"Five people were sharing one bathroom that barely worked for two." Chloe's main bathroom served two adults and three children with almost no storage, a small bath and plain tiles that showed every splash by 7.30am. The renovation had one job: survive the morning rush without looking like a kids' bathroom.
Storage first, tiles to bring it together
Chloe planned the practical layer before anything pretty: a full-sized inset bath, an oak vanity with real drawers, and a large mirrored cabinet. Then the tiles had to do two jobs at once, add personality for the kids and still suit the rest of the house.
Samples at the kitchen table, after bedtime
Taking three children through a tile showroom was never going to happen. The samples came to her instead, and the decisions got made at home once the kids were asleep. The Lorne Mixed Terrazzo won the floor with its colour flecks and movement, and against the oak vanity sample, the bone subway beat a bright white for the walls without a contest.
How the room came together
The Lorne Mixed Terrazzo runs across the floor, where its white, charcoal and grey chips do a quiet second job: water drops and footprints disappear into the pattern instead of showing like they did on the old dark floor. The Mildura Bone Matte Subway keeps the walls warm and simple, brushed nickel tapware and neutral towels finish it, and every person in the house now has a drawer.
Working out quantities for a full family bathroom is covered in how many tiles you actually need, and the sample test lives in how to test a tile sample at home.