When it comes to renovating a bathroom, most people start with finishes—tiles, tapware, colours.

But in reality, the success of a renovation comes down to something much less visible: how the space actually works.

The Leichhardt Ensuite Renovation in Gladstone is a perfect example of this. This was my own home, and like many homeowners, I’d been putting off the renovation for a while—patching small issues and hoping they wouldn’t turn into bigger ones.

Eventually, they did.

We started noticing mould, deteriorating silicone, and even ants being drawn to moisture around the shower base. It became clear there was likely a leak behind the scenes, and it was time to stop patching and properly fix the problem.

THE REALITY MOST HOMEOWNERS FACE

This is something I see often—homes built in the early 2000s that are still “fine,” but no longer functioning well.

The layout might look good on paper, but it doesn’t suit how the household actually lives.

In our case, the biggest example of this was the double shower.

It sounds like a luxury feature, but the truth? We never used both showers at the same time. Meanwhile, we had no proper towel storage, limited product space, and a layout that wasn’t working for us day-to-day.

RETHINKING THE LAYOUT

Instead of keeping what was there, I stepped back and asked:

“What do we actually need this space to do?”

That led to a few key decisions:

Replacing the double shower with a single, larger walk-in shower
Creating dedicated space for towel storage and drying
Adding both a niche and a full-length ledge for practical storage
Designing the layout to suit real routines—not just aesthetics

One of the more specific design challenges was working around a bulkhead while also accommodating my husband’s height. This meant carefully selecting a shower setup that would still feel comfortable and functional.

These are the kinds of details that make a huge difference—but are often overlooked early on.

WHY I CHOSE CUSTOM OVER OFF-THE-SHELF

The vanity was another key decision point.

After looking at pre-made options, it became clear that many were either:

too basic in finish, or
not designed for how we wanted to use the space

So I designed a custom vanity myself, which was then built by Custombuilt Furnishers.

What surprised many people (and often surprises clients too) is that custom doesn’t always mean more expensive. When you compare like-for-like quality, a well-designed custom piece can offer far better value.

BALANCING BUDGET

Budget was definitely a consideration throughout this renovation.

We chose to:

complete our own demolition
engage Rudi's Renovations to manage the build

While project managing yourself can save money, for this project I made the decision to work alongside a builder. It gave me the opportunity to gain insight into the process from a different perspective—something that ultimately benefits my clients as well.

THE TAKEAWAY

This renovation wasn’t about creating a showpiece bathroom.

It was about creating a space that: