How a Bathroom Renovation in Haberfield Brought a 1901 Federation Home Back to Life
Sarah and Simon’s bathroom renovation in Haberfield started with a half-finished DIY conversion inside their 1901 Federation home. Previous owners had tried to combine two rooms into one, leaving behind plumbing, electrical and structural issues that only became clear once we stripped everything back.
Four weeks later, the couple had a completely rebuilt bathroom with modern functionality and a finish that still felt right at home in a Federation property.
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Project Snapshot
- Location: Haberfield, NSW, Inner West Sydney
- Services Delivered: Full bathroom renovation, plumbing and drainage, electrical rewiring, plastering, ceiling levelling, waterproofing and tiling
- Timeline: 4 weeks
- Home: Federation, built in 1901
Creating a Federation Bathroom That Still Felt Like Home
Sarah and Simon wanted to modernise their bathroom without losing the character that belonged in their 1901 home.
The existing bathroom was tired and unfinished. Previous owners had attempted to combine two rooms into one but hadn’t completed the work properly. Rather than trying to work around those problems, the plan was to strip the room back and rebuild it properly.
The goal was a Federation bathroom that respected the age and character of the home while giving Sarah and Simon the functionality and finishes they wanted today.
How We Planned the Renovation
Every bathroom renovation starts with understanding what the owners want, what the existing room can accommodate and what needs to happen behind the finishes.
For Sarah and Simon’s project, that meant:
- Set a site-specific scope: We balanced what Sarah and Simon wanted with the condition of the existing room and their budget.
- Create one shared schedule: Once the scope was confirmed, we shared the schedule with Sarah and Simon and our team so everyone knew what was happening and when.
- Strip back before rebuilding: Demolition was followed by plumbing and electrical rough-in, giving us access to the areas where problems often become visible in an older home.
- Keep one project manager involved: A dedicated project manager coordinated the trades and kept Sarah and Simon updated through to handover.
You can read more about how we manage each renovation on our process page.
What We Found Behind the Old Bathroom
Once we stripped the bathroom back to the existing substrate, we could see what the previous conversion had left behind.
- Plumbing from the attempt to combine two rooms had not been connected correctly.
- The ceiling was sitting at two different levels.
- The walls were badly out of square.
- The electrical wiring had not been installed correctly, which was our biggest concern.
The previous work couldn’t simply be covered over. Before we could start on the new bathroom, those underlying issues needed to be addressed.
Planning a bathroom in an older home? Book a free consult and we’ll scope the work before the renovation begins.
Rebuilding the Bathroom From the Ground Up
Preparation was one of the most important parts of this project.
Our electrician ran new cables and rewired the bathroom. Our plumber altered the drainage underneath the house, while the plasterer spent around twice as long as usual levelling the ceiling and squaring the walls to create a suitable surface for tiling.
Before tiling, we applied our preferred four-coat waterproofing system to prepare the wet areas for the finished bathroom.
A Federation Style Bathroom With a Modern Finish
The finishes needed to suit the age of the house without making the room feel like a reproduction of a century-old bathroom.
Warm travertine-look tiles created the foundation, with handmade feature tiles bringing more texture into the room. Brushed gold tapware and accessories, wall sconces and an arched mirror completed the look.
The result is a Federation style bathroom that feels appropriate for a home built in 1901 while still giving Sarah and Simon a fresh, practical bathroom for everyday use.
The Haberfield Bathroom Renovation Results
After four weeks, the unfinished conversion had been stripped back, its underlying problems addressed and the bathroom completely rebuilt.
Despite the wiring, drainage, ceiling and wall issues uncovered during demolition, the project was completed on schedule.
What We're Most Proud Of
- The finish: The condition of the original room meant more preparation than usual, but that groundwork gave the finished bathroom the foundation it needed.
- Solving problems without losing time: Wiring, drainage, wall and ceiling issues were addressed while keeping the four-week renovation on schedule.
- Respecting the home’s era: The finished bathroom feels modern and functional without looking out of place inside a 1901 Federation home.
What This Project Reinforced
Older homes can reveal problems once demolition begins, particularly when previous renovations have changed the original layout.
For this project, taking the bathroom back to its substrate allowed us to see the plumbing, wiring, walls and ceiling properly before rebuilding. Putting extra time into those areas early meant we weren’t trying to hide existing problems behind new finishes.
Before
After
Before
After
Timeframe
4 weeks
Location
Haberfield, NSW
Client
Sarah and Simon
Services Delivered:
Full bathroom renovation, plumbing and drainage, electrical rewiring, plastering, ceiling levelling, waterproofing and tiling
Enquire Now
Your Bathroom Renovation in Haberfield and the Inner West
Whether you own a Federation home, Californian bungalow or something more recent, we’ll look at the existing room, talk through what you want to change and provide an upfront quote for the work.
Talk to Better Bathrooms Australia about your bathroom renovation and find out what’s possible with your space.