Luxury D.I.Y. bathroom renovation with bathtub (2024)

This stunning bathroom makeover features brass shower hardware, frameless shower screens and stylish tiling.

The project

Our main bathroom was small and dated and had all the original features from when the house was built. We set out to design a bathroom from scratch as part of our full house renovation.

From working out how to fit a bathtub, shower and vanity into a small space to selecting all the products and finishes to create a light, bright and clean look, we completed almost every aspect of the bathroom renovation ourselves over a couple months.The only trade we employed was a plumber, who roughed in the new plumbing.What was once a dated, pink bathroom is now a light and bright space.

Demolition

We started by demolishing the whole bathroom: removing the tiles and linoleum flooring, removing the plasterboard walls, dismantling the old vanity and sink, removing the glass shower screen divider and removing the old corner spa bath.

Once the corner spa bath was removed we had to cut the slab for new plumbing wastes for both the new bathtub and the floor waste for the bathroom.

Plumbing slab work.

We gutted the bathroom, opening up the walls for new plumbing to be run, and cut the slab to create a new waste location for the shower (where the old vanity had been).

Cutting the slab for new shower waste plumbing.

Cutting our the slab further for the bathroom floor waste.

Installation

Once all the floor plumbing was done, we installed a tile-over shower tray, as well as an aluminium angle in the doorway. We then screeded the whole bathroom floor, ensuring that the screed bed fell towards the floor waste.

The materials we used included:

Bellessi Tile Over Shower Trayfrom Bunnings
Metal Mate Aluminium Anglefor doorway trim from Bunnings
Assorted PVC plumbing fittings from Bunnings
Sand and cement for screed from Bunnings
Davco tile adhesive (used under screed bedding) from Bunnings.

Screeding.

Tiling

Tiling was a tricky process but we learned a lot from our previous ensuite bathroom renovation. It also helped that we used the same tiles for both bathrooms. This time around we knew how to perfectly cut each tile without breaking and wasting too many. The White Gloss wall tiles were easy to cut with a DTA 1000mm tile cutterfrom Bunnings. The large-format floor tiles, though, proved difficult and did not cut perfectly. For those we used a diamond blade and angle grinder to make each individual cut.

Once the tiling was done, we grouted all the tiled walls.

Tiling details:

White matte Kit-Kat mosaic tiles from Facebook Marketplace
Duratile 300mm x 600mm White Glosswall tiles from Bunnings
Bellazza 600mm x 600mm Crema Porcelainfloor tiles from Bunnings
Tile-levelling clips and tile spacers from Bunnings
Davco white grout from Bunnings
Dunlop grey floor grout from Bunnings.

Floor tiles and tile-levelling clip system from Bunnings.

Gyprock Aquachek lined on to the left wall.

The long process of tiling the back wall with Kit-Kat-style mosaic tiles.

We usedgold L-shape angle tile trimto box in the niche. It was much easier to install a trim piece than to cut a mitred edge on the tiles.

Tiled right-hand side shower and wall with tiled niche.

Finishing touches

We lined the un-tiled wall to the left with Gyprock Aquachek and made it a wainscot feature wall to add some character to the room instead of having all four walls with floor-to-ceiling tile. We didn't want the bathroom to feel boxed in and it also allowed us to add a traditional element to an otherwise modern bathroom.

We installed new cornices around the bathroom, new window architraves, door architraves and bathroom door (all the same moulding that was used for the rest of the house).

Materials (all from Bunnings):

Plasterboard:Gyprock Aquachek
Joint and Hole Filler:Gyprock Ultra-Top Topping Compound
Undercoat primer: British Paints 4-in-1
Wall paint: Dulux Vivid White Low Sheen
Ceiling paint: Dulux White Ceiling +PLUS Kitchen and Bathroom
Caulking: Selleys No More Gaps Bathroom and Kitchen Gap Filler.

We were now on the home stretch! We installed all the tapware, frameless shower screens, bathtub, vanity, mirror and other bathroom accessories over a weekend and had everything siliconed and ready to use the following week. We opted for all brass fittings and finishes so that all the metal finishes looked cohesive in the space.

Bathroom details:

Frameless shower screen: Frameless Direct
Brass shower hardware: Frameless Direct
Vanity and vanity top: IKEA
Round sink: Bunnings
Sink mixer tap: Reece
Mirror: IKEA
Freestanding bath: Reece
Floor-mounted bath spout: Reece
Macrame plant hanger: Denn Lane
Sheer roller blind: DIY Blinds
Wainscot panelling: Bunnings
Wainscot panelling paint: Dulux from Bunnings
Ceiling paint: Dulux from Bunnings
Window and door architrave moulding: Bunnings
Exhaust fan: Arlec from Bunnings
Towel Rail: InStyle Bathware
Floor waste grates: Reece
Shower seal strip: Bunnings
Shower floor channel: Bunnings.

Frameless shower screen and shower floor grate installed.

Bathtub and custom sheer roller blind installed.

Macrame plant hanger and towel rail installed.

Mirror installed with wall sconces on either side.

Before and after

How to plan a bathroom renovation

No matter what type of bathroom you have, it all starts with planning and research to discover how you can make best use of what is often the smallest room in the house. Check outHow to plan a bathroom renovationby experienced Bunnings Workshop memberAdam Woodhamsfor advice on how to redesign your space.

More bathroom renovation ideas

For more inspiration check out ourTop 10 most popular bathroom projects, and let us know if you need a hand with your project. We're here to help.