The bathroom is where you start and finish your day, a space where you are calm and collected ready to take on the day, yet also settle down after a big day, so it is extremely important that you make it the perfect space for YOU!
However, when it comes to renovating a bathroom, it can be a bit of an overwhelming experience. There are so many options to consider when it comes to design, functionality, practicality and the overall aesthetic of the space. With so many things to think about, here are the answers to 6 common questions that get asked during the bathroom renovation process:
Do I have to have a bath?
The answer is simple. If you enjoy unwinding and soaking away your stress in a nice warm bath, then a bathtub would be high on your “must-have” bathroom renovation list.
If you have small children, bath time is a given. If you are in your forever home, make your bathroom practical and functional for your situation.
Showers with a handheld showerhead are also something to consider if you have smaller children when a bathtub is not an option. However, if you are renovating for a resale purpose, a bathroom with a bathtub will open your sale to a larger group of potential buyers.
Freestanding Bath vs Built-in – What are the pros and cons?
Freestanding baths are currently a modern bathroom trend and offer a luxurious feel to a bathroom installation and are often used as a bit of a show-stopping feature. They don’t need wall support, so can be placed anywhere in the bathroom, however, if away from the wall, you must make sure that a floor-mounted spout is a viable option. Freestanding baths work well in bathroom renovations on the larger side but depending on your layout they can be used in smaller spaces too.
One of the biggest things to consider when thinking about a freestanding bath is ensuring it is far enough from the wall to allow for easy cleaning. An allowance minimum of 80mm from adjacent walls should be sufficient for cleaning accessibility. If you like the look of a freestanding bath but are limited on space, a back-to-wall freestanding bath might be another option to achieve a similar look in a smaller bathroom renovation.
A built-in (or inset) bath is built into a hob that holds the tub and is then tiled around the outside. In smaller bathroom installations, built-in baths are usually combined with showers to offer both options in a tight space. The surrounding ledge of a built-in bath works well, as it offers easy access to children and works as a handy ledge for parents bathing toddlers. The ledge can also work well for the storage of soaps and accessories if a niche or caddy is not available. Built-in baths are very easy to clean as there is nowhere for dust and grime to hide. The placement of a built-in bath is not flexible though and will often need to be placed in the corners of the modern bathroom design.
Open Shower vs Framed Shower –What are the pros and cons?
Open showers look amazing and usually consist of a single frameless glass divider, visually enlarging the bathroom space. An open shower looks great in any sized bathroom renovation and the ease of access in and out is very appealing.
Open showers have fewer corners for water and grime to accumulate, so are very easy to keep clean. Being so open, the heat of a hot shower is impossible to keep contained and the steam tends to circulate the entire bathroom, so good ventilation is a must.
While framed showers may seem to be dated, they now are available in different colour options e.g matte black which makes the bathroom design a little more contemporary. They are also very budget-friendly when compared to a frameless shower option.
Framed showers will keep water spray contained within your shower space, so no need to worry about excessive water on your bathroom floor. However, this enclosed space does tend to get more dirt and mould build-up and cleaning can be a chore.
Single or double vanity?
When choosing your vanity, really think about how your bathroom space gets used currently. What space do you have available and how many people are using the bathroom?
If you already have a single vanity in your bathroom, replacing it with a single vanity makes sense if you are on a strict budget. Upgrading to a double vanity means additional basin fittings and plumbing, which equals additional cost. A single vanity also offers more bench space and one set of plumbing means extra clear cabinetry space to use. If you have a large bathroom though, a single vanity may not make sense and the empty space may leave your bathroom looking incomplete.
A double vanity – while seen as a luxurious expense – has a practical and functional benefit for busy households. A double vanity means you can easily use the bathroom at the same time as someone else without the hassle of getting in each other’s way. Even though it offers less bench space, overall this means less benchtop clutter in your modern bathroom design, with most things having to be stored away in the cabinetry.
In-wall cistern for toilet –What are the pros and cons?
In-wall cisterns can transform the look of your bathroom installation. The compact design gives a more contemporary feel and the illusion of more space. Not only that, it is more of a hygienic option, as the cistern or tank which normally is a store hold for dust and bacteria is now hidden. This also makes it super quick and easy to clean. Plus, the push plates are available in a variety of finishes making them easy to match with your tapware.
When a problem arises with an in-wall cistern, however, it can be quite difficult to fix the issue. With tiled walls, it is hard to access the cistern which can increase the repair costs.
Also, in the case of any water issues, the cistern cannot be re-filled with water. If you purchase a wall-mounted toilet with an in-wall cistern, it will require a specific toilet pan that can manage the weight of the person using the toilet and installation of the bowl will encounter additional labour costs to the bathroom installation.
Ledge / Hob Wall vs NicheWhat are the pros and cons?
We are starting to see ledge/hob walls pop up quite a bit in bathroom renovation ideas and feel this is one of the current trends for 2021.
A ledge/hob wall is basically a tiled shower ledge, which is a half-height wall built into your shower. Like a niche, this is used as a streamlined and practical way to store your most used bathroom products. A ledge lends itself to lots of different modern bathroom designs and can be used as a seamless inclusion to your bathroom space or tiled with a feature tile to create some wow factor.
As opposed to a niche, a ledge does not have a topside meaning you are not restricted by the size of your shampoo bottles. If your bathroom allows, a ledge can be continued behind your bath or even incorporated into your vanity for extra storage space. A shower ledge will encroach slightly on your overall shower space, so if you are limited on room, a niche may be the way to go.
When you think of a niche, you picture an in-built rectangle with a contrasting feature tile. These days though, we are seeing more of a seamless look with only the one tile being used. This is a good way of keeping your look in date. Depending on your tile choice though, keeping things all lined up in your niche can be quite tricky when using the same tile throughout. A niche is a great practical shower storage solution as it does not require any additional shower space and aesthetically it is much better than a hanging shower caddy! A common niche size is 600mm x 300mm but given you have the space, can be any size really.
Start Your Sydney Bathroom Renovation with Novalé
Novalé Bathrooms are dedicated to delivering dreams for our customers on time, within budget and to specifications. Our very satisfied customers enjoy a stress-free bathroom renovation experience, where they are guided through the process from start to finish, by experts who are intent on fulfilling their dream. If you are planning on renovating your bathroom and have any further questions, the experienced Novalé team can help answer them and guide you on your journey of bringing your dream bathroom to life.
No matter if you are looking for bathroom renovators for a large bathroom in Alexandria, or a small bathroom renovation in Coogee, Novalé’s highly experienced teams are available to help you produce a beautiful and highly functional modern bathroom design in the City of Sydney.
When beginning research on bathroom renovators for your modern bathroom design and renovation project, consider including Novalé Bathrooms in your shortlist. We offer bathroom renovations in Manly to bathroom renovations in Parramatta, as well as Bathroom Renovations across Sydney and all the way to bathroom renovations in the Central Coast and Newcastle. For a complete list of the Areas We Service, see here.
Our teams are ready to start building you a fantastic modern bathroom design. We implement a unique 4 step bathroom renovation process, and we encourage potential customers to read the 12 reasons to choose Novalé. Additionally, you can read our testimonials and reviews to learn about the experience others have had to renovate with Novalé. For more information on how we transform your bathroom, please get in contact with the Novalé team on 1800 NOVALÉ.
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