Cover story
Design the perfect pint-sized bathroom without skimping on style or practicality
The first thing many people wonder when they see the beautiful bathroom on our cover is whether it’s from a New Zealand house – the answer is yes! Interior designer Vic Bibby created the luxe ensuite for her Napier home and it’s got us all swooning. Turn to our report on small bathroom renos to find out how she did it.
Asmall space is no reason to go without when creating the bathroom of your dreams. Whether you’re adding on a new ensuite, modernising a pocket-sized powder room or simply wanting to maximise the potential of a petite family bathroom, there are some clear dos and don’ts that will help along the way.
We asked the experts for their space-saving tips and tricks for everything from plumbing and ventilation, to tiling and vanities, so you can make the most of every centimetre. Note: For this feature we’ve defined a small bathroom as measuring 1.5-2.5 sqm.
VANITIES
When designing a small bathroom you want the vanity to be wall-mounted and 900mm wide or less. An off-floor vanity gives the illusion of more space, is easy to clean underneath and will still provide plenty of storage.
It pays to spend a little more on your vanity so you can have internal drawers. Depending on your budget, you can get a vanity custom made to use whatever space you have, such as an alcove or niche area.
SHOWERS
People are moving away from the bath as a must-have. If you have a two-bathroom home and you’re in a school zone then it’s worth having one, but when space is tight, many people would much rather have a luxury bathroom with a walk-in shower than a bath.
When designing a shower, go for tiling only – say no to acrylic showers! Tiles are durable, nonporous and easy to keep clean, particularly if you use a largeformat option. For those doing a DIY tile reno, draw up a plan and buy your tiles before you start the renovation. When you go to a tile or plumbing store, they will want to know the shape and style of your shower.
STORAGE
Mirror cabinets are a great way to combine storage with light reflection to make the space feel larger. Buy them standard or get them custom made to make use of all the available space. Open shelving is best avoided as clutter tends to build up and makes things feel cramped.
If you have the budget, recessed cupboards can be a great way to store items without taking up too much room. Depending on the gap under the off-floor vanity, you could store things in baskets underneath, such as toilet paper and face cloths.
VISUAL TRICKS
Some people think a large-format tile won’t work in a small space, but that’s the biggest trick of the trade. Anything over the standard 600mm x 600mm will work – the fewer grout lines, the bigger the space will feel. For a continuous-feel floor, use 1-metre-square tiles in a single colour with grout in the same shade.
Mosaic tiling on the walls is an exception as once it’s laid and grouted, it also provides a continuous texture and is great for adding interest – just don’t use it on every wall.
Mirrors can also add a sense of volume to a room. I like to take a mirror as close as possible to the ceiling, effectively doubling the size of the room. They’re also important for reflecting light, especially if you’ve only got a very small window.
TOILETS
Wall-hung toilets might seem like space-savers, but beware – the gap between the floor and the bottom of the toilet becomes a dust collection point. If you’re going for a floor-mounted style, choose one with a base that has clean lines, so you’re not cleaning around awkward crannies.
A recessed cistern can be an option for small bathrooms, but it’s dependent on your plan. If it’s in a tiled wall and you have a leak, it can be really hard to access. In a long, narrow space, an in-wall cistern can be good for gaining an extra 100mm or so. There are many different options, so definitely talk to a consultant.
Interior designer Vic Bibby, her husband, Mark, and their three teenage daughters have always loved living in their modest three-bedroom bungalow on Napier’s Hospital Hill, with its views over the Botanical Gardens to the sea and proximity to work, school and friends. But there was one downside to the house – they had to share one bathroom between the five of them.
But rather than moving, they added an extension to the front of their home, with a new master bedroom, walk-in wardrobe and a small but luxuriously appointed ensuite. There’s now a new problem: the beautiful little mosaic-tiled sanctuary is proving difficult to leave.
LIGHT AND DARK
Before the project kicked off, the designer sat down with Architecture HDT to plan the layout. She wanted a walk-in shower, a simple layout and a privacy wall for the toilet. They divided the room into three parts, tucking the toilet away to one side and keeping the custom vanity front and centre, with a tiled shower taking up the other side.
Vic had a clear idea of the key elements she wanted to include, particularly the blue mosaic tiles. “I knew I wanted to use the tiles in the shower because they were a favourite of mine and a leaping-off point for the rest of the design, but because they’re dark, I balanced them by using a lot of light elsewhere.”
One tried-and-true light-enhancing technique was to install a large mirror above the vanity. “A big mirror in a small room will bounce the light around and lend a sense of space,” says Vic. She had hers custom made in an arch shape. “I went to a glass shop and they cut it to size; they can also do the installation.”
Another light source, which wasn’t on the original plans, was a skylight. “I’d seen one in a shower and it was amazing. It brings in all this beautiful light and is perfect for bathrooms because you don’t have to worry about privacy. I recommend them to everyone.”
“Skylights bring in beautiful light and you don’t have to worry
about privacy”
SAVING SPACE
Vic designed a white off-floor vanity with internal drawers. “I wanted it to be floating because having all that air underneath helps with the illusion of space. When you’re working in a small area, that can make all the difference.”
Another space-saving necessity was a cavity sliding door. “For a small bathroom, you don’t want a door that swings in, taking up valuable space and compromising what you can do inside.”
Because they were building from scratch, Vic was also able to request a recessed-cistern toilet. “I wanted everything to be as simple as possible so we have the cistern hidden behind the wall. All you see is the flush plate.”
One issue they had was where to put the towel rail. It ended up on the non-shower side of the bathroom, with hooks placed on the back of the shower wall to compensate.
FINISHING TOUCHES
On the floor is a simple, neutral 600mm x 600mm tile with grout in the same colour to give it a seamless feel. Vic contrasted this with exciting colour, texture and fittings, such as the patterned wallpaper in the toilet area.
“My business partner, Dale Brady, and I love using wallpaper, especially in bathrooms,” she says. “You’re not in them for hours on end like you would be in a bedroom or living room, so you can go crazy and have a little bit of fun.”
Bibby spent around $30,000 on her luxurious ensuite, which includes tiles, underfloor heating, all fixtures, a custom vanity, mirror, lights, a skylight, wallpaper, painting, materials and trades. “It’s made such a huge difference to our lifestyle.” •