Caroma’s Aura back-to-wall bath combines innovative design with optimum functionality, offering the luxury of a freestanding bath with the practicalities of an island bath.
Designed to fit a small area whilst maintaining an elegant look, the Aura back-to-wall bath is both spacious and comfortable.
Sitting flush to the wall not only is the bath easy to clean, it’s a space saving solution that opens up the choice of tapware to wall bath mixers.
Available in three sizes (1400, 1600 & 1800mm), there is a one or two person bath ready for a relaxing soak. Prices start at $2,049.
View the Aura back-to-wall bath instore or online.
Blending traditional elements with contemporary touches, this heritage listed Victorian Italianate villa, in Sydney’s Bronte, has been recently renovated and with gorgeous results – the new kitchen is particularly fab.
The new and expansive entertainer’s kitchen
“As a heritage listed building, working with the existing architecture and design elements was key, with the idea being to blend them into a more contemporary scheme. The back portion of the house, and casual living zone, was a space that the family wanted to modernise while referencing the home’s heritage,” says The Designory director Melissa Bonney, whose company was responsible for the transformation.
Marble details in the bathroom reference the home’s heritage
“The objective was to blend the traditional with the contemporary, draw light into the home, create an open layout with a strong connection to the light-filled yard, along with transforming some of the more impractical internal elements and spaces to make way for an active and busy family.”
We love the pop of greenery on the floating shelves in the kitchen!
The transformed home includes an entertainer’s kitchen, two classic marble-clad bathrooms, a powder room and laundry, new bi-fold doors and windows and an updated master bedroom and walk-in robe. There are myriad details throughout that reference the home’s Italianate style – decorative finishes and the restoration of ornate cornices, windows and doorway details are just some of them.
Master bedroom
The heart of the home (the family are enthusiastic entertainers), the kitchen, is what caught our eye. We love how the floating shelves allow for the display of plants and other special objects – the layered effect is particularly inviting. “The solid-blackbutt floating timber shelves in the kitchen add just the right amount of warmth that the highly used common area needs,” says Melissa.
Kitchen
The kitchen also boasts a host of clever design elements including custom made sections for spices, sectioned cupboards for cooking trays, and a built in bar area (which contains an integrated bar fridge, pull out liquor drawer and wine storage) making it the perfect entertaining hub.
Small bathrooms, including ensuites and powder rooms, present their own specific ventilation challenges – mainly because they usually lack windows. This leads to a host of problems including a build-up of condensation, mildew and stale air that is not only unpleasant but may damage your bathroom fixtures too.
Melbourne-based company IXL develop heat, light and ventilation products for any sized bathroom, presented in a smart, contemporary package. They also have a great online tool that helps you ascertain the best solution for your space. You can calculate your extraction requirements in two easy steps by choosing the type of room and its dimensions.
IXL Tastic Neo Vent n Lite
As for the IXL range, their Tastic 3-in-1 model not only eliminates shower steam but it features heat lamps too. The brand’s Tastic Neo Vent n Lite is perfect for small spaces as it combines three 7W LED directional downlights with a powerful 170mm fan that boasts an impressive exhaust capacity of 360 m3/h.
Perfect for renovators, Granite Transformations has a long history of fuss-free makeovers. Their range installs easily over existing kitchen benchtops and splash backs meaning costly and time-consuming demolition can be avoided.
Kitchen bench and splash back in Carrara
Responding to consumer tastes, the company has just released an on-trend marble collection and while it looks like the real thing it’s actually an engineered stone, making it non-porous, heat, scratch, stain and impact resistant.
Kitchen bench and splash back in Calacatta
The super serviceable marble range includes four designs: Calacatta, Carrara, Portland White and our favourite, Statuario (a refined yet statement grey vein on a cool white background).
Statuario
With slabs that are just 6.5mm thick, your bathroom or kitchen can be renovated in as little as one day by simply laying it over the top.
There’s nothing we like more than a swift, cost-effective reno. Click here for more.
The old adage ‘less is more’ certainly comes to mind with Raymor’s fresh new range of bathroom wares that combine clean, modern lines with subtle curves and smart design solutions for compact bathing spaces.
And it was this simple, unfettered design that inspired an organic themed bathroom with timber-look tiles and a large, living green wall as its eye-catching feature.
The timber tiles and green feature wall called for simple bathroom fixtures and fittings so as not to overwhelm the space – exactly where Raymor’s new range fits in.
The wall hung Wentworth vanity features a crisp white ceramic top and gloss white polyurethane cabinetry. Minimal bevel grip finger pulls and soft close drawers complete the look and make it just as beautiful to use. And while it looks compact in size, the Jamaica bath has added depth for full body immersion – an indulgent design feature.
The Tanami collection of tap ware features gentle curves and is aptly named as it invokes the simplicity of Japanese design.
But when it comes to a fabulous design solution for a compact space, the Byron wall faced toilet suite really comes up trumps. The concealed cistern makes it the perfect choice for a tiny powder room or small bathroom.
For bathroom renovators, the challenge of sticking to budget whilst achieving the dream interior, can be a real struggle! However, with just a little savvy styling, along with some clever choices in fittings and finishes, your vision can well and truly be realised.
Raymor delivers many smart solutions for bathroom upgrades, including the winning combination (below) of timeless white finishes with sleek chrome fittings and textural warmth.
The perception of space has been maximised by using white tiles, continued across the front of the bath, and sleek white vanity. This has then been softened with the clever use of texture on the tiles and a beautifully distressed timber tile on the floor. Then by introducing a key-line of aqua penny-rounds the space has been given character and a colour cue for accessories and towels.
Essential to the look is the smart choice of tapware and accessories. Moora is a streamlined take on the three-piece basin set with gooseneck spout, geometric handles and a bright chrome finish. The same style of tapware is used for both the bath and the shower – the latter finished with a ceiling mounted Menzies disc shower rose.
The Salt vanity is a deliberately understated look so as to provide maximum storage capacity while not cluttering the visual space of the room. Feature rich, it is a 900mm wide floor standing model, all white with integrated basin and three drawers and a cupboard with soft close drawers and door.
The Jamaica drop-in bath may look compact but its generous dimensions allow complete body submersion. It is deeper than many baths and has moulded reclining lumbar support.
All accessories are from the Raymor Tanami collection that includes double and single towel rails, robe hooks, toothbrush holders and soap dishes and dispensers – plus toilet brushes and toilet roll holder. Each piece is solid brass construction with bright chrome finish.
All Raymor bathroom fittings are available exclusively from Tradelink Plumbing Centres and Northern’s Plumbing Supplies nationally. Visit Tradelink or Raymor for more details.
Nothing signals the beginning of a new year like a good home project! So if you feel like refreshing the look of your bathroom or embarking on a major overhaul, Granite Transformations’ design specialist David Barr has four top tips to assist you in avoiding a costly or lengthy bathroom renovation.
1. Have a budget and stick to it, however build in a 20% buffer. A good rule of thumb is that you shouldn’t spend more than 5% of the value of your home on a bathroom renovation. So if your home is worth $400,000, allow up to $20,000 on a bathroom.
2. It is vital to take measurements of a room and outline space requirements before purchasing and installing any new bathroom products. Be aware of existing fixtures, such as plumbing and electrical outlets, doors and windows.
3. Whatever timeframe you think it will take, double it! Keep in mind a complete bathroom renovation can take up to 18 days including demolition, plumbing, electrical and insulation, whereas a bathroom makeover can be turned around in as little as two days, as often you can re-use existing cabinetry, plumbing and electricals.
4. Move towards simplicity, with contemporary and minimalist design and fixtures. A pristine, uncluttered layout and style, utilising clever storage, will make your bathroom appear spacious and inviting. Maximise space by adding a large mirror to give the appearance of a larger and more open room. Add a focal feature with mosaic tiles in combination with granite or other materials, such as timber and soft furnishings.
For inspiration on Granite Transformations’ range of bathroom makeovers and Trends Surfaces, visit their website.
With the average Australian bathroom renovation costing upwards of $15,000, homeowners are looking for cost-effective ways to refresh their bathroom look without breaking the bank! So to celebrate the new season, Reece are sharing their top three tips for giving your bathroom a simple but significant spring refresh that won’t use up all your hard-earned cash.
1. Colour sets a new tone
A new colour palette in the bathroom can instantly transform the look of a tired space. Take inspiration from the changing colours of the season and make quick upgrades like a fresh set of towels in a new hue to instantly lift the space. Adding or updating bathroom furniture and accessories is another great way to introduce colour and visual interest.
2. Switch it up
One of the easiest and most effective ways to refresh a bathroom is to update fittings like taps and shower heads. By using existing plumbing points, you can keep the cost (and fuss) low while introducing a whole new look. Switching out your old basin mixer or shower head for a more contemporary style will also have a huge impact on your daily ritual. And don’t forget the little details. Updating bathroom accessories like towel rails, toilet roll holders and toothbrush holders is another simple way to bring together your bathroom look as well as adding extra storage.
Get inspired by nature
With the warmer months upon us, bringing the outside in is a quick and easy way to freshen up a space. Whether an arrangement or a single bloom, flowers are a pocket-friendly option that will totally transform the aesthetic. For a more permanent solution, bring your potted plants out of the lounge and into your bathroom, as many plants thrive in humid conditions.
With easy upgrades like new tapware and shower heads, an updated colour scheme and a touch of nature, it’s easy to give your bathroom a fresh, spring-inspired feel. For more bathroom inspiration, trends and tips visit Reece’s website.
