A few months ago, my wife and I embarked on a significant project to revitalise the neglected back portion of our historic home, which dates back to the mid-1800s. The previous renovations done before we purchased the property in 2016 were in dire need of an upgrade.

Typical of old homes, the rooms were interconnected, and the guest bathroom was accessed through a back bedroom. We decided to create a passageway between the lounge and our bedroom, effectively separating the two back bedrooms and providing an entrance to the guest bathroom at the end of the passage.

When we bought the house, the bathroom had a door leading to the back stoep, which we wanted to change. Our home used to belong to the town’s blacksmith, and there was a forge that had been converted into a shower by the previous owners. While it didn’t align with our new plan, we were keen to preserve the facade since it held historical significance for the house.

Given that the bedroom leading into the bathroom was already losing space due to the new passage, we didn’t want to sacrifice any more room. Therefore, we reconfigured the bathroom’s layout, utilising some of its area to create a built-in cupboard for the bedroom. This arrangement also allowed for a towel cupboard in the bathroom.

We decided to make the entrance to the bathroom by walking through the old forge, preserving its character. This marked the establishment of the new bathroom layout.

My wife and I have a deep appreciation for the charm and authenticity of old buildings. We wanted to honour the structure by restoring it while incorporating touches of modern design.

For months, we scoured online marketplaces in search of original taps, showerheads, basins, and washstands, among other items. Once we had gathered these vintage fixtures, we turned our attention to selecting the tiles and colour scheme for the bathroom. Opting for wall tiles and colours reminiscent of the mid-1900s, we added personalised touches that resonated with our tastes.

To enhance the renovation’s authenticity, we salvaged various items. We restored a high-level toilet and repurposed an old steel window, salvaged from our renovations, as a shower wall divider. The cupboards were built using reclaimed Oregon boards from our home renovation, and we crafted basic, authentic latches for them. Removing the old RhinoBoard ceiling revealed stunning Oregon beams, which coincidentally aligned with the spacing we had planned for the new ceiling. We installed IsoBoard between these beams, creating a beautiful contrast.

During our evenings and free time, my wife and I painstakingly restored the bath, washstand, and high-level toilet. Fitting the high-level toilet proved to be a challenge, but the end result justified our efforts. We even had to relocate the original cottage pane window to accommodate the toilet.

We are delighted with the final outcome and believe that it has significantly increased the value of our home, which had long been in need of tender loving care.