Bathroom Renovations in Cockle Bay
Alchemy Bathroom Renovations Auckland renovated this bathroom in Cockle Bay, Howick, around a walk-in shower with a river-pebble floor. The shower has three recessed niches, two of them backed with the same pebbles, a linear strip drain along the back wall and white subway tiles to the ceiling. Outside the shower, a wall-hung oak-look vanity, a matching tall cabinet and large grey stone-look floor tiles finish the room. Nick McKelvie, a Licensed Building Practitioner (BP1021390) with 1,200+ bathroom renovations behind him, ran the job.
The shower recesses took the most planning on this job. Each one was framed into the wall before lining, then waterproofed with the rest of the shower. For bathroom renovations in Cockle Bay, Howick or anywhere in East Auckland, call 09 884 6535. Nick visits the house, measures up and prices the whole job in writing.
Suburb
Cockle Bay, Howick
Shower
Walk-in, frameless glass
Shower floor
River-pebble mosaic
Niches
3 recessed
The finished shower
A River-Pebble Walk-In Shower From Our Cockle Bay Bathroom Renovation
The shower floor is a river-pebble mosaic in grey-green, charcoal, black and tan stones. The pebbles are smooth and rounded, and they sit slightly proud of the grout, so the floor has grip under wet feet.
A linear strip drain runs the full width of the shower at the base of the back wall. The whole floor falls one way to that wall. A round centre grate would have cut into the pebble pattern, and a strip drain keeps the mosaic unbroken from the glass to the wall.
The walls carry long white gloss subway tiles in a brick pattern, grouted in light grey and taken to the ceiling on all three shower walls. The glass is a single fixed frameless panel with no door, set in a metal channel.
Walk-through of the finished Cockle Bay bathroom
The multiple recesses
Three Recessed Shower Niches Lined in River Pebbles
Tradespeople call shower niches recesses. They are shelves built into the wall framing, so they sit flush with the tiles and nothing hangs off the wall to collect soap scum. This shower has three.
The large niche sits at chest height above the mixer, with a smaller one higher and to the side. Both are backed with the floor pebbles, so the stone runs from the floor up the wall. A third, low niche sits near the floor under the mixer, at the right height for a razor or foot products, or for someone who sits to shower.
Every niche is edged in a polished metal trim, which protects the tile edges and gives each opening a clean line. Building Code clause E3 requires wet-area surfaces to be impervious and easy to clean, and a recess has four more faces to seal than a flat wall. Tell us at the site visit how many bottles live in your shower, because that sets the size and number of niches.
What went in
Tapware, Vanity and Floor in the Cockle Bay Bathroom
Shower tapware
One Mixer, Two Outlets
A concealed single-lever mixer on a square chrome plate runs a round overhead rain head and a hand shower on a slide rail. The hand shower makes the pebble floor and niches easy to rinse.
Vanity and storage
Wall-Hung Oak-Look Vanity
Two deep drawers with long bar handles sit under a white basin top. A matching tall cabinet holds the spare towels. The vanity is off the floor, so a mop reaches right underneath.
Floor and heat
Stone-Look Floor and Heated Rail
Large grey stone-look tiles, about 600 mm square, cover the floor, with tiled skirting at the wall base. A chrome heated towel rail sits beside the shower entry, in reach from the glass.
Project photos
Cockle Bay Bathroom Renovation Photos
Tap a photo to open it full size.
Cockle Bay homes at the 2023 Census
Bathroom Renovations for Cockle Bay Family Houses
The Cockle Bay census area held 4,239 residents in 1,467 occupied homes at the 2023 Census.
84.5%
of homes were separate houses
55.4%
had four or more bedrooms
79.3%
were owned by the household or a family trust
Cockle Bay houses are big, and most are owned by the people living in them. The average home had 3.6 bedrooms, so many carry an ensuite or a second bathroom as well as the main one. If yours does, ask for both rooms to be priced together, because one strip-out and one set of trades costs less than two separate jobs. Our page on Howick bathroom renovation work lists prices and damp data for the wider Howick area.
From the Google Business Profile
Howick and Shower Room Reviews From Alchemy Clients
Huyen Thu
2024
Nick and his group performed an excellent job renovating our bathroom in Howick. Complete demolition to be finished in twelve business days, outstanding communication along the process, and superior craftsmanship
Anowar Shuvo
2025
Highly Recommend Alchemy Bathroom Renovations.
Nick and the team at Alchemy were fantastic. Out of three quotes, Nick had the clearest vision and focused on what really needed to be done. The whole team took pride in their work, and the result is a high-quality, functional, and great-looking shower room. Communication was easy, the process ran smoothly, and you can tell they care about doing things right. Highly recommend!
Sandra Frost
September 2026
Alchemy Bathrooms took on a complete re-fit of ensuite.
Nick organised whole project from cabinets/shower/fittings to plumbing, electricians, tilers etc, the whole process was seamless and communication was excellent.
Nick kept to deadline and end result was fantastic, very happy with bathroom.
I would highly recommend Nick and Alchemy Bathrooms as they are professional with enthusiasm and great ideas
Planning a similar shower
What Sets the Price of a Feature Shower in Howick
Every Howick and Cockle Bay bathroom is priced in writing after a free site visit. These five choices change the amount of work most.
Pebble or large tiles
Pebble mosaic goes down in small sheets and takes more grout and more hours per square metre than large-format floor tiles.
Number of niches
Each recess is framed, lined, waterproofed and trimmed on its own. Three niches take longer than one.
Drain type
A linear strip drain suits a pebble or tiled floor with a single fall. A centre grate needs the floor to fall from four sides.
Glass
A single fixed panel with no door uses less glass and hardware than a framed shower with a hinged door.
Storage
A tall cabinet beside a drawer vanity adds a unit to supply and fix, and it keeps the benchtop clear.
Cockle Bay project questions
Cockle Bay Bathroom Renovations and Pebble Shower FAQs
Yes. We renovate bathrooms, ensuites and toilets across Cockle Bay, Howick, Bucklands Beach, Pakuranga and Botany. Call 09 884 6535 to book the free site visit.
Book a Howick or Cockle Bay Site Visit
Call to book a free site visit in Cockle Bay or Howick. Nick measures the room and talks through the shower floor, drain and niches before pricing.
Phone
Hours
Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm
Address
Suite 7646, 17B Farnham Street, Parnell, Auckland 1052
Service area
All of Auckland: North Shore, West, East, South and Central
Contact Alchemy
Alchemy Bathroom Renovations Auckland
Led by Nick McKelvie, Licensed Building Practitioner BP1021390 and producer statement author PSA127420. Complete bathroom, ensuite, small bathroom, villa, laundry and commercial renovations across Auckland, with a 15-year guarantee on the waterproofing.
Mon to Fri, 8am to 5pm
Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm. Free site visits across Auckland.
