Archive for 'bathroom'

Bathroom Photos of Our Bathroom Remodeling Project

Saturday, June 19th, 2010 at 11:29 am  
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Our Bathroom Renovation

Once you begin a bathroom remodel project it is very important to take bathroom photos at the beginning of the project, throughout, and at the end of the project.  These will serve as your proud before and after shots to share with guests and you never know, just might be featured on a popular website or TV show someday.  Below is the BEFORE photo of our shower remodel, but unfortunately, the AFTER photo is not ready yet…maybe in another month or so….my husband says these things take time!

As you can imagine, keeping these photos will increase our sense of pride, well mostly my husband’s sense of pride when we get to see the finished project every day.  Our memories of how bad it once was may fade, but this photo will always remind us of how far we came.  Again, don’t forget to take bathroom photos during the entire process of your remodel, but especially at the very beginning because you can’t go back in time after you have completed any part of the project.

Here we are a week later and, as you can see, not done yet.  Ah well, patience is a virtue they say.  I would post more photos, but I really would not want to bore you with yet more “during” shots rather than the “after” shots.  I would much rather wait until the end of the project and show you the After shots and share with you all the funny stories of how we were able to finally take a shower in a bathroom long forgotten as our Master Bathroom.  There must be a reason why they call it a Master Bathroom, maybe because you are supposed to use it more than once a year!

Bathroom Renovation

There is no point in ranting; my husband will surely get the shower fixed in time for us to sell the house.  I am saying that facetiously since we have no short-term plans to sell our house.  In fact, we intend to rent it out if we ever have to move away for some reason.  Could you imagine trying to sell or rent a house with a bathroom shower renovation that looks like this?!!?  What kind of rent would you have the gall to ask for, maybe $200 a month seeing as how the tenant can only use one of the two bathrooms that are in the house.

Bathroom Flooring Choices for Your Bathroom Renovation

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010 at 9:35 am  
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If you are about to embark on a bathroom flooring project, it is important to avoid being tempted into a decision based on the look of it rather than choosing the flooring that can stand up to the demands made of it.  The right flooring will look great, be durable and feel fabulous underfoot.   I think the bathroom is the easiest place to decide on flooring and it will usually be the least expensive flooring project in the house because it is often one of the smallest rooms in the house.  Here’s a summary of the different kinds of material used for bathroom flooring featured on the HGTV website.

TILE

Ceramic is used most in bathrooms and the reason why is because it is the most water resistant of the flooring materials.  It’s usually the least expensive too.  There are some complaints about it, such as ‘slippery when wet’ or ‘cold to the bare feet’ or even ‘difficult to maintain.’  These objections are easily overcome with solutions like radiant heat, and textured tile to take away the slippery effect, also grout can be sealed for easy cleaning.  Other tiles like travertine, porcelain, glass and granite are more expensive than ceramic, but can make the bathroom more dynamic looking.

WOOD

Hardwood flooring can be a wonderful option, providing visual warmth and a comfortable feeling underfoot.  It must be cared for properly, and with a water-based poly finish, the occasional splash or drip will do no harm.  However, water must not sit on the floor for any length of time, or serious damage will be caused.  Pick up those wet towels.

GREEN

Bamboo and cork flooring are “green” alternatives to a wood floor.  Like wood, they must be cared for and they will endure. If you select bamboo for its eco-friendly qualities, be sure the factory finish is formaldehyde free.  Cork provides wonderful sound control; something to consider if the goal is to create a quiet retreat.

LAMINATE

Laminate treated with water repellent is a great way to create the look of a wood floor, and maintain the floor over the years at the same time.  Laminate can look amazingly like real wood, but it will not be as soft and the sound will be louder as a result.

VINYL

For a low-budget bathroom flooring project, vinyl is a safe bet.  Just be aware that vinyl can curl at the edges over time.  Also, the peel-and-stick vinyl tiles are not recommended for baths because water can seep between the tiles and damage the sub floor.

Bathroom Remodeling Pictures for Inspiration on Bathroom Design

Monday, June 7th, 2010 at 8:13 am  
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Bathroom Remodeling Pictures – Draw Your Inspiration

Looking at bathroom remodeling pictures is a great way to get inspired to create special new looks for your bathroom or bathrooms.  When you are looking at the pictures make sure you do not get fooled by the difference in size between the bathroom being photographed and your bathroom.

Often, bathroom remodeling pictures are taken in a studio in a “bathroom” much larger than the average bathroom.  This is done purposely but not maliciously.  The general goal of these photos is to help give you inspiration of what can be done, not necessarily so you can do a carbon copy of what you are seeing.

There are bathroom remodeling pictures that are much more to scale.  These make it much easier for you to determine what can and cannot be done in your bathroom.  Some will even provide you with the dimensions of the bathroom in the photos.

How to Choose the Right Ones

Try to find pictures of bathrooms that have the same general pattern as your bathroom.  For example, consider where the door is, where the windows are (if any) and even where the plumbing is.

Some people are able to visualize things better than others.  The more closely the bathroom remodeling pictures are to the layout of your bathroom the easier it is to do that.

Additionally, make sure you do factor size and bathroom elements.  For example, if you are redesigning a bathroom that has a shower stall and no room for a tub, make sure you are looking at pictures of bathrooms that have a shower stall only.

Do Not Fall in Love

Try not to fall in love with the remodeling pictures, chances are duplicating them would be extremely expensive, if possible at all.  Again, the photos are taken for inspiration purposes not for duplication purposes.  There may be elements you simply cannot duplicate.

Typically there is little to no budget for bathroom remodeling photo shoots.  They are meant to highlight one or more of the bathroom elements and to make you fall in love with what you see.

Make sure you understand what you like specifically in the photos.  Is it a particular style fixture? Is it the décor? Is it the tile?  Determine which element or elements are really getting your attention so you can start to craft your design with the bathroom remodeling pictures as your inspiration.

Using Wicker Furnishings in Your Bathroom

Sunday, May 30th, 2010 at 8:04 am  
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When renovating your bathroom you might want to think about adding a few wicker baskets to create a bit of atomosphere. Wicker is a wonderful accessory to any room in your house. Wicker is stong and sturdy, easy to maintain and can last forever if looked after properly.

How do I know what wicker to select?

When choosing your bathroom wicker accessories all you have to do is first choose a color that matches your bathroom decor then stick with a style that matches. Some baskets are painted however, which sets them apart from the rest.

How do I know which wickers are best suited for my bathroom?

You have a wide selection of wastebaskets, towel hangers, wicker stands, wicker shelves, and more to choose. You can also get picture frames made of wicker. Do you intend to use the wicker to store accessories? Do you need shelves to store linen and towels? Understanding your purpose can help you make the right choice. You might also want to think about the texture, patterns, style, and colors in your bathroom.

How do I look after my wicker furniture and accessories?

It’s always a good idea to read the manufacturers instructions before cleaning. However, in most cases wicker is very easy to keep clean. You can just throw it in the bathtub to wash it or even take it outside and use the garden hose to clean it. Let it dry in the sun and you are good to go.

How do I find wicker baskets, shelves, etc?

Shopping for wicker is easy, since most design stores you visit have wicker baskets, shelves, stands, frames, wastebaskets, and more. The smaller stores may only have the smaller items, such as the shelves, wastebaskets, towel hangers, and so on. Larger stores often sell a wider variety of wickers.

How will it look in my bathroom?

You can find some old pictures to hang on the wall to bring out the affect of the wicker. Wicker is supposed to look rough and old looking so anything you store in wickers will look good. Even if you hang ole’ wicker picture frames, and throw a rug on the floor you can rest assure that the room will look good. In addition, if you have an antique room, country room, Victorian style, or other bathroom design, it doesn’t matter because wicker looks good. In fact, wicker is probably one of the single most sold items that looks good no matter what.

How much will it cost?

Wicker is not expensive when compared to other bathroom furnishings. In fact, you can purchase wicker baskets for as little as $1. When your bathroom is fitted out in wicker, you will love the affect that it can achieve. While wicker looks good no matter where you put it, I feel that wicker benefits best in country settings, or natural modern surroundings.

Using Bath Accessories To Create Warmth in Your Bathroom

Friday, May 28th, 2010 at 7:46 am  
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Your bathroom, no matter how big or small it is, should give you a feeling of privacy and comfort; it should be clean, but most importantly it should be germ-free. I know for a fact that most women would love to have their bathroom as comfy as the bedroom. It is one of the places where you can find solitude. As a matter of fact, there are bathrooms as big as or even bigger than a bedroom.

Here are some bath accessories that will surely be very useful regardless of how big or small, elegant or simple your bathroom is.

The usual bath accessories that we can find in any bathrooms are mirrors, waste baskets, tissue holders, lotion dispensers, soap dishes, shampoo and conditioner holders, and towel holders. For a luxurious bathroom, you can find a vanity sink and mirror, and bath cabinet where in you can put all your towels in or some of your toiletries. You can have as many bath accessories as you can, just make sure they are practical, and that you have enough space to accommodate those things.

The main purpose of these bathroom accessories is to keep your bathroom organized. But you can make these as well as your bathroom as interesting as you want them to be. There are themed accessories that are unique and stylish to choose from to suit your taste.

The ambiance of your bathroom greatly depends on your taste of course. You can transform your bathroom to look and feel like you are in another place or country. All you need to do is be creative and find bathroom accessories that have out-of-the-ordinary designs. If you can’t decide what designs to choose, you can find different designs in the internet for starters as well as bathroom design magazines.

Furniture sets can look nice but if they are not being used, don’t bother having them. Save the spaces left in your bathroom for very functional bath accessories. You might find one that matches the mood of your bathroom and has multi purpose features. If these make you comfortable and feel good, have no second thoughts.

If you are the type of person who goes straight to the bathroom first thing after getting out of bed, it is vital to have a nice welcoming bathroom. Having the right bath accessories will surely guarantee you the best comfort and atmosphere in privacy.