Welcome to my monthly recommendations list. This month we spotlight Madu Living, Robert Gordon Interiors and designer Naomi Mclean as well as some renovation advice.
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
Buyer Beware: The best way to save yourself money during a bathroom renovation is to buy all your own fittings. These are parts of a renovation you can control, checking out specials and even picking up items off marketplace.
The downside of this and the reason most people don’t buy their items for full renovations is the person who buys them will be responsible for all the warranties.
This means if you have a fault with your tap, a discolouration or something doesn’t look right with an item often the renovator can’t really help you.
It becomes an issue you have to deal with the stores directly which might not be ideal.
The other part is purchasing tiles, if you run short of tiles it can be a nightmare if you can’t get any more but again if you buy them it falls on you. If you go through a bathroom renovator they are responsible for shortage or running around getting new ones. Giving you peace of mind.
To summarise you will definitely save money buying your own items but be aware of the responsibility.
Never Tile Over Existing Bathroom Tiles: If you are thinking of tiling over tiles in a bathroom don’t do it.
My dad used to say bathroom renovations were 90% preparation. If you can’t get the preparation right the issues you have will compound during the renovation and beyond.
How this relates to tiling over tiles is down to the fact you often have no idea what you are tiling over. For all you know the tiles below have no waterproofing or/and slowly pulling away from the floor and creating a hollow weak base between the tiles and the surface.
If it’s purely to sell in the immediate future why not but if it’s something for long-term use you are risking doing it again in the near future.
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.
Naomi Mclean @designbynaomimclean
I discovered Naomi’s work when I was looking for a full wall finger mosaic example and came across the Hawdon Street Project she impressively designed and I followed along since.
Working as the Senior Interior Designer at MJ Harris Group you will see all her amazing designs over the internet and not even realise they were hers.
Below are some of the images which are just a fraction of some great work but make sure to also explore her Instagram Here or MJ Harris Group’s amazing website HERE.
I personally love the little details like this curved half-wall finish below, it’s minor but impactful.
Trending and Must-Have Bathroom Products
Below are two suppliers to check out that lean into a more organic and natural-feeling bathroom product.
Madu Living has an excellent range of handcrafted baths and basins that are not only easy to maintain but create a feeling of luxury in any bathroom space.
Why I Like The Product
Terrazzo-look tiles are the hottest tile in all bathroom renovations so how can you not want to expand on that.
Different but timeless is very difficult to create in modern-day bathrooms and I believe these terrazzo products will provide you with just that.
- Address: 25/388 Newman Road, Geebung, QLD
- Website: www.maduliving.com.au
Discount Offer – For a limited time only Madu Living is offering readers 20% off at check out with the discount code bathroom20
Designed and handmade in Australia. Each original basin and light will vary slightly making it feel unique.
Why I Like The Product
These basins are made from high-fired, fully vitrified stoneware. This means, unlike concrete basins, you do not need to be concerned about concrete sealers, waxing or cleaning products made to order just for you which is how I would describe the entire process.
The first two images are from our recent project in City Beach we completed using this fantastic product
Alongside their wonderful basins, they also create one of kind lights
- Address: 114 Mulcahy Rd Pakenham VIC
- Website: www.robertgordoninteriors.com.au
First-Time Renovator Recommendations
Suppose you have never renovated before, and 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.
Selecting A Freestanding Bath (ATS Tiles and Bathrooms)
ATS are not only a fantastic bathroom product store they have one of the best examples of freestanding baths I have seen online.
How this is really useful for first-time renovators who have bathrooms of the smaller size are the examples they show.
Using taller and smaller models sitting in their baths helps us unimaginative people see how they would roughly fit in these baths giving us scale.
It sounds simple but can take the worry out of selecting something you haven’t seen or can’t get to.
Below are a few examples from their website, but click HERE to check the awesome site out yourself.
One Shower Screen To Avoid (Pre Made Fully Frameless Pivot Door)
From our experience, the number one screen you want to try and avoid installing in your bathroom is the PRE-MADE FULLY FRAMELESS PIVOT DOOR shower screen.
This is from our experience and other installers we have spoken to. The big reason is you are trying to install a completely square product against tiled walls which won’t be.
These fully frameless screens ideally should be custom made as when you install a pre-made size between newly tiled walls you need to use a ton of silicon to even out the squareness.
It is hard to explain but something you should bring up to your renovator about using beforehand.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, you have enjoyed reading our 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.
