Bathroom Space

The Astro II collection pairs clean contemporary lines with the softness of Brushed Bronze. Combined with the Zeia accessories and Venza range, the finish carries throughout the bathroom for a cohesive and refined result.

Complete Coordination

From basin mixers to showers and accessories, Brushed Bronze brings warmth, depth and a sense of continuity to every detail of the bathroom.

Kitchen Space

For kitchens, the Galiano Pull-Down Sink Mixer and Astro Il kitchen mixers combine functionality with refined detailing. Pull-down functionality and practical everyday performance are balanced with a warm metallic finish suited to contemporary interiors.

For more information

Greens Tapware

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Inspired by 1920s Parisian Art Deco styling, the latest collection features bold geometric forms, architectural lines and distinctive black crystal inlay, creating a striking focal point within both classic and contemporary interiors.

Handmade with precision in Italy from premium solid brass, each piece reflects a commitment to quality and durability. The addition of knurling details enhances both grip and visual texture, designed to interact with light and shadow to create a sense of sculpture and depth.

Performance is equally impressive. The basin mixers achieve 5 and 6 Star WELS ratings with a 4.5-5.0L/min flow rate, offering excellent water efficiency without compromising on functionality or style. Complementing this, the shower range features a 3 Star WELS rating with an 8.5L/min flow rate, with horizontal, vertical or handheld showerheads in a streamlined, contemporary finish.

The use of lead-free brass ensures a safer, more sustainable option for everyday use, meeting upcoming Australian regulations.

Available in a curated selection of finishes, including chrome, polished, brushed and black-brushed nickel, black, tobacco, light gold and brushed gold, the luxury collection provides flexibility to suit a variety of design palettes.

For more information

www.abey.com.au

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That’s where smart bathware comes in.

What is smart bathware?

Smart bathware brings technology and intelligent functionality into everyday bathroom products. From smart toilets and bidet technology to features designed around comfort and convenience, these products can transform the way we experience the bathroom.

Zumi’s Smart Bathware range combines contemporary bathroom design with intelligent technology, delivering innovative solutions for homeowners looking to elevate their bathroom experience.

From smart toilets and bidet systems to smart mirrors, the range seamlessly integrates technology with enhanced comfort, convenience and hygiene—bringing smarter functionality to the modern bathroom.

More than just a toilet

Smart toilets and bidet systems can introduce a range of features designed to enhance the everyday bathroom experience.

For homeowners undertaking a bathroom renovation, smart technology can be incorporated alongside contemporary basins, baths, tapware and other fixtures to create a bathroom that feels both luxurious and highly functional.

Designing a bathroom for the future

Smart technology is becoming an increasingly important consideration when planning new homes and bathroom renovations.

For those looking beyond traditional bathroom fixtures, smart bathware offers an opportunity to introduce technology in a way that feels integrated rather than added as an afterthought.

Whether you’re renovating a family bathroom, creating a premium ensuite or designing a new home, Zumi’s smart bathware solutions provide another way to make the bathroom work harder for everyday life.

Ready to make your bathroom smarter?

Explore Zumi’s range of smart bathware and discover innovative bathroom solutions designed for contemporary Australian homes.

Find your nearest Zumi retailer here: https://zumibathware.com.au/where-to-buy/

The post Smart Bathware: How Technology Is Changing the Modern Bathroom appeared first on Completehome.

That’s why choosing the right bathroom ventilation should be an important part of any bathroom renovation or new build.

What does bathroom ventilation do?

Everyday activities such as showering and bathing create moisture in the air. Without effective ventilation, that moisture can contribute to condensation and create an uncomfortable bathroom environment.

A well-designed ventilation solution helps move humid air out of the bathroom, supporting a more comfortable space.

Ventilation, heating and lighting in one solution

Modern bathroom ventilation doesn’t have to be purely functional.

Zumi’s range of bathroom ventilation fans and heaters includes multi-function solutions designed to combine ventilation, heating and lighting.

This approach can help simplify bathroom design by bringing several practical functions together within a coordinated ceiling solution.

Comfort for everyday living

Heating can make a significant difference to the experience of using the bathroom, particularly during colder months. Combining heating with ventilation provides a practical solution for creating a more comfortable bathroom environment while helping manage moisture.

For homeowners planning a bathroom renovation, considering ventilation early in the design process can help ensure the finished space is comfortable as well as visually appealing.

Plan your bathroom from the inside out

The best bathrooms balance style, comfort and performance.

When choosing fixtures and fittings, don’t overlook the products that work behind the scenes. Effective ventilation and heating can play an important role in creating a bathroom that feels better every day.

Explore Zumi’s bathroom ventilation, heating and smart bathware solutions and find a Zumi retailer near you here: https://zumibathware.com.au/where-to-buy/

The post Why Bathroom Ventilation Matters More Than You Think appeared first on Completehome.

While solid surface is often associated with kitchen benchtops, Staron’s ability to be cut, shaped and seamlessly joined allows it to be used across a much broader range of applications. Apart from benchtops, solid surfaces such as Staron can be used for joinery cladding, drawer fronts, furniture, windowsills, skirting and kickboards. In bathrooms, they can be used for custom vanities, shower trays and wall cladding.

This versatility allows the same material to continue across different elements of an interior, rather than being limited to a horizontal work surface. The material can also be thermoformed into curved shapes, opening further possibilities for custom joinery and furniture.

Designed For Seamless Joins

The ability to join and shape Staron Solid Surfaces creates design opportunities beyond conventional benchtops. Integrated sinks can be incorporated into kitchen and bathroom surfaces, while curved forms, custom edges and continuous surfaces can be created without the visual interruption of typical joins associated with benchtops.

With this unique difference between solid surface and many other materials, pieces are bonded using a specialised adhesive and the join is finished to create the appearance of a continuous surface.

This allows a benchtop to flow into an integrated Staron sink, upturn or splashback without the silicon junctions. A small, coved upturn of around 10mm can be seamlessly incorporated where the benchtop meets the back wall. Tiles, glass or other splashback materials can then be installed above the cove making the area easier to clean and maintain. For a more continuous appearance, Staron can also extend from the benchtop up the wall as a full-height splashback.

Made For Wet Areas

Within the kitchen, the non-porous nature of solid surface combined with the seamless joining capabilities makes it particularly suitable for wet areas. Spills remain on the surface rather than penetrating the material, while everyday substances such as tea, coffee and wine can generally be removed through normal cleaning.

Even lighter colours, including white designs, are a practical option, remaining easy to maintain while also offering excellent UV stability to help retain their original colour over the long term. These design features are particularly beneficial within bathroom design, offering a seam-free, grout-free option for walls, bath surrounds and other wet area applications.

Comfort In Everyday Living

Material selection also affects how a space feels and functions in everyday use. Unlike stone and many other hard surfaces, Staron Solid Surfaces generally has a warmer, softer feel to the touch.

It also produces less noise during food preparation, which can be an advantage in open-plan homes where kitchen activity takes place close to living and dining areas. In cooler environments, solid surface does not retain the cold in the same way as natural stone, making it more comfortable to sit beside, lean on and work at.

To locate a showroom and experience Staron in person, visit a Contact us – Austaron Surfaces

Credits:

Newgrove Benchtops
Darren James Interiors
Studio Minosa
Sublime Group

For more information

Austaron Surfaces

The post More Than a Benchtop: Discover the Benefits of Staron Solid Surfaces appeared first on Completehome.

Words Carrol Baker

The hottest design trends this year are focused on splashes of colour, beautiful textures and sophisticated looks. They’re not just pushing the boundaries but rewriting the rule books with playful adaptations and clever materiality.

A kitchen needs to be practical and functional. It can also be beautiful. It’s where you can feed the hungry hordes after school, pull up a chair and have a cuppa with a friend, or host a gathering of epic proportions. Bathrooms are all about serviceability. Yours might be a busy multi-use family bathroom, a private couples space, a room with a touch of luxe or a wellness sanctuary to unwind. Functionality and beauty can co-exist in style, offering dynamic spaces you’ll love.

Hooked on Handles

One fabulous new way to create a unique look in your kitchen or bathroom is through handles. Designer Kate Lawrence says sometimes it can be the seemingly little things that can have the biggest impact. “You can have a lot of fun and experiment with handles in the kitchen or bathroom to give it a little extra flair,” she says. Whether they’re arched, bar, cupped, nobs, pulls or more, there’s a huge variety of handle styles.

Get Playful with Powder Rooms

Statement powder rooms are gaining traction in the design industry. Kate says it’s one space you really can have fun with. Try bold wallpaper to add a splash of contemporary cool, or a more subdued botanical print. “It’s a small space so easy to change down the track if you need to,” notes Kate. “It keeps things upbeat and fun for families and friends coming to your home.” Among Kate’s favourite looks is micro cement. “I love it; you can trowel it different ways so it adds texture, and it’s customisable with different colours,” she says.

The Light Source

Beautiful lighting that once graced the entry foyer has now made its way into the bathroom. Lighting can help you to create a stylish oasis at home. Designer Brooke Aitken says it’s a new concept that is adding a frisson of glamour to bathrooms.

Brooke points out that in the past, you were limited with what lighting you could use. “Lighting wasn’t IP rated for wet areas, but with LEDs the world is your oyster, and not an oyster sconce either,” she laughs. “Your lighting can now be almost like jewellery pieces on the wall; it can serve as a focal point.”

But of course, practicality still reigns supreme. Task lighting is also important. One new look in bathrooms is lighting in a mirror cupboard. “Always put a light in the mirror cupboard that shines out; when you open half you can still see yourself in the mirror, it’s very practical,” she recommends.

The Ultimate Family Kitchen

The girls at Three Birds Renovations say they’re loving the rise of freestanding island benches in place of built-in cabinetry. “We’ve just used one in our latest kitchen renovation. They add flexibility and character, channel that vintage farmhouse charm, and can easily adapt as your family’s needs evolve.”

The girls add that there’s been a shift away from all-white cabinetry, with more kitchens embracing warm neutrals and deeper hues. “Textured layers of cream, beige/greige, deep greens, blues and even browns are not only beautiful, they’re also super forgiving when it comes to fingerprints in a busy family kitchen,” Three Birds Renovations say. “That said, if you’re renovating a Hampton’s-style home, a fresh white kitchen will never go out of style.”

Look Up

In bathrooms, another surprising trend is rethinking the ceiling. Joey Phommaseng from Birdblack Design says ceilings are in for a treat. “Traditionally seen as just a flat, white surface, the bathroom ceiling is now being treated by designers as a fifth wall – an opportunity to add visual interest and cohesion. Whether through bold paint choices or creative tiling, the ceiling is becoming an extension of the room’s design,” he notes. It’s a shift away from ultra-safe design towards more personal, luxurious choices – people are designing for living, not just resale,” he adds.

Tactile Textures

Modern kitchens are showpieces in functionality and bespoke design. Joey says in today’s kitchens, there’s a rising trend to incorporate metal finishes. “Custom–coated metal rangehoods, for example, are becoming a popular design statement,” he says. “Stone-clad surfaces are also gaining momentum, with kitchen doors and drawers increasingly being covered in stone for a bold, textural look. Homeowners are moving away from the minimalist timber cabinets and plain benchtops of the past, opting instead for dramatic patterned marbles, striking feature tiles and detailed mosaics.”

Balancing Act

In the kitchen, industry professionals are cooking up plenty of hot new looks to create timeless spaces that have plenty of charm. Kate says discerning homeowners know what they want – and right now it’s to create something unique, even if they have a traditional kitchen. “So many people tell me they want their kitchen to be timeless but not boring. It’s important to strike a balance between the two,” she shares.

Kate adds there are many ways to inject a little pizazz into a traditional kitchen. One way is through stone. “You can add character, personality and warmth, particularly by the stone that you are choosing – every piece of stone is different as it’s a natural product,” she notes.

A Splash of Luxury

Bathroom colours are bold, evocative and inviting. Joey says a rich palette of deep, burnished bronzes is a top choice for creating a luxurious bathroom atmosphere. “Fluted glass is another hallmark of high-end design. Whether featured in a sleek, frameless shower screen or paired with a beautifully finished frame, it adds instant elegance.”

When it comes to tiling, Joey says mosaics are a go-to for a premium look. “For an even more opulent touch, consider natural stone for floors and walls, which brings a timeless sophistication beyond what standard tiles can offer,” he says.

Stepping it up

When the pandemic swept the globe, we lived in isolation in the comfort of our homes. Spending more time at home meant thinking about what we loved about our spaces. Brooke says because of this, designers have seen a global shift in home design. “It’s become more individually focussed after Covid, because we had to live more in our spaces,” she says. “It really made people reflect on what they love about their interiors and how they impact on them psychologically.”

As a result, Brooke notes clients have become a little braver and eager to perhaps colour outside the lines a bit more. “I think clients are more trustworthy; they think, right, you’re going to pitch me a colourful bathroom idea, yep, I am definitely onboard,” she says.

Sumptuous Materiality

Unique designer elements are working together to curate bespoke and beautiful bathrooms. Stylish basins and bathtubs are taking centre stage.

When sourcing a basin, look for something tactile and unique. That’s Brooke’s advice. “I love Robert Gordon pottery – it’s hand-fired clay and simply beautiful. Also Nood concrete basins and bathtubs,” she says. “Your choice of basin is important as it’s something you touch and look at every day when brushing your teeth and getting ready for the day.”

Custom-coloured bathtubs are also becoming increasingly popular as a way to add a little colour to your bathroom. “There are amazing baths out there now – think a dark-green glass bath, a bath made from viola marble or beautiful copper,” reveals Brooke.

Lean into Longevity

Modern kitchens are built to go the distance. A beautiful kitchen is an investment you’ll want to enjoy for many years to come. When designing a new kitchen, sourcing quality materials is key. Discerning homeowners want value for money and a kitchen that’s built to last for decades.

Brooke says kitchens these days should last 30 years, so when designing, keep that in mind. “If there’s something crazy you are contemplating in the design, I wouldn’t,” she says. “It’s got to be something you want to feast your eyes on for a very long time.

”New-look kitchens need to bode well with the rest of the home. Brooke suggests with an older abode, you can take the character of the old and interpret it into the new. “It’s an opportunity to have a contemporary conversation with something like period detailing,” she says. “In a recent project we took iron-lace detailing and scored that detailing into the top cupboard in the kitchen. It was reminiscent of the iron lace of the past.

”If you have a contemporary home, it can be a different story. “With contemporary, sometimes it doesn’t need to shout,” notes Brooke. “That’s where I’d double down on materials, look for beautiful-quality stone and good appliances.”

Looks to sidestep

Finally, it’s important to note that the lure of trends is appealing, but some don’t last long. The girls at Three Birds Renovations say they’re all for creating your dream home your way, and that means different things for different people. “But when it comes to trends, some don’t last the distance and your budget might thank you for steering clear,” they say.

“In the kitchen, unless you’re a MasterChef contestant, we’d suggest saving your dollars on overly techy appliances like that fridge that tells you what’s inside, or a steam oven when you’ve never steamed anything but your face in the dishwasher. In the bathroom, be wary of super-trendy coloured fixtures. If you’re not absolutely in love with bold colours for the long haul, stick with timeless neutrals and have fun with your accessories instead.”

The post Dream Team appeared first on Completehome.

Designed to bring both style and practicality into the bathroom, the Hudson, Duplex and Bristol vanity collections from Avia Bathware offer versatile solutions for modern living, whether floor-standing or wall-hung.

The Hudson and Duplex floor-standing vanities come in a rich rosewood finish introducing warmth and texture, ideal for a modern, sophisticated aesthetic. For a lighter, more contemporary feel, the Bristol wall-hung vanity in matt white delivers a clean, streamlined appearance while enhancing the sense of space in smaller bathrooms.

Functionality is the first port of call for each of these vanities. The Hudson features cleverly integrated side drawers, ensuring no internal space is wasted and allowing for efficient organisation of everyday essentials. For further customisation, homeowners can pair the vanity with a stone benchtop and undermount basin.

The Duplex vanity is designed to balance storage and accessibility, combining generous cupboard space with soft-close drawers below. This thoughtful configuration maximises storage capacity while keeping frequently used items within easy reach, making it a practical choice for busy households.

Ideal for compact spaces, all three vanities are designed to optimise layout efficiency, helping to create bathrooms that feel open, organised and highly functional.

Avia Bathware’s Philosophy

At its core, Avia Bathware’s approach is about more than just product, it’s about creating spaces that feel personal and considered for the user.

Each of the vanities in this collection are aimed to inspire confidence in a homeowner’s renovation or building decisions, delivering a balance of quality, functionality and design that helps transform everyday routines into a little slice of heaven.

For more information

AVIA BATHWARE
P 03 9791 5898
E info@aviabathware.com.au
F Avia Bathware
I avia_bathware

The post The Designer’s Vanity appeared first on Completehome.

Available across the Contour and Dolce Vita ranges, the collection includes 15 styles in sizes ranging from 1395mm to 1850mm, offering a solution for both compact bathrooms and luxurious spa-inspired spaces.

The range blends a clean overall aesthetic with therapeutic functionality. Each spa bath comes with flush-mounted spa jets that create a sleek, minimalist appearance without interrupting the form of the bath itself. Available in either white or chrome finishes, the range fits the homeowner’s personal style, matching any interior without taking attention away.

A Wellness Retreat At Homes

pas turn a bathroom into a place to unwind. But beyond the relaxation properties, there is a proven track record of genuine health and wellness benefits. The combination of water and air pressure can massage tired muscles, relieve built-up tension and improve circulation, making it ideal for recovery after long days, physical activity or everyday stress.

The soothing hydrotherapy experience can also encourage relaxation, reduce mental fatigue and create a calming environment that supports better rest and overall wellbeing.

Designed to restore body, mind and spirit, these spa baths create an opportunity to slow down and reconnect within the comfort of home. Whether incorporated into a family bathroom, ensuite or dedicated wellness space, they bring a sense of luxury and rejuvenation to daily routines.

Australian-made craftsmanship, thoughtful design and therapeutic performance combine to deliver a spa bath collection that balances style, comfort and wellbeing in equal measure.

For more information

Decina
A 115 Rudd St, Inala Qld
P 07 3271 1944

The post Australian Spas for Australian Homes appeared first on Completehome.

Your solar panels generate electricity that would otherwise be exported to the grid at a low feed-in tariff. Your underfloor heating , either electric or hydronic, uses that electricity to warm your home at a low cost.

The result is whole-home comfort with a running cost that can drop to almost nothing on a good solar day.

This guide explains exactly how Comfort Heat electric and hydronic systems integrate with PV solar, how to schedule your system to maximise solar self-consumption, and what to expect from your running costs once both systems are working together.

Why Underfloor Heating and Solar Are a Natural Pairing

Most Australian heating systems and solar setups exist in parallel. The solar generates power during the day, the heating runs in the evening, and the two never really interact. Underfloor heating breaks that pattern in a useful way.

The reason is thermal mass. A concrete slab or a well insulated screed floor stores heat effectively. You can charge it during the middle of the day when your solar panels are generating at peak output and you have surplus electricity, and it will release that warmth slowly through the evening, when your family is home and when grid electricity is most expensive.

This is the single most important concept in solar-integrated underfloor heating: the floor is a battery. Not a lithium battery, but a thermal one.

For Australian homeowners on time of use tariffs, pre heating the slab during peak solar hours and letting it coast through the evening peak is one of the most effective energy management strategies available.

The floor acts as a battery. Charge it with solar during the day, let it release warmth into the evening. No lithium required.

How Electric Underfloor Heating Integrates with Solar

Electric underfloor heating is the simplest system to integrate with solar. The heating elements – whether Thin Heating Mats in bathrooms and kitchens or Slab Cable systems under larger floor areas – are pure electrical loads. They draw from whatever power source is available.

When your solar system is generating, it draws from your panels. When solar is not available, they draw from the grid. No special configuration is required.

What turns a basic electric system into a genuinely solar smart system is scheduling. The MWD5 Wi-Fi thermostat allows you to programme a 7-day heating schedule with up to four events per day.

Setting your primary heating window to align with your solar generation hours (typically 9am to 3pm for north-facing panels in Australian winter) means the bulk of your heating runs on solar rather than grid power.

Scheduling for Solar with the MWD5

Australian solar panels are most productive between 10am and 2pm, with the generation window extending from around 8am to 4pm in winter depending on roof pitch, orientation, and cloud cover. A practical solar-optimised schedule for an electric underfloor heating system running in a typical Australian home looks like this:

Indicative schedule for a well-insulated home with a north-facing solar array. Adjust based on your generation profile and tariff.

The MWD5 thermostat also has a built-in Wi-Fi app so you can monitor and adjust the schedule remotely — useful when weather changes unexpectedly. For a full walkthrough of programming the MWD5, read our simple guide to turning on your MWD5 thermostat this winter.

Comfort Heat tip: Hydronic slab systems have the greatest thermal storage capacity of any Comfort Heat system. If you have an existing solar array or are planning to install one, an slab hydronic system is the best long term investment in solar-powered home comfort.

The Intaflo Heat Pump: Built for Solar

The Intaflo Series 3 heat pump is Comfort Heat’s recommended heat source for all hydronic underfloor heating systems.

It is an air to water inverter unit that produces around 4 units of heat for every 1 unit of electricity consumed — a COP (coefficient of performance) of 4 depending on ambient temperature and flow rate.

What this means for solar integration is significant. For every kilowatt of solar electricity the heat pump consumes, it delivers around 4 kilowatts of heating to the floor circuit. A 6.6kW rooftop solar system generating at 70% capacity during a typical winter day produces around 4.6kW — enough to run the Intaflo 9kW unit (designed for 40 to 100 square metres of floor area) while still powering the rest of the home.

COP figures at A6/W35 standard conditions. Solar system size is approximate and assumes the heat pump runs during peak solar generation hours only. Actual solar output varies by location, roof pitch, and panel orientation.

The Intaflo Series 3 range uses R32 refrigerant, which has a 60% lower global warming potential than previous refrigerants. It is rated A+++ for energy efficiency under European standards, the highest classification available, and carries inverter technology for smooth, variable-speed operation that reduces electricity consumption during partial-load conditions.

If you are moving away from gas and want to understand the full picture, read our guide to rethinking gas in your new home. The Intaflo heat pump is one of the key reasons the transition to an all-electric home is now genuinely viable for Australian homeowners.

How to Schedule Your System to Maximise Solar Self-Consumption

Scheduling is the most important lever you have for solar-integrated underfloor heating. The principles are the same for both electric and hydronic systems, though hydronic systems have more thermal storage and therefore more flexibility.

The Core Principle: Pre-Heat During Solar Hours

Australian rooftop solar is most productive between 9am and 3pm. For most homeowners, this is a period when the house is empty or has low occupancy. Rather than letting that solar generation flow into the grid at a low feed-in tariff, schedule your underfloor heating to run during this window. The floor absorbs the heat, stores it, and releases it gradually through the afternoon and evening.

Solar Generation Hours by State and Panel Orientation

Based on Australian winter solar generation profiles. Actual output varies by latitude, roof pitch, shading, and panel efficiency.

Insulation quality is the multiplier on all of this. A well-insulated slab retains heat far longer than a poorly insulated one, which means the pre-heating window can be shorter and the evening comfort window can be longer. Read our guide to the importance of insulation under a heated slab for the full technical picture.

Practical Scheduling for Hydronic Systems

For hydronic systems with the Intaflo heat pump, schedule the heat pump to run one or two cycles during the peak solar window, typically a 2 to 3-hour cycle from 10am to 1pm, and a top-up cycle from 1pm to 3pm if afternoon solar is available. The MWD5 thermostat on the hydronic circuit supports this schedule directly. Set the target water temperature for the floor circuit, and the heat pump will run until it is achieved, drawing from solar the entire time.

Running Cost Comparison: Grid vs Solar-Powered

The difference in running costs between grid-powered and solar-powered underfloor heating is substantial.

Here is how the numbers work for a 100m2 for winter. This is an guide only.

Figures are indicative, actual costs depend on tariff, insulation, climate zone, solar system size, and usage patterns.

For a detailed breakdown of running costs across all Comfort Heat system types, use the Comfort Heat Running Cost Calculator — enter your floor area, electricity tariff, and solar system size to see exactly what your heating will cost per day, per week, and over a full winter.

Adding a Battery: Does It Make Sense?

A home battery extends the value of solar integration for underfloor heating by storing surplus midday generation and making it available in the evening. Whether it makes financial sense depends on your tariff structure, solar system size, and how you use your heating.

For hydronic underfloor heating with a concrete slab, the slab itself provides substantial thermal storage, the equivalent of several kilowatt-hours of heat storage at no extra cost. In most cases, the slab’s thermal mass means a battery is not required to achieve evening comfort from a daytime solar heating cycle.

For electric underfloor heating in individual rooms such as bathrooms and bedrooms where the thermal mass is lower and the heating cycle is shorter, a battery is more relevant.

These rooms heat quickly and are typically used for short periods. The value of a battery in this scenario is required.

In these situations, a 10kWh battery can absorb excess midday solar generation and power the Intaflo heat pump through a top-up cycle at 6pm, entirely off stored solar energy.

Comfort Heat’s view: the slab is your first battery. Install a well-insulated in slab hydronic system, schedule it to heat on solar, and assess your grid top-up costs after one full winter before deciding whether a lithium battery adds sufficient further value for your household.

What You Need for a Solar-Integrated Underfloor Heating System

You do not need any special hardware to integrate a Comfort Heat system with rooftop PV solar.

All Comfort Heat thermostats and the Intaflo heat pump run on standard single or three-phase mains electricity. When solar is generating, the system draws from solar.

When solar is insufficient, it draws from the grid. The integration is automatic.

What you do need is:

• A programmable thermostat such as the MWD5, which allows you to set heating windows that align with your solar generation profile. A non-programmable thermostat won’t be able to take advantage of solar scheduling.
• A solar system of sufficient size. For electric room heating, talk to our inhouse expert on you heat load requirements. For hydorinc setups, see the Intaflo model table above for sizing guidance by floor area.
• A well-insulated floor. Insulation under the slab or screed is the most important factor in extending the heating window after the solar cycle ends. Read more in our guide to slab insulation for underfloor heating.

Knowledge of your solar generation profile. North-facing panels peak at midday; west-facing panels peak in the afternoon. Your MWD5 schedule should be tuned to your specific roof orientation. Our running cost calculator includes a solar offset estimator to help with this.

New Builds vs Retrofits

New Builds

New builds offer the most complete solar integration opportunity. The in-slab hydronic system is specified at the design stage, insulation is built in from the ground up, and the solar system can be sized to match the heat pump from the outset.

This is the combination we at Comfort Heat recommends most strongly for homeowners building in cool-climate states.

Read our full guide to installing energy-efficient underfloor heating in a new home for the complete specification process.

Renovations and Retrofits

For existing homes, electric underfloor heating during a renovation — particularly in bathrooms and kitchens with the Thin Heating Mat — is the most practical solar-integrated upgrade available.

The system sits within the tile adhesive layer, adds minimal floor height, and can be running on a solar-scheduled MWD5 thermostat from day one. Running costs for a bathroom heated on solar are typically less than $10 for an entire winter.

For larger whole-home retrofits, a hydronic in-screed system is possible in many existing homes, particularly during kitchen and living area renovations.

The team here at Comfort Heat has over 25 years of experience and will always a custom design layout that assesses whether your existing floor structure is suitable. Contact the team to discuss your specific renovation.

The post Underfloor Heating and Solar Panels: The 2026 Australian Integration Guide appeared first on Completehome.

The shower door swung into the showerhead on one side and clipped the towel rail on the other. The vanity drawers couldn’t open unless the bathroom door was closed first, a small daily negotiation most people would eventually stop noticing and simply live around. Storage was scattered and insufficient, so the things that should have been close at hand never quite were. None of it was dramatic. All of it added friction to a room meant to be one of the easiest in the house to use.

The clients came to Disko Designs not because the bathroom looked wrong, but because it felt wrong in many small ways they couldn’t quite name. What they wanted was fresh thinking: a space that felt joyful and beautiful, but that also worked, and worked in a way that felt like it belonged to the rest of their home rather than sitting apart from it.

Storage as the starting point

Most renovation stories lead with a big move: a wall removed, a layout flipped, a material swap that changes the tone of the whole room. This one didn’t have that single dramatic gesture. Instead, the project was built from a series of smaller, deliberate corrections, and storage sat at the centre of nearly all of them.

The existing vanity was one of the clearest offenders. Door conflicts meant it could only really be accessed from one side, so half its potential storage was functionally useless. The redesign reworked the vanity into deep drawers paired with open storage, giving the couple somewhere to put everything and, just as importantly, somewhere obvious. Nothing buried, nothing forgotten at the back of a cupboard that never quite opened properly.

A surface-mounted shaving cabinet added concealed storage without eating into the room’s footprint, and its soft arched profile gave the fittings a bit of personality rather than treating storage as purely utilitarian. Niches built into the shower and surrounding walls did similar work at a smaller scale, giving everyday items, shampoo, soap, the things used without thinking twice, a defined place to live instead of a shelf edge to balance on.

It’s the kind of solution that’s easy to underestimate from a photograph and impossible to underestimate once you’re living with it. Good storage doesn’t announce itself. It just means you stop thinking about where things go.

Fixing what wasn’t working

Underneath the layout issues sat a more serious problem: failing waterproofing that meant the room wasn’t performing at a fundamental level, regardless of how it looked. Any renovation here had to resolve that properly before anything else could matter, and that unglamorous groundwork is often the part of a project nobody sees in the finished photographs, but the part that makes everything else possible.

With that foundation addressed, the layout could be reconsidered on its own terms. A simplified, open shower arrangement removed the door-and-fixture conflicts that had made the space so frustrating, and a reconfigured vanity brought clarity to a room that had previously asked its owners to think carefully about the order they did things in each morning.

Joy, without losing the heritage

None of this needed to come at the expense of character. The home’s 1920s heritage runs through the finished room rather than around it, helped along by a set of handmade wall sconces from a ceramist, small details that give the space warmth and a sense of craft without pulling focus from the practical work happening underneath.

That balance, joyful without being showy, resolved without feeling clinical, is really the whole story of this project. There’s no single dramatic before-and-after moment to point to. What there is instead is a room that finally does what a bathroom is supposed to do: work quietly, every day, without asking anything of the people using it.

The clients wanted something beautiful that also felt like part of their home. What they got was both, built from a long list of small decisions that, together, add up to something that finally feels effortless.

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