How a Dream Team Made This Family’s Dream Bathroom a Reality

Kirsty and her family have lived in their Christchurch home for eight years. Originally from London, she has called New Zealand home for over a decade, raising her two children here with husband,Mike.

“This isn’t necessarily our forever home, but it works for us right now,” she says.

“The bathroom was one of those things we knew would need upgrading when we bought it.”

So come 2024, the lengthy planning stage began.

Kirsty’s vision for the bathroom was clear from the start:

The family debated swapping their built-in bath for a freestanding model.

“They look amazing, but I knew they’d be harder to clean around,” Kirsty says. “Our bath was fine, so we decided to re-tile around it instead. It was one of those practical decisions that would save money and just made sense.”

Like many renovation stories, the process was not as seamless as the glossy “after” photos might suggest.

The biggest hurdle? Timing.

“The old bathroom was ripped out just before Christmas, and then life got busy,” Kirsty recalls. “For about six months, all we had was a bath with no shower,” which meant four people sharing our ensuite,” Kirsty says.

“It got a bit ridiculous,” she laughs. “There were queues in the morning, no privacy, and constant battles for mirror time.”

It was a reminder of just how valuable a functional family bathroom can be.

Rather than hiring one company to deliver a package deal, Kirsty decided to project manage the renovation herself.

“I like being hands-on,” she explains. “Project managing gave us more control over costs, timelines, and who we worked with. Builderscrack made it easy to post jobs, get quotes, and check tradie reviews.”

Her process was deliberate:

Behind Kirsty’s bathroom project was a team of skilled tradies, each playing a part in bringing her family’s dream bathroom to life.

The tiler, plasterer, plumber, and glass supplier also played a major role in making the project a success.

“Originally, we were only going to tile behind the shower and vanity, but in the end, we went all the way up the walls to the ceiling.”

“The tiling was a huge part of the finished look,” Kirsty says. “They did an incredible job — it really makes the space feel polished.

Jason from Jmac Contractors was a cornerstone to the family bathroom project.

Jason has since returned to Kirsty’s home to build a kwila deck, and says that locking all tradies in early is the key to success.

“The crucial thing, first off, is knowing where everything’s going to go, and making sure what the client wants fits the area and works properly,” he says.

“The biggest challenge in an existing house is making sure things are straight and square again. For example, straightening walls, and levelling floors.

Jason shares his top tips on how to manage a project like Kirsty’s:

For Kirsty, Carl the Electrician’s workmanship left a lasting impression.

What started as a single job quickly snowballed: “We ended up getting him to help with the deck lights, the kids’ bedrooms, and even updating our kitchen lighting too,” Kirsty says.

Careful planning made all the difference, even though this job was mainly straight forward according to Carl, who shared his insight.

Carl’s recommendation for planning and executing an electrical upgrade:

The “after” was worth every queue, delay, and painting session.

“Before, it wasn’t terrible, but it felt outdated and broken,” Kirsty reflects. “Now, it feels functional, clean, modern, and calm. The kids love using it in the mornings.”

The new lighting also changed the game: “Good lighting is underrated. It makes everything look brighter, fresher, and more welcoming.”

Even visitors have noticed. “When people see it, they say, ‘Wow, your bathroom looks amazing.’ It’s nice to have a space in the house we’re proud to show off.”

Looking back, Kirsty has a few key takeaways for other homeowners:

After months of living with only a bath, the finished bathroom has restored peace (and autonomy) to the household.

“It feels modern and stylish, but also calm. I love it,” Kirsty says.

Even better, the tradie relationships built through Builderscrack have become ongoing partnerships.

The bathroom may be complete, but the family has no plans to stop renovating. With a new deck already ticked off and future upgrades in mind, Kirsty’s Builderscrack tradies won’t be strangers.

A big thank you to Kirsty for sharing her family bathroom renovation journey.

Thanks to Carl the Electrician for his advice on planning and executing an electrical upgrade, along with Jason from Jmac Contractors and the other tradies who helped turn Kirsty’s dream bathroom into a reality.