Archive for the ‘Bathrooms’ Category

Clawfoot tubs are great.

They look great, that is. In terms of ease of use, and practicality – well, not so much.

After living with a clawfoot tub for a few months, I would kill for a real shower. Well, not kill…but I do want a “real” shower someday. So to torture myself I spent some time looking at non-clawfoot designs:

(Arciform)

(Sunset Magazine)

(Square Deal Remodeling Co.)

(Remodelista)

For more bathroom blog posts check out our Bathrooms section.

We’ve covered kitchen remodeling, home lighting and historic homes, and now we’re moving on to bathroom remodeling with the guidance of another industry expert: Jill Moskowitz of Bathroom Magic. 

A bathroom, next to kitchens, is often the most remolded room in a home. So, it’s likely that if you haven’t already done a bathroom remodel, you might actually be considering one at this very moment. Jill will offer her insight on starting your own remodel, including planning, making the most of your budget, and other tricks of her trade.

Jill has been in the bathroom remodeling industry for 7 years, two of those years with her current position as a design consultant at New Jersey based Bathroom Magic.  Jill spends much of her time going to customer’s home to provide them with a free consultation and help them start considering all the possibilities with their bathroom remodel.

Jill offers her insight into the world of bathroom remodeling:

1. For a homeowner who is considering a bathroom remodel, but who also has have a strict budget, how would you recommend they get the most value from the amount of money they can put in?

A tub liner with matching wall surround is a fabulous alternative to replacing an old cast iron or steel tub.  Both functional and beautiful — without the mess and expense of removing the existing tub.  If your vanity is in good shape, replace the countertop with a new one in CORIAN® and update the knobs.  Choose a dynamic new faucet in a different finish.    Paint the walls–color makes all the difference.  These changes will all transform the room at a lower cost than a complete rip out.   

2. Are there any major differences between planning a remodel for a full bath versus a half bath? If so what should the design focus be for each one? 

A half bath will be making a statement to your guests.  It is typically very decorative — functionality is not the major objective there.

For a full bath, I usually approach the remodel in a different way. Consider who will be using the bathroom. Will it be for children or adults? The remodel should absolutely take this into account.  Unlike a half bath, the objective is first function and then beauty.

3. If a homeowner was going to splurge on one aspect of their bathroom remodel, what part would you tell them to splurge on?

Every case is different.  If you are the person who uses your shower or bath experience for unwinding and relaxing, the tub and shower area would be the one I would suggest.  Great showerheads and handshowers, body sprays etc. would make a huge difference.   If you tend to enjoy your “me” time where hair and makeup take place, I would focus on the vanity and mirror upgrades – great lighting and cabinets with door and drawer space is always essential.

4. What are some of the most common problems that occur during a bathroom remodel that homeowners might not have foreseen?

Mold and mildew is the first problem most people have, especially interior bathrooms with no ventilation.  Bathroom Magic is always prepared and ready with a solution for any unforeseen bathroom problems. Windows in tub areas are also an issue as many older homes have this situation and homeowners often want to close off the window.  This now affects the outside of the home (siding, etc.) and becomes more of a project than they anticipated. 

Homeowner Bathroom Before Remodel

5. If a homeowner cannot do a complete gut and replace remodel, what projects could they focus on to still make some major changes in the room?

You can still accomplish a total renovation without gutting a bathroom as long as existing plumbing and electrical can remain in the same place.  An acrylic system is perfect for an existing tub/shower area.  An updated vanity area as well with new mirror/medicine chest and changing of existing lighting fixtures.  A new floor and toilet — a coat of paint on the walls and you have a brand new bathroom!

Finished Bathroom Remodel

6. Are there any new products or materials on the market that you really like for the bathroom? 

We are working with CORIAN® surround systems in tub and shower areas.  We create walls routed to appear like tile without the nuisance and maintenance of grout.  We install this system in over 140 colors and offer fashionable tile patterns–giving you virtually hundreds of combinations.  For those tile lovers that realize the issues associated with grout, this is the perfect bathroom solution—and very glamorous.  CORIAN® wall surrounds are offered exclusively by Bathroom Magic.

Remodeled acrylic tub and shower in Travertine

7. If you had one piece of advice for a homeowner starting their own renovation what would it be? 

Let your bathroom be reflective of who you are.  There are thousands of options available and this can be an overwhelming task.  Work with a qualified design and build company, such as Bathroom Magic who can offer you solutions at different price points. All that matters is that in the end you will have the bathroom that you are envisioning.   Look at this project as an investment in your home and your family.  Once completed, this will be something you will enjoy each and every day.

Thanks again Jill!

Check out these past Expert Interviews for more advice on your home improvement projects:

Home Lighting: Michelle Steinback of Schoolhouse Electric Co.
Historic Homes: Diane Foreman of Neil Kelly Co.
Kitchen Remodeling: Linda Fennessy of Kitchen Magic

While homeowners are becoming ever more conservative in their spending with the volatile economy, some see the downturn as a way to take advantage of great deals.

While clearance sales in malls seem to be catching some consumer’s eyes, the deals aren’t just in the retail sector. There are great opportunities to save in the remodeling industry too.

If you’ve been considering a remodel, this might be the perfect time to start. And the perfect project? It could be a bathroom remodel.

According to a recent article in Forbes Magazine, remodeling material costs are down. This is especially true for copper materials, such as the copper piping and plumbing supplies needed for a bathroom remodel.

While you’re saving money on materials, you’ll also be gaining value on your home. In the 2008-09 Cost vs. Value Report from Remodeling Magazine showed a bathroom remodel as one of the projects that increased in return on value compared to the 2007-08 report. Just under 71 percent of the cost was recouped with the bathroom remodeling project. 

Even in a recession, it’s always good to look for the silver lining.

I would have a hard time objecting to becoming the owner of this bathroom:

Photo Credit: Sunset

Or this one:

Both are exquisite bathrooms, but the windows are maybe my favorite part.  I started thinking about this practically though, and who honestly has a private enough home that you could pull off those kinds of windows in the bathroom with out shocking the neighbors?  Especially if you live in an urban area, it would be quite a challenge. 

Unless you want to get a little bit creative:

While I’m not a huge fan of frosted glass, I think it can be excused in the bathroom.  Especially if you pair it with clear glass, you could get virtually the same effect while maintaining your privacy.  In my mind you can never have enough natural light in a space, so anything you can do to get it there is acceptable. 

You could also get a similar effect using some lattice.  Either transplant established plants onto your lattice piece, or grow some specifically for the job, and place them strategically outside your bathroom windows.  I like this approach especially because it has the potential to make your bathroom feel like a lush, leafy hideaway.

I’m someone who loves color. Especially in home design. Using all types of color, everywhere, all the time, has always been my preference.

When I was younger my mom went through a phase where she painted all of the rooms in our home bone white. I couldn’t stand it, and I developed a phobia of white wall color that I still haven’t outgrown. I swore that when I grew up and had my own home, none of my walls would be white.

But, I may have been too rash with my ban on white. Designers and home remodelers are now using white for wall color, carpet, countertops and other home features to create a clean, fresh, modern look that can be heightened with the right small addition of color.

According to the New York Times, not only is white an interesting design choice, if you’re considering future marketability of your home, white may also be the smartest choice you can make. Using color for design is a highly personal matter, and if you use unique color choices in your home for hard to replace items such as countertops, cabinetry and tiles, you may have a hard time selling your home to potential buyers who will have to deal with replacing areas they find less than attractive.

So, maybe white isn’t so bad afterall…

White In Real Life

A small kitchen looks brighter and more airy with all white elements leading into a living area. Add a bowl of your weekly produce, a red toaster, or colorful dish towels as a way to break up the white, and create a flash of color.

Photo Credit: The New York Times

A black and white photograph adds a truly modern touch to this sleek bathroom.

Photo Credit: The New York Times

A white bedroom is relaxing and clean with a few dashes of color added with throw pillows and easily changeable wall prints.

Photo Credit: Inhabit

WHOA.  We really like this:

Photo Credit: BornRich

and this:

Photo Credi: Alsons.com

Its like a car wash…but for your body! And maybe, just about the best recipie for relaxation we can think of.

Its time to make your bathroom the place to be- think about it.  How much time do we spend in there everyday?  Showering, soaking, preparing ourselves for the day, relaxing- its easily the most used room in the house, and yet so often it gets neglected and ends up serving a purely utilitarian existence.  Dosen’t your bathroom deserve more? 

You don’t have to invest in a custom spa body shower to reap the benefits of a bathroom remodel.  If something a little more modest is budget freindlier, take a litte time to imagine how some new fixtures and cabinet veneers might brighten up your mornings getting ready to carpe diem.