Creating the earthy, organic bathroom of our dreams

After a four-year-long home reno journey, the time had finally come to tackle the room we had put off longest – the bathroom! While the space itself was in desperate need of a transformation, we knew that this would be one of our more challenging renovations, especially given that we live in a one-bathroom home. 

As challenging as it was (see: showering in our backyard for close to two months), the results speak for themselves, and at times I find it hard to believe I’m looking at the same room! Here’s how we transformed this tired, outdated space into the earthy, organic bathroom of our dreams.

To refresh or renovate?

The first decision we needed to make was whether to complete a full renovation, or to simply give the bathroom a facelift. As everything was in fine working order, an easy refresh would have been a lot faster and more affordable, and products like tile paint can really help to modernise a space.

While the coat of paint we applied to the 80s-style timber wall panelling helped to provide a temporary solution, we wouldn’t have been able to achieve the earthy, organic bathroom vibe we had pictured without going through a complete renovation. And, our choices in selections would have been quite limited. 

As we saw a lot of room for improvement in terms of the layout, we ultimately decided to go the renovation route as the benefits outweighed that of a refresh and gave us more freedom to experiment and get creative. 

Here’s a closer look at the previous bathroom:

Opting for a wet area bathroom

Bathrooms in houses like ours were typically on the smaller side, and by today’s standards they can almost feel ensuite-esque. While extending out or adding a second bathroom wasn’t in our budget, an overcrowded space definitely did not fit the brief, and we wanted to design a floorplan that would maximise its potential.

So, why choose a wet area bathroom? While there are many great ways to save space in a small bathroom, an enclosed shower can occupy valuable real estate without much flexibility. Choose an enclosed shower that is too small, and you will feel cramped when showering. Choose one that is too big, and you can quickly lose what little space you have left over.

Although a wet area bathroom doesn’t magically create additional space, it does grant you the illusion of space – and that in itself plays a big part in how you will feel spending time in the room. 

For us, opting for a wet area bathroom meant:

• A more functional floorplan
• A bathroom that appears more spacious
• A seamless, modern look
• Space for a freestanding bathtub
• Easier to clean with less shower glass

While a wet area bathroom might not be for everyone, we have found it to be a very easy adjustment – and much more aligned to the original aesthetic we set out to achieve. 

Finding the right fittings and fixtures

Selecting the right fittings and fixtures was an important step toward achieving a space that truly understood the assignment. While we had a rough idea of the pieces we needed, our friends at Highgrove Bathrooms were a terrific support in helping us to narrow down our selections, and consider things we had previously overlooked. 

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – never underestimate the value of specialist advice from local suppliers. And a very big shoutout to Chloe, Katherine and the team at Highgrove Dandenong for all their support!

Here are some of the key pieces that helped us to achieve the earthy, organic look in our bathroom renovation: 

Rainfall shower head

Have you ever seen a more aesthetically pleasing shower head? Didn’t think so! While the Monsoon Round Shower Head is beautiful to look at, it’s even more beautiful to shower under, and when I close my eyes I can pretend I’m at a tranquil retreat… Bliss! And, the option to switch to the Modo Hand Shower is perfect for the days I’d rather not get my hair wet. (Or, to rinse out the bath. Ha!)

Freestanding bathtub

An earthy, organic bathroom renovation wouldn’t be complete without a luscious freestanding bathtub – and the Acacia Freestanding Bath totally fits the bill. As two taller-than-average humans, it is such a luxury to finally have a bathtub we can actually fit in and soak up all the spa vibes. No Enya required.

Matte black accessories

If you’ve been following the process of our home renovation, you’ll already know how much we adore a black accent. To keep things cohesive, we chose to stick with matte black accessories from Highgrove’s Spin and Eden ranges throughout our bathroom renovation – and I adore the contrast of these pieces against the neutral tones. 

Timber vanity unit

Timber can be a great way to add warmth to what can typically be quite cold environments, and a timber vanity was high on our bathroom renovation wish list. A gorgeous mid-tone timber with distinct black veining, the Glenrowan Marri Timber Vanity was an easy choice, and complements the natural vibe of the space perfectly. 

Concrete basin

Of course, a beautiful vanity wouldn’t be complete without a beautiful basin, and the Crete Organic Concrete Bench Mount Basin juxtaposes perfectly against the natural timber. With its textured finish and soft, organic shape, it’s hard not to fall a little bit in love with this basin. A true statement piece!

A perfectly imperfect finish with microcement

After many months of browsing Pinterest in search of bathroom reno inspiration, I noticed my boards were overflowing with tile-free spaces featuring a seamless, textured render – perfect for an earthy, organic vibe bathroom vibe.

Not knowing exactly what I was looking at, I started to dig a little deeper and that’s when I discovered the world of microcement. A decorative coating, the appeal of microcement lies in imperfections, and it’s the raw texture and subtle inconsistencies that make it so beautiful.

Easily waterproofed and impressively hardwearing, microcement is an ideal choice for bathrooms. And, with an appearance similar to limestone or natural rock, it really is the hero product of our earthy, organic bathroom. We definitely took a risk experimenting with a product we couldn’t find a lot of information on – but it absolutely paid off, and we couldn’t be more in love with the result.

I’m going to call it, and I predict that microcement is about to become the next big thing in home renovations. Just remember, you saw it here first! Make sure to subscribe for a full rundown on the microcement process coming soon to the blog.

A few final thoughts

Like all renovation projects – there were definitely a few bumps along the way, but the final results make it all so worth it. We’re completely stoked with our new bathroom, and just a little bit proud of the space we have created. 

We hope this helps provide inspiration for your next project, and if you’re planning a bathroom renovation, be sure to visit your local Highgrove Bathrooms store or check out their range of online resources.

If you have any questions about our renovation or want to know more about the products used, feel free to leave us a comment or get in touch directly. Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: Please note, this article contains gifted or discounted items. We only recommend products we have personally tested and recommend, and we appreciate your support!