Tag: Ingrain Designs

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Bathrooms House Tours Jen's reno

Interiors Addict bathroom reno 2: what I chose and why

There is so much to share about my recent bathroom reno and I couldn’t possibly fit it all into the reveal post, so I’m sharing a little more detail today, with why I chose the things I did and how those decisions have (thankfully!) worked out really well. Phew!

TILES: In some ways, this is the starting point; the blank canvas! In the 2.5 years of saving up and waiting to do the bathroom, I was sure I’d go for a feature patterned floor, therefore keeping the walls simple. And feature floors certainly only got more popular during that time. But when it came to it, because we were knocking the WC and bathroom together and trying to get so much (i.e. separate shower and 1700mm bath) into a still quite small space, I decided it wouldn’t be the best idea. A simpler floor has, I’m sure, given the illusion of more space. And with the other choices I made, I was very conscious of not having too many heroes (hello gold tapware and hardware, solid timber vanity and big tub!).

In my last bathroom, we used subways but I wanted something a bit different as subways are definitely everywhere! I loved the smaller and uneven look of the tiles we chose and the size makes them a bit different to the more popular larger format wall tiles. So although we went for white tiles with white grout, I felt there was enough texture there for it to still look interesting. And I couldn’t love the end result more! Until the grout went in I was a little worried it was looking like a public toilet, and I did question and re-question the decision to have them stacked rather than laid in a brick pattern. But all’s well that ends well! I also almost went for a feature tile in the niche (probably a pastel coloured version of the same tile) but with the brass trim on those, I felt that was enough. Restraint is hard though, let me tell you!

I knew I wanted something matte and simple for the floor and I love these (they’re more greige than grey although the name of them is grey). So far, they’re hiding dirt and a variety of hair colours very well! They also dry quickly which is a consideration with an open shower.

My selections

Floor tile: Noosa Matt Travertine Look Grey tile from TileCloud

Wall tile: Avalon Gloss Large Square White Tile from TileCloud

TILE TRIM: Probably one of the cheapest things in the bathroom, but one that gets a heap of comments and compliments, is the brass tile trim, which I found online. It caused me a fair bit of angst because although chrome would never have worked, it was quite a brave choice and I knew it wouldn’t match perfectly with the tapware. But white wouldn’t have looked half as good! And without a feature tile in the niches, they needed this little je ne sais quoi!

I’m totally okay with the two golds not being exactly the same too!

My selection:

L Angle brass trim from Tile Stone Paver

BATH: I cannot rave enough about this bath! I have always been against squashing a freestanding bath into a small space because I don’t think it looks great visually, not to mention the issue of cleaning behind it. So when I started to see a few of these back-to-wall or D-shape baths on the market I knew straightaway this was my perfect solution! So while it is technically freestanding, it is right up against the wall on one side.

We had a hob bath in my last bathroom which we tiled up the side of and I didn’t like how many right angles there were! Here I love that we have the curve of a freestanding tub without it really being one. It definitely adds to the sense of space as well. And a curve is always a good thing in a room full of squares and rectangles, which a bathroom usually is by default.

So there’s technically still a gap at this end to clean around, but you can’t have it all when you’re working with a tight space!

Regular readers will know I love my baths and have a soak almost every single night, summer or winter! I really wanted to have a decent sized bath if we could manage to fit it. And this one is so deep and amazing! The good thing about a deep bath is that you can lie back against it, without your head being above the top of it. It’s like a bedhead in the bath, if that makes sense! We switched out the waste it came with for a tiger bronze one from Meir to match the taps and shower.

My selection:

Eden Freestanding 1700mm Bath from Highgrove Bathrooms

VANITY: After getting custom blackbutt solid timber vanities from Ingrain Designs in our last bathroom, I didn’t even consider getting the vanity for this room from anywhere else! But while blackbutt is quite a statement, knotty timber, I wanted something more subtle here so we went for reclaimed Tassie oak (more on this in a future blog post).

The clever and stunning handle-free design of the vanity was a very easy choice! And the matching shaving cabinet above is a larger version of what we had in the old place and has so much storage (seriously, we must have increased our storage ten-fold from the old bathroom) it makes me very happy! And yes, all our regular toiletries live in here while only the fancy stuff is allowed in the bath and shoer niches. We’ll see how long this rule lasts…

I knew the timber would warm up the all-white space and work beautifully with the warm tones of the tapware and other hardware. It’s a real showstopper!

My selections:

Vanity: V1 Bathroom Vanity from Ingrain Designs (available in a choice of timbers and sizes)

Mirror cabinet: Mirror Mirror from Ingrain Designs

TAPWARE &  SHOWER: This was one of the easier choices because I’d already used a Meir tiger bronze tap in my kitchen and I love it! And as well as wanting to make the bathroom somewhat consistent with the kitchen, I was always going to choose gold! If you’ve seen the rest of our home, that will be obvious!

My selections:

Meir Tiger Bronze round wall mixers, round combination shower rail, round curved spouts, round toilet roll holder, bath popup waste, square floor grate and robe hooks (instead of towel rails).

TOILET: I’ve never cared much for fancy toilets or putting much thought into which one I’d like, but that changed with this bathroom. Bringing the WC and bathroom together meant, obviously, having a loo in the bathroom. and because space was tight it ended up right next to the bath and there was no space for a nib wall or anything like that to disguise it (although it is behind the door, so when the door’s open and you walk past, you don’t see the toilet).

This wall hung one not only adds to the sense of space, but it is so simple and compact, it just blends in. And you don’t really want to make a feature of your toilet! The white glass flush plate also adds to the streamlined and subtle look. I can’t believe how excited I got about this toilet with its in-wall cistern! Who knew?! And it’s a Philippe Starck collaboration. What more can I say?!

My selection:

Duravit ME by Starck Wall Mounted Toilet from Bathe

Viega Visign white glass flush plate from Bathe

Viega Eco Plus in wall cistern from Bathe

BASIN: I love a lot about this basin, from its generous size to its white ceramic waste (so sleek) to its beautiful and simple curved shape (see above under bath choice regarding curves!). I also learnt from my last bathroom reno that it would be best to right align rather than centre it, giving more useable space to the left side. It’s a large sink (600mm wide) but it works perfectly on the 1200mm vanity. You can’t go wrong with an established brand like Duravit and once I told the staff at Bathe what I was after, they helpfully shortlisted a few for me and it was love at first sight!

My selection:

Duravit Luv Washbowl 600x400mm from Bathe

I have so much more to share about choosing and working with our builder, our electrical choices (mostly fancy lighting!), getting the floorplan right from the start, but I’ll leave it here for today! I hope you find this useful!

This bathroom before & after

More of our home reno

Photography: Jacqui Turk

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Bathrooms Designers Expert Tips Furniture

Dispelling the myths – the affordability of custom furniture

With increased concern for the environment, many consumers are looking to more sustainable options when it comes to furniture and, while custom furniture has long been associated with a hefty price tag, there is a new generation of Australian designers and makers who are challenging that perception.

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Ingrain Designs

“Custom made is more affordable in the long run and people are cottoning on to the longevity you get out of a custom piece,” says Ben Purchase of Melbourne’s Ingrain Designs, who highlights the environmental impact of buying mass-produced, ‘fast furniture.’ “We’ve seen a rise of handmade and a growing concern for the environment. We’re more conscious now of where our furniture is coming from: how it was made, what it’s made out of and who made it,” says Ben.

Blackwood vanity

Ingrain Designs’ floating bathroom vanity

“Instead of buying several pieces of furniture over a period of time, you can have that one custom piece in your home, completely customised to your style and specifications, that is built to last and will stand the test of time,” says Ben, who designs and creates a range of custom made furniture from his Collingwood showroom including dining tables, coffee tables, TV units, floating bathroom vanities, bar stools and mirrored timber storage units.

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Ingrain Designs

And aside from environmental considerations, there is something beautiful in the bespoke. “I think people are also moving towards custom made to create statement, keepsake pieces that can be shared with generations to come. Dining tables, for example, are one of the largest pieces of furniture in the home and bring together family and friends to be entertained at, feast around and create memories together. And there’s a story and talking point that comes with that table too – from where the timber was sourced to the natural grain within the timber itself.” Ben regularly uses recycled timber to create his designs. “In Australia, we’re lucky to have access to an incredible variety of local and recycled timbers and wholesalers, such as Whelan Warehouse and Urban Salvage. Their range means we can find a timber variety to suit a variety of budgets.”

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Ingrain Designs custom dining table

“Everything we make is custom made. So people can walk in and completely adapt a design based on their dimensions, desired timber type (lighter or darker toned boards) and configurations (e.g. how many drawers, doors), or we can work with customers to design something completely different. And we love the creativity and flexibility that gives us,” says Ben.

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Ingrain Designs’ floating bathroom vanity

Ben’s top tips for commissioning furniture:

  1. The biggest tip is having an idea, even the smallest idea, of the style you want. This really helps a maker with the quoting and design process.
  1. Always have your dimensions worked out. Whether that is the size of the room or the space you have to work with.
  1. Research makers and what their strengths are. This will make sure they’re a good fit for the style and look you’re after.
  1. Give yourself enough time. Be mindful that our lead time allows for sourcing and ordering timber, hand making each and every piece, and delivery.
  1. Ask questions. You’ll be surprised at the variety of things we can create for your home, office or business. If it’s made from recycled timber, we’ve either made it or can make it.

Ingrain Designs showroom

You can visit Ingrain Designs at their new Collingwood showroom

Check out Ingrain Designs here.

Photography: Shannyn Higgins Photography

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Furniture Interviews The Block

Josh and Charlotte’s builder Ben Purchase on what The Block’s really like!

You hear a lot about the contestants on The Block: the grueling hours, the late nights, the missed sleep… but what about the trades who are right there next to them every step of the way? The ones that get all the tough times but none of the glory!

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Ben. Photo credit: Shannyn Higgins Photography

Ben Purchase from Ingrain Designs is one such trade. As Josh and Charlotte’s builder and timber furniture maker he looked after the build of the townhouse and custom-made all the timber pieces from recycled Western Australian Marri. And while he admits it was definitely harder than he expected, he has no regrets for getting involved. “Josh and Charlotte were great fun and that made it easier as we were up at all hours with them. From the start, they created a team atmosphere and made all the trades feel included and part of the whole experience. The two of them really are exactly what you see on the show – fun, super lovely and incredibly hard-working. I cannot wish them any more luck for the auction!”

Josh and Charlotte's living room
Josh and Charlotte’s living room

[contextly_sidebar id=”wWiizBW1nIdrAJXz8XkaEX7UMoWiYlkg”]With Josh and Charlotte wanting real timber (rather than veneer or fake timber floors), Ben and his team were given a great amount of artistic freedom. Making a dining table, floating bathroom vanity, entertainment unit, bedside tables, study desk, cabinetry, and The Block’s first ever hardwood floors, Ben loved how they were able to use timber to create something unique. “Together with Josh and Charlotte we wanted to do something different and show people something they hadn’t seen before. So we created our pieces using recycled WA Marri timber, which doesn’t get used much on the east coast. Our timber pieces added warmth where needed and gave a sense of ‘real’ materials being used. They also worked so well featured alongside the products Charlotte had purchased from top stores and designers across Melbourne.”

Josh and Charlotte's dining room
Josh and Charlotte’s dining room

With so many custom makes it’s a challenge to pick a favourite, but for Ben, it’s actually the more subtle pieces that he keeps coming back to. “You might think I’d say the bathroom vanity or TV entertainment unit because they were standouts, but I really loved the floating bedsides and shelves used in the second bedroom. That room is my favourite. It has an amazing feel in there and the bedsides and shelves helped give the room a sense of warmth. They also helped fill out the Venetian plastered wall that had the huge black and blue artwork. Sometimes it’s the little things I guess!”

Josh and Charlotte's second bedroom
Josh and Charlotte’s second bedroom

With his Block journey now over, Ben can only look back at the experience fondly, if not a bit wearily! “What you see on the television is only a small part of the hard work and long hours involved. Over the stair and terrace weeks, my dad and I put in over 150 hours each. The sheer amount of work involved is staggering and you wonder how you’ll get through it, but luckily our trades all worked so well together.”

For more on Ben and Ingrain Designs visit their website. And remember to tune in tonight for The Block auction!