Jen Bishop from Interiors Addict transforms a retro bathroom into a timeless design
You may know Jen Bishop as the woman behind the Interiors Addict blog, brightening up our days with the latest and greatest when it comes to design. With an auction looming for their Wahroonga, Sydney, apartment, the pressure was on for Jen and her husband Damian Francis to completely revamp their existing bathroom.
Jen knew the design of the space, which was quintessentially ’70s, had to change as soon as they bought the apartment. “Pre-reno, this was a very ordinary beige bathroom with a shallow bathtub and woeful storage,” she recalls. “We always knew it would have to go as soon as possible!”
To keep costs down, the new design maintained the existing layout of the bathroom, but everything else was updated to happily co-exist with the apartment’s timeless aesthetic. “Everything was ripped out and stripped back to bare brick,” says Jen. “A new stud wall was created across the back shower to enable us to create a niche inside the shower, and cornicing was removed and replaced.” The existing shower was swapped with a frameless design and a new oval bath sits in place of the original piece. To ensure the custom nature of the project, Jen opted for timber vanities crafted from Western Australian marri timber by Ingrain Designs. “These are handmade investment pieces designed to last and be loved for many years,” says Jen. While the timber vanities add instant warmth to the space, the rest of the bathroom revolves around a neutral palette. “I chose a dark charcoal paint between the white tiles and decorative cornice to make it pop and provide contrast,” says Jen. “I wanted a high-end look without spending a fortune.”
Jen and Damian have transformed their retro space into a timeless design that will last for years to come. “I wanted the bathroom to blend the classic details of the apartment with a fresh, luxury look,” says Jen. “I didn’t want this to be any old apartment bathroom refresh.” It’s safe to say this space is anything but average.
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Written by Annabelle Cloros
Photography by Jacqui Turk
Originally in Grand Designs Australia Volume 6 Issue 3
