Our Hotel-Inspired Bathroom Makeover with Just 1 Tile

223

Minimalist
HDB (Resale)
~1,200 sqft
3 br
Couple Living

Welcome to our 8th post on @ourcarousellhome! :) Aside from the dining area, our bathrooms are some of our home’s most-used spaces and have quickly become favourites. We absolutely love how our master bathroom turned out, and it’s always a nice surprise to hear our guests rave about the common bathroom too! In the master bathroom, our ID suggested swapping the usual wall-to-wall mirror for an elongated tall mirror, instantly elevating the space with a sleek, hotel-inspired vibe. Bonus? It doubles as hidden storage, keeping the bathroom clutter-free and functional.
As shared in our Vanity post, we usually apply skincare after showering while standing in the master bathroom. That’s why our ID designed a tall mirror with storage as it not only elongates the space but also adds a sleek, hotel-like vibe. The side LED strips provide soft, flattering lighting that’s easy on the eyes. There’s plenty of storage for both of us, though I take up about two-thirds of it (oops). The bottom shelf holds my skincare and body lotion, the middle shelf is for makeup remover, contact lens solution, and my husband’s skincare, while the top shelf stores less-used items like deodorants, sunscreen sprays, and hair care products.
Are we the only ones who aren’t fans of rain showers? Both my husband and I prefer a good pressure showerhead, even when we travel and stay in hotels with rain shower options. For our bathrooms, we chose all Grohe fittings—they offered great quality at a price point that worked for us, especially since Hansgrohe was out of our budget (#realities). However, we eventually swapped the master bathroom showerhead for a BodyLuv filter showerhead from Korea. Here’s why: When we first moved into our older resale HDB, we noticed low water pressure and decided to investigate by opening up the showerhead. That’s when we found tiny bits of sediment blocking the flow. This prompted us to try a filter showerhead to see just how "dirty" our water really was. It’s been over a year now, and we’ve been loving the consistent water pressure from our BodyLuv filter showerhead. No photos on hand at the moment, but feel free to DM us on IG if you’re curious, we’ll be happy to snap some during our next filter change!
- #bathroomfittings
- #chromefittings
On the opposite side of our small shower, we discovered a pillar that wasn’t indicated clearly in the floor plan. It was marked as a non-structural “thin” wall but turned out to be much thicker than expected. To remove it, we have to probably go through another PE inspection and hence we decided to leave it as is. Originally, we planned to install a stainless steel rack, but I procrastinated. Instead, I repurposed two leftover DAISO extendable rods from our first home as a towel rack. Surprisingly, they’ve held up well and have been serving us perfectly for over a year.
- #showerarea
- #daiso
Onto our guest bathroom now. To create a cosy ambience, we also added a warm wall light. For practicality, like cleaning the bathroom, we also installed a ceiling light (not shown in the picture). The design features a simple round countertop basin and a vanity cabinet with curved edges for a softer, more seamless look.
Oddly enough, aside from the curved wall in our dining area, the room most guests rave about is our bathrooms. 😅 They’ve told us that it gives off a clean, hotel-like vibe. We have to credit the large tiles for that; they really help make our small HDB bathrooms feel more spacious. Plus, with minimal grout lines compared to smaller tiles, the look is much cleaner. We used tiles with R10 slip resistance, which are perfect for bathrooms. #Protip: To achieve that elegant hotel bathroom vibe, use the same large tile (600x600mm) for both the walls and floor.
In our guest bathroom, this is also where we installed our water storage heater, which is quite large. Our ID and plumber did an excellent job positioning it above the door, so it fits neatly. Originally, we planned to use an Ariston water heater, but due to the pipe placement, it would’ve stuck out beneath and interfered with the door. Our ID recommended switching to either 707 or Joven, as their pipes would protrude from the sides instead. We made a last-minute switch to 707 at Audio House, and luckily, the price was the same, so we were able to exchange it without any hassle.
- #storageheater
- #bathroomrenovation
Lastly, here is our proudest and best DIY project that we have done in our house. During the renovation, we considered installing ventilation fans in both toilet windows but decided against it after learning about the costs. While we love keeping the windows open for ventilation, an incident early on, where a lizard crawled into the house, left me quite shaken. I was determined to install insect nets. Professional mesh installation can be quite costly too, so I ordered a DIY insect mesh from Shopee, and it’s worked perfectly ever since! It also helps block dust, as the mesh can get a little dirty over time. We’ve been using it for over a year now, and it’s still going strong. There is an IG reel on @ourcarousellhome if you are keen to find out more. :) That's all for this week's post!