Black on Black: The Bathroom Makeover That Refused to Compromise

November 2021 – the year was almost gone. In the middle of that month, I received yet another business lead – this time for a bathroom makeover in Halfway Gardens, Midrand. I put through a call almost immediately, and on the other end of the line, a lady answered. Yes, she confirmed, they were planning a bathroom makeover for the early part of the following year – 2022 – and were currently in the planning and budgeting phase. 

 

We scheduled a site visit, and the next morning I was meeting Ntombi Faultien at Murati Place, Halfway Gardens. 

COVID-19 was still in the air, and working from home was the preferred option for most organisations. Ntombi was working from home that day, which gave us more than ample time to discuss the proposed makeover. The visit ended with her promising to forward me images of their preferred bathroom fixtures, finishes, and fittings. 

 

The Faultiens – Sivu and Ntombi – were desirous of a black‑themed bathroom. And, boy, did they go black. 

The new freestanding
bathtub in all its glory 

 

There was a splashy, freestanding black bathtub with a waterfall spout – the kind that makes you want to drop everything and soak. The water closet (the toilet) was a top‑of‑the‑range uni‑body unit, also in black, as was the sit‑on top hand basin. Besides Mmapitsi, I have never met another client who has shown such fidelity to a theme. It was clear to me that the Faultiens were not about to let anything hinder them from realising their cherished preference. To complement all this splashed black, a corresponding array of fittings, fixtures, and tiles would follow – though to break the monotony, the tiles would be in grey. 

 

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Demolition and Preparation 

 

Adam and I set about transforming the bathroom into the desired theme. Out came the old, lacklustre tub, the tired shower cubicle, the outdated pedestal hand basin, and the tiles. The walls were ripped open to remove the old galvanised steel piping, which was replaced with modern copper piping.

Replacement of steel galvanised
piping with copper piping underway 

An extractor fan would be installed in the ceiling, which was then plastered smooth. The lighting would also be upgraded. 

In place of a traditional medicine cabinet, we installed a mirror front cabinet that doubles as a bathroom mirror to the right of that and the vanity, is a bathroom door column

The new bathroom
door column 

finished in high‑gloss Kalapana Supawood – a sleek, durable board that resists moisture and adds a refined, furniture‑grade look. 

A floor‑standing bathroom vanity was initially planned, but due to space constraints, we replaced it with a smaller wall‑hanging vanity topped with a sit‑on basin – naturally, in black. 

The run‑of‑the‑mill water closet made way for a plush uni‑body toilet,

The new uni-body toilet 

also in black. The old tub was replaced with an adorable, freestanding cocoon of comfort and luxury – complete with a side‑mounted waterfall spout.

A close-up shot of the wall hanging
water mixer and, waterfall spout 

(In fact, we later learned from Ntombi that part of the reason the makeover couldn't proceed earlier was that a suitable tub meeting the couple’s specifications could not be found. A custom unit had to be made.) 

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The Showstopper: The LED Shower 

 

Another showstopper was the shower. Mrs Faultien had told me they wanted a shower with an integrated LED screen

The shower mixer
with integrated
 LED screen 

that displays vital bath statistics – including water temperature – but so far, they could not find a plumber who could install it. On that very first meeting, I informed her that I would be able to do it. There and then, she told me the job was mine. And indeed it was. 

 

The shower drain would also be in black – a spacious rectangular linear drain

Installing shower drain 

that swallows water like a miracle, with no pooling, no back‑up, just clean, efficient drainage. 

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The Transformation Unveiled 

And so we went about effecting a bathroom makeover unlike most others. Looking back now, what a transformation it has wrought. The bathroom is a far cry from the dismal space Adam and I encountered when we began. Where once there was dullness and compromise, there is now an oasis of bold elegance and unapologetic luxury. The tub’s waterfall spout is a sight to observe as the water cascades in a smooth, silent sheet – a moment of pure theatre every time you turn it on. 

The shower mixer with integrated LED screen glows softly, showing you the exact temperature before you even step in. No guesswork. No sudden shocks. Just precision and pleasure. 

The Kalapana Supawood door column and the wall‑hanging vanity add an unmistakable sophistication to the bathroom – a level of finish that only comes when clients refuse to settle and a contractor refuses to cut corners. 

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The Final Word 

The Faultiens’ bathroom is proof that a bold vision, faithfully executed, can turn even a modest space into a sanctuary. Black, grey, custom tubs, and an LED shower that tells the temperature – these are not mere fixtures. They are statements. 

And when a client says, “We couldn’t find anyone else who could do it,” and you deliver? That is the moment you know you are not just renovating bathrooms. You are building trust, one grey tile at a time. Please view the transformation, step-by-step on this link.

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For further details on my bathroom makeovers and home renovation services, please reach out. 

📞 Call, SMS, or WhatsApp: 063 888 5573 

📧 Email: info.aptdesigns@gmail.com