Transforming a small bathroom

Be inspired by our client Ky Drury of Studio Haus who transformed this dated home in Byron Bay into an island-luxe oasis. Using products from our range, Ky maximised the space in this family home to include a bath, even when there was little room to do so. Inspired by Japanese soak tubs, the Gia G65197 1350mm bath offers a deep soak for nearly any sized bathroom. The matte white solid surface finish is soft to the touch and brings total luxury when paired with natural tiles, brass tapware and beach-inspired accessories. The twin basins help bring more functionality into the room, clever additions from our Toka Lite range of basins. By keeping the same matte white composite stone finish throughout brings a sense of balance and calm to the space. The Gia 1350mm bath is available in a range of colours and with an oval or square profile. Coordinating basins from the Gia range or Toka Lite range will complete your space and bring a serene spa-like feeling to your new bathroom. Client - Studio Haus/Ky DruryStyling & Photos - Villa Styling                      

A luxurious ensuite

This incredible ensuite was bought to life by our clients Belcon Construction in Melbourne who wanted a statement round bath in a grey finish. After working through samples of grey solid surface from our Hugi collection, the designers went with a grey chip and the B087 bath. The overlapping lines give this bath a unique shape and give it the feeling of a sculpture or work of art. The soft grey works harmoniously with the rest of the black and grey pallet and makes this luxurious space truly inviting.        

Choosing an outdoor bath

Our entire range of stone and concrete baths can be used outside, with many customers using them in luxury Air BnB cabins through to high end retreats. The most popular baths are still white but the trend toward earthy colours continues from inside through to outdoor living and bathing areas. Black and grey outdoor baths are popular for their ability to blend into the natural environment. Our Toka Concrete range has beautiful colours and can be placed in any outdoor setting. Why an outdoor bath?Bathing under the stars is a truly beautiful experience. But why chose an outdoor bath over a spa? Firstly, there are no chemicals needed for an outdoor bath. They are low maintenance and can easily be covered when not in use. Simply fill with fresh hot water, your choice of oils or bubbles and enjoy! The water capacity is another feature. While you do need to refill each time you use the bath, we have many that have a really low water capacity, meaning you're using less energy to heat and fill than running a spa pump and heater constantly.  Lastly, baths take up much less space and do not need power to run. A hot/cold water outlet is all you need, and if you have a good plumber you can channel your used water into a grey water tank or into your garden beds. How to choose an outdoor bath.Firstly, look at the space you have to work with. Getting a bath into position means lifting and carrying it. Measure any gates or doorways you need to get through before you order. How many people will it be for? Locations such as accommodations or hotels will cater to couples, so an 1800mm+ wide bath is ideal. If you have a smaller space or prefer to sit up, the Rosetta ST01 bath in 1500-1700 is a good choice. The Justina 1650mm is also an excellent choice if you want a medium length outdoor bath as it is very wide. If you are on tank water, the Bertina STB12 bath is still large, however the shape means it has a lower water capacity than other outdoor baths. This is the ideal outdoor bath for rural or country homes. The Toka Concrete Bayley and Cora are beautiful concrete outdoor baths. Their raw concrete finish blends in with paving, plants and the natural environment. The cool touch of concrete is also perfect for warmer climates but will retain heat in the cold. Can all baths go outside?Not every bath is created equal, and we only supply concrete and polymarble versions of our baths for use outside. Having been in the industry for nearly 20 years, we know what wears and what doesn't. All our materials get stress tested for extreme hot and cold weather conditions. Of course, nature can sometimes throw a curveball and we do recommend a cover (furniture covers are great) to protect baths from accumulating leaf litter and petals that can lead to staining or discoloration. How to clean and maintain an outdoor bath.To clean a polymarble bath we recommend Jif or any similar cream cleanser. Any minor marks and scuffs can be buffed out using the sanding pad provided with your bath. Coloured outdoor baths can be cleaned using a sanding pad and buffed back and car wax can be used to polish the surface back to its original condition, ensuring all slippery residue is wiped off of course. Always empty your outdoor bath after using. We also offer a special warranty for outdoor baths. See our T&Cs for the details. Justina ST12 1650mm outdoor bath   Vivienne ST24 1800mm   Hugi B003 Grey at The Rocks Bertina ST18 1780mm at Te Arai Lodge   Justina ST12 1700mm in a bath house

Site Visits

As an online retailer, we make certain that we still offer an excellent service in-person to our clients. Whether that is a site measure, assisting in the installation of a bath or making repairs to one of our products. We know how important it is to have an unparralelled level of service when you are investing in your most valuble asset, your home. Jim Bedwell, founder and director of Stonebaths and our techincal and design expert is available both on the phone, video call or can attend your site, no matter where you are. Below are some examples of work we've undertaken for our clients in some amazing locations. 1 & 2 - Toorak House, bath inspection and level 3 - Box Head, site visit and install inspection 4 - Hastings project site visit        

A contemporary barn

The Flinders Residence by Abe McCarthy Architects combines striking architecture and a bold interior fusing a wide range of natural textures. This makes an ideal project for a mix of black and white baths and basins from our range. The bathroom features a classic Justina bath in matte white that pops against the gloss black tiles. A bathroom that has the space deserves a large soaking tub. Try an 1800mm bath to achieve a similar look. Basins were chosen to compliment the unique design of each bathroom, ensuite and powder room. The round Silvia STB13, Justina STB12 in matte white and Justina STB12 in matte black make each bathroom a standalone masterpeice. Architect - Abe McCarthy ArchitectsPhotographer - Shannon McGrath for Archipro          

The Rocks

Set against a backdrop of ancient 300,000 year old rock formations sits this luxury homestead that doubles as wedding venue. Owner Frances approached us looking for an outdoor bath that would sit effortlessly amongst the stone hues of the surrounding landscape. After much deliberation we settled on this soft grey Hugi B003 bath and both owner and guests are thrilled with the resulting outdoor bathing experience it offers. Client - The Rocks www.therocksnz.com                  

Coastal Concrete Bathroom

Our clients came to Stonebaths for the bathroom fit-out of their new-build, including bath, basins and tapware. The house was constructed around a central concrete wall that runs the length of the house and forms the backdrop and floor for both bathrooms. A Toka Lite Justina basin in hand-poured concrete keeps the theme going in the ensuite, with crisp matte white selected for the master bathroom. Tapware in brushed gunmetal from our Toka Tapware range was installed in both bathrooms with separate shower rails and rain heads in both the walk in wet area bathrooms. The dark, earthy finishes are an extension of the concrete construction and the rugged coastline that wraps around this stunning, architecturally designed property.      

Oceanview New Plymouth

The developer of the Oceanview apartments chose a range of baths and basins for these residences that sit on the New Plymouth ocean front. Freestanding baths and basins feature in each of the three townhouse style homes. The Bertina is a good mid-size freestanding bath that is ideal for this style of bathroom. Benchtop basins in matte white and matte black are available from our Hugi range.                

Orewa Beach Loft

These homeowners have created a calm oasis in their Orewa renovation. They selected the Hugi B008 bath and WM04 wall hung basin in matte white polymarble to compliment the neutral tiles and aged brass tapware. Client - @orewabeachloft      

Riverhead House

Located in on the rural outskirts of Auckland, this house has used the Bertina bath as a stunning feature piece in their bathroom. Twin Bertina basins were chosen to compliment the shape of the bath and to soften the large, open space.          

Euro Bar, Auckland Viaduct

Located in the Auckland Viaduct is the stunning waterfront restaurant and bar, Euro Bar. Stonebaths were tasked to create dark and stylish bathroom fittings custom made black freestanding basins and small vessel a basins that sit on plinths. Client - Mico Plumbing for Euro Bar & Restaurant                  

Kamahi Studio

Auckland interior designer Amelie Hamill has used Stonebaths' products in several projects and a few yet to be finished. Here is a small selection of our baths and basins in her completed rooms. Client - Kamahi Studio            

Pt Chevalier Home

Our clients Trinity Interior Design have used Stonebaths for many projects. Their director chose to use our bath and basins in her renovation of a house in Point Chevalier, Auckland. Client - Trinity Interior Design        

The Round Tent, Raglan

Raglan is a beautiful place for an eco-escape, located on the West Coast of the North Island. The Gigi ST26 bath chosen by The Round Tent glamping escape is a great choice for outdoor use. It is wider than your average bath, perfect for two, or for the kids! Client - The Round Tent  www.theroundtent.co.nz                  

Flotation Retreat

Our clients from Floatation Retreat came to Stonebaths looking for bathroom fittings to compliment their float pod which is located in a beautiful rustic property, perfect for a luxurious weekend away. They chose the classic shape of our Justina bath and basin to create a serene bathroom space. Client - Flotation Retreat or book  https://www.airbnb.co.nz/rooms/27320538?guests=1&adults=1&s=67            

Mangorei Heights Retreat

Tucked under a snowcapped mountain on the edge of native forest sits Mangorei Heights, a luxury cabin complete with outdoor stonebath. Try to find a more relaxing place to bathe in nature in a hot soaky bath! Client - Mangorei Heights            

Home of the Year 2021 - Takapuna

Stonebaths supplied the bath for a stunning bathroom centerpiece in HOME Magazine's 2021 'City House of the Year' . The owners of this beachfront property in Auckland chose the ST13 Sylvia bath in gloss white to sit under a skylight that mirrors the round bath and provides light play and a beautiful bathing experience.  You can watch a video tour of this beautiful home below. Congratulations to the homeowners and CAAHT Studio Architects. Architects - CAAHT Studio Architects  caahtstudio.com  See more at https://homemagazine.nz/home-of-the-year-2021-house-on-takapuna/  

Grand Mecure Puka Park, Pauanui

The Grand Mecure Puka Park is located on the stunning Pauanui Beach in the Coromandel. This luxury lodge chose our Rosetta bath for it's open plan bathroom space within its apartments and chalet. Client - www.pukapark.co.nz      

Cloudy Bay Winery, Marlborough

Stay at 'The Shack' at Cloudy Bay Winery in Marlborough and experience both amazing wine and our Rosetta bath. This bath is often chosen for resorts and luxury accommodation for its compact size and upright seat. Client - www.cloudybay.co.nz

Boon Architects, Taranaki

This award winning home by Boon architects on an ocean-front site in Taranaki was an early project for iBath, now Stonebaths. The homeowner chose the Jolanda ST03 stonebath for the bathroom that overlooks the Tasman Sea. This house has won numerous awards for its innovative design. Clients - Boon Team Architects www.boon.co.nz/projects/antunovic-house/        

Vera House, Hamilton

Local architects Boon alongside builders Construct Limited, specified Stonebaths to supply the freestanding stone bath and matching basins for this beautifully modern Hamilton family home. Clients Boon Architecture www.boon.co.nz/projects/vera-house Builder Construct Limited www.constructltd.co.nz

Te Arai Lodge

Te Arai Lodge is located just north of Auckland and consistes of different types of luxury accommodation. In building this sustainable project, our customers chose two baths for their outdoor spaces. Their journey was documented on Grand Designs NZ in 2018. Clients - www.tearailodge.co.nz.

The Tiers Villas, Queenstown

The Tiers in Queenstown has evolved over several stages. Stonebaths have supplied Alpha Properties with many of the bathroom fixtures, including the stunning window-side baths. Clients - Alpha Properties www.alphaproperties.co.nz Photography by Vaughan Brookfield www.vaughanbrookfield.com

Rajan House, Auckland

New Zealand has some unique tastes when it comes to architecture. The use of natural materials and oversized windows to let our landscape in has produced some remarkable homes. Here we supplied Box Build with our bath and basin for their project that was featured on Grand Designs NZ. Clients - www.box.co.nz/portfolio/raja-2        

Primary School Bathrooms

When we were asked by Mico in NZ to provide solid surface basins to a primary school, the Junior Access Basin was born! Designed to be wall hung at a low height, it is the perfect choice for high-traffic areas. The solid surface composition is hard wearing and seamless, meaning it is easy to clean and hygienic. Contact our team to find out more on the Junior Access Basin and the options we can supply. Clients - www.mico.co.nz      

Eden Health Retreat

Late in 2020 we had the privilege of working alongside Brisbane based designers at Collectivus, on the brand new cabins at Eden Health Retreat in the Gold Coast hinterland. Designer Deborah Thomas selected 10 of our Hugi B003 baths in matte white and matte black for the cabins that were recently completed. The 1700mm length is an ideal mid-sized bath that offers a comfortable reclining position or is perfect for sitting up with a book. The basins are our B1510 in matte white and compliment the baths perfectly. Eden has recently been nominated as Australia's Best Wellness Retreat 2021 in the prestigious World Spa Awards. Clients - www.collectivus.com.au Photography - kristianbeek.com  Location - www.edenhealthretreat.com.au        

Villa House, Hamilton

We recently saw the finished bathroom of our clients in Hamilton, NZ and wanted to know all about their huge undertaking - renovating a century old villa with a young family. I asked home builder/renovators Joel & Samila some questions on the process of their big project, in particluar the stunning bathroom and doing it with a family in tow. What influenced your colour pallet? We renovated this house to live in for a long time if not forever. So we wanted the bathroom to age well. We went with a simple palate. A subtle grey marble tile, black tapware and our stone bath. What jobs do you recommend leaving to the professionals in a bathroom reno? In terms of renovating, bathrooms are usually one of the most expensive to do (the other being kitchens) mainly due to the fact there is a lot of high ticket items involved and several different trades. We would 100% recommend using a builder/plumber/electrician and professional tiler/waterproofer. If you’re putting a lot of money into your bathroom anyway you want to the result to look professional so your money is well spent. What advice do you give a family undertaking a bathroom renovation? Try and have all your ducks in a row before you start. Have your finishes (tapware, bath, toilet, tiles) ready and on site before the job starts. Talk to your builder and make sure the waterproofers, tilers, plumbers are all ready to go so there are no delays with the project.  You’ve shared progress shots. how many weeks did your bathroom take? Tricky to say as we did a full house renovation at the same time. We were fortunate to not have any delays as such. But the renovation was long. Why did you go with the Vivienne bath? I knew I wanted a stone bath. I visited your show room in Auckland with our 3 children and we tried them out. The Vivienne is huge, more than big enough for all of our kids. I love the timeless, sleek, shape and design. The matte finish is beautiful. What made you choose a freestanding bath? We choose freestanding for the look and feel. We knew we had a decent amount of bathroom space to work with so we went for it. The bath was our first bathroom related purchase and everything else in the bathroom was designed to fit around it.  Renovating an old villa must have unearthed a few difficulties. We’re there any? Due to the age of the house the floor and walls were uneven and out of square, there was also a lot of rot. We were expecting to find a few hidden gems beneath the walls but we were not expecting to need to rebuild all the framing which was a major hidden cost. By reframing the walls and floor the tilers had an easier job laying all the tiles. We also replaced all the plumbing to future proof the house which we would recommend you do with really old houses if the opportunity to do so is there. You can see more of this delightful reno at @this.little.nest on Instagram or on their facebook page.