My Forever Home

 In this episode of the Your Forever Home Podcast, part of the Bathroom Design Essentials Season, Frances outlines some of the major mistakes she sees people make when designing their bathroom. Expensive mistakes that can be avoided, which she outlines in this episode, so you’re not having to live with a less than desirable outcome. This is a must listen if you’re designing your bathroom. SHOWNOTES    Major mistakes:  No Internal Elevations  Homeowners often feel they don’t need internal elevations for their bathroom design, as they feel they can easily instruct the cabinet maker or builder in this area. This can unfortunately lead to lots of (avoidable) issues on siteand ultimately lead to miscommunication and a less than ideal outcome.  Benefits of Internal Elevations:  Provides a clear roadmap for your builder.  Allows your builder to give you an accurate quote.  It shows your cabinetry design and fittings.  You can view everything before it is built, which allows you to make changes and discuss things with your family during the early stages.  Freestanding bath not suitable for the space  Adding a freestanding bath that is not suitable for the space is a design compromise. Not only that, but it makes cleaning difficult as it would be hard to reach in behind the bath. . It also needs adequate space between the wall and the bath to give the aesthetic look that a freestanding bath needs. Freestanding baths are also expensive to retrofit because they cost more than a standard bath.   Inadequate storage  Towels, shampoo bottles, toothbrushes, toilet rolls- you’ll need to find room for all of these things if you haven’t allowed for adequate storage in your bathroom. Don’t compromise storage over aesthetic in your bathroom.   Determine what you need to store.  Then work out your storage requirements.   Don’t underestimate eye height storage   Lack of adequate task lighting  Consider having task lighting as well as downlights in your bathroom. This will be helpful when you are getting ready in the morning or at night.  It is benefitial to have multiple light sources to meet your requirements and also the ability to dial up or dim down as you need to.   Tile Layout  A shower niche that does not match the tile layout.   If there are other tiles at the doorway, it needs to marry up with the tiles in the bathroom so the look is seamless.   No Ventilation  It is important to have a window that opens in the bathroom. You need to allow the moisture to escape and fresh air to come in.   Toilet Position  Avoid placing the toilet in front of your bathroom door. If possible, try to tuck your toilet around the back of the door, or to the side. Toilets are expensive to move, but when you are building a new house it’s worth the investment to get an internal elevation as it will help you get the design right – from the start.    Mixer inside the shower   Consider placing the mixer at the side instead of having it right next to the shower rail so you don’t get wet turning it on.   Window treatments  Spending a lot of money on window treatments without considering moisture resistant properties and accessibility.   Natural Light  Consider introducing natural lighting by adding a window at eye height. If it’s not possible, you might want to opt for the following:  Skylight- Make sure that it actually opens , and that it has also a blind that can block the sun during the summer.   Highlight window    Links mentioned in the Podcast   Episode 45: Kitchen Design Essentials - Internal Elevations & Joinery Design   Why Internal Elevation are Critical for Your Home Blog  Services   Book a Chat       If you’re thinking about renovating or creating a new bathroom, I would love to hear from you. You can contact me by booking a 15 minute chat here.       Join the “Renovating and Building your Forever Home” Facebook Group       Want to be inspired to create a home you truly love? One that is ‘future proof’ and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.          

In this episode of the Bathroom Design Essentials Season, Frances welcomes back Cathryn Matchett and Trisha Narde from Reece Bathroom Life. Together they discuss all there is to know about choosing the right toilet. There is a lot more the buying a toilet than you may think, like height, pan type, rimless design and self cleaning. There is plenty to learn in this episode so you can select a toilet that will right for your home.   SHOWNOTES  Toilets   Different types of toilets  Back to Wall  The cistern is hard up against the wall. It’s easy to clean.   Close coupled toilet- Old fashioned style of back to wall toilet. A cost effective style where the cistern sits on top. You can choose to have an over height pan or a standard height pan.    Standard height pan- sits 400 mil off the floor.   Over height pan sits between- 425- 450 mil off the floor, depending on the brand. It is ideal for tall people or those who have mobility issues. It does cost a bit more because there are more materials involved in the manufacturing process.   Rimless Toilet   A toilet without a box room. It has a direct flush technique that shoots water around the edge of a smooth pan. As there is no rim, rimless toilets are easy to clean and more hygienic than a traditional toilet.  The range of price points are reasonable.   Smart Toilet   Similar to rimless toilets, smart toilets are easy to clean and more hygienic. It has a built-in spray in the toilet seat which will wash and dry for you. You can control everything with a remote - including water pressure, temperature and the position of the wand for self-cleaning.   Wall Cisterns  The water tank that flushes the toilet is hidden so you only see the toilet pan at the cistern.. I Ideal for small bathroom spaces.   Be mindful that it doesn’t work with every stud wall. If you have a brick wall, you will need to create another wall inside.   With a hidden cistern, you can choose either a floating pan or one that sits on the floor.   Something else to consider is the colour of the flush button as colours are limited.   A lot of clients prefer to use white as it blends in with the wall tiles.   Flush plates are sensor operated. To access the flush mechanism, you may wish to install an access panel for ease. This will allow you to access a few of the movable parts inside the cistern.  Good Quality Toilet  Key considerations:  Type of materials    A clean  coat on top of the ceramic  Design features- I.e Roberto Columba and Patricia Urquiola  Design Components - beautifully designed products will cost more  Cost effective  options can sometimes have an inferior flush mechanism  Recommended Brand  Geberit from Switzerland  15-year warranty  One molded piece in the system  A lot smoother and more comfortable  Coloured Toilets   Coloured toilets are making  their way into the Australian market so keep an eye out for them.   When choosing toilets, itsimportant to visit showrooms and actually sit on them . You can’t possibly know if it’s going to be comfortable unless you sit on it!    Important links mentioned in the podcast:   Join the '5 Costly Bathroom Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them' Webinar If you like this and want to learn more, I've got a webinar coming up on 24th November from 7PM-8PM AEDT. Click here to find out more and register. Geberit  Laufen Palomba Collection Designed by Roberto Palumbo  Laufen Sonar Designed by Patricia Urquiola  Reece   Reece is Australia's largest plumbing and bathroom supplies business – found in over 600 locations across Australia.. Their  plumbing and bathroom products are sourced both locally and internationally.  Visit their Website here.   Reece Richmond showroom   You can visit the showroom at 641-643 Bridge Rd, Richmond VIC 3121, Australia.     Services at White Pebble Interiors    Book a Chat    If you’re thinking about renovating or creating your kitchen get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a 15 minute chat with her.        Renovating and Building your Forever Home Facebook Group    Want to be inspired to create a home your truly love, that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.         

In this final episode of the Bathroom Design Essentials Season, Frances outlines some of the key take-aways from each episode as an easy reference tool for you to know where you need to listen next.

In this episode of the Your Forever Home podcast Frances covers off the topic of creating a bathroom that is accessible for when you get older, or are less able-bodied. She outlines design elements that can be incorporated now that will make a big difference later on, and some that can simply be provisioned for and installed later. Through her passion for creating ‘Future Proof’ homes, this is another area that adds to the liveability of your home well into the future. SHOWNOTES  Bathroom Accessibility  Next to the kitchen, bathrooms are the most used space in our home and one of the most difficult and dangerous places for elderly home owners. They are an essential part of your daily routine, yet they hold so many challenges and pose so many risks. Fortunately, there are a range of practical bathroom alterations that will make it safer and easier to use.   Walk in shower-step free  A walk in shower, without any hurdles upon entry makes a lot of sense. One option is having a curb-less shower entry. It looks great and is also a lot more accessible as they prevent bathroom accidents – such as tripping over the curb while getting in and out of the shower.  Add a built-in shower seat  Standing in the shower for long periods of time can be difficult for some people, so a built-in shower seat can help give more stability.. However, if it's not within your budget or you don't like how it looks, you might want to consider having a waterproof stool that can be moved in and out when needed.  Place grab bars in the shower and near the toilet  Grab bars are another excellent feature as they provide good stability and support. You don't necessarily have to install them right away. This is something that you can provision for by pre-determining the length and position of the bars in your bathroom.  Install an adjustable shower on a rail with a handheld showerhead  This enables you to move the shower head up and down the rail, giving you more options to suit your needs. It is ideal in a family household as it serves many different purposes.   A tall person can have the shower head longer and higher up on the rail.   Kids can bring the shower head down and lower on the rails.   Can be used in cleaning the actual shower.  Can be used to wash pets.  And for when you are older, you can easily sit on the shower seat and move the handheld shower up and down to reach you  Select mixer/lever taps for basin and shower for easier operation  Knobs can be difficult to turn when you have arthritis, so having a mixer tap with a lever is easier to use when turning the shower on and adjusting the temperature   Cavity sliding doors for ease of opening and closing  It enables you to have more space in the actual room and it’s essential for increased accessibility – particularly if you are in a wheelchair or have a walker. Not only are you creating a bigger thoroughfare for entry, it is also easier to  maneuver around in within the space.  Considerations:  Ideally, you need a turning radius of around 150 centimeters  The floor surfaces need to be flush so you can easily roll in and out of the space  Doorways should beat 900mm  Mount the basin close to the edge of the vanity for easier use   It is also easier to access if it's at one end.  Select easy-glide or soft close drawers for the vanity  Make sure that your hardware is qood quality so the drawers glide easily  Select higher than standard toilets (becoming more and more common)  Higher toilets are now becoming more popular as they allow you to get up and down with ease. I anticipate that this will soon become the new standard.  Place toilet min 45cm from any walls, shower screen or bath.  30 or 40 cm is the norm but 45cm is better so that you've got that extra space for maneuvering and accessibility. SERVICES AT WHITE PEBBLE INTERIORS Book a Chat      If you’re thinking about renovating or creating a new bathroom, I would love to hear from you. You can contact me by booking a 15 minute chat here.       Join the “Renovating and Building your Forever Home” Facebook Group      Want to be inspired to create a home you truly love? One that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.     

In this Forever Home podcast episode, Frances outlines how to get the most out of your Powder room -whether it’s the family powder room, or one for guests, she provides design suggestions on how to get the most out of both of these spaces. From injecting personality into your guest powder room, to adding lots of storage so the main powder room can be utilised as an ‘overflow getting ready’ space when kids no longer want to share the family bathroom. This episode will make you revisit powder room design to maximise it’s functionality, and maximise it’s aesthetic appeal.   SHOWNOTES:  Family Powder Room   This sits next to the family or main bathroom so it needs to work really hard for you.   When designing your powder room, you need to take into consideration that it may be used as an overflow room eg for getting ready or a separate space for kids or teenagers.   What needs to be considered;  Adequate storage - include a proper vanity with good bench space and avoid having a pedestal basin or a wall-mounted basin, so that it provides a large enough area so you can also get ready if need be  Good task lighting - add task lighting that illuminates your face which will be helpful if you need to use the space to get ready (i.e shave or do make up)  Add powerpoints- for toothbrush, hairdryer, shaver etc.   Good size mirror    Guest Powder Room  The guest powder room provides a golden opportunity to break some rules and add personality into the space.  Options to consider:  Bright or bold colours.  Wallpapers- psychedelic, bright florals, linen, botanical or iridescent. Be mindful not to use paper-based wall papers in a powder room, instead go for a commercial grade vinyl as it is washable and heavy duty.   Wild tiles- can be installed on walls or floors. A fantastic talking point for your guests. Consider either embossed or neutral.   Spectacular lighting- add an amazing pendant light for effect  YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS MY “Beautiful Bathroom Design Made Easy” online course!    I am excited to introduce my new online course Beautiful Bathroom Design Made Easy!  If you are planning on renovating or building a new bathroom and:  Struggling with the overwhelm  Not sure where to start  Worried about making costly mistakes  Then this course is for you. Your bathroom is an important room as you start and finish each day in it, so you want to get it right!  To help with this, I have developed an online course called Beautiful Bathroom Design Made Easy which arms you with knowledge and guides you through the exact process I have used over the last 10 + years as an interior designer to help my clients create their perfect bathroom.   And with this course, you can do it yourself – it’s like having access to an interior designer without having to pay for one!  As a SPECIAL LAUNCH OFFER I have heavily discounted the price for this course from $197 to $97 – a $100 saving!  But this is a limited offer and only available until 6pm Sunday 30 May - you won’t see this price again so don’t miss out! Click here to join.   Book a Chat      If you’re thinking about renovating or creating a new bathroom, I would love to hear from you. You can contact me by booking a 15-minute chat here.       Join the “Renovating and Building your Forever Home” Facebook Group      Want to be inspired to create a home you truly love? One that is future-proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.  

In this episode of Your Forever Home, Frances outlines several decorating tips on how to create a warm and inviting bathroom. She offers plenty of insight and advice to allow you to make the finishing touches to your bathroom to create a space you can be proud of. There’s nothing worse than a sparse bathroom with no soul, so this episode will give you confidence to try her creative and insightful ideas. From plants, towels and mirrors, to artwork, stools and baskets – there’s plenty to experiment with to make your bathroom a haven!   SHOWNOTES Plants    Adding plants is a number one rule of thumb in decorating across the entire home. In a bathroom, plants add a beautiful lease of life. They generate oxygen and add an instant "lived in” feeling and a sense of calm.  Most plants thrive in bathrooms because of the high humidity and moisture.   Examples:  Add a trailing pot like a devil’s ivy on window sills, shelves or shower niche  Put plants on plant stands as they add height to a corner  Hangi plants from the ceiling  Pop a small plant on your vanity  Plants to try:  Devil’s Ivy  Orchid- to add a little bit of colour  Chain of hearts  Spider plants- you can hang them as they drape beautifully  Air plants  Towels  Towels are a fantastic way to inject texture, pattern and colour into the space. It can also reflect your mood or serve as a seasonal décor. Keep in mind, try to marry the colours of the towels with the tone of the bathroom- I.e cool or warm tones.   Artwork  A painted wall is an ideal location for hanging artwork. Try leaving a wall free of tiles to allow for hanging artwork.. It adds personality and a unique touch to the space.  Examples:   Artwork from travels   A piece of artwork that makes you feel relaxed and calm  Artwork with your favourite colours  Mirrors  Shaving cabinetscome in a variety of different shapes which can add to the aesthetic and also give additional storage space.   In a powder room where storage requirements are not as necessary, opt for a decorative mirror  Framed mirrors can add an element of design.   Opt for organic shapes such as oval or round as it can break up all the rectangles in the space. It’s also softer and more visually appealing.   Baskets  Baskets always make a space feel homey and inviting. They can be purely decorative or can be an added storage option.   You can use a basket for many things, including somewhere to store your:Plants   Towels   Toilet rolls   Stools  Can be placed in the corner, by the bath or even in the shower.  Used as a side table when in the bath  You can place a plant on it  I love vintage timber stools as it adds character and texture to the space!     YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS MY NEXT FREE WEBINAR!    “The 5 Costly Bathroom Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them”  Are you aware of the top 5 costly bathroom design mistakes and how to avoid them?  Join me in this webinar as I prepare and arm you with critical information that will save you time and money creating your new bathroom.  Far too many people make costly mistakes when creating their new bathroom – don’t let this be you!    Book a Chat      If you’re thinking about renovating or creating a new kitchen, I would love to hear from you. You can contact me by booking a 15 minute chat.            Join the “Renovating and Building your Forever Home” Facebook Group      Want to be inspired to create a home you truly love? One that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.     

Frances is super passionate about this topic, and it clearly shows in this episode of Bathroom Design Essentials. Frances outlines the importance of internal elevations so you can create a well designed bathroom that allows you to be involved in the design process, make informed decisions, and mitigate expensive mistakes. Internal elevations also provide the builder with details of exactly what they are building, along with providing the opportunity for a more accurate quote. SHOWNOTES  What is an Internal Elevation?  Unlike a floorplan which gives you an aerial view of your design, an internal elevation drawing allows you to see the design “front on”.  It will help you to avoid mistakes on site and allow you to have fixed price quoting  It also has a big impact on your overall design as it helps you to map out the layout of the space.   Why do you need Internal Elevations?  Not having them is similar to instructing your builder to navigate without a map.  It can lead to expensive mistakes and design disappointments that could have been avoided.  You might miss the opportunity to get the design right.     Cabinetry Drawings versus Internal Elevations  Some people get confused between cabinetry drawings and internal elevations.  The main difference is cabinetry drawings show “joinery only’ and nothing else, whereas internal elevations show you the whole wall set upfront on. Allowing for a better “overall” design view. How does having an Internal Elevation for your bathroom help?   It allows you to view your bathroom design “front on” rather than an “aerial view”.  It gives you detail of your bathroom design which instructs your builder what he needs to do, including:  joinery design (drawers, doors, heights, benchtop thickness)  tile size and location   placement of taps (wall, bench or basin mounted) and shower (ceiling or wall-mounted)  placement of towel rails and toilet roll holders  shower niche placement, size, and finish  powerpoints, mirror and cabinet placements  shower screen type, length, and height  Allows you to understand how the proposed spaces and rooms will look.  Helps assist you with decision making by letting you actualise visualise the location of vanities, windows, doors and powerpoints   By knowing the position of all the critical items in the room, you are able to make other dependent decisions Eg. wall finishes, extent of tiling around a bath, sink or window.  Far too often, we see people with only floorplans showing the aerial view of their cabinetry layout, or internal elevations with minimal design detail which opens up so much room for error, misinterpretation and misunderstanding about expectations on the final outcome.  It’s a costly to get it wrong, so having an internal elevation is a key factor in mitigating mistakes, both before and once you start building.            Much of the design thinking is done at floor plan stage, and critical thinking about functionality and space planning happens with the drawings. This is where interior designers can really show their value around creating spaces that work!   LINKS MENTIONED IN THE PODCAST:  Why Internal Elevations are Critical For Your Home Blog   Episode 45: Kitchen Design Essentials- Internal Elevations and Joinery Design     SERVICES AT WHITE PEBBLE INTERIORS     The 5 Costly Bathroom Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them  Are you aware of the top 5 costly bathroom design mistakes and how to avoid them?  Join Frances  in this webinar as she prepares and arms you with critical information that will save you time and money creating your new bathroom.  Far too many people make costly mistakes when creating their new bathroom – don’t let this be you!    Book a Chat      If you’re thinking about renovating or creating a new kitchen, Frances would love to hear from you. You can contact Frances by booking a 15 minute chat with her.            Join the “Renovating and Building your Forever Home” Facebook Group      Want to be inspired to create a home you truly love? One that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.      

Frances welcomes guest James Lambrou from Est Lighting to the podcast for this episode of Your Forever Home. Together they chat about Bathroom Lighting and key considerations to think about to ensure your bathroom not only looks fabulous, but is also functional. They also discuss functional and aesthetic lighting, and how to use both to light up a space - including colour, temperature and side lighting. SHOWNOTES:  Good bathroom lighting shows consideration of  3 elements- functional, mood, and time of day. Bathroom lighting needs to balance shadow and mood for functionality.   You also need to consider bathroom fittings as it forms part of the overall design look and feel as they can add personality to a space.  Natural Lighting   Natural Lighting is the best lighting in a bathroom. It’s a core consideration when designing bathroom spaces.  It’s important to think about window placement, the size of the windows and how your window is going to  provide good lighting.   Artificial Lighting   Wall lighting  You can achieve a relaxed mood in your bathroom by using wall lights. When looking for wall lighting, you need to consider if it gives off an indirect or direct light.   Direct lighting is more practical as it provides a good amount of light on your face which is handy for getting ready in the morning – especially for putting on makeup or shaving!  Other considerations:  Custom joinery lighting-  direct lighting works best on custom joinery pieces with mirrors, incorporating a low glare diffuser such as led channels or a milky lens.  This will give you a beautiful amount of lighting covering the whole area of your face. On a separate light switch, it could double up as mood lighting.   For practical use, place the led lighting vertically, 8-14 mil width.  Placing it below will not give you functionality but will give you more overall ambiance and aesthetic.   Layering of lighting will give you the ability to be able to dial it up or dial it down.     Downlights  Downlights are fine if they are not used as the sole light source in a space. To prevent shadows, avoid putting downlight in front of the basin but rather put it behind you and then add another light source. If it’s not possible, place it slightly in front of you so it lights up the space - and your face!   If you have a shower space that needs a lighting solution, it is best to remove any downlights and just add an IP 67 led strip within the cavity to the corners of the wall. This will give you a good amount of light which will highlight the textures and materials of the shower tiles.   Pros:   Create a great aesthetic   Nowadays they are much smaller and less intrusive  Types of downlights:  Recessed   Beam angle  Types of Lighting Placement  Uplighting -a beautiful way to light bathrooms  Lighting from below- ideal for showers that have textured walls to accentuate the materials and texture.   Frequent go to    Recommended Brand   XAL- an Austrian manufacturer of high-quality LED lighting systems. They have plenty of off-the-shelf surface-mounted strip lights to choose from.   Suggestions:  Recessed LED strip- mimics natural lighting as it provides light across the whole room.   Articolo Lighting – offers beautiful decorative lighting that gives you a good warm blast of light.    Information on IP rating regulations:  IP 44- A product that has a rating of IP44 means that it is protected against solid objects and water splashing from all directions. Thus, IP 44 is suitable for bathroom fittings.   Non IP rated-  should be placed at the far corner of the bathroom, at least two meters away from any running water. It will also depend on the discretion of the installer if they would allow a non IP rated product.   IP 67- You don’t need an IP 67 in a bathroom, but if you are thinking about adding lighting in the shower or around the bath, IP 67 is  the safest option.   IP 55-  downlights must be at least IP 55 because they can withstand direct water  contact.  Make sure:  The electrician signs off  on the installation and fitting   Any fitting must be a minimum of 60 cm away from  any water flow  Cool vs Warm light  For bathroom lighting, the main go  to for warm spectrum lighting is the 2,700 Kelvin Light,   and for cooler lighting, the 4,000 Kelvin Light would be a good option.   Be mindful of choosing thecolour  temperature for bathrooms as it needs to match the colour tone of the space. (I.e Greys=Cool, Beige= Warm)   It is a good idea to have a separate switch for each colour temperature. For instance, you can use 2,700  Kelvin Lights during the night for the warm ambiance and 4,000  Kelvin Lights during the day for practical use.   Key Considerations:  Switching - being able to switch the light from warm temperatures to cool temperatures is an advantage  IP rating  Bathroom space- look at the space from a three-dimensional and holistic viewpoint. Start by looking at the space from the ground then move your way up – including the sides.  The colour tone of the bathroom  Position and placement of your lighting   Functionality  An opportunity to add personality into the space  Light fittings      Important links mentioned in the podcast   EST Lighting   Est Lighting is about balancing practical lighting tools with thoughtfully selected decorative pieces to arrive at a balanced lighting design for any space — solutions that sit comfortably and work in unison with the chosen environment. Visit their website here: https://estlighting.com.au/     EST Lighting Showroom  Sydney  479 Bourke St  Surry Hills NSW 2010  Australia     Melbourne  14 Willis St  Richmond VIC 3121  Australia    XAL  Articolo    Services at White Pebble Interiors     Book a Chat     If you’re thinking about renovating or creating a new kitchen, Frances would love to hear from you. You can contact Frances by booking a 15 minute chat with her.      Join the “Renovating and Building your Forever Home” Facebook Group     Want to be inspired to create a home you truly love? One that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.           

Frances is joined again by Cathryn Matchett and Trisha Narde from Reece Bathroom Life, to discuss the options available for showroom vanities. They also outline some of the comparisons with customised vanities, and why one would be better suited over another. SHOWNOTES Showroom Vanity Vs Customised Vanities  Showroom vanities are the vanities that are on display at stores. It allows you to see and know exactly what vanity you are buying.   Custom vanities are bespoke and designed based on your needs, and preference   for materials, finishes and sizes.    Considerations:  Price  Designer vanities  (i.e Zuster) typically start at $1,500 / metre   With other brands, a typical 1,200cm long vanity would cost $2,5000-2,800 which already includes the top and the vanity in any finish options.  Vanities with ceramic top(1200cm) long start at $1,600    Good Quality Criteria  For cabinetry, laminate is a basic option and looks natural, however if you want a better quality finish, Zuster would be a good brand to consider.   It contains elements of real timber  The quality of material is supreme- drawer runners and hardwares.   Natural timbers- as long as they are sealed correctly and have been properly treated, they can work in a bathroom  Fully extendable drawer runners – they maximise functionality as  they allow greater  access  in the drawer  A lifetime guarantee on drawer runners and hardware    Vanity Trends  Timber vanities  – both light and dark options add warmth to the room  Vertical group vanities - they have more depth, texture and personality and are ideal for  beach houses.   Curved vanities- aesthetically they are softer and more practical  because they don’t have sharp corners.   Fully hung vanities – they create the illusion of space in the bathroom and are ideal for small bathrooms.   Above counter basins – visually they add so much more to the space    Handles  This is a design element that needs to be considered when choosing a vanity as they can be used as a feature   There are a variety of colours to choose from – including chrome, black, brushed nickel, gold  etc.   They can be personalised based on your style  If handles are customised, they will typically take between 4-10 weeks from date of order    Australian Manufacturer  All vanities  sold in Reece stores are manufactured in Australia.     Warranties  Showroom vanities come with 10-year warranties.      Important links mentioned in the podcast    Reece and Zuster Collaboration    Reece    Reece is Australia's largest plumbing and bathroom supplies business. Their plumbing and bathroom products are sourced both locally and internationally and can be found in over 600 locations across Australia. Visit their Website here.      Reece Richmond showroom    You can visit the showroom at 641-643 Bridge Rd, Richmond VIC 3121, Australia.        Services at White Pebble Interiors     Book a Chat     If you’re thinking about renovating or creating a new kitchen, Frances would love to hear from you. You can contact Frances by booking a 15 minute chat with her.          Join the “Renovating and Building your Forever Home” Facebook Group     Want to be inspired to create a home you truly love? One that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.              

In this episode of Your Forever Home, Frances has guests Cathryn Matchett and Trisha Narde from Reece Bathroom Life to discuss different types of basins available and when one may be more suitable over another. They chat through different material types along with what to look for in a quality basin. Lots to learn to make good basin decisions.   SHOWNOTES  Types of Basins   Above counter- A popular wash basin that sits above the counter.    Can be used as a featurepiece in your bathroom   They are aesthetically pleasing because it allows you to show off the basin’s beautiful design characteristic, colour and palette  They provide more storage underneath  The basin is deeper compared to other basins so are ideal for families   Undermount- Opposite to the above counter basin because the whole basin sits underneath the bench.  Available in different shapes  A clean and simple aesthetic  Doesn’t allow a lot of storage underneath  More difficult to clean    Semi inset- Half of the basin is above the counter and the other half is underneath.   Semi Recessed-A wash basin mounted on a furniture unit or worktop.  The rear half of the wash basin is recessed into the top of the unit and all the pipe work can be concealed. The front half of the basin protrudes in front of the unit.  Wall mounted basins- are a great choice for small bathrooms or powder room as they are mounted against the wall.   Washstands- these wash basins are commonly seen in hotels and nightclubs.  They stand on the floor and are all in one piece.     Types of Materials  Steel- has beautiful,fine edges compared to ceramic and available in various different finishes.   Solid surface- made up of crushed minerals mixed with resin. Typically above counter basins are made in solid surface material and it is available in different finishes ranging from matte to gloss.   Porcelain/ Ceramic- these are the traditional materials for basins, and fortunately there have been many technological advancements in ceramic. For instance, Laufen, a swiss manufacturing company, makes ceramic with a mineral found in sapphires soit gives the material a flexural strength, equal to that of steel. It has the potential to have wafer-thin edges.   Concrete Basins- wash basins that are made of cement.   Porous material so it's a little bit difficult to clean.   If not properly sealed, it could stain and discolour.      Types of Colours, Textures and Finishes  Matte Finish- available in solid surface materials  Coloured basins- for cement or porcelain basins.   Ceramic in pottery- For instance,  Robert Gordon creates basins with different types of glazes    Different Buying Criteria  Shape- Rounded shape basins are recommended (such as oval), but you can also buy rectangular or soft square.   Ease of cleaning   Depth of the basin  Which type of bathroom the basin is going into- For instance, typically you would like a beautiful basin in a master en suite, but a more simple option in the main bathroom.      Price points  Undermount basins- approx $300  Above counter basins- depending on material and quality, between $500-550  High quality basins from Laufendepending on their size, between $1,200-1,500  Solid surface- between $550-$700     What's popular at the moment?  Basins that have an Organic shape – eg circle, d-shape    Important links mentioned in the podcast:   Caroma  SaphirKeramik  Reece   Reece is Australia's largest plumbing and bathroom supplies business. Their plumbing and bathroom products are sourced both locally and internationally and can be found in over 600 locations across Australia. Visit their Website here.   Reece Richmond showroom   You can visit the showroom at 641-643 Bridge Rd, Richmond VIC 3121, Australia.      Services at White Pebble Interiors    Book a Chat    If you’re thinking about renovating or creating a new kitchen, Frances would love to hear from you. You can contact Frances by booking a 15 minute chat with her.     Join the “Renovating and Building your Forever Home” Facebook Group    Want to be inspired to create a home you truly love? One that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.   

Description: Not sure how to choose the right bath? Then this is the episode for you. Cathryn Matchett and Trisha Narde are back from Reece Bathroom Life to chat with Frances about all things baths. They discuss the different bath finishes, along with key considerations for free standing baths, opposed to hob or inset baths. Why choose one bath type over another, buying criteria and how you actually go about choosing the right bath for you. There is plenty to learn from this episode.    SHOWNOTES Different Types of Baths  Freestanding Baths  Back to wall- these are freestanding baths attached to the wall. One advantage is rather than needing to clean all the way around the bath, you just need to clean the sides and front. Plus, it’s ideal for smaller spaces.   Back to corner- a great choice when you need to save some space.    Hob/ Inset Bath  A bath that is installed in a hob.   Most of them are flat-rimmed.  An advantage is that you can install flushing all the way around which gives you protection against water runoff.   Types of finishes available and advantages of each  Cast Iron- also known as pressed steel. There are different quality options available for this type of finish.   Advantages:  Can be re-enameled and repaired easily  Stronger and more premium than acrylic baths  Scratch resistant  Retains heat  NB Kaldewei is a German manufacturer producing pressed steel that is stain resistant, scratch resistant and UV resistant. They also offer a 30 year warranty.     Acrylic- This material has improved a lot over the last 10-15 years and is now manufactured using sanitary grade acrylic, which prevents the material from turning yellow.  Advantages:  Lightweight- can be transported easily.  Cost-effective  Can be molded into different shapes and sizes.      Solid Surface- A lot of freestanding baths are made from solid surface. This material is similar to stone, where minerals are crushed and mixed with resin.   Advantages:  Non-porous and dense  Indestructible   Scratch resistant  Easy to clean.   Disadvantage:  The material is very heavy and needs extra support on the floor    Limestone Bath- A luxury and beautiful material.   Advantages:  It retains more heat than any other material  A premium looking product    Buying Criteria and Consideration  Size – what size works best for the size of the bathroom  Shape - different shapes for different looks I.e. Egg-shaped  Comfortability - when visiting a showroom, it is a must to hop into the bath and give it a try before buying.  Style and design - what look and feel do you want for your bathroom  Shower bath- The bath needs to have both a flat end and an inclined end so that you can either soak in it as a bath or be able to stand under the shower.  Durability  Price points   An inset bath made with acrylic material - estimated price: $450   A pressed steel bath - estimated price: $1600-$1700  Back to wall or corner baths (depending on the material);  Acrylic - estimated price: $1800  Solid surface- estimated price: $3600  Luxury Limestone – ranges from $5,000- $6,000  Misc  Acrylic materials are a safe option for baths   Solid surface has high integrity  Be mindful of materials manufactured using lots of resins as they are more likely to turn yellow.   It is well worth investing in a surface that is not susceptible to scratching.    Important links mentioned in the podcast:   Kaldewei   Reece   Reece is Australia's largest plumbing and bathroom supplies business. Their plumbing and bathroom products are sourced both locally and internationally and can be found in over 600 locations across Australia. Visit their Website here.   Reece Richmond showroom   You can visit the showroom at 641-643 Bridge Rd, Richmond VIC 3121, Australia.      Services at White Pebble Interiors    Book a Chat    If you’re thinking about renovating or creating a new kitchen, Frances would love to hear from you. You can contact Frances by booking a 15 minute chat with her.     Join the “Renovating and Building your Forever Home” Facebook Group    Want to be inspired to create a home you truly love? One that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.         

In this episode of the Bathroom Design Essentials Season, Frances welcomes guests Trisha Narde and Cathryn Matchett from Reece Bathroom Life. Together they discuss basin mixers Vs individual taps and why you may consider one style over the other. They also talk about the different types of bath taps and spouts available. Finally, they cover the ever important discussion on showers and what you will need to know when choosing the right type of shower for you.    SHOWNOTES Basin Taps  Mixer  Aesthetics-simple and streamlined  Ease of cleaning  Easier control over water temperature  Easier to operate  Water-saving- you achieve your temperature a lot quicker    Cartridge  The actual body of the mixer- it what mixes your hot and cold water to produce the temperature that you want  You can get the cartridge separate from the fitting itself with some brands which is easier at build stage and easier to retrofit  Brands where you can get a separate cartridge and trim kit  Hansgrohe  Grohe  Sussex    Individual Taps  If you have to use what’s already existing and have two taps, then you need to retrofit with hot and cold tap  Buying Criteria   Quality  Warranties- 15-year warranty  Look for those which include labor and parts warranty  Brands that have good warranties: Grohe, Sussex, Brodware and Methven  Shapes, colours, and styles  Comfort  What Makes a Good Quality Tap?  Plumbing Components  Having solid brass Components  High-quality features  Grohe Silkmove- delivers gradual and precise control of the water flow and temperature.  Grohe Starlight- long lasting surface  Grohe Zero- No contact of water with lead and nickel due to isolated inner water ways  High-quality brand that offers warranties- 12 months      Different Types of Metals  Living Tumbled Brass  Most popular at the moment  Fits into many different styles of homes  Feels more organic than just using chrome or other metals.  Other metals are   Gun Metal  Coppers  Rose Golds    Black Tapwear  It won’t go away anytime soon.  You just have to make sure that it’s a high quality tap  Electroplated rather than powder coated  Bath Taps  Types of Bath Taps  Floor Mounted  Opulent look  More expensive to install  You need space around the bath as well  Wall Mounted  Swivel tap  Ideal for families-prevent children from hitting their heads  Bath Spouts  The length of bath spout depends on the style of your bath.   For instance;  Freestanding bath- ideal length would be 200 mm  Inset Bath- 150-160 mm  Recommended Brands  Sussex  Grohe  Shower  Reece has a fantastic display of showers where you can feel the water pressure on your hand. It is recommended to utilise these displays to give you an idea of what shower to choose.   Types of Showers  Rail  Has a flexible hose with fixed rail on the wall  It allows you to move the shower head up and down the rail   It’s ideal for families as can adjust shower height, especially good for kids.  Makes it easy to clean the shower (and your feet)  Ideal for couples with large height differences.  Flexible and functional     Ceiling mounted  You need to consider the ceiling heights  Be mindful of length of ceiling arms - eg. extra long for tall ceilings  Wall Mounted   You need to make sure that the installation height is correct based on tallest person who will use it.  Length of the arm comes out far enough so you are not against the wall.   A smaller shower space, ensure shower head not to big for the space, consider scale.   Large/Rain Shower Head   Most large shower heads on the market are 3-star rated. They use between 7.5-9 litres per minute   A lot of them have different technologies which give a powerful spray without utilising too much water  Turbine Technology by Nickles   Built-in turbine that will spin and push the water through  A quality shower head means better technology  Methven  Satinjet shower - gives a misty type of jet, but it is powerful with 20% more coverage than a regular shower.   Methven Aurajet  Methven Satinjet  Function of Sprays in shower  Option for jet spray- good for massage  Thermostat showers  Thermostatic mixers  Mixers where the thermostat is built into them for constant temperature control  You can’t retrofit  New technology for thermostat  Separate controller for temperature  Push and turn technology  A popular technology where you push it to turn it on and the dial for pressure and your temperature will set there for you.   The temperature doesn’t fluctuate.  It has a safety mechanism so cannot burn   Water saving   Bathroom Accessories  Whatever coloured taps you have, the accessories need to be the same.- I.e Black tap and black accessories  Heated towel rails  Available in several types-   Will not replace having a heater in the room. They provide ambient heat, not heating!  Electric –quicker to warm up than hydronic. You can’t have them next to bath based on regulations.  Hydronic –has a copper tube inside where the water heats up. It is more radiant compared to electric,  Single individually heated rails- a combination of 3 or 5 in bathrooms. Also available in vertical.      Current regulations- at least 500mml between the water source and power source.     Important links mentioned in the podcast:  Join the '5 Costly Bathroom Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them' Webinar If you like this and want to learn more, I've got a webinar coming up on 24th November from 7PM-8PM AEDT. Click here to find out more and register. Sussex   Grohe Silkmove  Grohe Zero   Grohe Starlight  Nikles Techno 300 LED Shower Head Chrome (3 Star)  Methven Aurajet  Methven Satinjet  Reece  Reece is Australia's largest plumbing and bathroom supplies business, as well as 8 others in allied industries. Our plumbing and bathroom products are sourced both locally and internationally which you can find in over 600 locations across Australia. Visit their Website here.  Reece Richmond showroom  You can visit the showroom at 641-643 Bridge Rd, Richmond VIC 3121, Australia.    Events and Services at White Pebble Interiors   Book a Chat   If you’re thinking about renovating or creating your kitchen get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a 15 minute chat with her.    Renovating and Building your Forever Home Facebook Group   Want to be inspired to create a home your truly love, that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.     

Grout is often an afterthought and not even considered when making bathroom selections. Often it’s left to the tiler to decide on type and colour, which is not ideal. I’ve seen some less than desirable outcomes when the grout colour is not carefully chosen with the tile. The overall look can be compromised by the wrong colour tone of grout and can ruin the whole aesthetic in your bathoom.  SHOWNOTES  Grout is used as a filler for the joints between tiles. It is basically a calcium carbonate that has various qualities.  Different Grout Types   Super fine grout   A fine paste that gets right into the nooks and crannies of all the different joints and when it dries you will get a fine surface.  It is pulverized into a talc rather than being sanded.  When using super fine grout, it is best recommended to use grout boosters in them. Grout boosters makes it set so that it is less absorbent. It makes it hard for the water to penetrate which prevents mold to form.  Can’t be used in Y-joints. Use it only on smaller/finer joints.     Sanded grout  Washed sand.  Used a cemented material with it.  Is more absorbent, so you need to mix it with a grout booster  Used in bigger joints, for example 3mm on floors  Epoxy Grout  Superor grout and used for high traffic areas  Not necessary for walls  Stain resistant  No need to seal it  Higher price point than standard grout   Non-porous and will not absorb build up of soaps and chemicals.   Super quality grouts- A good compromise if you don’t want to use epoxy  You can have an epoxy grout and super fine grout in bathroom showers. Most tilers can install epoxys but you need to be mindful of what you are installing the epoxy grout with. You can’t use epoxy with all products.  Whether you are using a super fine grout or sanded grout, be careful of using coloured grouts with materials that have moisture absorption. This is because when they put colour in grouts, they use oxide which can bleed into the room materials you are putting them with.   How to Maintain Your Grouts  Don’t use chemicals on grout, use water. Most of the buildup on floors and our grouts comes from the chemicals that we use.  Chemicals compromise the grout’s ability to stand the test of time. Bleach doesn’t remove mold, it just whitens it, and damages the grout.   The best option is to use a steam mop. It will help you sanitise and clean your grout and tiles.  Reputable companies that have excellent grout ranges  ARDEX  Mapei  Davco  Additional Tips  Bond your grout with silicone  Best to use same brand of grout as caulking for perfect colour match.   If you want to use a light colour grout on the floor, it’s best to use epoxy    Links Mentioned in the Podcast:  Join the '5 Costly Bathroom Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them' Webinar If you like this and want to learn more, I've got a webinar coming up on 24th November from 7PM-8PM AEDT. Click here to find out more and register. ARDEX  https://ardexaustralia.com/  Mapei  https://www.mapei.com/au/en/about-us/mapei-in-australia  Earps Bros  Whether you are looking for decorative splash-back tiles for your rental property, high performing commercial quantity slip resistant tiles or handcrafted artisan mosaics from Morocco, their range will add value to your project now and into the future. Visit their website here: https://earp.com.au/  Book a Chat   If you’re thinking about renovating or creating your kitchen get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a 15 minute chat with her.    Renovating and Building your Forever Home Facebook Group   Want to be inspired to create a home your truly love, that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.     

In this episode of the podcast, Frances walks through the different types of vanity options available, along with custom Vs off-the-shelf designs discussing what may work best for your requirements. She also looks at material types and what to consider when specifying for wet areas.    SHOWNOTES:    Vanities are a strong focal point that can make or break the overall design and functionality of a bathroom.     Custom Design Vanity  Allows you to customise the design, shape, configuration of the material and the material being used for the vanity.   Flexible in design   Scaled for the space  Created based on your needs, storage requirements, and bathroom usage .  Custom materials – any combinations – i.e colours, styles  Customise size and configuration    Off the shelf  Sometimes able to  customise certain elements  Choose between different stone tops  If you want a coloured cabinetry, choices are limited  Generally available in standard sizes- 600, 900, 1200, 1500 and 1800 mm.   Standard size may not be the right scale for the room, so it may not be ideal  You may not be able to choose the material type that you want  Limited colour choices – specific colours may not be available with off the shelf products.  Storage Configurations  What you need to store is going to drive the design and functionality of your vanity.   Drawers- How deep and wide you need your drawers Open Shelving- Combination- For instances, a combination of drawers, cupboards and open shelves.  Cupboards  Benchtop only with exposed pipework  Freeform concrete or a piece of stone that forms a vanitytop.   No storage – very minimal look  Can be used in bathrooms where storage is not critical- i.e guest powder room     Different Types of Vanities  Floating/wall hung vanity  Creates an illusion of space as you can see the floor underneath.  Ideally 25-30 cm off the floor.   Looks a lot more sophisticated as things don’t feel bulky Ideal for smaller bathroom space   Has a more refined, superior finish If you have a well-designed floating vanity, then you are going to get much more functionality and usability  More often than not, more expensive than floor mounted vanity  Floor Mounted vanity  Has a kicker at the bottom   It can look bulkier  Doesn’t maximise on creating an illusion of space  Benchtops  Stone- all types of stone  Opt for a lighter coloured stone  if you don’t like the watermarks  Laminate  If you like an under mounted sink, laminate will not be a great choice  Timber  Need to be sealed to prevent watermarking and damage  Cabinetry  Laminate  2pac  Thermo wrap  Timber- veneer and solid timber needs sealing as moisture can affect it.      Links mentioned in the podcast:     Episode 36: Kitchen Design Essentials – Benchtops part 1  Episode 38: Kitchen Design Essentials-Benchtop Criteria and Materials – Part 2  Episode 41: Kitchen Design Essentials – Cabinetry Materials      Join the '5 Costly Bathroom Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them' Webinar If you like this and want to learn more, I've got a webinar coming up on 24th November from 7PM-8PM AEDT. Click here to find out more and register. Book a Chat   If you’re thinking about renovating or creating a new home  get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a 15 minute chat with her.    Renovating and Building your Forever Home Facebook Group   Want to be inspired to create a home you truly love, that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.         

Choosing tiles is a main consideration in your bathrooms. It’s the main material that will be used and impacts functionality as well as aesthetics. Not all tiles are the same, so it’s important to know the buying criteria so you can choose the right tile for the right application.  In this episode of the podcast, Frances is joined by Tiling expert, Richard Earp from Earp Bros.  Richard shares his amazing knowledge on tiles to discuss the different types of tiles and differences between poor and good quality tiles.     Shownotes:  Different Types of Tiles  Ceramic- the material has a moisture absorption of more than 3%, ideal for walls  Gres Tiles- the material has a moisture absorption of between 3% and 0.5%  Porcelain- are low absorption product (0.5% or less).  Can be used on the inside, outside, wall and floor   Technical Porcelain- has a 0.1% moisture absorption and are generally used in high-performance areas such as airports, shopping centers, and Melbourne Exhibition Centre.  Other types of porcelain:  Glaze Porcelain  Full Body Porcelain  Double Charge Porcelain  Triple Charge Porcelain  Polished Porcelain      Things to consider when choosing porcelain material:  Porcelain varies in quality mainly with accuracy and surface flatness which effect how its laid and the overall finish  Design and the surface  Colour separation rooms for glazes to create a depth of colour not seen cheaper version tiles. The more colour separations used, the better the quality.  Cheaper Porcelain tiles generally cut corners in the manufacturing process. Reduced processing of raw materials, the use of more glass as a fluxing agent to incorporate with ball clays and porcelain clays. On the other hand, high-quality tiles have lesser fluxing agents, longer firing times using higher technology to press, and the raw materials are extracted.   Terracotta-can be formed in different ways-extruded, molded and etc. It has a very high absorption material and generally requires sealing.   Cement tiles- like terracotta, cement tiles also require sealing  Placing a tile that has a higher (10%) moisture absorption on the floor is not ideal as they are not dense. If you drop something on the floor, it can easily crack, break, or chip. The moist absorption gives an indication of what type of materials the factories are manufacturing  Sealers   There are sealers that are designed to breathe in stone, terracottas and cement.   Topical Sealer- sit on top of the material  Penetrating Sealer- shields against moisture penetration and chemicals. Usually, they provide invisible protection without changing the surface appearance, and most products are breathable, allowing moisture vapor to escape.  Tile Sizes  How the size of tile impacts your selection  Spatial Awareness - larger format tiles can look great in some spaces, but a small space with large format tiles in many instances won’t work. Instead of a 800x800mm tile, 600x60mm may be better. Cost – will cost more to use larger format tiles – product and labout. Porcelain sheets (2.7, 3.2 meters sheets, 1.2 meters wide.)- needs a specialist to install which costs more than 20-30% of premium. Why it costs more?  Delivery of the material   Kitchen benchtop- must be fabricated off site and it get done by machine in specialist factories  Intricacies of installing them  Tile Types    Rectified- the tile is perfectly straight  When buying tiles manufacturers should be able to provide you with the following:  Installation Procedures  Sealing guide  Cleaning guide  Sustainability   Earp Bros joined the green building council in 2004 and was the first company that went through product certification. They use two certification systems:  Global Green Tags   Product Declare  Sustainable Criteria  Green Tag Accreditation  Life cycle assessment of materials   Tips when deciding on your tiles and getting a good result at the end  Understand what you need- I.e High-maintenance vs low maintenance materials  Visualise what you want before you start your journey- Create a pinterest board  Be fully accurate on what your budget is  Surround yourself with professionals. Find trustworthy companies and people    Tile trends  Large format tiles  Natural materials- Zellige tiles are popular now        Patterns and sheets of design, like big florals       Links Mentioned in the Podcast:  Join the '5 Costly Bathroom Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them' Webinar If you like this and want to learn more, I've got a webinar coming up on 24th November from 7PM-8PM AEDT. Click here to find out more and register. Earps Bros  Whether you are looking for decorative splash-back tiles for your rental property, high performing commercial quantity slip resistant tiles or handcrafted artisan mosaics from Morocco, their range will add value to your project now and into the future. Visit their website here: https://earp.com.au/  Book a Chat   If you’re thinking about renovating or creating your kitchen get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a 15 minute chat with her.    Renovating and Building your Forever Home Facebook Group   Want to be inspired to create a home your truly love, that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group. 

In this episode of the podcast, Frances walks through what is possible when renovating your bathroom at various price points. She covers off options at $1,500 to freshen up a dated bathroom. What can be achieved for about $10,000 and then what you can look at when you’re creating a high end bathroom. She provides plenty of examples of what can be done at each budget level.   $1,500- $2,000 Freshen Up  Things to consider:  Are your bathroom tiles okay? If they are, then focus on changing outdated tapwear, towel rails, accessories, and basins. Changing these things can make a big difference on your bathroom.   If the tiles are not great, painting them may be an option.  This is not ideal on floor tiles as it cannot withstand high traffic, but it is possible on a wall tile. It won’t provide an ideal finish, but it can tidy things up.  Painting or changing the cabinetry fronts  Change the doors or drawer fronts and then paint the sides to match  Use new handles on your vanity  Paint the entire vanity using the Dulux Renovator paint range  Replace any damaged or outdated light fittings or add decorative lighting for added atmosphere and light sources  Paint the bathroom walls with a colour you love.  Add a wallpaper- i.e Vinyl wallpaper as they are washable  Decoration/ Styling tips  Add indoor plants  Add new towels - It can add colour and pattern to your bathroom  Add accessories such as candles, baskets, soap dispensers (ceramic, glass, stone), and shells  Adding a different mirror- For instance, replacing a hanging mirror with a rounded mirror to break up all the straight edges that are traditionally in a bathroom.    $10,000-$15,000 Cosmetic Update  Keep the floorplan the same but change the tiles, cabinetry and tapwear.  Changing any plumbing locations adds to the cost.  Replace shower bases so they are tiled- creates a sense of space and makes the design more modern and contemporary  Replace old shower screens for a frameless shower version- removes the metals and heavy frames that makes the space larger   Relatively straight forward  Need to consider how it affects the shower base  Not difficult to retrofit  Re-do the tiles  Ripping out all the tiles is a lot more expensive  You need to consider the levels to your bathroom to determine if you can tile over the top  Redoing the tiles is going to make the space feel completely invigorated.  Replace cabinetry, shower and tapwear  Replace vanity- go for a floating vanity if you are doing the re-tiling to create an illusion of space.   New above counter basin              Luxe bathroom renovation  Ripping out the whole bathroom -replacing all the tiles, new vanity, new lighting, new shower and all the fitting and fixtures are being replaced.   You can change the floorplan – move the toilet or have a separate toilet  High-end materials- marbles and natural stones for benchtops and walls  Bespoke joinery with luxe veneers and laminates for cabinetry  Luxury tapwear with premium finishes such as tumbled living bronze or living brass  Under floor heating, heated towel rails and freestanding bath  Bathroom connection to outdoors with larger windows, openable windows to landscape.  Showers  Rain showers   Jet showers  Outdoor showers  Floor to ceiling window in your shower  Luxurious finish in your bathroom such as Tadelakt or Venetian plaster finish  Benchtops  Custom freeform concrete benchtop  Recycled glass benchtop  Skylights that automatically close- Fabulous for dumping hot air and creating ventilation                  Links mentioned in the podcast:   Join the '5 Costly Bathroom Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them' Webinar If you like this and want to learn more, I've got a webinar coming up on 24th November from 7PM-8PM AEDT. Click here to find out more and register.   Book a Chat   If you’re thinking about renovating or creating your kitchen get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a 15 minute chat with her.      Renovating and Building your Forever Home Facebook Group   Want to be inspired to create a home your truly love, that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.   

In this podcast episode, Frances outlines how to find the style you’re after for your bathroom. She gives tips to help you determine the style and feeling you’d like to create in your bathroom. Further, she outlines how to start pulling your design scheme together, and how to incorporate colour into your bathroom (if that’s what you want). This episode gets into the nitty gritty of pulling your materials and colours together. SHOWNOTES:  Choosing your bathroom style and colours can be the trickiest part in bathroom design.   Where to start with the look and feel?  Think about what you really gravitate to - What do you really love?  Create mood boards either online or with magazine cut outs  You can also look at Pinterest, Instagram and Houzz  Interior designer portfolios  Bathroom showroom will allow you to touch and feel materials     Think about the feeling you’re trying to create in your bathroom.   Examples  Calming and relaxing  Bright and fun   Dark and moody  Think about the look – here are some ideas  Bright and airy- more functional compared to a dark bathroom   Colourful- if you want to inject more colour and personality into the space.  Monochromatic- if you want to keep it simple  Tropical  Moroccan  Traditional  Modern  Shabby Chic  Modernist style     How to design for multiple bathrooms  If you have more than one bathroom, do you want them all to be the same or do you want to use this as a creative opportunity to design the bathrooms differently?  Opt for each bathroom to be the same or have them completely different.   You can use one element throughout all the bathrooms to create a link. For instance, having the same benchtop but different cabinetry or tiles.   There is no hard and fast rule. It is going to come down to the look and feel that you are trying to create and what your preference is  Some clients prefer to have their powder room stand out by adding loud wallpaper, using brightly coloured wallpapers or texture.  Be brave and if you don’t feel confident pulling it together, ask for help.   Starting out  Homes need to have a consistent tone for it to flow and to create continuity - For instance, if you are using a warm colour tone, warm colours such as beiges and browns should be applied to the rest of the home including bathrooms.  Warm=beiges and brown Vs Cool= greys   Choosing Material Colours   Leading piece-what the rest of the scheme is going to revolve around.  Feature tile  Cabinetry colour  Benchtop  Choose something you love- material, tile, colour or shape  Dark or light cabinetry  Depending on what your leading piece is, you need to make sure that it’s going to co-ordinate with the colour tone of the cabinetry  Overall look- If you want dark and moody then you may have a dark tile, dark vanity and dark benchtop. Or if you want to create a bit of contrast, you may induce a light timber vanity on dark tiles.    Add texture, shape or colour to break it up – generally with a feature tile or feature benchtop.  Timber in a bathroom can be created through;-  Timber cabinetry – either solid or laminate version  Timber top- Timber handles- as an accent can look very sophisticated. It creates warmth in the space  Timber for floating shelves  Avoid grey based timbers- not a reflection of nature, looks artificial  If you going to use timber, make sure you use a natural looking colour  Less is more  Don’t mix your timber types. Try to have your timber consistent in colour tone. It doesn’t have to be the exact type, tone is important.   Having the same floor and wall tiles?  For a small bathroom,  having the same floor and wall tiles is ideal because it creates simplicity in the space.   How to incorporate colour  Coloured tiles  A splashback above the vanity  Feature tile on the floor  Feature tile on the wall  Kitkat tiles are very popular now  - skinny, thick, multi coloured and  textured  Coloured cabinetry  Navy is very popoular right now          Organic greens- sage greens, olive greens or earthy greens  Choose a colour you love though  Benchtop   Natural feature stone – green, pink, marbled, coloured concrete    Colour Combinations  Timber with plain coloured cabinetry  Darker cabinetry and lighter benchtop  Darker tiles and lighter cabinetry  Lighter timber with darker tiles  Light cabinetry, light benchtop and light tiles but then incorporate texture so it’s not clinical.  Mood boards are an excellent resource to how your designer as it allows them to get inside your head. They can see your design direction and what you are gravitating to.     Links mentioned in the podcast:  Sustainable Sanctuary Portfolio – Bathroom design focused on upcycled bath  With a heavy focus on sustainability this home is very considered in its intent to blend into the landscape. The colours selected are to create a calm interior with a strong focus on natural materials and colours. This home was built using Passive House Principles in-conjunction with Passivology Consultants, and is incredibly energy efficient, while also taking in its surrounds creating a wonderful sanctuary both inside and out. View the Sustainable Sanctuary Portfolio here.         Join the '5 Costly Bathroom Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them' Webinar If you like this and want to learn more, I've got a webinar coming up on 24th November from 7PM-8PM AEDT. Click here to find out more and register.   Book a Chat  If you’re thinking about renovating or creating your kitchen get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a 15 minute chat with her.   Renovating and Building your Forever Home Facebook Group  Want to be inspired to create a home your truly love, that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.

 In this episode of the Bathroom Design Essentials Season, Frances outlines why starting with your storage requirements is critical to getting your bathroom designed properly. She outlines the main storage solutions available and what solutions are better for storing certain items.  Frances outlines how functionality is critical in a bathroom, as the space can be tight, and without adequate storage through good design, will lead to frustration and space not working as you need it to.  SHOWNOTES:  Storage is critical for bathrooms particularly with family bathrooms and en suites. Your bathroom needs to be functional considering the number of people using the space.  How much storage you need?  Identify and assess your needs to determine your bathroom storage  What needs to be stored?  The height of items  Think about how you want the space to function   What things you need to store and where you would ideally like to store them  Bathroom Appliances- i.e Hairdryer  Haircare  Makeup  Shaving Items  Hair Accessories   Towels  Types of Storage  Having a storage at eye-level is the most ideal scenario as it is easily accessible.   Shaving cabinets that are placed on the wall-, so you can see things easily. It is the most usable and workable storage that allows you to store little items too. You can add shelf caddies to store lipsticks and makeup brushes for example.  Adding power points inside the shaving cabinet- a great idea because it allows you to get everything off the benchtop such as shavers and, toothbrushes   Shaving cabinet recessed into the wall- This allows for a flush finish so the cabinet intrudes less into space and makes for a more seamless finish. Adjustable shelves inside the shaving cabinet- Fantastic for customing the internal space around what you need to store in them. Round shaving cabinets- These are a beautiful aesthetic, although are more expensive than standard regular cabinets   Vanities - are great for storing things that are not easy so easily stored overhead, or will not fit, such as a hairdryer, hairtongs.  Vanities that have a combination of cupboards and drawers work well.  If you can, add a vanity in the main family powder it's ideal for families that have children, to give them a separate space to get ready (faster and less arguments)  Drawers- excellent for easy access to items. I normally advise; Bank of drawers for him and her (if have a big enough vanity)  Ensure drawers deep enough for what you need to store  Right size:- height and depth  Shelves  Floating shelves along the length of the bath can look lovely  Open shelves in a vanity- can break up a long vanity and it can be used for decorating by adding towels. Shells and plants to break it all up.  Shelf in the shower – would avoid this if possible as a niche is much nicer. Lovely aesthetic to have a shelf underneath the shaving cabinet. It can serve as a feature shelf by adding plants, a candle, perfume bottles or frequently used items. Shower niches-  A niche recessed in the wall in the shower to store soap, shampoo, face wash etc.  More streamlined look than a mounted shelf.  Provides essential shower storage without protruding into the shower space.    Needs to be designed properly to avoid water pooling in it.   Your bathroom needs to function first. Remember that it is a space you constantly use. It needs to look beautiful, but it needs to function. If it's not properly designed, you're not going to be able to utilise  it as you need to, which only leads to frustration. So make sure you put the time in to assess your functionality requirements     Upcoming Events  and Services Available:   Join the '5 Costly Bathroom Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them' Webinar If you like this and want to learn more, I've got a webinar coming up on 24th November from 7PM-8PM AEDT. Click here to find out more and register.    Book a Chat   If you’re thinking about renovating or creating your bathroom, get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a 15 minute chat with her.      Renovating and Building your Forever Home Facebook Group   Want to be inspired to create a home your truly love, that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.      Kitchens are a big deal and getting the layout right is an even bigger deal!  It’s one of the main reason clients come to us – to get the most expensive room in their house right! Check out Frances' latest blog-Kitchen Layouts. She also included some critical dimensions too.   

In this episode of the podcast, Frances is joined by guest Fabieli Fontana, Senior Interior Designer at White Pebble Interiors. They discuss some key considerations to think about, such as privacy and windows, when designing your bathroom, along with thinking about flow and space planning. They cover some key mistakes they have seen people make, and how to not make the same mistakes yourself.  SHOWNOTES:  Not assessing what you need in a bathroom before the building stage is one of the biggest bathroom layout mistake that people make.  As a result, there won’t be enough space between zones.   Layout Considerations  Avoid door opening to face the toilet - When you are opening the door, you want to have a peaceful and nice view of a beautiful bath or a vanity. When designing the bathroom, Frances and her team will try to tuck the toilet away, so it is not on full view, it is aesthetically pleasing, and it gives more privacy.   Key Measurements- It’s also important to consider the standard dimensions when designing a bathroom. For instance, the toilet ideally needs a space of 900mm for comfort. Some client prefers a larger space, but White Pebble Interior team always start on a standard measurement and refer client preferences. A whole episode on ideal measurements will be covered in an upcoming episode.  Avoid a toilet in the main family bathroom – Frances and her team always suggest to remove the loo from the main family bathroom to create more flexibility for those using the spaces. It makes your life so much easier for multiple people trying to use the bathroom and the toilet at the same time.   Separate Powder room is good planning for the future.  A separate toilet (powder room) can also double up as an additional space for when you have multiple children getting ready at the same time. Having a vanity with storage is always a good idea for extra prep areas.   Which way the door swings open- Consider the swing of the door and the what it opens onto. To toilet, shower, vanity. How does it affect access?  Space is critical in a bathroom layout, so you may need to consider having a sliding door. One thing to consider on having a sliding door is it does not seal as tightly as a hinged door.    Window Placement in the Bathroom- Windows have significant impact on bathroom layout. For instance, having a window behind the vanity would cause an issue with storage as it’s difficult to place a shaver mirror above the vanity.  Sometimes windows are not even aligned with the vanity, affecting the balance of how the room looks and feels.   Shower niches- Think about locations of shower niches and their ease if installation. Solid brick exterior walls can be a problem! You need to make sure they are in the right location so they are not conflicting with taps and pipe works.   En suite Bathroom- Ensure the ensuite is closed off from the bedroom rather than open plan so it mitigates the noise, light and creates privacy. A closed ensuite also prevents hot steam that can get into the master bedroom, and walk in robe.  Accessibility- Critical to consider so spaces are planned with accessibility in mind. Ease of access to the shower, vanity, and toilet, with space in between to get around and minimal corners to navigate. A step in shower and flat floor surfaces (no lips), so nothing to trip on.    An accessible bathroom should also be designed to accommodate wheelchair users. It should also have a large turning circle.    How White Pebble Interiors work with clients in designing their bathrooms.  Bathroom and Ensuite Deep Dive Needs Assessment -   Allows White Pebble Interiors to assess what the client needs in their bathroom and ensuite before designing it.  How many people are using the bathroom?   How much storage is needed?  How do things need to be stored?  What other considerations that are personalised to your situation.    Upcoming Events    Join the '5 Costly Bathroom Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them' Webinar If you like this and want to learn more, I've got a webinar coming up on 24th November from 7PM-8PM AEDT. Click here to find out more and register. Services Available Book a Chat  If you’re thinking about renovating or creating your bathroom, get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a 15-minute chat with her.   Renovating and Building your Forever Home Facebook Group  Want to be inspired to create a home you truly love, that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive)  Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.    

In this episode of the brand new season, Bathroom Design Essentials, Frances outlines core considerations to think about when renovating or creating a brand new bathroom as part of a new build. She runs through the topics that will be covered in the season along with who will benefit from tuning in to each episode.   Shownotes:  Renovating or creating a new bathroom can become quite overwhelming, time-consuming and costly.  In this Podcast Season- Bathroom Design Essentials, Frances will discuss key considerations to think about when renovating or creating a new bathroom.   The Bathroom Design Essentials Podcast Season is created for those who are:  Thinking of, or in the process of doing a bathroom renovation  Creating a brand-new bathroom from scratch for a new home  Looking at doing a bathroom makeover  Interested in bathroom design  Wanting lots of knowledge to plan for your bathroom in the future.  Guests on the show  Experts from all areas such as material manufacturers, lighting designers, and hardware representatives, will be joining Frances to share their insight and expertise on various topics. Fabieli Fontana will be coming back in the new season to talk about bathroom floor plans. We will also have a representative from Reece to discuss taps, basins, baths and loos.  Frances will also include a special buyer’s guide on choosing toilets and baths as they are the area that people ask a lot of questions about.   What the season will cover:  Vanities and materials   Counter Basins  Different types of tiles  Colours and Decorating  Bathroom Storage  Bathroom Floorplans  Balance between functionality and aesthetic  Showers -stepping shower, wet rooms and shower base  Budget  Powder rooms  Lighting   Difference between custom made joinery and off the shelf vanities.  Frances will cover topics such as vanities and sizes.  She will also talk about the disadvantages and advantages of having above counter basins versus under mounted.   She will also run through the different types of tiles such as porcelain t and ceramic tiles.   Frances will cover the all-encompassing topic of storage to make sure that there’s a perfect balance between functionality and the aesthetic.   She will also cover off regulations you need to consider for wet areas such as a bathroom.   There will also be a very special episode dedicated just to Powder Rooms!   Decorating and choosing colours can be fun, and Frances will outline key considerations when selecting colours, as well and how to decorate your bathroom.  Finally, Frances will discuss the importance of good task lighting, decorative lighting and how lighting can make your bathroom, powder room and en suite into something special from a design perspective.  There are so many elements to good bathroom design. Join Frances each week as she runs through a different topic each week to ensure you have your bathroom design well and truly covered.  Services Available:  Book a Chat  If you’re thinking about renovating or creating your kitchen get in touch with Frances directly, by booking a 15 minute chat with her.   Renovating and Building your Forever Home Facebook Group  Want to be inspired to create a home you truly love, that is future proof and adaptable as your family's needs change? Join our exclusive (but inclusive) Renovating and Building Your Forever Home Facebook Group.   Kitchen Masterclass Webinar  If you are planning a kitchen renovation, or are building a new one, we've got you covered, in the FOREVER HOME KITCHEN MASTERCLASS on Wednesday 17th February 2021 at 7PM AEST. Register here.