OTB Recommendations

October 9, 2024

Welcome to a passion project of mine and hopefully a monthly tool that will best help bathroom renovators get the most out of their spaces. My name is Jim and I hate long posts, so I will always do my best to keep everything as short as possible, emphasising pretty pictures and links that get to the point.

Below are the 4 sections that I will cover every month that will direct you to helpful content.

2 Honest Renovation Tips
Designer Corner
Trending Bathroom Products I Love
First-Time Renovators Section

2 Honest Renovation Tips From Experience

Never Do Partial Renovations: I am personally not a fan of partial renovations and a big believer that they are a waste of money. Two things often happen when you partially renovate a bathroom, it either makes everything that is staying look old or that simple vanity install/tile change snowballs into a much more costly exercise.

Think of it like this are you more likely to notice the nice new white vanity or the now off-white/yellow-looking tiles around it?

If all you can afford is to change something partially I completely understand work to your needs

However, ask yourself if you are planning a full renovation soon and if so is the partial renovation something that will be in the new bathroom or will be thrown out in the end anyway?

Below is the classic example we came across from a renovation we did. The before image is the house the owner just bought where the previous owners only just installed this new white vanity. The second image is the renovation we did to it after completely removing everything and replacing it.

Buy 20% Wastage For Tiles: The worst feeling in the world is running short of tiles when you have almost finished a bathroom. The sense of panic and stress will come over you thinking you will never be able to match them and start all over again. To avoid this feeling always firstly ask if they have plenty of stock and secondly just get 20% extra. Worst case scenario you have an extra box or two but it will save you from that stress and give you spares for any emergency.

Designer Corner

Designers are the perfect people for anyone who needs that helping hand but does not know where to start with their design or how to finish what is in their heads. They are my recommendation for anyone who is renovating multiple areas in a house or creating a new build. Often it can be overwhelming putting all these ideas together yourself and for the cost, designers are massively helpful in making dreams come true.

That is why every month I will be highlighting designers to hopefully help you find a designer that matches your style or at the very least guide you in the right direction.

Oak and Orange are this month’s designer corner selection for the simple reason of how their gorgeous work translates to everyday renovators or homeowners.

Coastal Luxe or Modern Farmhouse are styles I am sent 20 times a day, Heather and Sarah have got you covered with creations that not only feel relaxing but are never boring which is very hard to pull off trust me.

Below are some quick links and reasons from their site to check them out.

Check out these stunning projects they have created that I personally love.

Using wall panelling in a bathroom is one thing but using a darker tone is even harder to make work but here it is.

Combining a mudroom and laundry can be tricky but the tones, that dark timber and the basket weave splashback all combined beautifully.

Finally, if you are going to have an open shower and it is the first thing you see then having a mosaic like this will give the bathroom depth and a powerful finish.

If you are looking for something unique and practical for your new bathroom creation below are some stores you need to check out.

Granite Lane – Mirrors

Looking for a one-stop shop and easy-to-follow website look no further than the brilliant interior styling site of Granite Lane. I love their bathroom mirrors which I will cover below but the entire site is a must for whole-house renovators or new homes looking for bespoke and high quality.

Why I Like The Product

These mirrors are some of the top mirrors you could install in your bathroom. Not just from a look point of view, but the quality is the highest for bathrooms due to their lack of wood or MDF components, which means they won’t swell over time.

Address: 6/408 Scarborough Beach Rd, Osborne Park WA
Website: www.granitelane.com.au

The Basin Lab – Illuminated Bathware

Individuality is massive in bathroom creations at the moment and The Basin Lab is the best match for bathroom renovators and designers looking for that high-quality unique product.

Why I Like The Product – it’s virtually indestructible, low-maintenance, and sustainable, designed to last a lifetime. If you are looking for something that gives your bathroom some personality while also installing a product designed for high-traffic use this is perfect.

The matching mirror designs allow you for an easy pairing while also giving you substantial face lighting.

Address: Unit 3/16 Hutchinson St, Burleigh Heads QLD
Website: https://thebasinlab.com/

First-Time Renovator Recommendations

If you have never renovated before it can be super stressful. You get told 5 different ideas from 5 different trades and you still don’t know what’s right or wrong. My aim below is to provide just a few simple ideas to make the process of renovating your first bathroom a little easier.

First with a helpful link and the other with some honest advice.

What Tiles Go With My Style (Free Styling Ideas)

Tile Cloud are fantastic for tiles but they are equally inspiring for first-time bathroom creators with their Tile Style Quiz.

Key features:

Takes about 30 seconds to find your style and match with the perfect tiles
Creates in real-time flat lays with matching tapware styles

OTB x Heytesbury – Newport Matte Sage Small Square (Tile Cloud)

If you like many people are incision how your tile combination will look I advise you to take the quiz. You will instantly be pushed in the right direction or at the very least realise what you do not like.

Do I Need A Bath For Resale? (Bathroom Advice)

Take this scenario onboard, you are a family of 4 in a house with one bathroom and no one uses the small bricked bath.

This is the most common scenario someone will tell me and then ask if should I keep the bath for resale.

My advice is this, no! do not keep a bath for resale if you do not use it and it’s for a simple reason. I am a big believer in it’s your money, your time and your house if you do not use a bath or want a bath do not have it you have no idea what the next person will want or how long you will even be in the house.

The next image you will see is the classic bathroom layout 2.5m x 1.8 with a removed bath changed to a walk-in shower with a vanity.

So why have an item that hinders your dream, now if the room is massive and you can’t really fill the space with anything else then definitely keep a bath.

Finally always think about how you use a space before you renovate it’s the best advice I can give you.

I consulted real estate agent Tom Orton from Sovereign Property Solutions who added this note to the debate

“In this hot market, potential buyers are less interested in whether a property has a bath and more focused on how to add another toilet or even change a laundry to another bathroom. It is all about getting the most out of these smaller more expensive homes not bath-focused”

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, you have enjoyed reading our first monthly recommendations please follow along on our brand new Instagram page OTB Recommends HERE for the latest updates and get the latest in trending bathroom products, giveaways and constant bathroom advice.

As always it’s important to remember all advice is general in nature and it’s best to speak to your local professional.

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For More Inspiration For Renovating Your Bathroom Visit:

Our Main Instagram: Click Here

Before and After Albums: Click Here

High-resolution examples of all projects: Click Here

Have a bathroom product you would love to recommend? Or a fantastic designer we should check out then just send us an email at otbrecomends@gmail.com with any and all suggestions.