Getting started on a new bathroom? Our bathrooms are highly practical spaces that also may offer sanctuary, refresh our anatomies and spirits and express our personalities. Bathrooms are second only to kitchens in being high investment and high value spaces inside our homes.
Planning these spaces is both fun and challenging. We want to make the the majority of the square metres available to us, incorporate good product choices and thoughtful design features, and execute our plan with quality craftsmanship to guarantee the space is constantly on the work well, be easy to clean and look great well into the future. This is the first of a three-part Bathroom Design Series aimed at helping you through this process. For starters, here’s some of the broader aspects to take into account for a newly purchased bathroom:
PRACTICALITIES AND PLANNING
Budget – costs to build and renovate in mid-COVID NZ are growing before our eyes, yet renovating rather than moving remains a favourable choice for many. Whilst the fluidity available in the market makes it harder to accurately anticipate costs, it is still a worthwhile exercise setting some spend parameters and check those against other’s real life and recent experience. Look at case studies, ask your friends.
Plumbing – before going too much, understand the opportunities or limitations with your unique property’s plumbing. You could or might not have the ability to move fittings too much from where they are currently or changes could add more cost than the budget allows.
Water Pressure – your property will have either a low/unequal or mains pressure water system and it’s worth knowing which before you select your tapware. A sign that your pressure system is low/unequal is if your cold water flow is higher than your hot and if this is actually the case, choose tap ware that equalises the flow.
Your brief – designing for who will use this space and what other bathroom facilities are in the home will be at the core of your final decision making. The only real Bathroom Renovations Geelong for a busy family will have quite different priorities to a master bedroom ensuite. Be clear in what purpose this room will serve and your guiding principles could keep you to normal.
LAYOUT
Space planning is most beneficial when it’s done alongside a knowledge of desirable key features. Not only do you want your layout to help make the almost all of floor space and create a well flowing, open feeling space, additionally you need it to create opportunities for design features that add additional utility and make it feel special, for example, a well a positioned storage and display ledge, the perfect wall for a feature tile or place for a mirror that maximises day light.
Incorporating natural light will make a room look and feel more open. To allow light flow whilst maintaining privacy consider clerestory windows, skylights, patterned or frosted glass or louvres. Windows also help with ventilation, alongside mechanical extractors.
Layout of a tiny space can be tricky no manner of expensive fittings or finishes will fix a carelessly organized bathroom. Generally speaking it is considered poor to open your bathroom door and face the loo, your shower is tall and really should be placed in order to not block visual or physical flow therefore you want to be able to move freely around your vanity and easily access storage. You should have your own pet peeves and lessons learned from other’s mistakes so set yourself up with your room and key features to scale… or provide a specialist a call.
BUILDING CONSENT
Increasing the number of sanitary fixtures in your bathrooms or installing a tiled wet area shower are two activities that definitely require local council consent and a couple of drawings to facilitate that process. For anyone who is uncertain if your bathroom renovation is exempt or requires consent, you could start with this link: https://buildit.govt.nz
WATER SAVING
Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS) labels are displayed on services and supplies information on water consumption and efficiency. Each product label displays a star rating out of six with more stars indicating greater water efficiency. Labels also provide litres per minute (for showers and taps) or per wash or per flush so you can compare between products in more detail. Aerators and flow regulators to lessen the volume of water used can be fitted in mixer taps also.In additional to thoughtful product choices, your plumbing system can be create with water efficiency in your mind. Installing a pressure limiting valve, flow restrictors, and minimising pipe runs from water heating appliances to high demand parts of the home are all things you can discuss with your plumber to find out if efficiency gains can be made with your renovation.
