Armrock Constructions

Gold Coast Bathroom & Kitchen Renovations

Bathroom Tiling

Why Tiling is a Great Solution for Kitchens and Bathrooms

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If you’re thinking about using tiles in your bathroom or kitchen makeover, you’re not alone! There are many reasons why tiles are such an enduring solution for both types of rooms. Used in part or whole, tiles bring a strength of presentation and character to practically all of our Gold Coast renovations.

In this article, we discuss the reasons why tiles are such a great solution for kitchens and bathrooms.

Brought to you by Armrock Constructions – Gold Coast Kitchen and Bathroom renovation specialists.

What’s Involved in a Tile Solution?

Tiles are just one part of a tiled solution. The other components include the bond or adhesive which connects the tiles to the wall or floor, and the grout, which is the material between the tiles. This combination of elements (tiles, bond, grout) are brought together by workmanship to create a tiled solution.

That’s important to keep in mind, because from a design point of view, the tiles work together with their grout to create different types of aesthetics.

Protection from Water

A requirement for both bathrooms and kitchens is to contain the use of water. Failure to contain water creates a risk to timber structures which deteriorate over time when they’re exposed.

Tiles are a great option from this point of view. The right tiles, professionally installed, create an external layer to control and limit the spread of water – an essential consideration in kitchens and bathrooms.

Shower Niche Tapware Light Grey
Armrock Shower Tiling

Predictable Underfoot

Given the nature of bathrooms and kitchens as wet areas, it’s important to implement a surface which is predictable underfoot whether it is wet or dry.

The safety of flooring is important and with modern, purpose-designed flooring tiles it is straightforward designing a suitable solution.

Design – Connecting The Room

Both kitchens and bathrooms include a variety of elements which may have little in common. Sizes, shapes and sometimes styles in fixtures and fittings will always be acquired for an optimal result, but within a given room they may need to work hard to achieve something in common. Tiles can help.

When tiles are laid they create a grid which can be very strong or barely there – but either way, a grid is created. This grid has an important effect in the room because it creates a subtle framework to connect different items.

This creates a sense of unity in the room which would otherwise be absent. Here is a simple example illustrating this in action:

Fridge and microwave without any grid
Fridge and microwave without any grid
Fridge and microwave with tiled grid
Fridge and microwave with tiled grid

Irrespective of any functional role, the ability of tiles to connect different items is a helpful attribute in styling kitchens and bathrooms. Tiles bring rooms together!

Neat Bath Niche
Neat Bath Niche

Design – Aesthetic Depth

Tiles have a wide range of looks and styles. Texture, depth, pattern, colour – all of these can be varied when using tiles. This gives renovators access to a library of options that can’t be achieved any other way.

There’s a tile for every situation, and sometimes there are too many choices to make. Our team is here to help. We know what works and can help you select the best tiles for your project. Check out our recent bathroom renovation projects for some ideas here.

Cues for Room Flow with Tiling

Whether you opt for square tiles or rectangular tiles, the room will still be the same size and shape. However, it may not feel the same. Tiles create patterns which have an impact – especially when you’re considering how a room should flow.

This consideration is especially relevant in rooms with more than one entry. Tiles can be used to describe movement patterns within the room.

Bathroom Drains

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The choice and style of drain for your Gold Coast bathroom renovation can add value to the design. Drains used to be an afterthought, but now their valuable visual contribution is recognised. Whether your drains are designed to blend in or stand out, make sure you take their presence into account when planning your new bathroom.

In this article we discuss bathroom drain styles, with examples from some of our recent Gold Coast renovation projects.

Gold Coast Bathroom Floor Drain Styles

Historically, bathroom drains were considered in terms of their function rather than how they looked. In modern bathroom design, the presence of all inclusions is taken into account. Because drains are different to the area they occupy (for example, bathroom tiles) they naturally stand out to some extent.

You should consider this difference and use it to optimal effect when planning your bathroom style. The contrast created between your drain and the surrounding tiles can range from low-contrast to high-contrast, with a variety of different effects throughout the range.

Where You Find Bathroom Drains

The location and number of drains your bathroom needs will depend on the size and type of bathroom, and also on the fixtures & fittings. However, from ensuites to main bathrooms, a standard configuration will involve at least a floor drain, a shower drain. Drains may also be found in your basin and bath, but in this article we’re particularly interested in these common floor drains.

The location of these drains will depend on the bathroom and the type of shower. Generally they are optimally placed for the original design but may need to be moved in the case of a renovation or reconfiguration of the bathroom. The pros and cons of approaching this type of plumbing modification should be weighed up carefully. It’s something we can help with. Learn more about our bathroom renovations here.

Types of Bathroom Drains

There are two types of bathroom drains we’re looking at in detail here:

  • Tile insert strip drains
  • General prefabricated bathroom drains

Tile Insert Strip Drain

The tile insert strip drain is a popular option in many of our Gold Coast renovation projects. Using the same tiles as the bathroom floor, Armrock’s tilers craft a drain that blends in with the floor for a compelling and seamless look. These type of drains are custom-made. Popular formats for these drains are squares and rectangles.

What is a Tile Insert Strip Drain?

A tile insert strip drain is a drain that uses the same tiles as the surrounding area to create a seamless effect for the drain.

Tile Insert Strip Drain
Tile Insert Strip Drain
Square Tile Insert Drain
Square Tile Insert Drain

The great thing about tile insert strip drains is that they are designed to blend in with the materials that surround them. The only indication of a drains presence is the functional gap to permit water flow.

General Prefabricated Bathroom Drains

Alternatively, a bathroom makeover is an opportunity to implement a pre-fabricated drain. For our Gold Coast bathroom renovation clients, we can help you to source essential components like these from reputable local suppliers. We can also help you determine the best brand or style for your renovation project.

There are numerous options available. They range from very basic, functional drains to high-end materials and styles.

Stainless steel strip drain
Stainless steel strip drain
Brass Bathroom Drain
Brass Bathroom Drain

What’s The Best Solution For My Bathroom?

What you include in your bathroom renovation should always be weighed up against your requirements:

  • Budget
  • Purpose / Function
  • Style

Whether you opt for a discrete option such as a tile insert strip drain or a prefabricated bathroom drain, the most important thing is that it meets your budget requirements and performs its all-important function properly. Style comes last but it’s not unimportant! A drain can really stand out and in modern bathroom design, you need to ensure it stands out in the right way. Following are some design notes about how your drains can compliment the rest of your design.

Design Principle: Repetition

A useful design principle to keep in mind when you’re considering your bathroom drain style is that of repetition – in other words, repeating similar elements through the bathroom to create an effect. This is most easily achieved with colour, but can also be done with texture, lines and shapes. Using repetition can help build a theme and create the impression of a continuous, unified design.

For example, a bathroom with silver vanity-handles could use a silver drain to create this kind of repetition. When the silver is repeated through the design (door handles, shower fixtures, cupboard handles, tapware, towel-holders) the effect takes hold. Actually, silver is an important colour in bathrooms because so many components are silver-coloured (usually because they’re made from stainless steel, which is silver. Learn more about using silver in your bathroom in this article.

Is Polished Concrete ‘The Look’ For You?

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Could the Polished Concrete look be the solution for your Gold Coast bathroom renovation? This style is popular and can bring interest and value to your design in part or whole. In this article we’ll explore some practical applications of polished concrete style for bathrooms, with examples from recent Armrock bathroom renovations.

What is Polished Concrete Style?

Polished Concrete Tiles - Kitchen Splashback
Polished Concrete Tiles – Kitchen Splashback

Polished concrete is a fascinating style that leverages the look of refined concrete as its aesthetic. Just as concrete can be made for many different looks, so too can polished concrete have many appearances. In polished concrete, the components of the concrete take on a visual role, finished so they can be appreciated. This makes it an interesting material to use in your renovation!

The style originates from from the method of improving concrete floors through various means to make it a feature, rather than hiding it away in a under carpet or floorboards. Baring the concrete in this way is the essence of industrial design – revealing the form in the functional for an integrated, unified style.

The look can be reproduced either by working with actual concrete or through the application of materials in the same style, such as polished concrete tiles. We’ve recently been using polished concrete tiles to great effect in many of our Gold Coast bathroom renovation projects.

You can learn more about concrete polishing on Wikipedia.

What’s Special About It?

Modern bathroom style is always striving to be fresh and new. Polished concrete is an industrial concept, which entails the showcasing of structural and functional elements that were once hidden away. You can read more about industrial design on decoist.com. By introducing the polished concrete look into your bathroom, you can access a library of visual possibilities that can make your new bathroom an exciting space. Other positives about the style include:

  • Can be implemented in part or whole
  • Combines well with other common bathroom elements
  • Can be warm or cool (colour temperature)

Polished Concrete Tiles

Polished concrete tiles – or more accurately, polished concrete-look tiles – are tiles that accurately replicated the polished concrete style. They’re a great way to access the style for floors or walls and are ready to go – no concrete polishing is required.

Although they’re available in a variety of sizes, larger tile sizes are popular at the moment for polished concrete – perhaps because of their more expansive look. Either way they come in a variety of styles. Grey tones are common because they echo the greys ordinarily found in concrete, but there are many subtle variations to choose from.

Polished Concrete Bathrooms

A successful polished concrete bathroom includes a juxtaposition of styles. Used exclusively polished concrete can be overbearing, but when combined judiciously with timbers, glosses, metallics such as silver, and plants or natural accessories, a rich experience is revealed.

This comes from polished concretes ability to mix well with other common bathroom inclusions. We’re getting great results combining polished concrete with timber-look laminates for a style that is immediately textural, inviting and also utilitarian and practical.

Polished Concrete Shower

Polished Concrete Shower
Polished Concrete Shower

Stainless Steel Shower Drain

Stainless steel strip drain
Stainless steel strip drain

Polished concrete and silver go together – it’s part of the industrial theme (think factory + machinery). Running a full-length drain communicates this idea whilst further expanding the visual impression created by the large 600x600mm tiles.

Stainless Steel Shower Head

Again, polished concrete tiles work with the silver of this showerhead for a compelling style. To make it work best, consider how it will be balanced in your bathroom. The more polished concrete you use, the more likely it will require an offset of some kind by a natural material or texture.

Polished Concrete Shower Head
Polished Concrete Shower Head