Aimee's Modern Farmhouse Extension

Aimee here! Plumber turned DIY fanatic & Tiny House Builder.

In 2019, we moved into our forever home. It was small, it was dark, it was red double brick, but dang! It had potential, and it sat on a beautiful 2.5-acre block.

Not long after we bought it, we were lucky enough to go on the TV show House Rules. Our two bathrooms were fitted out absolutely beautifully by the legends at Highgrove Bathrooms. So when it came time to take the plunge and double the size of our home (going out and then up), we knew exactly where to go for all our bathroom needs.

First on the list – the main bathroom:

The plan for upstairs was to create a space for the kids to grow up (and get out of our hair hehe). We wanted the bathroom design to be functional — from bathing little ones as babies, to two teenage girls sharing a space without killing each other in the process.

Here were my non-negotiables:

  • A huge vanity with double basins and plenty of room for their stuff
  • A feature bath that makes you say “woah” the second you walk in
  • Luxury brass taps and fixtures to complement the sage green and beige tones

Next up – the powder room:

I love a good powder room. It’s the one space where you can express your style in the most hardcore and beautiful way. Guests should walk in and go: “WOAH!!!!” — that was the goal.

But I still wanted a strong sense of flow between the bathroom and powder room, so it didn’t feel like two totally separate worlds. To make that happen, I focused on:

  • Timber features
  • Soft curves and warm edges
  • Beautiful brass fixtures that carried the tone through both spaces

Let's get started:

Armed with my mood boards, I headed to Highgrove Bathrooms Dandenong. I absolutely love it there. The team is so helpful and always reminds me about the bits I forget — like towel hooks and toilet roll holders!

As I wandered through their stunning showroom, I spotted the vanity of my dreams: the 1800mm floor-mounted Kimberley Curved Vanity. Curved edges, so much space in the drawers, warm timber tones… an absolute showstopper.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Kathryn (one of the amazing staff) holding a green basin.

‘A GREEEEEEEN BASIN?! Is that too risky?!’ I thought.

But BAM — we popped it on the vanity, and my eyes lit up. A matte matcha green basin, who would of thought it would be a 10/10. (Well… Kathryn knew it would be hehe.)

  • Huge vanity: Tick! (1800mm Kimberley Vanity)
  • Double basins: Tick! (Isabella Bench Mount Basin in Matcha Green)
  • Show-stopping bath: Tick! (Coral Freestanding Bath)
  • Luxury brass fixtures to tie it all together: Tick!

Along with all the other key items to bring this space to life (yes I did change my mind on the mirrors I was using 904384 times, but grateful I was able to swap them over & the process was so simple & easy)

Almost everything was in stock too. The warehouse is attached to the shop! I walked out buzzing, excited, and couldn’t wait to tell my builder about the bath we scored. Light as a feather so no dramas for him getting it up the stairs.

Quick Tip:

When renovating or extending, make sure you go over everything with your builder or plumber — including tap heights, layouts, and any extra features like wall niches for all those shampoo bottles. And if you're doing a wall-hung vanity, plan for it early so the framing is reinforced properly to hold that bad boy up!

Final Thoughts:

Kayne and I are SO happy with how these spaces turned out. They’re honestly my two favourite rooms in the house. The whole process with Highgrove was seamless, and now every time someone steps into these rooms, the look on their face says it all… Pure awe at the quality, the design, and the wow-factor details.

I can’t wait to watch our two little girls grow up using this bathroom and loving it as much as I do.

To see more, follow Aimee's journey on socials at @aimeekatestanton.