I think it’s safe to say when it comes to saving money, we’re all eager to know more. So, if you’re currently renovating or even just thinking about updating your bathroom, we have some wise words from interior influencer, Chloe.
Earlier this year we worked with Chloe to help her produce her dream bathroom. She came to us with a strong vision of what she wanted from her bathroom, and she hasn’t disappointed. Better yet, she has created the most beautiful space, whilst saving incredible amounts of money, with the help of her fiancé, Aaron.
Chloe is 24 and recently bought a miners cottage built in 1880 with her partner. She has a full time job and does interior influencing on the side. Even though she hates the word influencer, Chloe does a beautiful job at sharing her life and home online to her 31.6k followers.
Find out how Chloe did it below :
So, Tell Us A Bit About Why This Particular Property Caught Your Eye?
‘The cottage caught my eye just before it went to auction and I was IN LOVE. There is something so warming about the large open hallway and it truly was a gem waiting to be polished up.
I knew this house was gasping for an extension and even though we weren’t sure if it was possible, we went for it and Aaron DIY built our two storey extension by hand during furlough!‘
How Did You Go About Planning Your Bathroom/ Interior?
‘Pinterest truly was my best friend (and still is!) I save images that inspire me and then collectively analyse similarities amongst them to help decide what features are a priority and then I get to hand draw on my iPad my ideas before using computer aided design to bring it together!‘
Where Did You Get Your Interior Inspiration From?
‘It took months of preparation! I picked up inspiration from hotels I had been to or seen online and then of course, Pinterest.‘
What Made You Decide To Take On This Renovation Project Instead Of Paying For Help?
‘We have done everything so far, including building a 2 storey extension, so to us this made sense. We have the time, skills and knowledge to just go for it so why not!‘
What Top Money Saving Tips Would You Give To Fellow Renovators?
‘DIY. It’s the only way you can save a reasonable amount of money really as labour costs are incredibly high and sometimes tradesmen are unreliable because they’re so busy right now, catching up with work after the pandemic.‘
How Much Did You Save On Labour Costs By Doing It By Yourselves
‘We never got a quote however, after adding up the average costs of labour we believe it is around the £10,000 mark. Our bathroom was quite an intricate design which included knocking walls down, re positioning a window, building an additional shower nook, bespoke carpentry work and lots of electrical work. It was a back to brick renovation so, very expensive in labour costs.‘
What Is Your Must Have Feature In A Bathroom?
‘Soft lighting. It makes all the difference when having a relaxing bath on an evening. Think about a candlelit bathroom, without all the hassle!‘
What Is Your Favourite Thing About Your New Bathroom?
‘It just has to be THE BATH, just wow I could live in there quite frankly. It is spacious yet snug (how, I don’t know!?)‘
The Bath In Question…
Chloe’s beautiful bath tub is part of our Milano Irwell.
A stunning centrepiece for your bathroom, the Milano Irwell 1700mm double ended freestanding bath is the perfect choice if you’re serious about relaxation and indulgence.
Featuring a contemporary and desirable oval shape, the bath has been crafted from premium quality Lucite acrylic that’s scratch resistant and exceptionally rigid.
Money Saving Do It Yourself Tips
We aren’t all as fortunate to land a partner with insane DIY skills like Aaron, but there are plenty of smaller things that you can try and complete without paying for a tradesman.
Here’s a list of some of the things you can do yourself, that will take a big % of your labour bill.
- Rip your existing bathroom out yourself – Yes this will take some elbow grease and might be end up taking more time – but it’s another £100+ off the bill
- Tiling/painting – if you’re up for the challenge, done your research and have the time, why not tackle some tiling? This could save you thousands on your bill.
- Build your own shelves – you can purchase shelving or even go wild and completely create your own floating shelves with rope and a rectangular piece of wood.
- Install your own taps – I know this might sound scary but there are some good youtube tutorials on how to do this yourself and it doesn’t look too daunting.
Disclaimer – we love a DIY hack but please never tamper with gas – Please call a plumber, avoid any hazardous conditions.
Visit Chloe’s Instagram For More Home Inspiration
Rikki has a passion for interior design and an even bigger passion for writing about it. When she isn’t writing about gorgeous bathroom interiors, you’ll find her discovering all of the latest trends.