Small bathroom ideas: An incredible before & after

Home to Pinterest partner manager Kim Hollis, is it any wonder that this luxe Sydney bathroom renovation has serious design cred? But creating a moodboard was just the beginning of the road for Kim, who engaged interior designer Agnes Sweijer to bring her Pinterest board to life. “I hired a designer as I felt very daunted about what could be done in such a small space. I’m so glad I did as it was money well worth spending!”

While Kim had some non-negotiables for inclusion in the new space (a laundry, bath, sliding door and better lighting), she enjoyed handing over the reins to a professional. “Agnes somehow worked out my style and did a great job of working through the details for functionality as well as design. She also saved me so much money and time! She had the experience to estimate that things would be expensive and knew where I could save,” says Kim of the renovation that cost $50,000 in total; around $20,000 in design fees and materials and $30,000 for builders and trades.

The bathroom’s timeless palette of white, grey and black is complemented by the stunning mirror and feature light combo that hang above the vanity. “I hadn’t expected how useful they would both be and how much they would add to the space in terms of design,” says Kim of the items that serve to open up the internal room that has no natural light.

A bath was another one of Kim’s must-haves which wasn’t the easiest thing to achieve in such a compact space. “Initially Agnes warned me that the cost and ease of build would be better with a shower, but I still really wanted a bath. It was tricky to get a smaller size for my apartment but it’s a key feature for me and it’s luxurious to use,” says Kim.

Taking place over five weeks, and carried out by Ironbark Carpentry and Construction, the renovation was not without its challenges. The location, in inner-city Potts Point, meant limited parking for builders and the transformation was subject to myriad strata rules including restricted times of work, restricted use of the lift for deliveries and reliance on approvals by the building’s manager.

“Every apartment building has its struggles with height restrictions, delivery times, approvals and working in and around neighbours. But this one’s city location also didn’t help given suppliers were not around the corner,” says Lachlan Illingworth, director of Ironbark.

For any apartment dwellers looking to renovate, timing, planning and a hefty dose of patience are absolutely crucial. “There is timing and then there is timing in apartments. It’s essential that all fixtures and fittings are on site or in stock so there are no additional holdups on site. There are often delays with trades, deliveries and suppliers so being able to adjust and take it all in your stride is essential,” says Lachlan, who explains that a bathroom generally takes four-to-six weeks to complete.

He is also careful to warn clients that what may look best on paper may not always be the most practical and achievable solution on site; having plans is a great starting point and communication is essential. “Sometimes you need to work on the fly to ensure what is able to be achieved still works with the initial concept and overall theme of the space.”

Photography: Darian Woods of Surf 2 Summit Media

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