Armrock Constructions

Gold Coast Bathroom Renovations

Renovation Design

Is Polished Concrete ‘The Look’ For You?

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. 

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What is Polished Concrete Style? 

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 Bathroom Niche
Polished Concrete Bathroom Niche

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

Stainless Steel Drain Polished Concrete Tiles
Stainless Steel Drain Polished Concrete Tiles

Stainless Steel Shower 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

Silver Tapware Polished Concrete Tiles
Silver Tapware Polished Concrete Tiles

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. 

Water Efficiency Ratings For Kitchen and Bathroom Products

When you’re purchasing products for your new kitchen or bathroom, it’s worth paying attention to their water efficiency ratings. These ratings indicate how ‘thirsty’ the products are – and how much water (and money) you can save by using them. 

In Australia, The Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme uses a rating system to help you make informed choices about the water efficiency of products you buy in a store or online. On this page we’ll take a look at this system for insight into choices for kitchen and bathroom renovations. 

The WELS Scheme

The Wels Scheme is a government initiative which you can learn about at waterrating.gov.au. Here, products are registered and their ratings determined. These are then displayed on the products instore and look like this sample from waterrating.gov.au:

Water Rating Label

Understanding the Label

The main parts of the label include:

Star Rating

This shows the water efficiency of the product and helps to easily compare products when you’re instore. 

Water Consumption Information

The middle section of the label shows the amount of water used by the product. This is particularly useful because it shows how much water the products actually use to get the job done. There are different values for different products. The relevant ones for kitchen and bathroom renovations are: 

  • Dishwashers — litres per wash, load capacity of the machine
  • Flow controllers — litres per minute
  • Showers — litres per minute
  • Taps — litres per minute
  • Toilets — litres per average flush, litres per full flush, and litres per half flush
  • Washing machines — litres per wash, load capacity of the machine.

You can read more about this on www.waterrating.gov.au.

Registration and Product Details

Finally, you can read about the product, the manufacturer and the standards that guide how the product was tested. 

Saving Water – and Money

The following statistics come from www.waterrating.gov.au and illustrate the savings that can be made in water and money across common bathroom and kitchen fixtures. 

Showers

Flow rates for showers will be expressed on the water rating label in litres per minute (L/min).

Every 1L/min difference will save a typical family of four nearly 12,000 litres (12kL) of water and $35 each year.

For this family of four, replacing their shower that flows at 15L/min with a new:

  • 3-star shower that flows at 9L/min will save 70kL and $210 each year on their water bills
  • 4-star shower that flows at 6L/min will save 105kL and $315 per year on their water bills.

Depending on energy costs, they may save an equivalent amount (or more) each year on energy bills because less water will be heated for showers.

Assumptions: each family member showers for 8 minutes per day, at an average water price of $2.99/kL (the national average price reported in the 2014–15 Australian Bureau of Statistics Water Account).

Taps

Flow rates for taps will be expressed on the water rating label in litres per minute (L/min).

Every 1L/min difference can save a household nearly 2,000 litres (2kL) of water and $5.50 each year.

Replacing an old inefficient tap with a flow rate of 15L/min with a new:

  • 3-star tap that flows at 9L/min will save 11kL and $33 each year on water bills
  • 6-star tap that flows at 4L/min will save 20kL and $60 each year on water bills.

Depending on energy costs, they may save an equivalent amount (or more) each year on energy bills because less water will be heated.

Assumptions: tap runs for 5 minutes total per day, for tasks including handwashing, tooth brushing, rinsing dishes, rinsing fruit or vegetables, at an average water price of $2.99/kL (the national average price reported in the 2014–15 Australian Bureau of Statistics Water Account). Time the tap is running to fill a basin is not included.

Toilets

For toilets, the water rating label will tell you how much water is used in an average flush.

Every litre less water that a toilet uses in an average flush, will save a typical family of four nearly 6kL and $17.50 each year in water supply charges.

If this family replaces an old single-flush toilet with a flush volume of 12L with a new 4-star toilet with an average flush volume of 3.5L, this will save 50kL and $148 each year on their water bills.

Assumptions: each family member flushes 4 times per day, at an average water price of $2.99/kL (the national average price reported in the 2014–15 Australian Bureau of Statistics Water Account).

Clothes Washing Machines

The water rating label will tell you how much water is used per load, and what cycle was used for the tests (‘normal’, ‘eco’).

For a family that runs one load of washing per day, reducing water use by 10L per load will save 3.7kL and $11 each year.

Choosing a 6kg load capacity washing machine with a 6-star rating that uses 30L per load instead of a 3-star machine using 80L per load will save this family 18kL and $54 each year.

Assumptions: figures are based on average water price of $2.99/kL (the national average price reported in the 2014–15 Australian Bureau of Statistics Water Account).

Dishwashers

The water rating label will tell you how much water is used per load, and what cycle was used for the tests (‘normal’, ‘eco’).

For a family that runs one load of dishes per day, reducing water use by 10L per wash will save 3.7kL and $11 each year.

For a dishwasher that holds 14 place settings, choosing a 6-star machine that uses 9.5L per wash instead of a 2-star machine using 19L per wash will save this family 3.5kL and $20 each year.

Assumptions: figures are based on average water price of $2.99/kL (the national average price reported in the 2014–15 Australian Bureau of Statistics Water Account).

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Marble Laminate Benchtops

Laminate benchtops are a fantastic way to get the look and feel of natural materials such as timber and stone, at a fraction of the price. On the Gold Coast QLD, Armrock Constructions is getting great results with laminate options and a particularly popular version is marble laminate. Opulent, lavish and design-oriented, a touch of marble lifts the bathroom with connotations of grandeur, wealth and abundance.

Decorate your bathroom vanity benchtop in the opulence fashion of this famous look with a hard-wearing laminate for a transformative result. Read on to learn more about marble laminate with Armrock Constructions, or follow the link below to book a free appraisal and quote for your Gold Coast bathroom renovation. We’re looking forward to hearing from you.

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What is Marble Laminate?

Marble is a popular and famous type of stone, known for its high-end style, with swirls and veins creating an opulent look. In design, it’s as old as ancient Greece. Marble can be incorporated into kitchen and bathroom designs, generally as either a benchtop or floor or wall tiling option, or as a splashback solution.

Marble is expensive, but like many modern solutions, products such as modern laminates are made to replicate raw materials enabling the same style to be achieved at a fraction of the cost.

Marble Laminate Benchtop with Mounted Basins

Alternatives to Marble

Marble is just one possibility with laminates. Other popular options include different types of stone, timber-look laminates, or plain colours such as black and white. Regardless of the style, professionally-installed laminates create an effect which resembles the real thing so closely it’s hard to tell them apart – in addition to being hard-wearing, some manufacturers are also introducing textures into their products for a complete effect. 

Gloss White Laminated Benchtop

Laminated Benchtops for Gold Coast Bathrooms

Laminate benchtops are a great solution for both kitchen and bathroom renovations. They enable a means to easily and quickly refresh and revitalise surfaces and rooms alike. Reasonably priced, they’re popular with Armock’s Gold Coast renovation customers. Just talk to our team about the best solution for your bathroom or kitchen. 

Marble Laminate Design Options

Marble (stone) comes in a variety of different styles. Part of its popularity is related to the random swirls and veins that constitute its patterns. Marble is varied – each piece has its own style. Marble laminates mimic these attributes in a variety of popular styles which are designed for use in kitchens and bathrooms. Light, dark, and with different patterns, there are many options to consider. 

Nikpol Laminate Benchtops

We’re achieving great results working with products made by the Austrian company Nikpol. Hard-wearing and coming in a variety of different designs and styles, their ranges give you easy access to all kinds of bathroom and kitchen design options.

Nikpol Laminate Samples

This is a great example of the effect that can be achieved with a laminate solution. This Gold Coast kitchen renovation featured laminate by Austria’s Nikpol. Included below are some more samples of the results that can be achieved with this range. 

Stone Laminate Samples
Stone Laminate Samples
Timber Laminate Samples
Timber Laminate Samples
Nikpol Laminate Samples
Nikpol Laminate Samples

Splashbacks & Benchtops

Every kitchen needs a splashback! In this article, we’ll look at kitchen splashback considerations, options, and popular trends amongst our Gold Coast renovation clients. 

Quick Splashback FAQ

Here are answers to common questions about kitchen splashbacks. If you’re renovating on the Gold Coast, talk to our team for more information about the perfect splashback for your kitchen! 

What is a Splashback?

A splashback is the name for the protective area on the wall behind your kitchen bench. Splashbacks are important in wet areas such as kitchens an bathrooms, and provide the functions of protecting the wall from water and contributing to the design appeal of the room. 

Do I Need a Splashback?

Splashbacks are basically an essential inclusion for any situation where there is a wet area (sink, basin) against a wall. If your sink is in an island, you won’t need a splashback. 

What Are Splashbacks Made of??

Splashbacks come in a variety of materials. Examples include tiles, laminate, glass, paint, timber and stainless steel. Splashback options range in quality, looks and functionality. Talk to our team about the best option for your kitchen & renovation budget. 

Tapware and Waste
White Tile Splashback

Kitchen Splashback Considerations

Kitchen splashbacks need to meet some key criteria to perform their job successfully. The following examples demonstrate criteria a good kitchen splashback should meet. 

Waterproof

A splashback is primarily there to contain water. A splashback should be sufficiently waterproof to prevent water permeating the wall. This can be achieved through appropriate material (e.g. tile) selection or finishing / sealing, 

Environmental Tolerance

A splashback may be located close to heat sources including stovetop elements or device motors (e.g. fridge / microwave). A splashback should be equipped to tolerate heat from these sources. Our team will work with you to ensure your materials are up to the task asked of them. 

Look Great

A splashback should look great! It doesn’t need to be flamboyant or OTT to do so. Well-laid tiles always look fantastic even with the simplest design, and our team can help you create a design that will work for your walls. 

Easy to Clean

Some materials are easier to clean than others. Ease of cleaning and maintenance should always be considered when selecting kitchen inclusions! 

Kitchen Splashback Materials

Kitchen splashbacks can be made from a variety of materials. Here are some examples from recent renovations on the Gold Coast QLD. 

Tiled Splashbacks 

Tiles are a splashback favourite. They can easily bring a design edge to a kitchen renovation whether they’re designed to standout or blend in. 

New Kitchen Island Renovation
Gloss White Tile Spashback
Tile Mosaic Splashback (Bathroom)
Marble Kitchen Splashback
Porcelain Tile Kitchen Splashback

Other Popular Splashback Materials

Other splashback solutions include glass, stainless steel, built-in / pre-fabricated, laminated, paint and acrylic. Regardless of the type of splashback you opt for, remember to keep the considerations in mind. 

For assistance with splashbacks on the Gold Coast, talk to our renovation team today – we’re here to help!

Industrial Silver Bathroom Style

Bathroom plumbing, tapware, and fixtures and fittings are frequently silver in colour. This is due in part to the manufacture of many components in stainless steel, which is silver in colour. To some extent this has now changed with modern parts now available in a variety of different colours and styles. However, it’s a fact that silver is still a common colour to find taps, showerheads, nozzles, plugs, drains, and handles inside modern bathrooms. 

If you’re considering using silver in your bathroom renovation, take a moment to consider the ways it can work in your bathroom.

Deconstructing Bathroom Design

A deconstructed bathroom design will reveal purely-functional aspects of the room instead of hiding them away. This allows the beauty of the functionality to take on an aesthetic role. For example, rather than only revealing the necessary (for example, taps) the pipes may also be partially revealed. By doing so, the pipes take on a design role in the room as well.

This approach is popular with free-standing bathtubs. In the case of silver pipes and taps, deconstructing their display in this way accesses an industrial style reminiscent of factories where such pipes would be ‘on display’, there being no requirement to hide them away. Using this approach doesn’t mean your bathroom will look like a factory! 

It’s all about the selective incorporation of elements that will help your design achieve the style you’re aiming for. 

Silver Contrasts

A great aspect of working with the colour silver is the way it contrasts with other materials and colours. Silver is eminently compatible and when contrasted often adds value to other objects by accentuating them. Whether it’s a basic gloss-white, timber-style, or polished-concrete look, silver brings something special out in everything. 

Silver and Gloss White

Where do you see silver combined with gloss-white? A common response is a hospital or medical environment. While you probably don’t want your bathroom looking like the ER, the combination of silver and gloss-white can communicate cleanliness and hygiene, which are both assets in the context of a modern bathroom. There’s more information about working with gloss-white here. The combination of silver and gloss white is demonstrated in this recent Gold Coast renovation: 

Planning your renovation
Silver & Gloss White

Silver & Timber

Fine timber and silver evoke ideas of craft, workmanship, and the handmade. To shape timber into something useable, silver tools are used such as saws, drills, hammers and nails. Combining silver and timber enables access of such notions in the style of your bathroom. It doesn’t mean your bathroom needs to look like a lumber-yard! Just that you can access the qualities in this combination that you like. We are doing great work at the moment with timber-style laminates – learn more about them here.

In this image, you can see the combination of silver tapware with a timber-style laminate. 

Double Timber Top Vanity
Silver, Timber & Gloss White

Silver and Polished Concrete

The combination of silver and concrete taps into the industrial aesthetic. This is a powerful style which creates bathrooms that stand out. Unlike the combination with gloss-white (hygiene / cleanliness) and the combination with timber (natural / handmade), silver and polished concrete combine for effect in a different way. 

They access the qualities of their industrial ancestors and re-invigorate and rebuild them into a modern style. It’s an evolution. In fashion, this is similar to the blue jeans – they were designed for work, not fashion, but were subsequently picked up and converted into a fashion item because their style just worked. 

Depending on the home and requirements, the industrial approach can be balanced with other elements for an interesting, deep design-style that isn’t overbearing. Learn more about the polished concrete look here. The following image demonstrates a stainless steel shower-drain which creates this effect. 

Polished Concrete Tiles Stainless Steel Drain
Stainless Steel with Polished Concrete Tiles

Purpose of Silver

Rather than include silver in your renovation because you have to, make sure your inclusions capitalise on existing thematic possibilities. Silver is a common colour through human history and has been used in many ways which construct the visual library from which we operate. 

The cues that exist in this library can be utilised to communicate qualities we like into rooms we live in. Using silver as a design element gives us access to a rich tapestry of ideas that go beyond the purely visual.

Planning Your Custom Bathroom Vanity

When it’s time to plan your custom bathroom vanity, it’s best to keep an open mind – to not be limited by the functionality of the previous vanity. When you’re designing the look, feel and function of your new vanity, there are multiple ways of aligning your budget with the vanity of your dreams. 

If you’re on the Gold Coast QLD, our renovation team is here to help with custom vanity solutions that rapidly become the centrepiece of our new bathrooms. You can learn more about our custom vanities here. Don’t hesitate to contact our team. We’re here to help, and every new vanity includes a free consultation and quote. 

Following is a collection of ideas to keep in mind to help with the process of designing your new bathroom vanity – brought to you by the Gold Coast’s leading bathroom renovation company, Armrock Constructions. 

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New Location or Same Location? 

A renovation is an opportunity to change the layout of your bathroom. Everything can be moved – the shower, the bath, the toilet, and the vanity. Generally, the decision to relocate any major aspect of the bathroom needs to be weighed up carefully. Every move has implications due to the dependency of these types of features on plumbing and electrical. 

The decision to retain your vanity location or change it to a new one is best made with professional assistance. We can help you understand what’s involved and help you make a decision. 

How Many Sinks? 

Custom vanities may feature a single or double sink setup. Double sinks are popular at the moment and are a luxury option that serves the function of improving bathroom efficiency as well as creating a more individualised bathroom experience. If you’re looking to transition from a single sink to a double, talk to our team to understand what may be involved from a plumbing point of view. 

Floor Mounted or Wall-Mounted? 

Vanities can be floor mounted or hung on the wall. By raising them up and mounting them on the wall, space underneath the vanity is freed up which provides space for feet and may improve the visual flow of the room. This is especially important in smaller rooms, but is relevant in rooms of all sizes. 

Tap & Basin Range

Have you ever tried to wash your hands under a tap that’s too low, in a basin that’s too high? When you’re looking at taps and basins / sinks, keep in mind the usability and effortlessness of the solution. The combination should be workable and effective. Ideally, you should be able to freely wash your hands without hitting them on the tap or basin when you do so. 

Integrate Your Vanity

The great thing about custom vanities is the ability to match them to the design of your new bathroom. A popular way to do this is to remember that the highlight features of your vanity (taps, handles, plugs) can be matched with other parts of the bathroom such as door handles, drains, shower taps, etc. This creates an easy integration that will help your vanity to fit into the bathroom. 

Benchtops

If a vanity is the centrepiece of a bathroom then a vanity bench top is the centrepiece of the centrepiece. The style, texture and layout of the bench top all deserve careful attention. We work with natural and engineered stone, timber and laminates to achieve a variety of results across budgets. 

A popular option at the moment is timber-look laminates. These help you to bring a modern design touch to even the simplest bathroom reno. 

When you’re designing a vanity benchtop, there may be established factors that constrain decision-making to certain choices, depending on the situation. However, we bring a variety of experience to such situations and will be able to help create options that work for your bathroom. 

Splashbacks

Splashbacks (the tiled wall section behind your vanity) play an important role in connecting the vanity aesthetically to the rest of the room. When you’re designing a custom vanity, the design of Splashback needs to be taken into account. 

At the most basic level plain white tiles are always a popular option, and from here your imagination is the limit. Tiles come in a wide variety of shapes, styles and aesthetics. Keep in mind that a flamboyant inclusion may not prove as timeless as a simple and practical solution.