No tiles for this bathroom
Thanks to the creative use
of paint – from floor to ceiling – this Bloemfontein bathroom is as good as new.
Costs
Rika and Johan spent R15 600 on their new bathroom. This included demolishing and plumbing with the help of a builder, building materials, all products such as paint and sealant, new taps, the mirror, curtain and glass for the basin. The project would have cost significantly more if they’d used tiles instead of paint.
The project
Since Rika and Johan van Zyl of Bloemfontein moved into their home four years ago, they’ve tackled a new project every year. “This year, the bathroom was our special project,” says Rika, a law lecturer at Free State University. “It was really an eyesore – old-fashioned orange tiles everywhere, no shower and a small single basin. And we were over the tiles!”
Rika and Johan, a primary school teacher, started working on the bathroom bit by bit before the December holidays and then in January spent two full weeks completing the project.
Rika explains: “I’m willing to paint anything and I like to try new products. I couldn’t think of one good reason why a bathroom should have tiles. With the latest paints and sealants, a tile-free bathroom is entirely possible; it’s also much more affordable if you want to change your colour scheme at a later stage.”
Johan laid the concrete floor himself, after which Rika applied two coats of Impa Paints Bathroom & Kitchen in White.
“Painting the pattern wasn’t difficult, just time-consuming. I used a small brush, starting in the middle and working outwards. I thought I would have to wait for the paint to dry before I lifted the stencil, but it dried well,” says Rika.
The grey paint (Rika used an enamel paint; try the Dulux Trade Floorcote Enamel range for a similar effect) smudged a little in places, but she says this adds to the homemade feel. “I didn’t want it to be perfect. After two coats of Uro Seal sealant, the floor was finally finished.
“This project was like therapy! I really enjoyed it. People warned us that the sealant would result in the white parts of the floor yellowing but we took the chance and, fortunately, this hasn’t happened,” says Rika.
ABOVE Rika took about eight hours to paint this pattern on the floor. She found the pattern on Pinterest and made the stencil herself. She first printed it on A3 paper, then traced the pattern onto a piece of thick cardboard and cut it out with a craft knife.
Rika’s tips
• Don’t be afraid to try something new like paint and sealant instead of tiles.
• Paint is a lot cheaper than tiles and there are all kinds of quality sealants that are water- and moisture-resistant.
• You might think your handiwork isn’t perfect but you’re the only one who’s going to notice.
• Play around with different styles and ask for ideas and advice from people who’ve completed similar projects.
Other finishes
Walls Impa Paints Bathroom & Kitchen White Shower walls Waterproofing product: Aquacure White Paint: Nova Gelcoat White