Better Homes and Gardens (Australia)
STYLE WITH SUBSTANCE
Proof positive good things come in small packages – an industrial bathroom with a nod to period elegance.
• Source bronze or aged copper period-style taps, towel rack and caged light pendants.
• Designed to define – utilise a gridded glass partition to create a walk-in shower area.
• Make use of vertical space for storage.
• Love a good long soak? Float a wood ‘mat’ on your tub for toiletries, a book, wine...
• Soften your bathroom’s gritty industrial vibe with shade-loving indoor plants.
1 WATCH OUT
Indulge yourself with a waterproof bathroom TV. Along with a roomy soaker tub, it’s the ultimate pampering piece. For a similar freestanding black bath, try the Elinea freestanding 1500 or 1790, decina.com.au.
2 ON THE TILES
Copper porcelain tiles might overwhelm a tiny space. But team them with white wall tiles and concrete-like floor tiles and you’ll strike just the right balance. PS, the black grout of the white tiles nods to the black-framed screen.
3 VINTAGE BEAUTY
Rework a vintage find as a vanity. Your tools of the trade – a slab of marble (look for a suitable offcut), a counter-top basin and a hole cutter to accommodate the pipework and you’re well on your way! PS, distressed copper finish mirror with shelf, etsy.com/au.
4 COOL ENCLOSURE
Space an issue? Create the effect of a wet room, made roomier with an industrial Crittal-style screen that also separates it from the loo – all without negatively impacting the footprint.
5 STEP IN
Lacking room for a bath and separate shower? A drop-in bath/shower combo has its advantages. This no-frills space-saving option allows a stately black-framed screen, tapware and fixtures to sing its praises!
6 LIGHT WITH FLAIR
This rechargeable light isn’t wired so you can move it around. It’s also a great idea for a quick-fix economical bathroom update. Menu Carrie LED light in Black, $400, designstuff.com.au.
7 WALL TO WALL
When it comes to wall treatments for the bathroom, the tendency is to default to tiles. But you might like to consider a micro-cement coating, which gives a smooth and seamless waterproof finish. It can even be applied over existing tiles.
8 BLACK BEAUTY
Matt black tapware has taken the world by storm. And no wonder when you can achieve a sophisticated and swoon-worthy look while providing contrast with tapware that’s deemed ‘neutral’ in colour. You’ll find it the ideal foil for white bathrooms.
9 ICE-CREAM PINK
Shower your walk-in cubicle with colour – pink to be precise. This on-trend hue and subtle herringbone pattern effectively zone the shower area while adding warmth and interest.
10 PATTERN PLAY
Break up busy wall and floor patterns with a solid band of colour – here, navy panelling that nods to the past does the trick. Tropicana Floral Leaf wallpaper in Navy, i-love-wallpaper.com.
11 FLOATING VANITY
Whip up a similar DIY vanity in a few hours. Using reclaimed wood, cut, sand and assemble the ‘box’, drill holes for plumbing and sink connections, then seal it before securing it in place. PS, police your clutter with baskets.
12 OH-SO PRETTY
Common in period homes, a roll-top, cast-iron bath with elegant raised feet provides even the most modern of bathrooms with charm and character. Look for a retailer that can custom colour your tub.
13 SIZE MATTERS
When ordering your bathroomware, triple check measurements. Here, the double vanity’s size was miscalculated. Oops! The ingenious solution? Making the basins fit by installing them lengthways.
14 SOAK IT
Ideal for long, relaxing soaks, freestanding tub styles go from period to contemporary, with materials ranging from acrylic and composite to stone and metal. Just ensure your floor can handle the weight.
15 NAIL A RAIL
It’s always wise to keep your towels within arm’s reach of your bath, sink and shower. With this in mind, try your hand at an easy DIY project by using timber offcuts to make a towel rail. Prefer to buy? Check out the similar Oak Roller Towel Rail, $57, etsy.com/au.
16 ON THE UP
How to introduce the raw beauty of natural stone without blowing your budget? Use stone mosaics sparingly, as here, with a vertical panel for undeniable wow! You get bonus points for colour and texture with the contrast of cool chrome and rugged stone.
17 WHEELIE GOOD TROLLEY
Utilise a compact kitchen trolley on castors as a bathroom caddy that can house all your bathroom items in the one portable unit. Although available in a range of colours brand new, you may already own a unit you can refresh quickly and easily with a can of spray paint to suit your scheme. The process is quite quick. Raskog trolley 35 x 45 x 78cm in Black, $49, Lohals flatwoven jute rug 80 x 150 in Natural,$49, ikea.com.au.
18 DRESS IT UP
Reimagine an old chest of drawers as an upcycled washstand with a modern hand basin. As long as there’s space for pipework, sinks can be mounted on almost any console or cabinet. When it comes to repainting the chest, have it professionally sprayed or opt to DIY, but good prep and an allowance for paint-curing time is essential to ensure the finish will withstand the rigours of daily use. For similar items, Kado Lux Above Counter Basin 1 Taphole White with Overflow, POA, reece.com.au, Mondella Chrome or Black Pin Lever Basin Mixer, $108, bunnings.com.au, Harvey round metal mirror/leather strap, $349, livingstyles.com.au.
19 LADDER WORKS
Repurpose the side of a shelving unit into a useful towel ladder. Attach jute webbing along its sides and rungs for a tactile finishing touch. Beyond towels, you can also use the ladder rungs to hang beauty brushes and loofahs from S-hooks. You can give this easy idea a twist very simply by painting it with a coordinating colour, or make it pop with a fun sunshine yellow or fuchsia pink. PS, make good use of woven baskets as they’re an attractive way to store face or hand towels and even toilet rolls. Ivar side unit 30 x 179cm (used as towel rail), $30, Ribba black frame, from $5, ikea.com.au.
20 SPICE IT UP
From spice rack to display shelf and ingenious toilet roll holder! Gather a spice rack, a couple of leather handles and a length of pine dowel, and cut to suit. Simply screw a cup hook into the underside of the rack at either end, as shown, attach the handles, thread the rod through the handles and voila! PS, if you prefer, flip the spice rack upside down for a handy towel rail. Bekvam spice rack, $5, Osternas leather handles 153mm, $19/pair, ikea.com.au.