As regular as clockwork, I wake from a deep sleep between 2 and 3 in the early hours of the morning. Why? I wish I knew. Its no fun at all.

To try to bring on more sleep, my ritual is threefold:

I walk laps around my living area

I grab a cold pack to put on my forehead for when I’m back in bed

I go to the bathroom

As soon as I open the bathroom door, I’m reminded of what a calm and inviting space it now is, once my eyes adjust to the dazzling light.

Last year, my tired, unloved and hotch potch bathroom got a much-needed face lift. No more battling with a shower bath door that jammed, or a pokey amount of storage. My 1960’s house didn’t warrant an ultra modern space, so it wasn’t a case of out with the old and in with the new. Discerning consideration was made to create a space that blended with the rest of the house, and also brought the outside in. Natural timbers and greenery were a must.

And I love the result.

My earthy-toned terrazzo floor stayed, and my old yellow bath got a new lease on life. My new bathroom took shape around them.

Its such a treat to have a real shower recess after years of struggling with the shower bath. I wanted to keep white to a minimum so ivory tiles dominate the walls with earthy feature tiles. And to top it off, I found the perfect coloured towels in a homewares shop in Lismore.

The timber vanity is gorgeous and the newly installed ceiling fan is a hit in summer.

The whole space is fairly low maintenance because, you guessed it, all the plants are fake. No watering, no spills, no dropping leaves, no cleanups. A touch of nature without the mess.

My bathroom really is a meeting of old and new, and it works in my style of house. My journey into the world of fake plants is now over, and they are serving me well, providing a calming and natural feel to my bathroom space.