Reader's home - Fiona's kitchen and bathroom redo

Fiona sent us an email about her bathroom and kitchen renovations that she did on a budget. She even included a breakdown of costs and the after photos are a big improvement, particularly the bathroom which you'llsee after the jump. First up, Fiona's kitchen. 

I couldn't afford $20-$25K for a brand new kitchen, so I spruced up what I already had. My blue laminate bench top was covered with 12mm thick stone (fitted in a few hours), the kitchen splashback tiles were removed & the same stone was fixed to the walls. I had an overhead cupboard made which included a hidden under cupboard range hood. I scoured Google images to find a design I liked and had it made by a cabinet maker. I had the floor tiles replaced (and extended to include the dining & entrance way). Finally, I had my oven and cook top professionally cleaned to fit in with my 'new' kitchen. I kept all my appliances and existing sink with mixer to keep costs low. My price breakdown was:-

* Kitchen, entrance & dining floor tile removal & laying $1950
* Kitchen floor tiles & grout $1012
* Range hood including ducting kit $442
* Stone bench top & splashback $3830
* Floating cabinet $3500 (included installation of cabinet, installation of range hood & removal, patching & painting of old ceiling fan)
* Kitchen wall tile removal $400

BEFORE

AFTER

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Small space ideas

My brother-in-law Dave sent me a link to a really cool office warehouse makeover in Brazil. It's the office of a sports marketing company and they asked architect Simone Tasca to work some magic. Some very clever ideas were introduced that are awesome for folks dealing with small spaces. First, there is the lounge room, with seating made up of painted pallets (and on the wall to hang the TV).

Then there's the dining room with an expandable dining table created by 2 tables of almost the same size on casters where one has it's legs cut slightly shorter so it can roll under the other. LOVE THAT!

This bathroom is adorable. A whole bunch of mirrors for visual interest, a concrete slab (?) counter made to fit in an awkward corner and a pail for a sink. Industrial chic! (Love that wall-mount faucet!)

Photos: Alexandre Dotta

Stalking shimmers of blue

You may remember this shimmery bathroom with touches of opaline blue. The photo is by Petrina Tinslay. Today I was real estate stalking and look what I found. The home that contains said shimmery shower stall and all. It's in Woollahra darling.  A melange of arched windows, oak floors, rich but muted colour palettes and patterned restraint. Dark and discreetly gilded. Yet it turns its face to the light in lush sun trap courtyards and terraces. It's the home of a sybarite and who doesn't need luxury and pleasure after all? Want to buy? Link here while it lasts.

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Simple

I LOVE the simplicity of this bathroom - right down to the not-very-common-in-a-bathroom light fixture. 

via Bo Bedre

Favourite bathrooms of 2011 - part 2

this post via Zuster

this post via Design*Sponge at Home

this post via Katarina Malmström Brown

this post via Red Brick Farm

this post via C designs

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