September 2008

When Richard and Michal Gray moved from Hamilton to Nelson, they had some definite ideas about what they wanted: sea views, a sense of space, lots of sun, and Atlantis tiled showers.

“We had Atlantis showers when we built our first house, because our builders recommended the EasyTile system.  It’s the best system available for being leak proof, and as we planned to do our own tiling again, we opted to stick with Atlantis," says Michal.  "We didn’t want a leaky home, and because the Atlantis system is so straightforward andpretty much foolproof, it was the logical choice.” 

The Grays' new home design was anything but straightforward, and completely different to their first build, which was a three bedroom single storey home on a town section.  Wanting to get out of town this time around, they found a north facing property with views of Tasman Bay just past Mapua, which met all their requirements.

“Hamilton is so flat,” says Michal. “After years spent looking out our windows at the neighbour’s fence, we wanted somewhere elevated."

The building platform was already cut, so to a certain extent the site dictated the shape of the house, but the Grays were also keen to leave suburbia far behind them.  The result was an ambitious design; a four-tiered split level home with hardwood flooring and a central stairwell with three flights of stairs, with the front door opening onto a central landing which branches off to each section of the house.  There is a large high-ceilinged living space divided between living room and kitchen/dining area with a prominent glass frontage to capitalise on the sun and – of course – the views. 

Both Richard and Michal wanted wooden floors, and so they decided on recycled Australian jarrah – a hard wearing yet relatively affordable hardwood with a deep reddish tone and prominent pattern to the grain.  "We did think about laying natural fiber sisal carpet in the bedrooms, but in the end we went for consistency and we put the jarrah in everywhere."

"Almost everything is different this time; the location, the views, the shape, the layout and the interior," says Michal. "About the only thing we have the same is the showers." The couple opted for two different styles from the Atlantis EasyTile shower range for the two bathrooms.  The downstairs bathroom has a Vivido corner shower, whilst upstairs a three-sided Commander was installed. 

Atlantis' extensive range of sizes and shapes really came into play for this project.  "The feature window in the upstairs bathroom meant we had to install a narrower bath, and the Commander shower fits in the remaining space perfectly."

Both showers have a step-up hob base, which works well with the wooden flooring as is give greater definition between the two materials.  The contrast between the pale grey tiles and the dark amber boards is an unusual choice and very striking.  “All the Australian design magazines showed jarrah with warm tiles,” admits Michal.  “I just didn’t find any I liked in a warm shade, so I chose these.  We wanted the materials in the house to look solid, and I liked the ‘concrete’ appearance of the tiles.” 
 
The build itself was a challenge, to say the least.  "Things didn't go according to plan, or budget, or timeframe," says Michal.  "In fact, one of the few things that did go in without a hitch was the showers."

Despite the challenges along the way, Richard and Michal have built a beautiful home in which to raise their three children that ticks every box on their wish list; gorgeous sea views, an amazing sense of space, sun flooding in through the large windows, and their leak-free Atlantis tiled showers fitting in perfectly with the beautifully designed interior.

March 2008

When Bill and Raelene Rainbird did up their 25 year old villa in Picton, they were happy to discover that the bathrooms were one area where they need not compromise.

The renovation included two bathrooms, one in what was the old laundry room at the rear of the house near the guest bedrooms, and one next to the main bedroom at the front of the house, which involved knocking out a wall to extend the existing bathroom into the small WC next door.

Raelene chose the Atlantis Tiled Shower system for several reasons. “I’ve always liked the idea of tiled showers, but I was worried about leaking. A builder put me onto the Atlantis tiled showers and I thought they sounded ideal.” Raelene heard about the showers she wanted “years before we did up this place,” she recalls. “I couldn’t remember the name of (the company) but I remembered what it did,” namely, provide a leak-free tiled shower option that could be fitted onto any floor type. Alison at Mico Wakefield in Blenheim helped Raelene to track down the shower system she described and choose the exact models she needed for the project from extensive the Atlantis Bathroom Style range.

Raelene chose a level entry Harmony shower for the back bathroom, “mainly because the level entry makes it easier when my mother comes to stay. Now that she is older, a level entry shower makes it safer and less strenuous for her to get in and out.” For the main bathroom, she opted for a three-sided Dominator model.

All Atlantis tiled shower systems can be installed on any floor type. Their patented waterproof self-adhesive membrane and EasyTile Shower Base was what Raelene remembered about the system, enabling her to have the tiled showers she wanted and the peace of mind of a 25 year leak-free warranty.

The shower needed to go in the corner where the old toilet was, between the outer wall and the original vanity, which was moved across into the newly acquired space. The impressive range of Atlantis models available meant that there was one that matched the specific dimensions required. “It fitted perfectly,” said Raelene enthusiastically. “You couldn’t have asked for a better measure.”

Certified Atlantis installer Paul Power also laid all the tiling for the project. He agrees that the Atlantis showers come with good peace of mind. “The company not only stands by its products, they also provide great support for the installers,” Paul says. “Being a New Zealand made product, and a New Zealand run company, you know you can get what you need when you need it, and that help is just a phone call away.”

Another legacy from the original features was the enamelled cast iron bathtub, complete with hand-painted flowers and a slight bow in the middle. Through some creative fitting and a keen eye, Paul reinstalled the old bath with a wide tiled surround under the bathroom window. Unless it’s pointed out to you, the slight bow in the rim is practically undetectable.

Raelene also wanted to keep the old toilet window, which provided another challenge for Paul. “I’m not keen on windows in showers,” confesses Paul, “but you have to go with what the client wants.” Paul was able to adapt the tiled shower installation to meet this unusual request, and Raelene is more than happy with the result. Best of all, no leaks!

March 2008

When David Hart researched his new frameless shower, he didn’t have to look far.

As a Manager at a leading electrical firm in Auckland, he was well aware of the criteria he needed for a quality, high-performing shower system. He wanted quality, workmanship and durability but ,as well, a system that effortlessly worked with his new bathroom design. Not only did it need to be high-spec, it had to look good!

With minimum of fuss, the Atlantis shower system (a level-entry Harmony 1050 x 1050 shower was installed. The system allowed Dave to choose tiles that could encase the two corners of his shower and as well, move seamlessly into the bathroom space so that there was almost no distinction between the two. Frameless glass screens meant that the shower did not encroach on the bathroom space, but instead gave the illusion of a larger space while adding a modern, clean look to the bathroom’s design.

Mr Hart’s shower system fulfilled the two most influencing elements in his decision to buy Atlantis - technologically superior and stylish. What more could he ask for?

David Hart's level-entry shower