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The Block’s Andy & Deb Reveal Their Top 5 Bathroom Renovation Tips
No strangers to renovating, Andy and Deb Saunders — fan favourites from The Block Season 19 — have transformed 10 homes and counting, bringing a wealth of experience to every project.
Through their lifestyle home and renovation series, DNA of Design, the pair now help Australians find inspiration and navigate design dilemmas, sharing tips, insights, and expertise across a range of interior and exterior styles.
Their latest undertaking? Their own ensuite, where a persistent leak became the perfect opportunity to create a space that celebrates the character, warmth, and relaxed charm of their family’s modern beach house.
“It’s over a decade old now, and it holds a special kind of magic. Memories, milestones, and layers of family life are written into its walls,” Deb explains.
“For us, this renovation was about creating a space that felt calm, timeless, and connected to the existing home. ABI Interiors supplied the essentials from the ground up: floor tiles, tapware, towel rails, bathtub, and toilet. That helped us build a strong, cohesive foundation for the design.”
We sat down with Deb, a certified Interior Decorator and Stylist, to hear her top five bathroom renovation tips for creating your dream space.
1. Start With How You Want the Space to Feel
“We wanted a soft, spa-like atmosphere that instantly relaxes you,” Deb explains.
“To achieve that, we chose colours, shapes, and materials that made us feel grounded and calm. We added curves and texture, keeping the palette soft and earthy with a gentle, muted matte finish.”
2. Bring In Natural Elements
“Natural materials create warmth and a sense of ease. Whether it’s stone, textured walls, timber, or organic lines, these touches instantly make a bathroom feel more relaxed and inviting,” says Deb.
“We used the Minori Limestone Floor Tile and the Kairi Curved Fluted Vanity to create texture, warmth, and a beautifully grounded, natural aesthetic.”
3. Prioritise Good Bathroom Lighting
“Light is everything and can soften a bathroom’s hard surfaces. For natural lighting, a skylight transformed our bathroom, making mornings brighter and evenings softer,” Deb explains.
“For the internal bathroom lighting plan, we used subtle, integrated lighting behind the bath, under the vanity, behind the mirror, and in the shower niche. By scattering the glow throughout the room rather than all from above, the whole space feels softer and more serene.”
4. Invest in Quality Foundations
“The hardest-working pieces in a bathroom are the ones you use every day. Choosing durable, well-made fixtures means your space will hold up beautifully over time and still feel modern years down the track,” Deb notes.
“I recently read that, on average, an Aussie bathroom tap gets used 8 to 12 times per person per day! In our household, that adds up to about 60 uses per day just in the bathroom! And if you count the dog washes, our taps deserve a medal. Or at least a day off!”
5. Keep What Still Works
“You don’t need to strip everything out. We made choices that blended with the rest of our home to keep the flow consistent. Honouring what already exists makes the end result feel more natural and connected,” says Deb.
“We already have silver and chrome finishes throughout the house, and we’d used ABI’s brushed nickel in our laundry renovation a few years ago, so continuing that tone made perfect sense. It also aligns with what we’re seeing in design right now: chrome and silver are definitely making a confident return.”
At the end of the day, Deb believes a renovation doesn’t need to be dramatic to be meaningful.
“With thoughtful decisions and quality pieces, you can turn a practical room into a space that truly supports your wellbeing, looks and feels incredible and will remain timeless,” she explains.
“Our ensuite now feels calm, cohesive, and exactly like us, and that’s the best kind of transformation.”
Want more bathroom renovation tips? Read these blogs:
Pros and Cons of Brushed Nickel vs Chrome Tapware
