Q & A with Renovator Amy Fraser Foyle Street Reno
Bathroom renovations are often said to be the toughest room in the house to tackle. When Amy and Tyler decided it was time to refresh their worn-out bathroom, they knew they were in for quite the journey. With a small 2.4m x 1.8m space to work with and no backup shower during the process, their renovation story shows that sometimes the most challenging projects deliver the most rewarding results.
First Home, First Renovation: The Planning Journey
Planning a home renovation takes patience, especially when it's your first. For Amy and Tyler, their bathroom makeover wasn't a quick decision. "Wow, I think it took me about 12 months of looking at bathroom inspiration before we decided to lock in a layout and style," Amy shares. "This is our first home, we are both very 'house proud' and have pretty high expectations, so we knew we wanted it to be perfect."
That careful planning paid off. Their bathroom renovation turned out exactly as they'd hoped; a space they're now proud to show off. If you're thinking about your own bathroom renovation, taking time with the planning stage is well worth it. You might even find some inspiration in our collection of modern bathroom ideas to help bring your vision to life.
Tile Choices That Made All the Difference
Amy and Tyler's tile selection process wasn't straightforward. Initially, they had a completely different vision for their bathroom. That all changed when they visited the TileCloud showroom in Sydney. "It changed everything," Amy explains. "It was really helpful to see the tiles in real life and on a larger scale. My tile choices completely changed when we walked out, I felt really inspired."
The couple ended up choosing the Umina White Gloss Small Square Tile for their shower walls, creating a clean, timeless look. They paired this with the beautiful Paddington Terracotta Terrazzo Look Tile for the floor, adding warmth and character to the space. To complete their bathroom design, they selected Yabby Brushed Brass Tapware, completes their look and complements the terracotta tones in their floor tiles.
Not sure which tiles would work best in your space? Just like Amy, seeing tiles in person can completely change your perspective. If you're feeling stuck with tile renovation ideas,booking a design appointment might be exactly what you need to inspire your tile renovation ideas.
Living Through a Bathroom Renovation: The Reality
One of the biggest challenges of home renovations in Australia is deciding whether to move out during the process or stay put. Amy and Tyler chose to live in their home throughout the entire six-week renovation. "Yes, it was pretty tough!" Amy admits. "It took us about 6 weeks from demo to completion, and in those 6 weeks, we had no other shower, so we would shower in the backyard or drive over to my parents' place for a hot shower. It was exhausting at the time, but so worth it!"
Having Tyler's building experience was a huge advantage. "We are very fortunate that Tyler is a builder and has completed many bathroom renovations in older houses for clients before, which made the experience easier."
Even with professional experience, bathroom renovations can still throw out unexpected challenges. For Amy and Tyler, it was realising they needed to change their plans for a half-wall niche. "It was originally going to run under the shower head, mirror and above the toilet. Thankfully, we were measuring and visualising the space after the demo before we started to rebuild and discovered the half-wall would push the toilet out into the entry doors' swing space and wouldn't allow our shower head to sit flush on the wall."
Their solution? "Drawing on the blank walls and floors really helped get an understanding of how the components would work in our small space." If you're concerned about potential renovation hiccups, it might help to check out our article on renovation myths busted before you start.
Balancing Work and Renovation Life
Like most of us, Amy and Tyler had to juggle full-time jobs alongside their renovation project. Amy works as an Occupational Therapist at a local hospital, while Tyler runs his own building business. "There were many days where Tyler would work on other people's houses during the day and then come home and work on our bathroom until 11 pm that night, ready for trades to come the next morning," Amy shares.
This dedication to their project while balancing careers is impressive and shows that with careful planning and a bit of sacrifice, creating your dream bathroom is possible even with a busy schedule. For more inspiration from real homeowners who've successfully managed impressive renovations, check out ourModern Meets Traditional andJess Rae King's Renovation stories.
The DIY vs. Professional Balance
Finding the right balance between DIY work and hiring professionals is key to any successful renovation. Amy and Tyler were able to save money by taking on certain aspects themselves, while bringing in experts for specialised work.
"We are so lucky to have many skilled friends and paid for an electrician, plasterer (shoutout to our skylight) and a plumber," Amy explains. "We did all the demolition, painting and building components." Having a partner with building experience certainly helped, but even without professional skills, there are aspects of bathroom renovations that homeowners can tackle themselves to save on costs.
First-Time Renovator Tips from Amy
After successfully completing their bathroom renovation, Amy has some valuable advice for other first-time renovators:
"Once you have your budget set, go for it! It will be so worth the hard work and inconveniences to have a bathroom that feels like a luxury hotel. P.s. the heated towel rails are worth the splurge!!"
What's Next for the Foyle Street Renovators?
With their beautiful bathroom complete, it seems Amy and Tyler might have caught the renovation bug. "My parents are begging us to do their ensuite next, so this may be our next project. Mum is giving me full control of designing after seeing our bathroom," Amy shares.
Ready to Start Your Own Bathroom Renovation?
Amy and Tyler's bathroom renovation story shows that with careful planning, the right tile choices, and a bit of patience, you can turn even a small bathroom into a space you love.
Whether you're planning your first renovation or your fifth, the key is to take your time with the planning stage, be prepared for unexpected challenges, and remember that the end result will be worth all the effort.
Ready to begin your own bathroom transformation? Start by ordering some samples from TileCloud and see where your inspiration takes you.
Tayla is a Brisbane-based freelance writer with a background in fashion design, a passion for sustainability and a knack for storytelling. As the host of one of Brisbane's Best Airbnb's ( Thanks Urban List), Tayla has a passion and talent for interior design and home improvement. This is something she picked up studying for a bachelor of fashion design at ESMOD in Paris, the world's first fashion school. A digital nomad — she can be found occasionally working from far-away surf camps with sunglasses on to combat the sun on her screen. When at home in leafy green Paddington, she's a table-setting aficionado and has one too many books on her bedside table.