ask an expert
Each issue, we’ll find stylish solutions
to all your decorating and design
dilemmas from those in the knowQ
Can I seal the grout in my new
family bathroom? I have messy
kids and I’m worried about staining.
Nicholas, via Instagram
“Yes, it’s possible to seal existing grout
using a DIY spray product, or to apply
a grout colourant to refresh and
protect it – you could try Aqua Mix’s
products,” says Tim Stokes, sales
director at Bisanna Tiles (bisanna.
com.au). “If you haven’t built your
bathroom yet, I’d recommend
avoiding basic cement grout as
it’s completely porous. Instead, look
for a polymer-modified grout that’s
specially formulated to be water-
repellent and mould-resistant. We
recommend Mapei ‘Ultracolor Plus’
but there are plenty of similar products
around. Epoxy grout, which is usually
used in commercial applications,
is another option, but it’s more
expensive and more complicated
to apply and clean up.”Q
Send us your
questions via Facebook
or Instagram, or email
[email protected].Q
What’s the best layout for a long and narrow bathroom space with
a window located at the far end? Anne-Marie, via email
“This is a very common design problem and can be solved by arranging the
spatial elements in an L-shaped formation,” says Sophie Bowers, director of
Strutt Studios (struttstudios.com). “When designing your bathroom layout,
we recommend that the plumbing fixtures, such as the basin, shower and bath,
be installed on the same long side of the room. This will give a clear circulation
path from the door through the narrow space. By obstructing the view of the
toilet, for example by placing it adjacent to the doorway, your focus will be
drawn to the end of the room – in this case, where the window is. If your
bathroom is wider than 1500mm and you have a need for it, a bathtub with
an overhead shower is an excellent use of space under the window.”Create interest in kids’
rooms with diferent
strengths of the same paint
colour. Here, Taubmans
paint in Cyberpunk creates
a vivid mountain design.Expand your living space
with a covered outdoor
dining zone, illuminated by
a series of skylights above.Qsmall bedroom. What
colour schemes would be best to
make it look bigger and brighter?
Angela, via email
“Using whites and lighter greys
rather than colour on the walls
can brighten a bedroom, be less
overbearing and open up a small
space,” says Fiona King, colour
expert at Taubmans (taubmans.
com.au). “Have some fun and
add a sense of depth by painting
a pattern like these mountains
[above], using varying strengths
of the same colour – this shade is
Cyberpunk. The best way to get
your kids to love their room is to
let them take ownership and be
part of the decorating process.
The experience should be fun,
and using shapes allows children
of all ages to go crazy with their
imaginations. Let them select the
shapes and shades but try and
limit the palette to no more than
three colours, so it’s fun but not
overstimulating.”30 / Inside Out
THINGS WE LOVE
EDITED BY VICTORIA BAKER. ALFRESCO DINING AREA IMAGE COURTESY OF CHANNEL 9, 9NOW.COM.AU. PAINT COLOUR MAY VARY ON APPLICATION