Made Somewhere - Real Life Reno
When Christian and Elki told us they were planning their ensuite renovation we knew it was going to be nothing short of special! Having run 'Made Somehwere' - an award winning graphic design studio in Sydney, we knew their eye for design would reflect into their new renovation. This light filled ensuite in the Southern highlands was renovated using our Avoca in Black on the floor, Albert Park in Full White on the feature wall and Brushgrove matt white on the other walls.
What spaces did you renovate?
We have been slowly renovating and landscaping our 1920's cottage in the beautiful Southern Highlands. The ensuite was one of our most recent projects, however we have two more bathrooms to tackle next!
We have been slowly renovating and landscaping our 1920's cottage in the beautiful Southern Highlands. The ensuite was one of our most recent projects, however we have two more bathrooms to tackle next!
What motivated you to renovate?
From the moment we moved into our house two years ago we knew we wanted to transform the whole space the empty storage room off the master bedroom into a luxe ensuite. The space was completely useless previously and we knew an ensuite would transform the whole space. This was originally planned for one of our first projects, however was put on the back burner whilst we landscaped the garden and renovated other parts of the house.
The Avoca in Black on the floor, Albert Park in Full White on the feature wall and Brushgrove matt white
Were you living here at the time of your renovations?
Yes, the house was completely upside down, but we lived here through the renos. As the ensuite was to our master bedroom, we were lucky enough that we could relocate to another room for the entirety of the renovation. There was a lot of dust, but something we're becoming very use to!
How would you describe your style?
We would definitely describe our style as minimal in both work and personal life. We love contemporary designs but also wanted a touch of character and period aesthetics to tie back into the age of the house.
The Avoca in Black on the floor, Albert Park in Full White on the feature wall and Brushgrove matt white
Talk us though the process you took in the planning stages of the renovation?
We've always saved inspiration we love on instagram and pinterest, so before we started our project we had many years of images to sort through and collate into a moodboard for our vision.
Were there any delays? How long did the renovation take?
We started the demolition at the end of October 2020 and completed the project at the end of January 2021. Our custom vanity caused the biggest delay (18 weeks from ordering), as well as the Christmas/New Years break, which paused the renovation for a couple of weeks.
Christians Moodboard
What was the most challenging part of the renovation? Did anything go wrong? How did you adapt?
All ran pretty smoothly, besides a faulty in-wall toilet (luckily we realised this before plastering and tiling). The most challenging part of the renovation was the structure of the framework, which had been converted into a room over an existing veranda many decades prior. The walls and floor were completely out of square, as well as some termite damage and rot which we needed to address before starting.
Were you juggling a career as well as overlooking the renovations?
Yes, we both run a graphic design studio 'Made Somewhere'. Due to covid we were predominatly working from home anyway, so we could just juggle both working and renovating from the one location.
Did you and Elki butt heads over the design at all?
No, luckily we had very similar vision for the ensuite! We are very used to working together in our career, so the ensuite was just another project to work on together. The choice of floor tiles was the only discussion we had on varying opinions. We agreed on the bold look of the Avoca over something more subtle, which we are so thrilled with!
The Avoca in Black on the floor, Albert Park in Full White on the feature wall and Brushgrove matt white
Did you come into the TileCloud showroom to look around at tiles? Did you order samples?
We ordered two sets of samples from TileCloud and made our selection from them. It was great comparing what was in our hands with inspiration from TileCloud's instagram.
Why did you choose TileCloud / What did you enjoy best about the TileCloud experience?
We helped create the TileCloud brand and website a few years ago and have always loved and admired the team and their dedication to their customers. It was a no brainer for us to choose TileCloud and finally be able to put our tile obsession (thanks TileCloud) to good use!
Any advice for first time renovators?
Plan well and create a checklist and moodboard to make sure you are confident with your vision before starting. Understand what you are capable of doing yourself and what you are capable of doing yourself and what to hire professionals for. Thank you to Jake @drift.plumbing, Frank @highlandstiling, and @bowralglass for our plumbing, tiling and shower screen! Also live in your space for a while before jumping into renovating! You'll quickly work out what is more important to you and what you require.
The Avoca in Black on the floor, Albert Park in Full White on the feature wall and Brushgrove matt white
Products:
Tapware: Faucet and Strommen (Matt Black – Pegai Range) @faucetstrommen
Shaving Cabinet: ADP (Pill Shaving Cabinet) @adpaustralia
Shower Screen: Highlands Glass (Starfire Glass) @bowralglass
Plumbing: Drift Plumbing @drift.plumbing
Tiling: Highlands Tiling @highlandstiling
You can follow Christian and Elki on instagram: @made.somewhere or explore their website: https://madesomewhere.com.au/
Courtney Cole
As an interior designer at TileCloud, Courtney brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the world of home renovation. With a Diploma in Interior Design and Decoration and a passion for creating stunning interiors, shes dedicated to helping people on their journey to transform their homes. Currently channeling her expertise into renovating her own home, she aims to share valuable insights, tips, and inspiration to assist others in achieving their dream space!