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Top 10 design tips for a really great bathroom

July 17, 2013

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From using epoxy grout to avoid mould, to not having a freestanding bath unless you really have space, to embracing shallow basins and making good use of lighting, Darren Genner knows a thing or two about creating stunning bathrooms, and he shares his tips with us today.

Top-tips-minosa-free-standing-bath_Minosa Open Plan Ensuite PAP_01

1. Find a designer you like/love, employee them to design and create a plan and then stick with it. It is not as expensive as you may think. Remember, designers have the experience as they do it day in, day out.

2. I am unsure how the bathroom storage unit got the name vanity. It should have been called “bad storage” as the plumbing takes up a lot of these old-styled cabinets. Think about recessed wall cabinets at eye level or offset joinery. By recessing the storage at eye level, it is easy to access, you can see the full contents and it can look a lot better. It allows you to do something special with your wash basin.

Minosa Parents Retreat_Floated vanity_PAP_01

3. Wash basins have really advanced in the last 10 years. It used to be either ceramics or the odd glass bowl; they now come in a host of materials, shapes and forms. First, really understand the material you are purchasing as there are a lot of polyester-based products on the market. They will absorb stains and they have the potential to change colour due to the material makeup, in most cases poor quality. If alternative material is what you are looking for, make sure it is made from something reputable like Corian by Dupont. Corian has been in the marketplace for 50 years, it is tried and tested and backed by incredible warranties. For those that like to think about their environmental footprint, it is a great choice.

A Corian basin
A Corian basin

4. I know I covered wash basins in number 3, but they’re so important to us, we developed our own range! It is a myth that we need a deep bowl to prevent splashing. If you understand how water performs under different flow rates or pressures, you’ll find it isn’t necessary. Our shallowest wash basin is only 23mm deep and by implementing our water control system, there is absolutely no splashing.

Minosa's Puddle basin
Minosa’s Puddle basin

5. Mosaic tiles have got a little bit of a bad rap over the years, not for their look, but more so for the grout. Most hate the mould and grime that appears. A simple solution is to use epoxy grout systems such as the one Bisazza supplies. This will eliminate the mould issue as it is practically glass and becomes a dream to clean.

Top-tips-minosa-mosaic_Minosa_ScoopED_Latitude_005

6. The difference good lighting can make to a space is incredible. It is key to know there are three different types of lighting scenarios: room lighting, task lighting and accent lighting. When you apply all 3 of these together, you get a layered lighting scheme. In a nutshell, room light is general room light, which can be created by an uplight that is pointed at the ceiling, giving you refracted light, or from a recessed LED light that becomes the primary light source. Task lighting is there to help you perform tasks. Ladies need an even dispersion of light on both sides of their face for doing makeup. Accent lighting is not always possible in bathrooms but if you have the space, a pendant hanging over a bath or by the basin can be a lovely touch. The accent light could be sensor operated so when you enter the room, it engages with you.

MB0511055

7. Oversized tiles give us a chance to eliminate the grout lines and give the visual feeling of more space. With strip drains, we can slope the tiles in one direction instead of the 4-way falls of days gone by.

Minosa Powder Room Pap_01

8. The in-wall cistern can change the look of a space dramatically as you can remove a tall piece of gloss porcelain that can be very unattractive! Don’t worry about the cistern being in the wall, it is fine there. You only need access to the flushing valves and moving parts and these can be accessed through the push plate (buttons). Remember, all of your plumbing runs through the wall anyway.

This toilet has a concealed cistern in the wall
This toilet has a concealed cistern in the wall

9. Personally I cannot get enough of getting bathroom layouts right. A central dividing wall to conceal loo and shower can make a real statement In the bathroom. It means you can tuck the things you do not want to see away from view (even behind doors) and have only the items you like to see in view. This concept is seeing doorways become larger and even walls coming down in ensuite/parents’ retreats, which personally I think is fantastic. Additionally, tucking things away means the space can be shared by more than one person at a time, making it multi-functional.

minosa-design-fresh-white-bathroom-parents-retreat-carrera-marble-bisazza-rain-white-victoria-albert-bath-claw-scooped-recessed-hung-lift-shaving-cabinet-hidden-toilet-shower-design-chandelier-led-01

10. In Australia, it seems like you cannot have a bathroom design without a freestanding bath. People are trying to squeeze them into the smallest of spaces but we need to remember that they are called freestanding baths for a reason! Freestanding baths are wonderful when set in the right bathroom design but you need to be clear of a wall, or you’ll have a lot of issues with cleaning and potentially mould. From a design point they can look squashed and they lose their strength.ย 

Darren Genner is one half of Australian luxury bathroom brand Minosa Design with fellow designer Simona Castagna. ย All of the bathrooms pictured feature Minosa designs or products.ย 

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The renovation of this 80s beach shack @camillo_ho The renovation of this 80s beach shack @camillo_house is a work of art and while almost every surface was updated, the decision to keep the original slate floor was genius if you ask us. 

Owner @clarehillier__ says: "With its purple, pink, red and brown tones, the slate was the starting point for our interior palette."

Come and check out the before and afters via link in bio now and read the reno story. It's a real beauty.

And you can book it for your next holiday too!

Blair Smith Architecture @kateshanasy

#slatefloor #slatefloors #80shouse #80sbeauty #camillohouse #interiorsblog #interiorsblogger #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #realreno #holidayhousesofinstagram #morningtonpeninsulahomes #morningtonpeninsula #morningtonpeninsulasmallbusiness #blairgowrie #blairgowriebeach #airbnbstyle
Me and my boys ๐Ÿ’— Me and my boys ๐Ÿ’—
Just a couple of dorks who've been friends for thr Just a couple of dorks who've been friends for three decades going out for a child-free dinner ๐Ÿ’“๐Ÿ˜
Excuse me while I die of a cute attack ๐Ÿฅฐ @damia Excuse me while I die of a cute attack ๐Ÿฅฐ @damianfrancis 

This doesn't happen often these days!
Hello friends! Just thought I'd say hi. Two weeks Hello friends! Just thought I'd say hi. Two weeks since leaving hospital and I'm doing much better than I expected to be at this early stage. A long recovery road ahead but making progress in how much I can move my arm and although I drag myself through some days non-stop yawning, others I can go for a little walk or out for lunch before collapsing on the couch! I can now tie my own hair back and put on a real bra which is very exciting ๐Ÿคฃ Having my bestie here to help us with the boys, drive me places and just be brilliant positive company is the best thing I could have asked for not to mention the many Dinner Ladies vouchers from friends! Thanks for all your kind messages, cards, flowers, gifts and offers of help โค๏ธ
I definitely feel like a statistic now but hoping I definitely feel like a statistic now but hoping to raise some awareness off the back of my misfortune (and also very lucky escape).

@newsouthwaleshealth have just put out this warning about a rise in serious bacterial infections. iGAS (invasive group A streptococcus) is what caused my necrotising fasciitis and sepsis.

Apparently there's similar happening in VIC too.

It's extremely rare but very serious nonetheless so please have a read and be aware of symptoms. I've linked to the article from a button via my link in bio.

#interiorsaddict #jenbishop #necrotisingfasciitis #groupastrep #groupastreptococcus #sepsis
While new technologies continue to shape the inter While new technologies continue to shape the interior design scene, one that has been getting a fair bit of traction of late isย marble-look porcelain. A cheaper alternative to natural stone, the latest printed porcelain tile technology makes it difficult to distinguish from the real thing.

Founded by husband and wife duo Anton and Rita Bourtsev, Sydneyโ€™s @kaolintiles has a unique offering in this space with over 100 different marble-look tile designs in small and large formats.

More via link in bio now.

#porcelain #porcelaintile #porcelaintiles #largeformattiles #largeformattile #marblelooktiles #bathroomtrends2023 #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #heartyourhome #realrenovations #goldsink #brasssink #jenbishop #kaolin #kaolintiles #interiorsblog #interiorsblogger
Promise this is the last wretched hospital photo I Promise this is the last wretched hospital photo I'll post and I hope to be home and with my lippie back on by Monday. You know it's serious when I'm lipstick free, right?!

This was about a week ago in intensive care. And although my arm is still bloody sore I'm now on a normal ward and no longer attached to any drips, drains or a catheter. I've come a long way.

This has been the most physical and mental challenge of my life but I'm through the worst. I kept my arm. The doctors saved my life.

I cannot say it enough times. If you're worried about your health, don't hang around. Things can change so quickly. 

A huge thanks to my amazing husband @damianfrancis We've had the hardest year yet and our marriage has never been stronger, even if my rings did get cut off my finger in hospital ๐Ÿ˜œ

As great of a job as he is doing at home with the kids, I cannot wait to get home now. Countdown is on to a new year and a fresh start.

And I can't say enough just how overwhelmingly grateful I am to all the medical professionals involved in my care, from the @healthdirectaus nurse who sent me to Emergency to the exceptional surgeons, doctors, nurses and support staff.

Happy New Year, everyone. Remember you never know what's around the corner and this is not a dress rehearsal!

And huge thank you for all your kindness here. Has been amazing while stuck in bed.

Xxx

For those who missed it, I was unlucky enough to get necrotising fasciitis. You'll have to Google it.
The unluckiest girl or the luckiest? Day 6 in int The unluckiest girl or the luckiest?

Day 6 in intensive care after suddenly coming down with a very serious necrotising fasciitis in my elbow on Sunday. Four operations later (with more to come) I'm out of the woods, alive and have my arm. But I won't be going home until after Christmas. Also picked up a bonus bit of pneumonia to keep things interesting.

I won't lie. This has been super super hard but I feel extremely lucky nonetheless. Have come across some exceptional surgeons, anaesthetists, doctors and nurses who have been incredibly kind at my most vulnerable as well as great at their jobs. I'm really grateful. Huge thank you to my amazing husband who is holding down the fort with the help and cooking of our wonderful friends. And to friends who check in, send love, flowers, snacks and sushi, I will never forget it.

Of course I will be sad tomorrow but my boys can visit and we will have another Christmas next month.

I'll leave you with this. Never ever ignore those health niggles. @healthdirectaus is always a great starting point.

Wishing you all a merry Christmas and will enjoy everyone else's celebrations on here with only a hint of bitterness ๐Ÿ˜‰

PS. Does this win the most unflattering photo of me ever published? I think so! No lippy for a WEEK.
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About Jen Bishop

Jen Bishop is our owner and publisher and an experienced journalist and editor. Interiors Addict has been her full-time job for more than 8 years. She is married to Damian and mum to Sebastian and Charlie.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarJodie says

    July 24, 2013 at 7:53 am

    Thanks for the great tips, especially about the 3 types of lighting. Off to do more research.

  2. AvatarClare McIntosh says

    October 7, 2013 at 9:22 am

    Hi there do you know the brand of pendant light in the bathroom you show? would like these for ours thanks

    • AvatarJen Bishop says

      October 7, 2013 at 9:38 am

      Best to contact Minosa, contact details at the end of the post.

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