Photography by JACKIE RUSSELL.

GLEAMING: Polished tiles, frameless glass and a seamless floor have brought a family bathroom into the 21st century.

FAMILY bathrooms can resemble the frontline of a war zone, where personal hygiene battles reduce glass, mirrors and glistening tiles into combat casualties. What’s more relentless, chemical warfare soon leaves shiny surfaces looking like they are in need of some serious toothbrush-scrubbing disciplinary action.

When a Howick couple decided it was time for their family wash-spot to surrender, they planned the renovation strategy themselves, rather than enlisting the guidance of a specialist.

However, the assignment was not unruly guerrilla warfare. The owners had successfully overhauled the rest of their 15-year-old home and one more bathroom mission wasn’t going to beat them. The bath, vanity and hand-basin would be retained, so the family decided there was no need to call in a bathroom designer.

The lady in command says the cost of renovating the large bathroom had delayed action. The family could have moved house and left the battle for other forces, but they liked the location for schools and work. Also, the cost of buying and selling didn’t appear to offer any advantages.

<!--page-->

PRACTICAL: Fitting an insert into the shower wall is a clean and convenient storage solution. AND FLAIR: Glass mosaics introduce character.

The entire house was originally decorated in a single wallpaper and the new strategy involved introducing more colour, character and painted walls. What’s more, the pump on the spa bath had died and was leaking and the shower was another casualty, and couldn’t be turned off.

The first manoeuvre involved selecting the shower base. They knew they wanted floor tiles with a seamless finish and a custom-made 1200mm by 1000mm high-grade polystyrene base shaped with fall was the perfect solution.

Recessing the base 30mm into the floor, waterproofing and continuous tiling achieved function with a sleek finish. The natural Pietre grey Pece tile with matching grout minimises fussy breaks and opens up the bathroom space. The frameless glass shower unit further enhances the smooth lines.

A recessed box was fitted into the shower wall, providing a clean and convenient storage space for the troop’s shampoos and body washes. However, the size of the original insert diminished once it was filled and tiled and in hindsight a larger box would have worked better.

Opting to tile walls with polished Nero charcoal continues the elegant flow. Character and flair was included with two vertical panels of coloured glass royal charcoal blend mosaic tiles. The top section of the walls is painted with perfect taupe and adds a soothing tone to the room.

A practical decision was made to replace the toilet suite before it reached the end of its working days. The soft-close lid prevents disturbing the slumber of those in neighbouring bedrooms and tiles have also created an effective sound barrier.