🖼️
The project:
A young couple with no gear and pretty much no idea took on the challenge of renovating their first home - starting with the bathroom. Behind the beautiful pink 1960s tiles was a tiny shower, an impractical layout and water leaking into the bedrooms. Armed with YouTube tutorials, blind optimism and more trips to Bunnings than we'd like to admit. We transformed it into a modern bathroom designed for a busy future, where functionality meets timeless design.
Thank you for taking the time to read through our bathroom renovation journey. We hope you love the space as much as we do! Now it's time to turn our attention to the much-neglected front garden, where plenty more Bunnings trips await!
- Materials:
- Cavity Privacy Door Lock - https://www.bunnings.com.au/lockwood-satin-chrome-pearl-symmetry-round-privacy-cavity-sliding-door-set_p4180404
- Cement Sheets - https://www.bunnings.com.au/james-hardie-3000-x-1200-x-6mm-3-6m-flex-cladding-sheet_p0711118
- Plasterboard - https://www.bunnings.com.au/gyprock-csr-2400-x-1200-x-10mm-2-88sqm-plasterboard-re_p0731415
- Plaster Tape - https://www.bunnings.com.au/intex-plaster-and-accessories-fibreglass-joint-tape_p0730577
- Plaster - https://www.bunnings.com.au/gyprock-csr-20kg-hardwall-plaster_p0731635
- Cavity Sliding Door Unit - https://www.bunnings.com.au/hume-doors-timber-2040-x-820-x-100mm-evolution-flush-pull-door-cavity-unit_p2035944
- MDF DAR Primed Board - https://www.bunnings.com.au/hume-92-x-18mm-5-4m-dar-white-mdf-primed_p8470038
- Timber Screws - https://www.bunnings.com.au/zenith-10g-x-75mm-gold-passivated-type-17-countersunk-head-timber-screws-50-pack_p2409151
- Tools:
- Ryobi Drill, Tape Measure, Hammer and Screw Driver - https://www.bunnings.com.au/ryobi-18v-one-home-essentials-kit-r18dd2he12_p0539754
- Concrete Saw - https://www.bunnings.com.au/dewalt-54v-9-0ah-230mm-xr-flexvolt-brushless-concrete-cut-off-saw-kit_p0423656
- Paint Brush - https://www.bunnings.com.au/monarch-expertech-75mm-nytec-wall-paint-brush_p0271797
- Bathroom Ceiling Paint - https://www.bunnings.com.au/dulux-white-ceiling-plus-kitchen-and-bathroom-paint-1l_p1370218
- Painters Tape - https://www.bunnings.com.au/scotch-48mm-x-55m-general-painting-painter-s-masking-tape_p1660169
- Step 1:
Step One: Demolition. The fun stage - that lasted over three days, largely due to the pretty pink tiles that just didn't want to come off (they stuck them down hard back in 1962)! A game changer for us was removing the pre-exisiting cement ourselves, saving a lot of money to put towards the rest of the project.
- Step 2:
Step Two: Extension. As the bathroom was quite small we planned to extend it to meet the end of the hallway, to fit the "necessary" bathroom items like a bathtub! This allowed for the maximum use of the space (goodbye linen cupboard) and makes the hallway more modern flowing nicely throughout the house. During this step, we had to knock out the bathroom wall and reframe the entrance to bedroom 3 - having a carpenter brother was extremely helpful for this stage.
- Step 3:
Step Three: Trades. A necessary part of the project was having the help of some professionals, who were fantastic at providing us support throughout the process and helping us understanding if our big ideas were actually feasible!
Plumbing: As we completely altered the arrangement of our bathroom, the entire plumbing needed to change. Before adding cement to connect the floor with the extended area.
Electrical: Our electrical work included disconnecting the exisiting electrical items, relocating and replacing them with new alternatives, such as a light switch, heat lights, PowerPoints and an exhaust fan.
- Step 4:
Step Four: Ceiling. Certainly not the most fun part of this renovation was the ceiling removal, full of dust, old insulation and mouse droppings! The old cornices, held together by tough horse hair, proved very strong and didn't want to come down. Again the carpenter brother helped put together the new ceiling (following our 438th trip to Bunnings). Following this we plastered the ceiling and extension areas ready to paint … So much painting!
- Step 5:
Step Five: Nib Wall. We always loved the idea of a ledge where you could place all of your essential bathroom items seamlessly without the need of hanging storage in your shower. After another trip to Bunnings, we built a small ledge 12mm from the wall and are so happy with the final result.
- Step 6:
Step Six: Window. Since we were changing everything in this bathroom, the pre-exisiting sliding window with a broken fly screen wasn't matching the renovated space. We found the perfect awning style window, that looks so much more grand without being split in two.
- Step 7:
Step Seven: Tiling. It was now time to waterproof the space (no more leaking into the bedrooms)! Following many, many shopping trips and samples searching for the perfect tile, we found it. A 600 x 600 light grey tile that adds colour and mood to our bathroom space without being too dark. We especially love the white subway tile as a feature wall that catches your eye as you walk into the space.
- Step 8:
Step Eight: Installation. After 5 months of renovating, planning and demolishing it was finally time to install our bathroom appliances. It was such a surreal moment seeing the images we had imagined and doubted if they may ever come true come to life. Specific details we love are the "necessary" back to wall fluted bath, that catches your eye before the backdrop of our white subway feature tiles. The toilet now hidden in the corner behind our sliding cavity door that saves bathroom space, rather than the first thing you see. Extra storage found in the mirror cabinet.
Thanks again for taking the time to view our Bathroom project, as we prepare for many more DIY jobs as proud owners of our 1960's first home.
