DO THIS AS WE SPEAK // AKA ACTION THIS DURING THE MODULE
HOT TIP
WATCH THIS
LOOK THIS UP
WRITE YOUR QUESTIONS DOWN
We want you to have fun with this! Creating your space should be a creative outlet where you can express your personality and improve your day-to-day
A couple of things to note to get you started:
- Please follow the modules in order, as we are sharing our design process with you and this is the order that will get you feeling confident in your design
- Get comfortable and set up a quiet zone.
- Please do not share this content with anyone This license is for personal use only, meaning it cannot be distributed or sold commercially You may not reproduce, modify or redistribute this content for any purpose other than approved in these Terms, or distribute it to a third party for any such purpose without our written permission. Although we ’ re all about sharing knowledge at Folk, we also need to ensure we protect all of our hard work
- We have created this course in the hope that it appeals to most, however, there will be things that don't relate to your renovation You may want to still read through this module and write notes. It may be useful for you in the future!
Have a question for us? Email us at hello@folkstudiodesign com
Every great design has a great story behind it. You have to remember that your home is an extension of you, so the story behind the design should somewhat mimic the way you live or the way you wish to live - what does this look like? Your lifestyle and occupation play a huge role in telling this story, however, so does the environment and the area in which you live.
Often an analysis is completed first, outlining the essential needs of the project It is from here that you will establish the parameters – defining the limitations and opportunities of the project brief. Of course, this project is your own so you may think that outlining a brief is silly, however, you are your own client and you still need a written brief to refer back to throughout the renovation
Let's get started - get your pen & paper ready!
How would you describe your lifestyle?
What does your ideal sanctuary feel like (note, we said "feel" not "look")?
What sounds do you hear from your home? e.g birds chirping or the sounds of a bustling city
How do you see yourself (and your family - if any) now?
How do you see yourself (and your family - if any) in the future?
What is your project's name? eg Smith St Home
Is there anything that currently gets in the way of you enjoying your home every day?
What would be nice to have, would make things easier, make you happier?
Is there something about your current home that you'd like to never (ever!) see again?
Write down words that describe the overall design aesthetic, look, and mood you are drawn to (you can write words like, ‘Scandi’, ‘Coastal’, ‘Modern’, etc ), as well as any thoughts you have about your reno. Reference colours, textures, and materials (warm, timber, natural, raw organic, etc.).
As designers, we live by the saying, "form follows function" and this is the basis of all good design. We have only done half our job if the space looks great but doesn't function for the client. You need to ask yourself the following: what is the story here (room by room)? How will I use the space now and in the future? Will each item in the space serve me well each day and make my life easier in some way? What brings me joy when I walk into a room that I love?
TASK: Research or go to a space that brings you joy Maybe this is your local coffee shop, an interior of a home you saw online, or your friend's home? Write down three things in these spaces that spark joy (don't be afraid to say "the comfortable seating or the warm lighting"). Remember, you simply don't love it just because it's pretty, there is a reason that this space evokes a certain feeling within you
Grab a pen & paper and write three things I love about this interior:
More?
Now write your brief:
Example:
"To create a family-friendly home that feels tranquil A home that provides a creative and sunlit sanctuary for our family to grow, play, wonder, create and expand. Through the use of durable and timeless materials, we want this home to withstand the test of time for future generations to enjoy "
Pasting images on a page may seem like a pointless exercise, but as designers, even when we have completed hundreds of projects we still start with a mood board This is the anchor for all projects You may think you have a particular look and feel in mind but nearly all the time, once you start mood boarding the look and feel evolves as you put all the imagery and materials together.
- Start by signing up for Canva - you only require the FREE version
- In the Canva search bar, type in "Moodboard" and choose a free template that suits your style, or start fresh with a blank page
Open Pinterest - if you don't have an account, sign up now.
- You can simply copy images from Pinterest and paste them into Canva
Don't fall into the trap of thinking that your mood board should display literal pieces you are including in your design A mood board should be a collection of pieces, some that you are including but mostly images that exude a mood, the mood you are wanting in your space. Think of the mood board like a recipe, you ' re not putting an image of the end result, but the ingredients to get to that end result. We like to add the following to our mood boards:
- A mix of materials i.e. timbers, tiles, colours
- 1-2 images of a reference interior (an interior that really captures your look)
- 1-2 images of actual pieces you are putting into your design
- 1-2 conceptual images that evoke a feeling i e water or a texture
https://www youtube com/watch?v=QVWDeIfYOK4 HOW
https://www youtube com/watch?v=VMXe5qhF-U0
You can make multiple mood boards for your project It's great to start with an 'overall' mood board, which is the overall feel of your whole home, and then create moodboards per room
PS. THIS IS A BIG CHAPTER BE PREPARED
Kitchens are undoubtedly the most difficult room in your home to design. There are so many decisions needing to be made and most people don't understand what items they need and where to begin
We suggest always choosing your appliances first. This is because the layout of the kitchen is designed around these appliances.
We've created a checklist with everything you need to consider for a kitchen Whether you are using a joiner to create this kitchen or you ' re purchasing a flat pack kitchen from Kaboodle or Ikea, you will still need to make the same decisions on the below items.
Kitchen Tap / Is it a pull out tap or regular spout?
Sink / Is it undermount, overmount or barn style?
Benchtop Material & Thickness / Are you having engineered stone, marble, timber, etc.? Is it 20mm or 40mm thick?
Cabinet front material / Do you prefer timber veneer or polyurethane cabinet fronts?
Fridge / Free standing or integrated?
Oven / Wall oven or base cabinet oven?
Cooktop / Gas or induction? 4 burner or 6?
Rangehood / Integrated or in full view?
Handles / Integrated seamlessly within the joinery or face fixed?
Pull out bin / Don't forget to include this in your base cabinet drawer space if you have the room!
Kitchen lighting /
Do you require strip lighting under the wall cabinets and do you want decorative lighting above the island? (if you have one)
Splashback /
Are you having tiles or does your benchtop stone continue up the wall cabinets?
Cost-effective option
Easy to clean
Available in a range of colours & finishes - plain or woodgrain look
Edge tape required and may peel off over time
Difficult to repair
Ability to match to any paint colour within your house, e g Dulux, Taubmans, Porters Paints
Different strength options - full, half, quarter
Different finishes available - satin, matte, semi-gloss & gloss
No edge tape required (creates a seamless finish)
Durable & easy to clean
Can have a routered profile, e g V-Groove or Shaker
Can be re-sprayed if wanting to give your kitchen a 'facelift'
Variety of species, colours & grains to choose from
Environmentally friendly
Can be stained to match existing timber within your house
Creates a soft, warm feeling
Cannot have a routered profile as it will reveal the substrate
Must have a polyurethane clear coat added to it
Difficult to repair
Can discolour over time due to UV exposure
Similar to most finishes, if hit hard it may chip
If using a gloss or matte finish, fingerprints may be more visible
$ $
$ $ $ $ $ $
WHAT IS TIMBER VENEER?
https://gfethers.com.au/2021/01/27/all-you-need-to-know-about-timberveneer/
WHAT IS POLYURETHANE?
https://www harringtonkitchens com au/polyurethane-kitchens/
WHAT IS LAMINATE (MELAMINE)?
https://kitchencabinetkings.com/glossary/melamine/
“A HOUSE IS MUCH MORE THAN A MERE SHELTER IT SHOULD LIFT
PROS CONS
Achieve a 'natural stone' look without breaking the budget
Durable man made material that is more scratch & chip resistant than natural stone
Non-porous & easy to clean
Variation of texture/pattern isn't as varied as natural stone
If exposed to intense, direct sunlight it may discolour over time
$ $ $ $ $
PROS CONS
Durable natural material
Depending on supplier, you may be able to have fun with selecting different coloured shades of concrete
Custom thicknesses available
Similar to natural stone, it is a porous material that is susceptible to stains & scratches
$ $ $ $ $ $
No slab is ever the same! Huge variety of texture and patterns
High UV resistance
Porous material that must be sealed regularly to protect from stains Can be easily chipped & scratched as it's a soft material
More expensive than other benchtop options
If engineered stone or concrete is your preferred choice, we would suggest getting 2-3 quotes based on a rough sketch with dimensions as pricing will vary depending on the supplier used
Varies between 600 - 900mm Ideally the size of the rangehood is the same size as the cooktop or slightly larger
Varies depending on kitchen size
Varies depending on kitchen size
If you have a builder on board for your renovation, he will organise the trades. This trade list is for those that are self implementing their project and hiring trades themselves
To demo an existing kitchen (if applicable). You may be able to take this job on yourselves, just make sure the appliances and/or gas and power have been disconnected by a certified trade prior.
The plumber needs to disconnect your old sink and cooktop (if gas) prior to demo Once everything has been installed, the plumber will come back to reinstall cooktop (if gas), water and taps.
The electrician will disconnect your old power outlets (GPOS) prior to the demo and move/add power (if applicable) to areas needed for the new design Once the kitchen is nearing completion, the electrician will come back and fit off power and install the oven, rangehood, electric (induction) cooktop.
What is a joiner/cabinet maker?
A joiner is someone who specialises in manufacturing custom built in cabinets They will design cabinets/furniture that is made to fit perfectly within your space.
Your joiner or flatpack company will most likely be able to organise/manage the supply of the stone
Find a great joiner (if your budget allows) and receive a couple of quotes Otherwise, companies like Ikea or Kaboodle do kitchens that you can customise for a great price
If you are having a tiled splashback, you'll need a tiler Check that he/she supplies grout and silicone and let them know your preferred grout colour and tile layout
C O N C E P T
02 04 06
C H O O S E T I L E S / S T O N E & O R D E R A P P L I A N C E S
Choosing your appliances first is essential as you, or your chosen joiner/flatpack company will design your kitchen based on the appliances selected If you have chosen a flatpack company such as IKEA or Kaboodle, start to look at your kitchen configuration and layout limitations If your kitchen budget is flexible/beyond 20K then you may prefer to use a joiner You will need to contact a joiner well in advance, as they are usually booked for quite some time If you are using a builder, they may have a nominated joiner. 03
Visit local tile & stone suppliers to select your finishes Check the lead times on each item & ensure they will arrive on time You may want to refer to our kitchen checklist to ensure you don't miss any appliances If you have locked in a layout for your kitchen, you should get 1-2 quotes for stone.
You may choose to do this yourself or your chosen joiner/handyman can do this for an additional cost Make sure your gas/water/electrical items have been disconnected prior to the demo This means you will need your plumber to disconnect gas and water and your electrician to disconnect anything electrical
C O N T A C T T R A D E S F O R R O U G H I N J O I N E R Y C H E C K M E A S U R E
Your chosen joiner will do a final measure on-site before they begin manufacturing your joinery or you will conduct a final measure prior to ordering joinery from a flatpack company If you ' re using a flatpack company then double-check all the dimensions and make any final adjustments, remembering that you shouldn't be changing the layout drastically as the plumbing and electrical rough in has taken place already
What is rough in & fit off?
Rough in is a term referring to when a plumber/ectrician installs the initial stages of wiring/plumbing services in the wall
27
08
After your joiner has completed a check measure, they will manufacture the cabinetry (this takes a number of weeks), and once completed, they will install the joinery If you are using a flatpack company, your order will be on its way in a matter of days, so make sure you have space to accommodate the vast amount of boxes that will be delivered We suggest hiring a flatpack installer who will put the kitchen together for you as it's incredibly time-consuming (if you don't want to murder your partner, we suggest hiring someone that puts together flatpack kitchens together every day)
At this point, you will contact your benchtop supplier to come and conduct a check measure (if you ' re installing a flatpack kitchen). If you have hired a joiner, they will organise the stone check measure on your behalf. All your cabinetry has to be installed before the check measure can take place. Make sure your sink, tap, and cooktop are on site to show them.
09 10
Once your benchtop is installed, it means that your tiled splashback can be installed (if you are using tiles here) The tiler can tile your splashback, the day after your stone has been installed It's important that the stone glue is dry before anyone continues work in the kitchen, hence why you should wait a day 10
Organise a plumber & electrician to fit off your new appliances/kitchen lighting and powerpoints and try to schedule this in for the day after the splashback has been installed
If you are using a flatpack company, we suggest not using their tapware, stone, splashback, handles, and appliances Simply use them for their cost-effective cabinetry and customise everything else Some of the most beautiful kitchens circulating on the internet are flatpack kitchens with beautiful finishes If you are using a joiner, make sure you specify your own handles and choose your own stone benchtop finish, leaving this to a trade isn't always the best idea
Because you can customise your kitchen to suit your needs, make sure you ask yourself the following questions to ensure your kitchen functions perfectly for you:
How many drawers do you need? Look at your current kitchen and see if you think you may need more drawers or fewer?
How many GPO (power switches) do you have in your kitchen right now? How many do you need for the new kitchen? Would it be beneficial to also have charging outlets in the GPO switches for phones?
How do you want your kitchen to function? Is it the space in which everyone congregates at the end of a long day or is it purely to cook with no social agenda?
Which cabinet front appeals to you?
Do you want handles or no handles on your cabinets?
Which benchtop do you want to include in your kitchen design?
What benchtop edge detail and thickness do you like?
Now, let's see if you were paying attention
What is the 1st and 2nd step in the timeline when designing a great kitchen? No peeking!
Name the trades/suppliers needed to self implement a kitchen reno?
Before choosing your stone, ensure you visit your local Caesarstone/Quantum Quartz/Smartstone showroom to view the large-scale slabs
-Keep in mind freestanding fridges will protrude out as they're usually greater in-depth than your benchtop
- If you ' re after a seamless look, opt for an integrated fridge as it will be concealed within your joinery
- We prefer to have integrated appliances in smaller kitchens so that the appliances don't become the feature of the kitchen If you have a smaller kitchen, you don't want a large stainless steel fridge to be the focal point If your budget allows, aim for an integrated fridge and dishwasher.
- If you are keeping your freestanding fridge, try and place the fridge on either end of your kitchen that is the least visible when you first walk into the space.
Choosing engineered stone is a great way of spending less yet still being able to achieve the same look and feel of a natural stone without breaking the budget!
If you ' re happy with the current layout/configuration of your existing joinery and would prefer to just upgrade your finishes - contact your local joiner for a quote to re-spray your cabinet fronts & arrange for a quote to change your stone benchtops By keeping the kitchen carcass /changing the cabinet fronts, updating the stone, and changing the tapware, will save a huge amount of money If you ' re happy with your cabinet fronts but you have an outdated splashback (A glass Bunnings splashback - no thank you) then simply have this removed and choose a beautiful stone or tile to be installed in its place
Another face-lift suggestion would be to remove 1-2 overhead wall cabinets and replace these with floating timber shelves, this adds a personalised touch to a kitchen and allows you to display some of your treasured items or a beautiful hanging plant.
We suggest using Ikea Kitchen Planner Again, we suggest purchasing stone elsehere and not ia Ikea. We also sugget purchasing your tapware and kitchen splashback elseere too You would then purely be orering cabinerty and all the kitchen accessories/statement piueces elsewhere
Ikea Kitchen Planner: https://www.ikea.com/au/en/planners/ikea-kitchen-planner-pubdf9bf290
We suggest using Ikea Kitchen Planner and ordering the Carcass (the interior of the cabinetry) and purchasing the cabinet fronts elsewhere There are companies now that will create custom cabinet fronts to match Ikea carcass sizes
Ikea Kitchen Planner - removing the cabinet fronts, any tapware, sinks and handles that are automatically applied in the planner and ordering the carcass only.
Then you will order the cabinet fronts separately, stone, tiles, tapware and handles Cabinet front companies that match Ikea kitchens: https://www customea com au/contact https://www.doorsanddrawers.com.au/
Contact a joinery company and have them come to the site and conduct a 'check measure ' and run through the design. You'll need a Pinterest board, have your appliances confirmed, know what stone you want and a general idea of the layout you want They can then assist you in drawing a kitchen layout.
The bathroom is often a relaxation zone, and often the location to our morning and bedtime rituals You want your bathroom to feel like a spa. Invest in a couple of pieces that truly spark joy and hunt for a tile, a light, or simply towels that are unique - don't play it too safe
At Folk, we are suckers for good bathroom lighting We never design bathrooms without wall lights This allows you to bring a bit of personality to the space and will ensure your bathroom feels warm and inviting and not clinical
The key to a great bathroom is including luxurious details We suggest adding soap holders or hand towel holders, beautiful body washes, soft towels, and room mists. Allow some room in the budget for these finer details, as they make the world of difference
Tap / Bench mounted or wall mounted?
Vanity / Floating or freestanding?
Toilet / Wall hung (concealed) or freestanding?
Wall Storage /
Do you require storage or prefer a fixed mirror?
Lighting /
Will you be having any wall lights or LED lighting?
Wall Tiles /
Are you having a feature wall or are all tiles the same?
Basin /
Are you having an undermount or above bench basin?
Towels / Will you have hooks, heated or non heated towel rails?
Add items to your checklist that are suitable for your design:
If you have a builder on board for your renovation, he will organise the trades This trade list is for those that are self implementing their project and hiring trades themselves
To demo an existing bathroom will require a skilled trade as there is heavy machinery required i e jackhammer
The plumber needs to disconnect your water prior to demo. The plumber will come back for rough in and fit off.
The electrician needs to disconnect your power prior to demo. The electrician will come back for rough in and fit off
Your tiler should also have a waterproofing license - make sure you ask this. They will tile, grout, and silicone your bathroom. Ensure you specify what grout and silicone colour you want.
What is a joiner/cabinet maker?
A joiner is someone who specialises in manufacturing custom built in cabinets They will design cabinets/furniture that is made to fit perfectly within your space
You may purchase your vanity from a bathroom supplier or you may also want a custom vanity made by a joiner You also may have additional storage/joinery required in the bathroom that has to be made.
You will need the glass supplier to come to site and measure the fall so that the glass mimics the fall on the floor (if you have a builder, they will measure this for you) The 'fall' refers to the degree to which the tiles slope for the water to run toward the waste
Once the tiles are removed from the wall you may require a renderer to come and smooth out the wall if there is a lot of remaining glue
We often like to choose large scale floor tiles, this means you have less grout lines which means cleaning is minimised
If you ' re on a tight budget, we suggest a large format wall tile to be on your walls. Large format plain tiles are very cheap in comparison to handmade, mosaic tiles
All your walls in the bathroom can be tiled in a feature tile, however, if you ' re on a tight budget we suggest leaving the wall behind your vanity as the 'feature' wall This is when you choose a tile you absolutely adore and feature it on one wall only If you prefer/your budget will allow, you can have all the walls tiled in this beautiful tile
When choosing your tiles, it's important that the floor and wall tiles complement one another. If you are on a tight budget, we suggest choosing a large format tile (they are large tiles that are usually very cost-effective) for most of the walls in your bathroom and having one feature tile (usually a more expensive/statement tile) for one wall. When selecting a feature tile, you may choose a different colour, texture, or scale. People often think a feature tile has to be a colour but this is certainly not the case For some of our projects, it means we may specify a simple white tile on all walls but one, and the feature tile is a beautiful handmade white mosaic with a raw texture.
Have a look at the mood board you created for your bathroom What type of tiles are you drawn to? Does the imagery you have included in the mood board have a feature tile or are the tiles consistent throughout?
A great insight into various tiles and slip ratings: https://surfacegallery.com.au/helpful-facts
If you ' re on a tight budget, we suggest only tiling your shower area/any wet areas and leaving the other walls painted.
If you ' re on a tight budget, we suggest a large format wall tile to be on your walls other than one. Large format plain tiles are very cheap in comparison to a handmade, mosaic tiles
Many people do this if they love a statement tile but don't want to overwhelm the space and aren't fans of a feature wall We suggest tiling 1200mm up from the floor on all walls other than the shower area (of course, this has to be fully tiled).
You may want the space to be fully tiled We often love this option if you want your tapware to take a front seat, as having a fully tiled bathroom creates a beautiful base for stand-out tapware
If you are installing clear glass or reeded glass screens into your bathroom, make sure the glass panel clips match your tapware.
What is a glass panel clip?
http://www abiinteriors com au/product/kason-shower-screen-clip-brass
We pair it with white/grey tiles
We pair it with white tiles
We pair it with terracotta/clay tiles
We pair it with green tiles
We pair it with dark grey tiles
There are many grout colours, however, these are our ' go to' colours
Look up: https://ardexaustralia com/tools/grout-colour-selector/grout-colour-selector-fg-8/
List your favourite tiles for the following applications (remember to include the tile name and supplier)
Floor Tile Favourites:
Wall Tile Favourites:
Feature Tile Favourites - if applicable:
List the trades you need for your bathroom renovation?
Complete this task now You may not know where to start but it's ok if these tiles change by the end of this course You may find some great suppliers/tiles in Chapter 5, where we gives you a list of our favourite suppliers.
Research your favourite tiles online
What trade may you need to consider if the walls aren't level after the bathroom demo (if applicable)?
There are 2 main types of downlights available: Recessed - recessed which is concealed within the ceiling Surfaced - surface mounted to ceiling
The reason that would choose surface downlights is if they have a concrete ceiling, or may be on a lower level of their aparment building, without easy access to the electricial wiring within their ceiling.
This form of lighting is purely used for aesthetic purposes, with an added bonus that it gives a lovely glow to the space! It can be installed around the perimeter of your mirrored cabinet, or alternatively underneath your vanity (if it's floating).
A great way to create mood lighting within a space, especially at night It's also more of a forgiving light on the face due to the warm effect it creates.
If you aren't moving your plumbing, check where your waste is situatedchecking if you have a floor waste or wall waste. Older bathrooms usually have floor wastes. This means that your plumbing will be shown if you have a wall-mounted/floating vanity If your plumbing is indeed coming from the floor, ensure you choose a vanity that goes to the floor If you are redesigning a space, we suggest ensuring your plumbing is inwall, so you have the ability to hide plumbing and have a floating vanity and wall-hung tapware
The plumbing for the sink is coming from the wall (not floor) and concealed in the vanity.
Our Adams st Project / The plumbing for the sink was coming from the floor, therefore the plumbing is concealed in the vanity. However, we moved the plumbing in the wall to allow for a wall-hung tap/mixer
FWhether you have storage in your mirror or not is completely up to how much you may need to store/how many people are using the space.
If you have ample storage in your vanity, aim to have a non storage mirror There are more beautiful options to choose from when it comes to non storage mirrors.
Bathroom mirrors don't have to be the traditional rectangle white/mirrored boxes we are used to seeing in bathroom showrooms; this is your chance to add some warmth, colour, or texture to your bathroom Think about introducing a mirror with a timber or brass frame to match your tapware? Whether you need extra storage or happy with a standard mirror, don't waste the opportunity to make your mirror another beautiful feature of the bathroom
Hide your powerpoint inside the vanity mirror (if it's a storage mirror). You don't want to be brushing your teeth and looking straight at a GPO (powerpoint) This is often missed and the electrician will place the powerpoint where he thinks the bottom of the mirror will be, which means it's right above your tap Ensure you have your vanity tap and the mirror is chosen well in advance, so you can map out where the powerpoint will sit inside the mirror. Also, be aware that some storage mirrors have pre-cut holes for a powerpoint, so you have to work with this
If you aren't using storage mirrors and don't want to see the powerpoint, have your electrician install the powerpoint to the side of your vanity (directly on the vanity)
D E M O
01
02 03 03
P L U M B I N G R O U G H I N
Rough-in refers to the bones of the plumbing works Concealing water pipes, plumbing wastes, and frames behind the wall and in the floor.
04
E L E C T R I C A L R O U G H I N
Electrical rough-in includes all the cables and wires that sit behind the wall. Your electrician may need to make holes in the plaster to allow for feeding through wires
R E N D E R E R
Any last touch-ups to imperfections such as repairing any cracks in the walls or ceiling, to ensure a smooth finish for painting/tiling
W A T E R P R O O F I N G
Here is where the team will start prepping your bathroom for the job Demolition will take place as required and the early building phase will commence. 05 03
The waterproofer will prep and prime the area, before applying at least two coats of material. It is important to use a licensed professional to ensure this step is done properly
06 T I L I N G
Floor, wall, and any niche tiles will be laid This involves proper placement, spacing, grouting, and may necessitate cutting off some tiles to fit 07
08 09
V A N I T Y I N S T A L L
E L E C T R I C A L F I T - O F F
Your electrician will install light fittings, exhaust fans, heated towel rails, and other electrical items.
P L U M B I N G F I T - O F F
Your plumber will complete the installation of toilets, tapware, showers, and drains
S H O W E R S C R E E N
If your vanity has a stone benchtop, the check measure can now be conducted by your stonemason. 10
The installation of your shower screen will include measurement and checking before final installation 11
A C C E S S O R Y F I T - O F F
Final touches to the bathroom include towel rails, hooks, toilet roll holders, and shelving
Bathrooms should feel like an oasis, a space where you feel incredibly relaxed in What are you going to include in your bathroom that gives this space a sense of luxury?
Why is it important to have a wall light in your bathroom?
Name your top two tapware finishes i e brass, chrome, matte black?
Name three words that describe the style of your dream bathroom?
Name three words to describe the way you want your bathroom to feel?
What do you want to notice first when you walk into your bathroom? This is your personal preference, maybe it's the feature tile or your incredible bath.
When you re-tile your bathroom, your builder (if you have one) may ask you if you want to lower the floor so it's flush with the hallway To be cost-effective, allow for the small step
The last thing you want to do is have your lighting placed incorrectly, creating unappealing shadows when you look in the mirror Consult with your electrician to discuss what works best within your space.
If you have a small bathroom, a hinged door into the space takes up a lot of space, we suggest a cavity slider or an external barn door to maximise the space within your bathroom
Make sure you come up with a game plan of where you may stay for a couple of days, as there will be a few weeks that you you don't have any running water in the bathroom, so you'll need to rely on friends to use their showers
You'll need to get strata approval and they will simply need to know what trades you have involved (business names), your budget for the bathroom, and the general scope of work. You'll need to obtain the tilers trade certificate and the 'waterproofing' certificate too I'd aim to get approval 2-3 months prior to construction.
Save on materials and labour in bathrooms by tiling only 1200mm up from the floor - except for the shower area of course
There are so many great online tapware suppliers now so you should take on that responsibility yourself by finding the items you love and ordering them direct, rather than the trade This removes the mark-up your tradie would have passed on to you as well as their charge for the time spent sourcing and purchasing the tapware P
You may not have the finances to hire a builder to organise all of the trades for your bathroom reno (To Project Manage). Project managing isn’t for everyone though – it’s very time consuming and can be stressful juggling all of the trades and as you can see, there are a lot of trades involved in a bathroom renovation. If you want to manage the reno yourself, I would suggest asking your friends and family if they know any good trades and reach out to them As well as this, start getting comparative quotes using apps like 'HiPages' which makes it very easy to get quotes from a number of different tradespeople in your area.
Less is more We collect furniture pieces, we inherit pieces, and we buy pieces we don't love simply for their function over aesthetic... We all do it. You need to purge and think about every item as serving a purpose Some have only function, some only have aesthetic, and some have a dual purpose Whatever its use or look, you need to love it. This is when your space becomes an extension of yourself, not a mixmatch of pieces that aren't truly adored We would also like to mention that yes, some pieces are only aesthetic and that is ok It's been drilled into us that this is not ok, but yes, this is what makes a house a home, it's having a mix of pieces that serve different uses and purposes The sole purpose of a vase or chair can be its viewing pleasure
When we reference 'artwork' people often think of a large-scale painting or print We can actually mean having something in your space that's impactful, sculptural, unique, and thoughtprovoking This can be through the use of a sculptural plant, ceramic, lighting, or mirror If your budget doesn't allow for a painting or print, think about introducing an incredible wall mirror or a show-stopping/sculptural floor lamp.
Look back at your concept board as referencewhat is the mood and style that has been created? Use this as the basis of choosing all your decor and furniture Does your mood board evoke a sense of calm and the feeling of cosiness? Then ask yourself, is this lamp, coffee table, vase, etc all going to assist in the creation of this feeling?
Your base colour is usually depicted by the floor and walls If you have white walls and timber floors, you have a fairly natural pallet and your base colour is white and brown/beige If you like to play things a little bit safe/want to ensure you love the base tone of your room for years to come, people often decide to match their sofa (usually the largest piece in a living room) to the base colour This means they work along the lines of white, brown, beige, and grey Your accent chair and coffee table should also work in with the base colours, meaning they should be in similar tones to the greys, browns, whites, and beiges.
Have fun with this! Our clients with children, tend to lean towards making their statement pieces an artwork, a beautiful wall-hung mirror, or an incredible armchair - pieces that aren't touched/used as often as other living room pieces If you don't have kids, then we suggest introducing your statement piece through the means of an incredible sofa or unique rug
As mentioned above, you have a base tone for the living room, which basically sets the colour of your canvas The best way to add accent colours is through interchangeable items i e decor We suggest using cushions, rugs, ceramics, coffee table books, and plants to introduce pops of colour Choose 3 colours you want to introduce as your accent colours and you can have various tones of the same colour throughout the room ie if a burnt terracotta colour is one of the accent colours, then you can also introduce a lighter or darker tone of this through different decorative pieces. Some people decide they want a piece of furniture to highlight one of their accent colours and they do this with armchairs, lighting or their sofa
There are so many ways to introduce texture to your living room! Try introducing a stone or textured fabric into the space The easiest way to do this is by choosing a coffee table or side table with a stone top (maybe it's concrete or marble) or having beautiful linen curtains as your window coverings Another way to easily introduce texture is through a rug or cushions Your rug could tick both of these boxes, it could have a beautiful texture and also have a subtle pattern.
Many people forget how important scent is when it comes to styling You want to appeal to all of the senses, so make sure you choose a scent that fits the style/feel you are trying to create.
There are many criterias to consider when selecting accessories and the following list is a great starting point:
As with sourcing furniture, designers utilise the project brief to establish accessory selection parameters. The type of accessory refers to whether the piece will be purely aesthetic (like an artwork or a sculpted object) or dual-purpose (like a beautiful vase that also holds flowers)
The application can refer to how it will be used; will it have a varying purpose during different times of the year (for example, a knitted throw rug that may be purely decorative during warmer months but used to keep warm in winter and autumn,) will the selected piece need to be moved from space to space in which case you will need to consider how the design qualities of the accessory work with other spaces in the interior environment
Accessory selection and spatial arrangements: Refers to the actual items you select as a part of your accessorising process and how they are arranged Again, this approach will be determined by your overall design rationale for your home
This process will dictate how many accessories will be required, whether they are purely aesthetic or dual-purpose and what their lifespan will be (seasonally changed, permanently curated or on-trend and possessing a shorter lifespan) You should examine key principles –space, repetition, and grouping.
When styling your coffee table or shelving, try the trusty triangle method This showcases different treasured items in the perfect formula:
1x-2x books stacked
1x taller styling accessory to sit on the books
1x shorter accessories like a candle or low bowl
You can repeat this on shelving creating various heights and shapes
“IF YOU WANT A GOLDEN RULE THAT WILL FIT EVERYTHING, THIS IS IT: HAVE NOTHING IN YOUR HOUSES THAT YOU DO NOT KNOW TO BE USEFUL OR BELIEVE TO BE BEAUTIFUL.”
Here in Australia, we love bringing the outdoors inside The best way to do this is to bring green life into your interior spaces We have listed some great indoor plants we often use in our interior projects, however, lighting/placement of the plant is crucial. There are some hearty indoor plants that we often include in interiors
FIDDLE FIG DEVILS IVY
If you have a small living area aim to purchase sofas that are off the ground/have legs This will create the illusion that the space is larger than it is because you can see more floor space
If you have a larger living area, modular sofas that don't have legs are better suited
Every designers pet hate When the rug is too small for the furniture You have to consider what items you need to frame. Most likely you need to frame a sofa and a coffee table and sometimes you may also have to consider framing an armchair. Our rule of thumb is for a rug to sit halfway under a sofa and come out approx 400mm on each side.
Remember to first measure your sofa and have a coffee table chosen before ordering a rug You want the rug to come out enough so that it frames the coffee table.
Purchase Rug underlay from Bunnings or Ikea, this will ensure your rug doesn't slide around
Consider having additional mood lighting in your living space and master bedroom. You don't want downlights shining down on you when you ' re watching a movie at night, nor do you want it to be pitch black, therefore decorative lighting gives you more options to create various moods in these rooms. Decorative lighting can also be seen as an opportunity to introduce another colour, form, or texture. We view decorative lighting as a crucial element in styling any room - have some fun with it!
We often like to add a side table next to a sofa (if you have the room) and style it with a table lamp. This is great if your sofa is quite long and you need additional table space, therefore a side table and lamp is a great option in addition to a coffee table A side table lamp is a great decorative option and enables you to add some added texture or potentially a colour to the space
We often suggest introducing a floor lamp to sit next to your sofa (if you have the room) This will add a sculptural element to the space too
We love using wall lights in our projects, they can be artworks in themselves If you are fully renovating your home, then plan the position of the wall light early on so the electrician can rough-in. This means you should have a good idea of what furniture you ' re using. For example, if you are planning on having a wall light next to your sofa above a little side table, you will need to know the length of your sofa or if you plan on having a wall light above your bedside table in your bedroom, then you will need to know what size bed you have, as well as the bedside tables height/width
For those that don't want something so permanent, the best option is to introduce a wall light that doesn't have to be hardwired into the wall and can simply be plugged in See examples on the next page
When purchasing pendant lights, make sure the pendant comes with the cord and ceiling rose If you have high ceilings (higher than 2 7m) you may have to order another 'cord set' that is 3-4m and your electrician can then cut the cord to the length required.
If you don't want to pay for the labour of changing the pendant light location, you can think about putting a hook in the ceiling and looping the pendant over the hook and hanging it this way. Sometimes we do this simply for the look - if you ' re going for an understated/raw aesthetic this may work well for your home
Where do you think you'll include decorative lighting?
When choosing pendant lighting, what is a major consideration you need to think about when ordering the light?
If your sofa is 2400mm L, approximately how long should your rug be?
What comes first, the coffee table or the rug?
What larger pieces can you introduce to style a space instead of artwork?
What is the base tone of your living area?
It may be difficult to answer this now, but what would your ideal statement piece for the living room be?
Choosing the perfect white is a difficult task for many (after a while all the swatches start to look the same no fun) We have listed our ' go to' interior wall colours below
Warm whites assist in softening spaces that don’t get much sun. We use warm whites in many of our interiors because warmer whites pair nicely with raw materials, such as timber and concrete. Warm whites often have a pink or yellow undertone.
Cool whites are perfect for modern, crisp spaces Most Cool White paint colours have a blue undertone and are best used to soften bright light We love using cool whites in interiors that have a fresh, coastal vibe
When specifying paint, the colour name and code are important, however, the sheen level can determine the durability of the paint as well as the way the colour is reflected back into the space The same colour specified in different sheens can have varying differences
Generally, when a high gloss is specified the surface can reflect elements and even expose flaws in the surface of the wall. The flatter the sheen, the less reflection occurs. Applying a flat or low sheen finish to older, heritage walls or ceilings can be beneficial as they can hide any defects in the existing wall surface.
https://www.dulux.com.au/services/paint-calculator
https://www dulux com au/inspiration/the-design-files/choosing-whites
Here are our ' go to' paint colours and finishes for walls, ceilings and trims.
Colour/Name: Choose a colour from our favourite whites on page 73
Finish: Low Sheen
Colour/Name: Dulux Ceiling White
Finish: Flat
Colour: White Dulux Aquanamel®
(water based - interior only)
Finish: Low gloss
If you ' re on a tight budget, think about only having the walls painted and not the ceilings or window trims. Any timber work, such as window trims, door trims, doors, etc. will increase the cost dramatically as woodwork/trims are more labour intensive for painters. You can always start with your walls and/or ceiling and leave the window trims and skirtings for stage 2.
Once you have selected colours for your walls, ceiling & trims - provide the below info to your painter and all the hard work is done for you
Collect paint swatches from Bunnings & stick to your wall to see which colour works the best within your space Remember to look at the colour throughout the day as lighting plays a major part to the colour!
Mr & Mrs. Black are renovating and have a $100,000 budget. The pie graph below shows how they have broken up this amount into each area. Depending on what your budget is, it's recommended to follow the percentages as a guide
Wet Areas
Flooring
Painting
The Unexpected
Lighting
KA full kitchen renovation will cost about $30,000 and upwards if you look at the Kitchen checklist, this is a good indication of all the moving parts and trades/suppliers you will have to pay to achieve the look you want Joiners, Tilers, Plumbers, Benchtop suppliers, appliances, etc
If you are on a tight budget, then you may consider a flatpack kitchen from companies like IKEA or Kaboodle. For a flatpack kitchen, you will be paying upwards of $8,000 depending on the size/range you choose
BPeople are often surprised at the price of a bathroom renovation Bathrooms are the most expensive room in the house to renovate, even if you have a small bathroom. This is because bathroom renovations require nearly every trade under the sun - plumber, tiler, electrician, painters, carpenter, etc Our rule of thumb is that whatever your budget is for a bathroom, half of this will be spent on labour, so if you have $20,000 to spend, $10,000 of that is materials and the other half is for trades. This means that your tapware, glass, vanity, bath (if you are including one), mirror, toilet, and tile choices will have to be very costeffective options to maintain that $10,000 allowance for materials
We often say that $20,000/$22,000 is the minimum spend on any bathroom if you are outsourcing all of the work
Before you begin your renovation, set up an Excel document or Google Doc so you can track how your budget is going If you'd prefer an app specifically made for budgeting, jump onto the App Store and download one that suits you best. You can also assign someone in your household to manage this to ensure you stay on track
Note - this may not apply to you if you already have a builder, as they will organise this for you You may also not require these trades for your renovation We recommend doing this for the following trades/services: joiner, floor sander/staining and painter
On the schedule guide, there is a 'Price' column. Ensure you add the price in once you have confirmed the amount with your supplier. This is especially important when it comes to tiles! After purchasing your supplies, highlight what has been purchased and what hasn't, seeing this visually always helps.
You will see on the schedule guide on page 83, we have highlighted 'critical path items'these are items that should be ordered first and prioritised in terms of your budget. Whatever is left after these items have been purchased should be put towards styling your space
Renovations unfortunately don't always go to plan, so keep aside 10% of your allowance for any unexpected occurrences This will help you to stay within your estimated budget!
If you decide to change your mind about certain aspects of the renovation, prepare for the timeline of events to go off course. Installations may be delayed and additional labour time may be added depending on the change so always try and stick to the plan to avoid any disappointments.
A schedule is your go-to document that outlines all of the information for the products/materials that you will be using within your renovation
It is usually created within Excel and is broken up into separate categories (see next page). Each 'sheet' is used for a different category, however, if your renovation is small you may want to combine all of the categories onto one sheet
Schedules are used to document furnishing selections and include information such as quantities, material, suppliers, location, costing, and lead times Your schedule will make everything much easier for ordering through referencing material and finishes to trades This includes providing the item and location, ordering codes, sizes, supplier details, quantity, cost and an image reference.
Depending on the size of your renovation, you may not use all of the categories listed below For example, you may only be re-styling your space and redoing your flooring, so you would only include a furniture, paint and flooring categories
Tiles - includes all tiles within your house, e g floor, wall or any splashbacks
Flooring - this could be timber, carpet, concrete
Furniture - sofas, chairs, rugs, tables, mirrors
Lighting - pendant lighting, LED lighting, wall lights, downlights, lamps
Hardware & Accessories - handles, towel hooks, toilet roll holders, hand towel holders
Tapware - includes all tapware for kitchen, bathroom, laundry
Appliances - includes all appliances for kitchen & laundry
e g sink, dishwasher, oven, cooktop, rangehood, microwave, washing machine, dryer
Paint - includes all paint for ceiling, wall, architrave, skirting
This is to identify which area the item is going and a brief description Refer back to the example above
This is where you put in the name of the product. If the product has a code, make sure you pop this in here too! Adding in the size of your item is always helpful
This is where you list the finish of your material, e g matte, polished, gloss
Include an image of your selected product here. If you ' re unable to find an image of the product in your selected finish, write under the image "Grey pictured above" so there is no confusion!
This is where you write down the name of what company will be supplying the product Note, if the product you ' re getting is a particular brand but isn't sold directly from them, write down the name of the distributor to avoid any confusion.
This is a crucial part of the tile schedule Some tilers may go ahead and use their preferred grout colour without consulting with you first, so this is an essential way of avoiding any disappointments
Ensure you check with your supplier the lead time on your chosen product and write it down in your schedule so you can keep track of dates Include any other important notes in this section too
Always add 10% to your square metre calculation - this is to ensure you have enough to cover the space There are websites that can calculate the tiles for you, all you need to do is enter in your dimensions
Once you have retrieved a quote from your supplier, put in the price per square metre. This is a great way of keeping track of your budget.
Using the guide on the previous page, open Excel and create your own schedule. Once you have created all the columns/headings you require for your renovation, begin entering in the information
DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER YOUR ENVIRONMENT HAS ON YOUR MENTAL AND PHYSICAL WELLBEING. DESIGN WITH PURPOSE AND UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR HOME IS AN EXTENSION OF YOU.
Our supplier list has taken years to create. Of course, we only work with like-minded, organised and generally great companies, therefore, it has taken years to curate a list of suppliers that we trust and love Finding different suppliers that suit different price points is incredibly time-consuming and is the most valuable resource we have as designers - we often tell people that as designers, our main job is to be the Yellowpages for all interior item
NAME
Academy Tiles
Artedomus
Di Lorenzo
Perini
Surface Gallery
Surface Society
Tile Cloud
Tiles of Ezra
WEBSITE
https://academytiles com au/index php
https://www artedomus com/
https://dilorenzo com au/
https://www perini com au/
https://surfacegallery com au/
https://www surfacesociety com au/
https://tilecloud com au/
https://www tilesofezra com/
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Image 1: https://www laminex com au/article/south-yarra-house-lande-architects
Image 2: https://www dwell com/photos/kitchen/appliances--wall-oven/backsplashes--mirror
Image 3: https://www estliving com/est-edit-dark-timber-kitchens/
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Image 1: https://www.threebirdsrenovations.com/blog/itsthedetails
Image 2: https://www estliving com/embracing-nature-in-an-architectural-hideaway/
Image 3: https://www mimdesign com au/project/rel-residence/
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Image 1: https://sk pinterest com/pin/577797827203375897/
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Image 1: https://www lo-ar be/projects/residence-p
Image 2: https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/676595544031436333/
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Image 1: https://www elle com/nl/interieur/binnenkijkers/a36540997/binnenkijker-jaren-30huis-heemstede-obradov-studio/
Image 2: https://www stiltje se/
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Image 1: https://www estliving com/spaces/mb-apartment-bathroom-by-bokey-grant/
Image 2: https://www.thepalmco.com.au/blog/2021/3/3/captured-hemma-interiorsblushing-bulli
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Image 1: https://www.houseworkshop.com.au/
Image 2: https://www.estliving.com/northcote-house-melanie-beynon-architecture-design/
Image 3: https://decus com au/portfolio/coastal-home-2/
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Image 1: https://www thebluespace com au/products/loughlin-furniture-marley-curved-vanity
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Image 1: https://almostmakesperfect com/our-master-bathroom-the-reveal/
Image 2: https://www adoremagazine com/blog/bathroom-trends-timber-vanities
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Image 1: https://thedesignfiles net/2021/04/homes-jenna-josh-densten-north-melbournefamily-house/
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Image 1: https://www westwing it/inspiration/lifestyle/sostenibilita/design-sostenibile/? utm source=pinterest&utm medium=referral&utm campaign=ugc&utm content=ecofriendlyca
sa 2 06 02 21
Image 2: https://www apartmenttherapy com/love-fiddle-leaf-figs-check-out-rubber-treeplants-237504?utm source=pinterest&utm medium=tracking&utm campaign=inline-img-share
Image 3: https://nestingwithgrace com/my-complete-houseplant-guide/
Image 4: https://www purewow com/home/designer-styling-tricks-beautiful-home?
amphtml=true&epik=dj0yJnU9OEh5VFUySTE4WERNX1JUQko3RmxaZEZFZzdvOGVlNTgmcD0wJm 49VUxMTmhHYm40THpQVHhWbFVDc05pQSZ0PUFBQUFBR0o5MXlr
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Image 1: https://www.fewandfar.com.au/collections/wall-lamps/products/lagoon-rattanwall-lamp
Image 2: https://www anchorceramics com/forms/earth-light
Image 3: https://clostudios com au/collections/lighting
Image 4: https://clostudios com au/collections/lighting
Image 5: https://clostudios.com.au/collections/lighting