Bathroom, Laundry & Kitchen Renovation Basics

By Alex Brooks

They are the hardest working rooms in the house. They involve plumbing, complex wiring and must be configured for functionality rather than mere beauty. Bathrooms, laundries and kitchens are not only the rooms where YOU do the most work, but also the rooms that require the most work to renovate. So where should you start?

BATHROOM BASICS

Plumbing is a dirty job, so it's no wonder it costs a bomb. It makes sense to accept existing plumbing infrastructure when beautifying a bathroom. Of course, if you want to throw money around on invisible things like relocating a water source, you can, but the reality is most bathroom renovations involve refurbishing merely surfaces and fittings (oh, and waterproofing what's underneath).

Oh, and the prime consideration shouldn't be merely creating a sanctuary in which to relax in a deep bath but also have adequate ventilation (who wants to breathe in mould?) and even better waterproofing (once that water seeps behind the shower, the bathroom is a goner). Exhaust fans, windows and good waterproofing will stand all bathroom renovators in good stead.

Baths can be tricky to select - do you go cheap and low maintenance or expensive and luscious? And as for vanities, you need to choose one which will deliver your storage requirements, as well as enough work space to do whatever else it is you need to do in front of a bathroom mirror. If, for example, you are one of those I-only-put-make-up-on-in-the-bathroom types, then your vanity requirements will be higher than a bachelor who barely looks in the mirror each day.

The real must is to install a low-flow AAA rated showerhead, which should result in a prickly water sensation that won't guzzle energy or water.  Dont' go with one of those mean, dribbly little water-saving showerheads as there's nothing less satisfying than a wispy was in the shower at the end of a long hard renovation.

LOVING THE LAUNDRY

It's so nice that laundries have come out of those mingy little cupboards. Of course, some poor inner city and apartment dwellers are stuck with this 1990s innovation, which was deemed a great space saver. Strangely, it only works if you relegate your laundry to the energy-hogging clothes dryer after each load and never want to hang it out to air dry or sort it into nice piles. God forbid if you have one of those cupboards-masquerading-as-a-laundry and you need to soak something in Napisan - it's off to the bathroom for that!

It may well be the smallest room in the house, but whatever marauding untidiness threatens to engulf a home, the laundry is the one space that remains manageable.  It's a single-purpose space in our double-duty homes and if you're fortunate enough to have a real, separate laundry, feel blessed: a whole room to perform the repetitive action of a simple housekeeping task. What luxury! Some people consider washing and ironing  tremendously therapeutic. They perhaps need their head read. 

The laundry is usually a smallish room and requires wonderful space planning to work well. Storage for this and that, as well as a room to be entirely sensible and practical. Consider forgoing a clothes dryer (if you can) and installing an in-laundry clothes line which will air-dry your clothes, even in the worst of weather. Paying attention to good cross-ventilation in such a room will allow great air-flow and even better energy savings. Did you know you can save more than $100 a year by not using a clothes dryer?

KITCHEN KAPERS

Kitchens are one of those rooms that grip people in renovation fever, desperately aiming to turn their Before into an After.  It's easy for this room to look showroom perfect rather than cosy and lived in.

Kitchens have so many components that need to work in the space - the cooking appliances, the dishwashing, the bench preparation area, the fridge space. And a well-planned kitchen takes time to note what your household needs (the function) against the beauty it aspires to (the form).

When it comes to storage, you must decide what you will reveal versus what you will conceal. There was a time when kitchen appliances were the height of fashion, a way to show others how well we lived. We've come a long way since the'50s and now the less you see, the better.

Europeans have been enjoying the benefits of integrated kitchens for years. As we begin to live smaller, it has become essential to integrate and not only a style choice. Our kitchens have become part of the living space. Rather than a bright white or chrome-filled utility area, we want it to better reflect the overall environment.

Having the location of appliances mapped out beforehand also takes out the guesswork. Good layout also means you maximise efficiency and make it a comfortable space for preparation and cooking. By using the kitchen work triangle you minimise the number of steps between the sink, stove and fridge. It also makes it easier to clean.

It helps to store your dinner plates and cutlery near your dishwasher, so it's one easy motion to load an unload. And placing the  microwave at bench height or lower is safer than having it up high, where  there's risk of scalding your face in the event of a spill.

TOP TIPS

* The new trend in appliances is black. So start thinking about sleek black casings instead of smeary stainless steel or traditional white.

* Plan any renovations or upgrades to these rooms at the same time to save on labour, wiring and plumbing costs.

* These are the rooms that will most "date" a house, so aim for something contemporary that doesn't scream "I'm from the early millenium".

* Integrating energy and water efficient ideas at the planning stages is the easiest way to save money in the long run and future proof your house. Embrace the latest cooking technology, and think about installing your own water filter if you want to stop buying bottled water.