kitchen with our expert advice

Modern boho

Renovations don’t always go to plan, but patience finally paid off with this calming and cohesive bathroom

Mid-winter in Christchurch and, after six months, renovators Shayden and Georgia Whipps of lifestyle blog Mooch Style (moochstyle.com) were still bathing outdoors with a shower hooked up to the garden tap! A series of unforeseen setbacks meant the planned six- week transformation of their dingy bathroom had become a six-month learning curve. “I figured it was good for your mental health, getting into a cold shower every day!” says Shayden. “But the experience means we now know what’s smart and what isn’t when planning a bathroom renovation.”

Expect the unexpected Transforming the bathroom of their 1900s villa was the final step in the couple’s first reno. “It was just so cold,” recalls Shayden. “It was all poorly painted, the extractor fan would literally fall out of the ceiling and the walls were starting to swell because it didn’t extract steam properly. We’d banked on around a month and a half for the renovation.” Unfortunately, ancient hidden plumbing, along with a six-week COVID lockdown, took them on a whole new journey. 

Before

Kitchens and bathrooms

GEORGIA & SHAYDEN moochstyle.com

Style tip You don’t have to be completely faithful to a particular era. The subway tiles and mirror nod to this home’s heritage, but have a modern edge

Before

Keeping the flow Tying the bathroom in with the rest of the villa renovation was key. White walls, along with matte black detailing, link in with the rest of the house. In homage to the home’s heritage, the couple also chose period-style finishes, such as the shiplaplook wall lining behind the freestanding bath, and intricate skirting. “It’s designed to be all really cohesive,” says Shayden.

Natural beauty Despite the hitches, the pair say the long wait was well worth it. The bathroom has been beautifully transformed into a modern space with a touch of boho styling. “It’s all the natural, soft colours that bring in the boho – the oak flooring and polished concrete basin, the timber wall-hung vanity and engineered stone top, along with the arch-shaped mirror,” explains Shayden.

Hooks from the Mondella ‘Resonance’ range in Matte Black help bring the scheme together

Timber-look laminate flooring is much warmer – visually as well as underfoot – than the previous ceramic tiles

Surface upgrade The floor tiles were replaced with oak-style laminate, while on the walls, vertically stacked subway tiles run behind the shower and into the shower niche. The striking tile design also adds a sense of height. “We saved money by gibbing, plastering and painting all the walls ready for the tiler to come in and do the more complex job,” explains Shayden.

“We were lucky that the original layout was good, which saved us money by not having to move elements around”

Shayden Whipps homeowner The black-framed shower door not only looks chic but is a forgiving choice when it comes to cleaning!

James Hardie ‘HardieGroove’ wall lining is resistant to damage from moisture

Shop the look

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1 Stein ‘Georgia’ 2000mm x 900mm x 6mm square shower door in Black, $335, I/N: 0077908†. 2 Mondella ‘Resonance’ pin lever shower mixer in Black, $99, I/N: 0045725. 3 Stein ‘Select’ 750mm wall hung handless vanity in Light, $379, I/N: 0019835 (cabinet only)†. 4 Mondella ‘Resonance’ bath spout in Black, $49, I/N: 5004238. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered. 21093853AA 2021-02-09T12:11:12+11:00 Creating order Shayden and Georgia share their top five bathroom renovation tips:

1Start a spreadsheet or diary and plan, plan, plan. Consider the bathroom’s decor theme, storage and its layout and be meticulous about the sizes of new fixtures.

2Speak to your local council before you start work, to find out what aspects of the project will need consent.

3Source licensed tradies for quotes on plumbing and electrical work, and have a contingency budget of $2000 – just in case.

4Source quality products, ensuring all are fit for purpose – for example, every item in a bathroom must be appropriate for wet areas.

5Always work with your different trades to coordinate and lock in their timings – this will help avoid delays to the final completion. ◆