasher. I want to add an extra benchtop along the wall where the circular table currently is. possibly just with a bracket and no cabinetry underneath as a dining bench that faces the wall to provide a 'dining table' without taking up as much floor realestate. Just not sure where best to put the fridge/ microwave/dishwasher.

4. Floor - retile vs vinyl flooring vs just leave it? Not fussed as long as it looks good and is functional

Budget: I'd like to keep it under 5k if possible, but know that might be tight if the above structural changes are involved..10k would be a definite upper limit

Appreciate any input!

Cheers

Rohan

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Comments

ProjectPete

Looks like fun @RohanH! And glad you got some inspo from my laundry reno 🙂

Budget wise, excluding structural work, you could achieve your $5k budget...roughly...

The main thing that'll bump it up is flooring. I suggest doing the flooring rather than just leaving it as it'll give the best final finish. Leaving the floors as is will let the rest of the amazing work you've done feel less amazing. Vinyl flooring is a good option given the wet areas. It's also worth looking at Hybrid flooring - combo of vinyl and laminate. I haven't installed any yet but have some customers interested in it so will update you if I do those jobs.

I did this Kitchen for about $1k. Note - I didn't update the flooring due to only having a $10k budget for an entire house makeover/reno ready for quick sale.

I'd go for floor-to-ceiling subway tiling in the Bath/Laundry. Will really modernise the space, make it look/feel bigger, and it can be done quite cheaply - subway tiles are anywhere from $12sqm. I'd do the same on the splashback wall for the bathroom vanity.

You mentioned ommitting the cabinetry from Laundry. It is a smaller space so needs consideration but at least some slimline cabinetry will a) be beneficial, and b) probably won't be too intrusive. Look for some 300mm deep cabinetry. Just a thought.

I know that doesn't solve all your questions/problems but hopefully it helps at least a little. Enjoy!

RohanH

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/5140#Comment_5140

That's awesome Pete thanks!

With the flooring, a bit stuck with which type to get. The rest of the house is real timber, so it seems weird to have fake vinyl/laminate/hybrid timber style flooring right next to it.

Was thinking of something like this:

https://westerndistributors.com.au/product/signature-7594-vinyl/

For the bathroom subway tiles in the shower-laundry room, do you mean the entire room, including replacing the tiles in the shower and on the sides of the tub? And the back wall too? Agree with the vanity wall suggestion.

And cheers for the slimline cabinetry tip, will look into it.

Kermit

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/64717#Comment_64717

Have you pulled up any of the existing kitchen tiles to see if there's floorboards underneath @RohanH? You might get lucky...

ProjectPete

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/64717#Comment_64717

Ah I see. You could probably get away with it by choosing the right laminate or spending a bit more on engineered floorboards, ie. a contrasting colour, something deliberately different. But I'll leave that one with you. I like @Kermit's suggestion of seeing if there are boards underneath.

Personally, I'd be doing floor to ceiling on all walls including replacing the existing. It's a cheap but very effective and worthwhile way to go. Look at the difference it made here and I didn't even do floor to ceiling or the sides of the tub (time constraints as the house needed to sell and there was a huge amount of work to be done).

RohanH

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/95019#Comment_95019

If only! Concrete underneath the tiles 😢

Ok cheers. Will look into contrasting timber vs tile style

And agree, subway tiles seem to modernise the space a lot. Cheers!

@redracer01 I really liked your ideas on https://www.workshop.com.au/t5/Kitchen/Very-budget-kitchen-reno/td-p/23325, do you have any thoughts on what to do with the corner cutout or how to work around it and create more bench space? Possibly a wall mounted dining table - something like this?

44549c705d9a7f554c49c8266916c471

MartyH

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/114011#Comment_114011

You might be able to match the timber @RohanH, but it probably would mean a full sand and repolish of the entire house's floorboards.

redracer01

Hello RohanH,

Here is a preview of some of my suggestions. As you know I only do my drawings in the evenings to relax and unwind. My apologies if the rest of the drawings come in slowly. Please note that the drawings are not to measure and are for generating ideas only.

1. How about we move the laundry out and give it a London apartment feel?

2. Give the shower area a proper storage/vanity area.

3. Tear down the wall separating kitchen and living room, close off the oven nook and move cooktop to the other side.

Tell me your thoughts and I will incorporate them in my next drawing. Cheers!

Massive storage for towels and stuff, you can never have enough shelves.I suggest LED strip lighting under the bottom shelf and top shelf as alternative to harsh mirror lighting.Washing machine outside, laundry tub on benchtop, steel square laundry tub sold on gumtree.Corner cavity covered up with plaster, cooktop moved over. New breakfast area ready!New meal area! All the benchtop area you could ask for!

RohanH

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/5154#Comment_5154

Your sketches are amazing! If everyone unwinded in such a productive way..

Love what you have done with the bathroom moving the washing machine out.

I'd prefer to keep the washing machine out of the kitchen - possibly in the area where the current vanity is, somehow combined with a sink, like this:

fc490e379c044d53f81b9ad9617c4475

In regards to the kitchen, again looks great. My thoughts are:

1) Keep the oven/stove where it is, for ease of acess to gas plumbing and the flue. Keep it as a combined stove/oven unit

2) Where you've put the washing machine, have the microwave and fridge there instead

3) The benchtop added to the wall next to the stove to have no cabinets underneath and double as a workbench/seating space. This leaves the back part of the wall backing into the living room to have a couch etc. This gives some flexibility as I'm not sure if that dividing wall can come down, or if it's loadbearing etc.

Thanks again for your help!

redracer01

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/64724#Comment_64724

Hello Rohan,

As requested. Here is your revised fridge/microwave area. I have placed the microwave at the same height as a standard wall cabinet. The distance is 600mm from the top of the benchtop to the bottom of the microwave shelf. You can adjust this if the microwave proves to be to high to reach. Next to the microwave is the toaster. I used the bench top material as your shelves as it gives it that beefier look and ties in nicely with your new breakfast table. I've also drawn your standing oven/cooktop however I leave the choice to you if you wish to cover the cavity and move the appliance forward or leave it in place and just add a rangehood and duct it into the existing exhaust. Moving this appliance will block your drawers on your existing kitchen so you may want to have a think how you wish to proceed. I purposely did not draw the dividing wall so that you can see the room better.

Your washing machine under vanity basin will follow soon. Cheers!

___ rohan A.png Maybe some ceramic dolphins from daiso?Timber bench tops give a kitchen a warm natural feel.

RohanH

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/95024#Comment_95024

Love it! Especially the vases, they really bring the bring the place to life! I'll certainly consider the ceramic dolphins.

I'm hoping to have the cooktop front flush with a diagonal benchtop extending between the two benchtop surfaces but this might be may be tricky to model. Hopefully that will leave the drawers unencumbered.

Really appreciate the models!

redracer01

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/114015#Comment_114015

Hello Rohan,

As promised here is your bathroom models.

Things to consider in this configuration:

- Standard washing machine height is 850mm you dont want your vanity too tall otherwise it becomes a pain to reach and use.

- You must have adequate access to the laundry taps. It must be easy enough for you to put the washing machine hoses on and for the machine outlet to be pluged into the plumbing outlet. It looks fantastic but if I have to call a handy man or a plumber to turn the taps off every time there is a leak . . . you may want to consider final position of washing machine taps.

- Plumbing for your vanity sink will be difficult and may need to use special fittings to avoid the washing machine.

- I suggest a sliding cavity door. This will take out the need for a swing area for the door and freeing up space for the toilet.

- I totally agree with closing off the toilet and vanity area to make it as 1 room.

- I kept a part of the wall separating the toilet and the vanity. This wall indicates the minimum space necessary for you to sit in your toilet area and not feel cramped in.

- Best to consult your builder on final position of walls and facilites in that area.

Goodluck and Cheers!

---Best to keep the shelves removable for easy access to plumbing and taps at the back.This approximately shows you what it might look like once the wall is up and the cavity sliding door is in place.Nice big space now for you to sit and not get hit by the door.Here is the view from outside going in with the sliding door visible.

This is the view of what that entrance might look from the kitchen.

cmtbuild

Hi Rohan, I hope your end result.hss turned out good. I would like to ask which programs you have used for the floor plans and for the 3D image as we as about to do some renovations and would love to use this to give us some ideas. Thanks

redracer01

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/5426#Comment_5426

Hello @cmtbuild

I used an old program called sketchup 8. It is what I use to sketch all my ideas.

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/5426#Comment_5426

Thanks for joining in the discussion @cmtbuild. Great to see you get such a prompt reply from the ever-helpful @redracer01.

This must be an exciting time for you with your renovation work approaching. I'm sure the Workshop community would love to help you with ideas, advice and inspiration.

I would encourage you to hit the Start a discussion button and share some photos of your house and some information about your plans. We have loads of experienced members who are happy to share their experience and knowledge.

Welcome to the community,

Jason

jowens

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/95024#Comment_95024

Awesome like the drawings and how you put things so clear to see. what program did you use to do this.

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/114067#Comment_114067

Hi @jowens,

Thanks for joining in the discussion.

@redracer01 uses Sketchup for his excellent plans he shares with community members on the site.

Jason

jowens

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/124712#Comment_124712

Thank you Jason, will check it out

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/131878#Comment_131878

No worries @jowens. Let us know how you go. I'm sure @redracer01 can share lots of tips.

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/114015#Comment_114015

Hey @RohanH,

Hope all is well.

How are you going with your renovation work?

It would be fantastic to get an update as this has been a very popular discussion in the past year.

Thanks,

Jason

RohanH

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/124964#Comment_124964

Update: Thanks so much to the Workshop community for all the ideas and planning assistance! Especially to @ProjectPete and @redracer01

Here are some before/after photos.

Kitchen/Living area:

Bathroom/Laundry Area:

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/132039#Comment_132039

It looks fantastic @RohanH. Congratulations to you.

Many thanks for sharing the photos.

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/132039#Comment_132039

Hi @RohanH,

Hope you are well and still enjoying your renovation.

Your project has remained incredibly popular and is now approaching 100,000 views.

I was wondering if you could come back and tell us how close to your original budget you were, what you learned along the way, and what you might have done differently had you had your time again.

Many thanks, it would be great to get an update.

Jason

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