Ensuite Renovation Before Tour

Well it’s been a long time coming but we are just about to completely rip out our existing ensuite and re-do it.  It’s a beautiful room.  But it has some plumbing and waterproofing issues that need to be rectified.  While I undertake the necessary work, I’ll take the opportunity to add some features whilst still maintaining the character and overall aesthetics of the room.  Here’s a tour of how the ensuite looks now.

Here’s a video I made that gives you a tour of the room and talks you through what I’m planning to do and why.

The double ended bath and large antique mirror are definitely the main features of the bathroom, and I am planning on keeping both of these.  The mirror is from The Paddington Antiques Centre.  The crystal pieces on the shelves are form Botticelli House (also at the Paddington Antiques Centre).  To me modern conveniences plus vintage pieces are the perfect solution.

The pedestal table is from the Wooloongabba Antiques Centre and I painted it with Annie Sloan chalk paint in Pure White.  Not only does the table hold bathing essentials such as bath salts, soaps and scented candles, it also fills what would otherwise be an empty corner.

I am really hoping that my builder can remove the marble top vanity from the wall without the marble cracking.  If anyone can do it, he can!  The vanity unit was custom made by my neighbour who is a cabinet maker.  I love the his and hers sinks and the drawers and cupboards give us plenty of storage.

I love the shape of the sink but I’m not fussed on the taps.  The spout’s pretty, it’s just the taps.  I’m on the hunt for some replacements, but I’ll have to stick to a three piece tap set as there are 3 holes drilled into the marble.  If the marble cracks and needs to be replaced, I’d consider installing a mixer tap.

The art decor mirrors are in keeping with the period of the house, but I’ve chosen new mirrors that are narrower and taller so they add height to the vanity.  I also plan to install wall sconces either side of the mirrors.  To do this I need to install a wall in front of this wall in order to hide the wiring as this wall is only a single sheet wall.

The toilet is a fixture I’m hoping to keep, but tiling the floor means the floor level will increase 40-50mm.  It’s likely that we will have to remove the bottom sill of the window in order to fit the toilet underneath.

There are 3 things I need to fix about the shower:

• Create a niche in the wall for storing all the shampoo, soap and toiletries
• Replace the shower head with a shower head on a hose to make cleaning the shower easier
• Replace the floor tiles so there is the correct fall, and the water flows towards the drain.

I’m so lucky that there were so many good features about this bathroom.  Like these acrylic towel rails.

And the vanity is great – if I can just get it out in one piece!!!  Here’s something you won’t see in the video – look at that decorative plaster ceiling.  You don’t get that in a new build.

So that’s the before tour.  Be sure to subscribe to keep up to date with all the changes as they happen and to see the final result.

If you have any questions about bathroom renovations, please ask in the comments below.  Stay tuned!

Yes – that is my hand you see in the mirror and the tripod to take the photo – Just keeping it REAL!

I'm Kylie, and I love to share practical home decorating and styling tips. I'm a qualified interior designer and self taught crafter and DIY'er. I'm addicted to decorating, and can't walk past a homewares shop without going in for a look. I live in a 1930's Queenslander in Brisbane's inner suburbs which I'm turning into a home one project at a time.