BESIDE Myself With Bathroom Excitement!!!

[fionas]

I've always wanted an ensuite. But given that it's just been me living in my house or me and a partner it was never really a necessity.

Then with 16-year-old DSD living with us, I've lost count of the number of times I've had to "hold on" (we only have one loo which is in the bathroom) until she gets out. Plus, I tend to wake up a few times a night and have to trek down to the bathroom.

Anyhow, until very recently, I still thought that renovating to create an ensuite would be an indulgence - and usually I'm a "make do" person.

But lately, I've just thought, you know what, bugger it.

Our laundry is also in the bathroom and I'm sick of traipsing down the hallway with an armful of washing only to find that someone's in the bathroom and having to wait.

Plus, I have a dodgy back and we currently have the dryer on top of the washing machine which means I have to bend down almost to the floor to get wet, heavy washing out and then lift it up to the dryer. So not good for me.

Anyhow, had a bathroom person around today and this is what I'm getting:

An ensuite with a boudoir feel. I'm having Florence Broadhurst wallpaper in there somewhere possibly glassed over in the shower walls instead of tiles. Heated tile floor. Stone top and timber vanity. Possibly a chandelier.

Family bathroom with mosaic-tiled feature on two internal walls. Loo will be behind one internal wall, shower behind the other. Plus Japanese soaker bath, vanity, yada yada.

Laundry. Separate. Opening from the hallway (quite common these days in period houses) Washer and dryer both elevated. I told her that if we couldn't elevate them both then "let's call the whole thing off" because that was a must have. YAY!!!! No more freaking bending. And I get a drying rail and a shelf/bench to dump wet washing on to without having to stand there precariously with an armful of washing desperately trying to not drop it so I don't have to have a hurty back trying to pick it up from the floor again.

I think I have just gone to heaven.

Yes, it will be expensive but I'm past caring. I'm 40, time I treated myself (thank you L'oreal)

[Tinks]

Ooooh Sounds great!!! When does the building start?

[fionas]

Don't know TInks - designer has got to go away and do the drawings and a quote. Then when I lift my jaw off the floor we'll talk about the sensible stuff like starting dates. But building will take 4-6 weeks so we might wait until DSD goes back to the States for visit in Dec/Jan so at least if we need some temp toilet/shower arrangements we can shove them in her room.

[Epacris]

WooHoo I'm having a bathroom and laundry renovation party in my imagination for you! How exciting

[Nelle]

Ohhhhhh WOWEE! That's so great Fiona, you will so enjoy it once it's done. Lol at picking your jaw up from the floor, I'm sure you'll have to, but if it's really what you want, you find a way to make it work hey.

[Astrid]

Oh wow - so excited for you!

[CeCe]

From someone who's waited about 4 to 5 years and is as we speak having her new bathroom tiled, I feel your excitement.

It's great that you are treating yourself

[mbear]

Yes, it will be expensive but I'm past caring. I'm 40, time I treated myself (thank you L'oreal)

...exactly.....enjoy. I got my new bathroom (although, not an ensuite, so majorily jealous here...) 2 years ago, and still to this day i enjoy cleaning it.....

[Mak]

ohhhhh, bathroom envy here......they bathrooms and laundry sound very clever and beautiful!!! How exciting.....

[AnyDream]

Woweee, I've just started planning a BB meetup at YOUR house fiona. I'll be taking a bath in your Japanese soaker tub and I'll be sure to admire the mosaic feature while I'm there.

Seriously GREEN with envy here .

[Tinks]

Woweee, I've just started planning a BB meetup at YOUR house fiona. I'll be taking a bath in your Japanese soaker tub and I'll be sure to admire the mosaic feature while I'm there.

Seriously GREEN with envy here .

I'm inviting myself. While you're soaking in the tub I'll be doing the washing without having to bend down.....AHHHH sounds heavenly!

[buliej]

That sounds fantastic and beautiful. Can I ask, what company are you using - it sounds like a great plan and we are hoping to upgrade our bathrooms (in Melbourne) in the next year or so. Also, how did you go about finding them/getting references?

[Winter]

Ooooohhh totally jealous here too! Lucky duck! ENJOY!!

I'd love to get our bathrooms & laundry redone. They have really cheap fittings (Plastic sinks & toilets - blergh!!!) so it would be nice to have porceliene and have them retiled - I'm told 'apricot' is no long in??!!

[fionas]

Woweee, I've just started planning a BB meetup at YOUR house fiona. I'll be taking a bath in your Japanese soaker tub and I'll be sure to admire the mosaic feature while I'm there.

Seriously GREEN with envy here .

You'd be welcome to Marydean!!! And TInks you can do my washing anytime but don't feel you have to wait till I have my fancypants laundry

Well, DSD has just spent nearly an hour in the bathroom so I think I've made the right decision. Sure, I could tell her to get out but I'd rather not have to think about it y'know? I'd rather just be able to go to the loo when I want to. (You can see I'm still justifying this to myself can't you?) Oh, and this morning I had to wipe off a huge splatter of somone else's phlegm off my basin grrrrrrrrrrr. Gross.

AND forgot to mention, I'm going to get all the stuff that normally sits on the floor (bin, loo roll holder) stuck to the wall so I don't have to pick em up to clean the floor.

[fionas]

Forgot to say, bullej I've PMd you the details of the company but please note, I've only had an initial consultation with them. Was very happy with how that went - the consultant listened closely to the brief and my ideas, was very knowledgeable and helped me make decisions very quickly so all good so far.

[buliej]

Thanks!

[HotI]

Did you have to pay for the quote?

[fionas]

$95 for the consultation after which I get a quote and drawings. Which considering the time I know it takes to come up with that stuff, I think that's very reasonable.