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The project:
By retaining the existing window and floor drainage locations, we maximized our budget while completely revitalizing this main bathroom into a modern sanctuary. We replaced the tired, tiled drop-in bath with a luxurious freestanding soaking tub perfectly framed by fresh white window trim. Over the bath area, vertical glossy kit-kat wall tiles draw the eye upward, complementing the soft travertine-look floor and feature wall tiling. Brushed brass tapware, a high-end overhead rain shower, and a curved frameless glass screen complete the open, airy feel—proving you don't need to move plumbing lines to achieve a high-end, contemporary transformation!
- Materials:
Bunnings Building & Structural Materials List
- Gyprock CSR Aquachek Moisture Resistant Plasterboard
- Wet-area grade wall and ceiling lining designed specifically to resist moisture and provide a stable substrate for heavy wall tiles.
- Bastion Under Tile Wet Area Waterproofing Membrane
- Heavy-duty polyurethane/acrylic undertile membrane applied across shower recesses, floors, and wall junctions.
- Structural Framing Timber Pine (90x45mm / 70x35mm)
- Timber studs used to frame out the new dividing wall that split the old layout into two separate bathrooms.
- James Hardie Villaboard / Fibre Cement Sheeting
- High-performance tile backing sheets used inside shower enclosures for maximum water resistance and heavy tile support.
- Dunlop / Davco Tile Adhesive & Primers
- Substrate primers and flexible, high-bond tile adhesives for securing wall and floor tiles.
- Dunlop Flexible Waterproofing Band & Reinforcing Mesh
- Mesh tape and corner bandages embedded into waterproofing at floor-to-wall joins and hobs to prevent movement cracks.
- Selleys Wet Area Silicone Sealant
- Mould-resistant silicone used along internal tile corners, vanity edges, and glass screen junctions.
- Gyprock Base Coat & Jointing Tape
- Perforated paper tape and wet-area jointing compound used for setting plasterboard joins above the tiled zones.
- Earthwool R2.0 / R2.5 Acoustic Wall Insulation Battens
- Acoustic sound insulation inserted into the new dividing wall stud frame to ensure privacy between both bathrooms.
- Lako / Lanko Floor Screed Compound Mix
- Sand and cement floor screed mix used to create precise falls toward the new floor waste drains before tiling.
- Tools:
- Makita 1510W Hex Shank Electric Demolition Breaker / Jack Hammer
- Purpose: Ripping up old, stubborn floor tiles, breaking through old bathroom screed, and demolishing heavy built-in structures down to the subfloor.
- Ryobi 18V ONE+ Drill and Impact Driver Kit
- Ryobi 18V ONE+ Sliding Mitre Saw
- Purpose: Cutting precise timber framing studs, architraves, window trim frames, and island paneling.
- Trojan 1200mm Box Spirit Level
- Purpose: Ensuring new dividing walls, floating vanities, kitchen cabinets, and wall tiles were installed perfectly level and plumb.
- QEP Notched Tile Adhesive Trowel & Grout Float
- Purpose: Applying tile adhesive smoothly for the white vertical kit-kat tiles and stone floor tiles, then grouting cleanly.
- Craftright Heavy Duty Pry Bar & Hammer
- Purpose: Stripping out old architraves, lifting bath surrounds, and dismantling old joinery during initial teardown.
- Monarch Caulking Gun
- Purpose: Applying wet-area silicone along bath edges, vanity splashbacks, kitchen benchtops, and shower glass screens.
- Ryobi 18V ONE+ Random Orbital Sander
- Purpose: Smoothing plasterboard joins on new walls and prepping surfaces before painting.
- Monarch Wall Master Paint Brushes & Rollers
- Purpose: Painting walls, ceilings, fresh window trims, and applying the custom green finish to the kitchen island.
- Selleys Heavy-Duty Paint / Plaster Scraper & Utility Knife
- Purpose: Clearing away old sealant, trimming waterproofing mesh bandaging, and prepping surfaces for fresh finishes
- Step 1:
1. Total Demolition & Strip-Out
We kicked things off by completely gutting the old, dysfunctional bathroom—ripping out the outdated tiles, bulky built-in tub, vanity, and old shower screen right back to the studs and subfloor to start with a blank canvas.
2. Framing the New Floorplan
To turn one large, inefficient bathroom into two fully functional spaces, we built a brand-new timber stud wall down the center, insulation batts included for privacy, to define the new layout.
3. Trades Step In: Plumber & Sparky Rough-In
With a split space came brand-new layout needs! We brought in a licensed plumber to relocate drainage, run new water points for the dual basins and wall-mounted spouts, and shift the shower waste. Our electrician then ran wiring for the ambient LED backlit mirrors and new lighting.
4. Sheet Metal, Villaboard & Waterproofing
We lined the walls with moisture-resistant plasterboard and heavy-duty Villaboard in the wet zones, followed by multiple coats of undertile waterproofing membrane and corner bandaging—because a solid, leak-free base is everything!
5. Screeding, Tiling & Fit-Off
After laying a fresh floor screed for precise drainage falls, we laid large-format stone floor tiles, vertically stacked white kit-kat tiles in the shower, and finished off with our floating timber double vanity, fluted basins, brushed brass tapware, and frameless glass screen.
