What do you do when you’re on the fence about a reno project? Start demolishing! At least that’s what Lucy did to kickstart her DIY ensuite makeover, leaving her with no choice but to charge full steam ahead.
“Intrusive thoughts of ripping out our ensuite began consuming my days. As my Pinterest board grew and grew I couldn’t take the anticipation anymore and I spontaneously started demo. This is a trick I use against myself, because once you start ripping things out, there’s no going back!”
With a solid plan to avoid plumbing and do 95% of the reno herself, Lucy put her DIY-prowess into play. It may have taken six months of hard work, but the result was a stunning ensuite transformation that oozes peace and has a home for everything.
Lucy’s original 1980s ensuite. Image: supplied
A dreamy transformation. Image: supplied
Renovation Details
Time taken: 6 months
Location: South Australia
Budget: $6000 (approximately)
About the project
While there wasn’t anything functionally wrong her her original ensuite, a mission to modernise more of her home pushed Lucy headfirst into her ensuite makeover. And she went into it with a motto: “If a guy can do it, I can do it.”
The reno was a labour of love done almost singlehandedly. Image: supplied
“I always go into things with blind faith and confidence but in saying that, this isn’t my first rodeo. I’ve tiled multiple times in the past, made many, many reno mistakes and have a shed full of tools accumulated and donated by family members.”
Built in the 1980s, Lucy’s home features raked timber ceiling and a lot of slate. While some people are quick to replace slate floors, Lucy chose to hang on to the home’s history.
“I like to keep a little history of the home in every room I reno, I love the character it brings. I really like black accents with our timber ceilings and the texture and charm the slate gives. So for me, it was an easy decision to keep it, especially because changing it would have added a lot to the budget.”
The timber and slate weren’t going anywhere. Image: supplied
“I definitely always try to make my house look different to everyone else’s, whilst also trying to design a look that I won’t regret when trends change! All of the door handles/hinges and tapware are already brass in the home so I continued that theme in the ensuite. As for the tiles, the vibe was timeless, calm and almost monochromatic. I was worried that tiling floor to ceiling would make our ensuite look like a tomb but now that it’s finished, I love the elegant simplicity of it.”
Biggest Challenges
Lucy explains that among the countless stages in the project, demolition was one of the toughest tasks.
Demo proved challenging. Image: supplied
“I didn’t want a step up into the shower and this meant using a concrete saw and jackhammer to level the shower base from its original height. I work shiftwork as a paramedic and have two young children, so would only get a day here or there to work on it.”
Equally frustrating was how long she had to wait for trades. Her plan of not using plumbers out the window, Lucy was forced to move the shower taps to another wall and she also needed an electrician to disconnect and reconnect the vanity lights so that she could tile.
Lucy did all the tiling around her job and parenting. Image: supplied
“I made lots of little mistakes, but the only one that bothers me is the ‘lippage’ on some of the wall tiles. I chose a beautiful 600 x 600 travertine wall tile and tried my hardest with the levelling wedges and spacers to have them all sit flat next to each other. My issue was the fact that I had to work and parent around tiling. This meant that when I would finally get the chance to do the next row of tiles, of course, the glue had set, and the old tiles couldn’t be wedged up to level with the fresh row.”
Biggest Triumphs
Beyond the beautiful design and perfectly curated additions, Lucy says the true highlight of her new ensuite is the vibe.
The ensuite oozes ‘peace and calm.’ Image: supplied
“My favourite thing about the new ensuite is the way it makes me feel. All of my renovations are purely aesthetic. I’m such a visual person and when something looks pretty, new and clean, I feel at peace and calm. Also, face-level storage is a game-changer.”
Warm tones create a welcoming vibe. Image: supplied
Advice to people with a similar project
When it comes to advice, Lucy has plenty! But some of her most important tips include the inspiration stages and having the tenacity (and courage!) to dive in head first.
“Watch YouTube tutorials. Make yourself a Pinterest board. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and ask your local hardware store guru and tradie friends for advice. And finally, always splurge on at least one pretty thing that makes you happy!”
Feature tapware and an organic basin bring a modern touch. Image: supplied
Check out more of Lucy’s reno transformations on her Instagram account: @lucy_hartree
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