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Before & after: A fabulous $550 DIY bathroom makeover in Adelaide

February 5, 2021 2 Comments

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When writer, stylist and former magazine editor Alexis Teasdale bought her 1920’s Tudor-style home in Adelaide a few years ago it was with a view to renovating it. But with three small children and no clear renovation direction as yet, she decided on a low-cost DIY main bathroom overhaul in the meantime.

“The bathroom is in a bit of an odd spot and comes off a living space that you can see from the kitchen. It’s also the logical bathroom for guests to go to, which is why it’s been high on my makeover list,” says Alexis of the space that is part of a nineties extension to her heritage home.

Before
BEFORE vanity
AFTER vanity
AFTER vanity

Completed for just $550 (which includes the purchase of two lots of paint after Alexis wasn’t happy with her first choice), we love how she’s managed to transform the space on such a modest budget. “The plan was never for this to be anything fancy. I really wanted to just paint the tiles and do the floor. Then it occurred to me that I could easily change the handles and the mirror, and once I found the black arch mirror it all came together,” says Alexis.

AFTER
AFTER

A key renovation component was the flooring – after agonising over paint colours for weeks, Alexis opted for Winton vinyl floor tiles from Bunnings instead. Having used them in another area of the home, she felt confident to use them again. After watching several YouTube videos, she scrubbed, sprayed and washed the original tiles with mould protector before fixing the new vinyl ‘tiles’ on top with adhesive.

The most challenging part about using the vinyl tiles was cutting them to fit around door jambs and the toilet. “You need extra tiles on hand because that is so easy to mess up. And don’t tile over the drain in the middle of the bathroom as it’s hard to go back and cut it out. Take it from me!” says Alexis.

BEFORE
BEFORE
AFTER
AFTER: Alexis gave the ‘tiles’ a light sand to take the glossy edge off and so that her children wouldn’t slip

Next up Alexis painted the bathroom’s wall tiles and benchtops with Dulux Renovation Tiles and Benchtops Paint in ‘Snow Season’ – not an easy job given her family needed to use the bathroom throughout. “This was not ideal, but I chose some really hot days for quick drying time and I will say the paint dries remarkably fast!” says Alexis.

AFTER: Alexis sourced the wall shelves from Kmart for $19 each

Floor and wall paint aside, it’s the finishing touches that really elevate the room. These include handles, a towel ring, toilet roll holder, towel rail, bathroom shelving, mirror, accessories and plants. “My favourite buy was the Kmart arch mirror which was an absolute last-minute decision,” says Alexis.

AFTER
The Mondella towel ring was $24 from Bunnings

“I am shocked by how happy this little space makes all of us. I’m also really proud of myself for having a go. It could have all gone pear-shaped, but it would have been easy to fix, so why not have a try at DIY. You might just surprise yourself!”

For more on Alexis

Real reno: This incredible bathroom makeover cost just $2,000!
It’s fair to say that we’re privy to plenty of renovation projects here but there’s something about this one that really piqued our interest. Aside from its stunning good looks,…
How to paint tiles and save a fortune!
By Naomi Findlay It’s no secret that kitchens and bathrooms are the highlights of the modern home. A tacky blue tile in the shower or 70s floral design can make…
Bathroom BEFORE
Before & after: A fab bathroom reno for under $2000!
Located in the Melbourne suburb of Cheltenham, this dated brown bathroom received the makeover treatment recently at the deft hands of Amelia Boal from Soleil Styling and Design. Inspired by…

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The patient has very much bounced back! Letterbox The patient has very much bounced back!

Letterbox kinder egg deliveries from a friend, dressing changes without a flinch and refusing to nap despite all the bribes (check the face on him in pic 3!).

Thanks for all your care and messages/comments for this tired and shaken up mama! Now very relieved and grateful 🙏
Before & after It's not just the award winning de Before & after

It's not just the award winning designer houses that get us excited here. It's also the beloved family homes which are renovated and extended to make them fit for purpose so people can continue to live where they love 🤗

@inspiredspacesaus helped her clients with teenage kids transform this house in Sydney's Hills District inside and out, making it their forever home. 

Due to the nature of the block they could only extend sideways and then gave it street appeal with render, new windows and doors.

See inside on the blog now, via link in bio. It was completely overhauled!
Charlie doesn't recommend running head first into Charlie doesn't recommend running head first into tiled steps 🤕

Oh what a night. Thankfully Hornsby Hospital were as amazing as always and we avoided stitches. All taped and glued  back together and now to keep him calm for the next few days (🤪) and watch for signs of concussion. 

Bravest little patient ever. Yes I've had a 🍷

Funny how we go into super organised mama mode in times like these. Grabbed dinosaurs, textas and scrapbook on the way out in case we had a long wait!

UPDATE: thanks for all the love! Charlie is so well this morning after a big sleep!
Australian made bathroomware is seriously impressi Australian made bathroomware is seriously impressive!

The new @studio.xox ONLY sells Australian brands. Like @nood_co coloured basins, lead-free eco brass from @faucetstrommen and @lindseywherrett's  ceramic basins made by hand in Tassie.

And as for their Sydney showroom (they also sell online): WOW.

See and read more on the blog now via link in bio.

#interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop
#creatingbeautifulspaces #homestylingdesign
#designbywomen #homestylingtips #sydneycreatives
#homestylingsydney #interiorstyling #interiordesignsydney
#everydaydesign #interiortrends #renovationinspiration
#homedesigninspo #lovemyhome #stylingdetails
#loveinteriors #homeimprovements #interiordesignaustralia
#dreamhomeinspiration #homemakeover #personaldesign
#interiordesignaus #creatingbeautifulspaces
#creativehomes #housestyling #sydneyhomes
#interiorinspiration #myhomedesign
I'm THRILLED to be an ambassador for the brand new I'm THRILLED to be an ambassador for the brand new @madeinaustshow in Sydney this August.

🦘🐨Forget every tacky association you ever had about touristy Australian made and prepare to see a showcase of the best of home, lifestyle, fashion and beauty made right here. If the pandemic has made you appreciate buying local even more, this is for you.

It's the first business to business trade event connecting retailers with Australian made products to champion our local makers🙏

Apply to exhibit or find out more at their website, via their bio, now!

Are YOU buying more Australian made post covid?

#madeinaustralia #australianmade #aussiemade #aussiedesign
Do I recommend a timber vanity top? A big fat NOP Do I recommend a timber vanity top?

A big fat NOPE! 💧 

Which is why we have recently covered ours with a Caesarstone top (thanks to @justinplace_sydney for the advice and supply) and the sweet RELIEF of not having to worry about this high traffic area anymore, I'm telling you!🤗

Doesn't matter what they tell you or how many times it's sealed, I'm not sure it's a great idea in a room which is so, well, wet!

I love having the warmth of timber in the bathroom and it's a beautiful piece, but timber on the top? Never again.

Ours probably lasted a year (if that) before it started to go downhill (and we want a good decade out of a bathroom, right?!). 2.5 years on, everything else in this bathroom looks virtually brand new and the water marked vanity top was really letting the side down and making me sad!

But I'm so pleased with this solution, I have to say! Took the plumber less than an hour to remove the sink, install the top and connect the sink back up. We didn't need to move the tap and it isn't too close to the basin.

The kids are allowed to brush their teeth and wash their hands (liquid soap 🥴) in here again and I can leave my hair straightener on there with gay abandon 😆

The reflective surface (which I can clean with whatever I like!💪🏻) brightens the room up too!

Next week I'll tell you what I really think of my brass tile trim too 😉

#interiorsaddictbathroomreno2 #interiorsaddictfamilyhomereno #timbervanity
Is there a more decadent and delicious soup than F Is there a more decadent and delicious soup than French onion?

I think not!

Grab the recipe on the blog this morning via link in bio.
Get to know me! I haven't done one of these in YE Get to know me!

I haven't done one of these in YEARS so there's possibly thousands of you who don't know my back story. Here's a few things you may not know about me!

✔️ I'm English 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 and I moved here (just for one year) back in 2008😆 

✔️ I can't end the day without a bath, even if I get home really late or on a really hot day. It's a mental health thing and my happy place. 🛁 

✔️ Before becoming a blogger and running my own small business, I was a journalist from the age of 18. My favourite news gathering times were as a newspaper crime reporter (bit different to interiors!) 📓 

✔️ I once worked at New Scotland Yard in London 🚔 

✔️I had an interview at Oxford (didn't get in!) but chose not to go to uni at all after being offered a job on the local paper #universityoflife 😁

✔️ My mum died when I was 3, I have an excellent dad and one sister (younger) in the UK ❤️ 🇬🇧 

✔️ At school, my favourite subject was French 🇫🇷 and I was head girl 🤓🤓

✔️ I'm addicted to ☕️ , long hot baths and💄 (been wearing it since I was about 14!)

✔️ I'm not a phonecall person and will never ever pick up an unknown number. Ever. They can leave a message 😁

✔️ My favourite cuisine is Japanese 🍣 🍜 and Damian and I honeymooned in Tokyo and Venice 

✔️ I have zero design qualifications. I just started blogging about my passion, which is trying to persuade everyone to #heartyourhome That was 11 years ago...

✔️ My favourite tipple is a good GnT or🍷 

✔️ Cheesy as it sounds, 💁‍♀️being a mum is my absolute biggest joy in life 🧒👦

✔️ I will never give up my old school paper diary! Has to be A5 and week to view 📖 

✔️ My official surname isn't Bishop. I kept my maiden name for work after I got married but changed it for everything else. Often confuse myself!

✔️ I didn't get my Ps until I was 37 and I'm still a terrible parker 😯 🅿️

Hope you feel like you know me a bit better 😘

📸 @vanlowvanlow
Blue, green or lilac? 🎨 @nood_co coloured con Blue, green or lilac? 🎨 

@nood_co coloured concrete basins is a great Aussie business success story. Although co founder Matt Di Costa first found fame as one half of Matt and Kim on The Block, he hasn't relied on this to build his brand.

“We are very honoured to have been a part of The Block, and all they have done for us. I am, however, a believer in letting the product take centre stage,” he says.

Read our interview with Matt via link in bio now.

🙏Share your favourite colour basin in the comments!

#colouredconcrete #noodco #colouredbasin #blockheads #the block #bathroomtrends2022

Pic 1 by @naibudesign_ and 2 by @twostyleinteriors
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Amy Collins Walker

About Amy Collins Walker

Amy is our regular feature writer, an experienced journalist and interior stylist living in Perth, Western Australia. Find out more about her styling work at http://www.amycollinswalker.com/

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarV says

    February 7, 2021 at 8:53 pm

    Lovely update . Didn’t know you could paint over tiles, I just assumed you needed professionals in for that. Great to know that isn’t the case.

    Disappointing to see an icon displayed like that. It may be just a pretty knock knack or artwork to some. But keeping an icon in a bathroom is probably inappropriate.

    Reply
  2. AvatarArthur says

    February 8, 2021 at 5:35 am

    A great change in colours, makes a much nicer bathroom.

    Reply

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