Posts Tagged ‘bathroom design’

Revisiting Roman And Greek Bath Houses

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

If there’s an omnipresence in history books, it’s the impressive structures of Greek and Roman influences. Up to this day, their impact on modern architecture is incomparable. Their bath houses are a force to reckon with, boasting of amazing designs, grand appearance and in our modern times, timeless appeal. You can add a touch of Greek and Roman influence to your bathroom for that classic bath house feel.

Space is vital. Depictions of the Greek and Roman bath houses (and rooms in general) are spacious. They never lacked of space but instead show grand areas. Having an attached sun room is a good idea to enlarge the bathroom. Have a big tub in the sun room but make sure that it provides privacy by using a one-way glass. Marble floors and furnishings are perfect Roman and Greek themes. Columns are fixtures that are associated with these themes, so you can add these design ideas too for a realistic look. Faucets, shower head, handles and even the tub can be in copper implements. Gold was used in the early times but unless you’re willing to spend a lump sum, copper is the next best thing.

You might think plants are so out of place in a bathroom, but adding a few potted and hanging plants can create the look of the ancient bath houses, which were commonly outdoors. Therefore, the plants will give the natural scenic feel as well as add extra element of seclusion. Soft white linens that are loose and flowing are will make perfect drapes. You can enclose the sun room tub with this fabric for a royalty effect.

To add a bit of color, use an area rug. Traditional Greek and Roman patterns can be found in a local rug shop. This will strengthen your theme while adding comfort and color. Your rug should contain the colors of both the plants used in the room as well as any decorative items.

For decor I suggest urns and decorative bottles. These items will be dual purpose. Use the urns to hold plants or towels and other bathroom necessities. The bottles will look even more decorative when filled with bath salts or oils. To prevent clutter group these in design clusters in the corners of the rooms or around the walls and columns.

Bath houses may not be a common practice nowadays but the design influence of the early Greeks and Romans has a lasting effect. The elegance that is a trademark of this theme will make your bathroom unique and creatively daring, which defies the traditional concept of a bathroom interior.

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Environmentally Friendly Bathroom Design Ideas On A Budget

Saturday, March 13th, 2010

If you are embarking on a bathroom remodeling project then planning is one of the most important steps, if you are going to save any money. The benefits that come form incorporating eco-friendly ideas into the bathroom include saving money on both the ideas and the energy savings. You can also help to protect the environment, in this way, as well.

We all have an obligation when it comes to protecting the environment and our natural resources. You can save some extra money in your pocket though. Most people would consider most eco-friendly items and materials to be more expensive. Although this is often the case, you will find that most governments run initiatives that provide grants to supplement the costs of items such as insulation.

One of the biggest areas we can make a difference is in our water usage. There are many ways this can be achieved including reducing the amount of time spent under a shower. It is also possible to find a number of different plumbing features to help minimize water loss. We will look at some of the ways to help protect the environment and lower our energy costs.

Low Flush Toilets: On average, every day, flushing the toilet uses about twenty gallons of water per person. Installing into the bathroom a low flush toilet or dual flush toilet can help halve the amount of water used.

The Shower Head: The water loss from showering is less at around thirteen gallons but is still significant. You can spend less time under the shower, to save water, but also a low flow head will significantly reduce water use. One way to test your current shower head is to run it for two minutes and collect all the water in a five gallon bucket. If, during this time, the water overflows, then it is not a low flow type.

Water Heating: Most of the time you do not need to be running your heater all day. Switching off at night will save a considerable amount of energy, and money, over the period of a year. To make things easier you could install an automatic timer.

Overall, just a few simple steps can help bring your bathroom up to date, help you save money and also contribute to helping the environment.

Jane writes many review articles that helps people with bathroom remodeling ideas and about how to go about bathroom remodeling project cheaply.

How To Give Your Bathroom A Modern Look

Friday, March 12th, 2010

A lot of people have outdated looked bathrooms and would like to give it a more contemporary look. The problem most people find is that it is quite difficult to focus on what exactly is a modern look. This article will look at the ways to modernize the bathroom to bring it up to date.

One aspect, that is probably the most important, is the color scheme of the bathroom. If you have a lot of natural light then you could probably get away with darker colors. Unfortunately, most bathrooms have limited light and, if this is the case, you should look at lighter colors. The best place to start is at your local home improvement store. They will have swabs of colors available for you to take away. This will give you a good idea of the ranges of colors available and also what works well together.

When you decide on which colors you think will work best, you then need to look at how you are going to decorate. The most popular choices are to just paint, tile or even add wallpaper. The next is the flooring. The three main choices are tiling, wood and carpet. Although wood is my favorite, it can be prone to water damage. As such, wood effect laminate flooring is a good alternative. I tend to stay clear of carpeting due to issues, again, of water damage and more importantly, hygiene.

Now you know what the surroundings in the bathroom will look like, you now need to consider the bathroom suite. You will find that designers are producing more and more wonderful and beautiful baths, basins and shower enclosures. You need to make sure they are functional though, and not just aesthetically pleasing.

The next area to look at is the fixtures and fittings. All the fixtures of the different components of the bathroom suite should match. For the ultimate, contemporary appearance the materials of choice are chrome finish and stainless steel. Leave brass fixtures for the period or antique looking bathroom.

When looking at the shower, one of the latest fashions is to use a rain shower head. They are much larger than you typical shower head but go in the modern bathroom very well. If you just need something to wash your hair, the rain variety can be found as a hand held model.

After installation of all the components it is time to look at matching the accessories. For the bathroom vanities a glass mirrored effect is an excellent choice. Not only are they beautiful but also very functional. Items such as bins and toilet brushes should all match to get the final look perfect.

Leonie likes to write many articles about steam showers and to find the best new steam showers on the internet.

Budget Tips For Updating The Bathroom

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

1. Cleaning: This may seem a little obvious but giving your bathroom a thorough clean can often make you see it in a new light and will do wonders. Just a bit of time and some hard work is the biggest cost with this step. When it comes to sorting out all the items in the bathroom I place them into one of three containers: one for rubbish, one for charity; and one for items that belong elsewhere. Start at the door of your bathroom, be ruthless and work through it methodically.

To free up valuable space, all the cupboards under the sink should be emptied and sorted, as mentioned above. The aim is to free up space for all the clutter that has collected on the counter-tops and around the sink. If there is mold or mildew growth on your shower, then clean with a mixture of bleach and water in a spray bottle. It will quickly have your grout and caulking looking like new.

2. Window Treatments ans Shower Curtains: Any window treatments or shower curtains can easily be cleaned by washing with a cleaning agent such as Oxi Clean. Any blinds that you have installed can often be washed under a shower with a mild soap. If your shower curtains are looking a bit past their best, then, at around twenty dollars, they are quite cheap to replace. Another cheap option for window curtains are paper blinds. They can be cut to size and if, after a couple of years, they are looking old they can be replaced.

3. Cabinetry. The cabinets are one of the most prominent features in the bathroom, so old, shabby looking units will bring down the whole look of the room. Unfortunately, they can be rather expensive to replace or even get refaced. So, first of all, give them a good clean with a quality detergent. This may bring them up to looking like new. If not, you have the option of painting them which is an easy, cheap job to do. Another good idea is to replace the knobs. Doing this can sometimes completely transform the look of the cabinets.

4. Paint. Painting the bathroom is a quick and easy way to transform the look of your bathroom. You can either put up a fresh coat of paint or go for a completely different color. Most rooms should be able to be painted for under thirty dollars. At the moment, natural, earthy colors are particularly fashionable.

These simple steps can change the appearance of your bathroom quite dramatically and give it a more modern look. It should be possible to do it all for well under one hundred dollars.

Geoff likes to write articles on contemporary bathroom vanities and the best oak bathroom vanities.

Make A Splash In The Bathroom For $500

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

Bathroom redecorating takes on a new meaning with a very affordable $500 budget.

First, buy good cleaning products. Decorating a space must start with cleaning and organizing to achieve maximum positive results. No matter how you accessorize your bathroom but if there’s mildew, stains and clutter everywhere, the concept of bathroom improvement is defeated. Scrub, wash, polish and what-have-you. Make friends with your cleaning products and you’ll be welcoming a sparkling new bathroom.

Once you’ve finished your chemistry lesson in the bathroom, spruce things up with fresh paint. Blue is one of the best shades for a bathroom, since practically everyone loves it and it’s uplifting in such a small space. Plan on spending about $30 for paint.

The shower curtain is perhaps the most overused bathroom item. It gets constantly wet, dries up, then gets wet again. Plus, it doesn’t get changed that often, does it? Set aside $25 for a nice shower curtain.

Here’s the tricky part. Swap out the existing cabinets and wash stands for new bathroom “furniture.” If you have built-in cabinets, this can be a real chore, so you might want to enlist the help of a more experienced and knowledgeable friend or relative if you’re not up to speed on this kind of change. Look for bathroom furniture sets that come with combinations such as a wash-basin base or cabinet, a tall cabinet, a wall shelf, a mirror with shelf and another base cabinet. These sets provide sufficient storage space and are usually made with surfaces that are easy to clean. If it all won’t fit in your bathroom, you can easily sell the leftovers and recoup some of your investment. Cost of a set like this is around $200.

Invest $40 for a new showerhead, especially if your old one has already turned a rusty color and whisks water instead of “showers” it.

Finish the decorating work by accessorizing. You don’t have to crowd the bathroom with unnecessary things like porcelains, photos and souvenir items. Simple yet relevant decors will make an impression without eating up space. Think scented candles, oil burner, flowers and vase, a plant or two, hooks for your towels, waste can or hamper and a complementing area rug with a color or design that fits the bathroom’s new hue.

With the remaining money, you can splurge on fluffy new towels and bathrobes. Set aside extra pieces for your guests.

Our best hint for Home Design, is to use area rugs – and the outdoor rugs will suit any modern furnishings.

Strategy Tips For A Small Bathroom Remodeling

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

Not every bathrooms can become luxurious rooms along with whirlpool bathtubs as well as a couple of individual vanities. For many bathrooms, space is at the premium as well as knocking away partitions isn’t an solution, however upgrading must be finished. Minor bathroom upgrading exposes its own risks, however with the proper knowledge, a small bathroom-remodeling project could shine.

Before initiating your small bathroom improvement, make a floor idea that maximizes the room’s useable area. You shouldn’t be scared to design by integrating free-floating cupboards. Utilize mirrors to stretch a small bathroom’s space, and additionally keep your coloring plan uncomplicated. Maintain a little bathroom bright, clean, as well as appealing with coordinated colors and components.

Pare down the scale within your bathroom. Large stuff eat up more space in the bathroom and appear heavy. Corner sinks tend to be easy and small. Most of these sinks free up visible space below, but you should not give the counter space as well as cupboard space which a common sink offers. One more choice is a pedestal sink. Most of these sinks employ a added common style and therefore are free standing. Wall-mounted sinks conserve space yet don’t acquire counter space. Both types of sinks do not present storage space below. The majority of home-improvement suppliers stock small sinks, or you could custom order a single from a cabinet shop regarding a cost.

An effective approach to save space is to do away with a bathtub and also simply just use a shower. Smaller bathtubs, however, can be obtained, despite the fact that most are not able to take care of whirlpool faucets. Virtually any bathtub below five feet huge spill the water sprayed by the whirlpool faucets.

Choose a toilet that may sit nearly the wall in order to preserve space, and also the dimension of the seat and tank design check just how much space the toilet will use. Also pay attention to the dimensions of the home’s original toilet. Vintage homes have toilets having 10 to 14 inches between the wall along with the toilet drain, yet newer homes usually have 12 inches. The incorrect toilet won’t suit. Acquiring a toilet having a low container takes up less visible space and compact toilets give a lot more room, however much like any small bathroom redesigning project, use these solutions to find a toilet that is certainly both elegant and also matches in the room.

Finally, limit what you get in to the bathroom. Just to save space from a cramped bathroom, for instance, it may be good to have a dressing space in a bedroom. Limit the amount of accessories — clutter can possibly make a small bathroom look smaller.

Planning a small remodeling could take additional preparation, however the resulting neat, beautiful, an uncluttered bathroom would be an appealing space.

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Bathroom Decor Made Elegant

Saturday, February 20th, 2010

When you think of a room in your house that is private you will first think of your bedroom. However, another room where you have private time is the bathroom. This room can be one where you relax away from the family taking a bath and relaxing after a long day at the office. Making an elegant bathroom that you feel comfortable in can be easy.

There are people who really think and take time out and even spend so much to give their bathrooms a sense of their identity. They want to make sure that when somebody else uses the room, a part of their self is expressed through the bathroom decor and accents that they have inside it. Others just want to make their guests at home and as comfortable as they can be when using their bathrooms.

A simple way to change the look of your bathroom is by adding in a bath rug. These will come in all shapes and sizes, but really most bathrooms are a bit smaller so your choices may not be as wide spread as you’d like. Try to make sure that the rug will go with the rest of the decor that is already there but you can bring out a color that most people may not notice.

If you want a rug that will cover the whole floor, than you should measure it very carefully. You need to leave an inch around the rug from each wall. You can easily get this measured and set up right by putting tape on the floor to mark where the rug will need to be placed.

Getting different designs on the rug is a nice way to add some personality to the bathroom. Try something like stripes or checks to add in a nice look that will catch your and others eyes. Just make sure that you have the rug match with other things that are in your bathroom too.

Adding in a rug is a great and inexpensive way to change around the bathroom in your home. Getting a rug that is comfortable and adds to the room in either color or design is easy to do just make sure that it goes with the room, or you may need to spend more money to fix it up better. Be creative when you go and pick out a rug for your bathroom.

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Tips On Choosing a New Bathroom Vanity

Friday, February 19th, 2010

Remodeling the bathroom is one of the most effective and satisfying projects to undertake in the home which everyone will appreciate. A few years ago there was very little choice when it came to replacing the bathroom vanities. Nowadays, however, this is a different story and there are many types, styles and designs to chose from. So many it fact, it can make your decision quite difficult. Before purchasing a bathroom vanity cabinet there are a few points to consider.

The most common type of vanity unit is the cabinet style which provides a lot of storage space. You will find these in most bathrooms that are fitted with vanities. They are usually around thirty three to thirty five inches high although can be made to order. As they are the most popular, they tend to be cheaper then more contemporary designs that are available. If you are looking for storage space then the cabinet style is ideal.

Another model to look at is the furniture style vanities. They are smaller than many other styles and so are particularly useful for small bathrooms They look like a piece of furniture and are freestanding, making then a breeze to install. A furniture vanity is a quick and easy way to update the look of the bathroom with out having to make any structural changes. There are many designs to choose from from those with more storage to those with more design elements.

Another type is the vessel vanity unit. These feature a freestanding unit with a bowl shaped vessel sink atop. Again, these are perfect for the smaller bathroom where there isn’t a great deal of room to spare. Replacing your old vanity with one of these will free up some room and give it a more modern look. These types of vanities are very artistic in their appearances and create a wonderful earthy natural look.

Think about the size of your bathroom when trying to decide which one to buy. If your bathroom is small and you want to increase the space then go for a freestanding unit. Also the style of your bathroom is important. Furniture style units go well in traditional style bathrooms compared to the vessel units which are more suited to the modern look. Cost is an important factor, with the vessel setup being more expensive.

When looking at the cost, also consider that an updated bathroom could increase the value of your house which could make up for the cost of the vanity. When doing your initial research, going online is a great place to start. You can find examples of all the various styles along with costs.

Frank writes lots of articles on discount bathroom vanities and reviews on cheap bathroom vanity units.

Buying Luxury Vessel Sinks For The Bathroom

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

Vessel sinks are a contemporary feature in the bathroom which often gives a Japanese inspired look. The sophistication and elegance of these designs creates an Asian flair which complements different styles of finishes and faucets. There are a number and designs and materials available and can provide a stunning centrepiece for the bathroom.

The hand carved, three dimensional appeal gives an air of sophisticated beauty. The sink bowl appears to be sitting on top of the counter surface. Although they can come in many different materials, the most common is granite, marble, stone and glass.

Vessel sinks are usually about five to six inches in diameter with a height of about fifteen to eighteen inches. They are great for washing in but have a tendency to allow water to splash out compared to normal sinks. This can be reduced by using a deeper bowl. With these types of sinks, it is more of a case of form over function. I think their beauty is a small price to pay for this slight inconvenience.

The top materials for vessel sink manufacture are: Granite, Stone, Marble, and Onyx:

The granite vessel sink is cut from a single piece of granite and polished to a high sheen. They will give the bathroom a stunning contemporary earthy look. They come in many different shades from black and grey to pink and orange. Sat on an oak vanity with polished stainless steel or chrome faucets, they are simply stunning.

Stone vessel sinks are usually hand made and finished, giving a unique appearance to each one. The outside surface has a lot of texture due to the hand finishing process. They come in many colors and rock or pebble styles. They look good with polished stainless or matte finished faucets.

The marble vessel sink is a ore luxurious option for the bathroom. In many colors, the darker shades give a modern appearance whilst the lighter shades provide a more traditional look. An interesting enhancement is the mosaic appearance from marble cubes.

Onyx sinks are the ultimate in sinks, giving the best Japanese inspiration. Not only can you find the traditional bowl shaped sinks but also square and flat, sushi plate like, varieties. To finish the look use chrome or polished stainless steel faucets.

Installing a new sink will take some time and effort and involves quite a bit of plumbing. If you decide to install one of these sinks, I would advise using the services of a plumber. This will avoid costly mistakes both at the time of installation and longer term down the track.

Gavin likes to write articles about bathroom sinks and especially about the best glass bathroom sinks.

The Benefits And Advantages Of Shower Enclosures

Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

If you have found that your shower is growing a lot of mold, or simply is starting to look old, outdated and dingy, now might be the right time to think about replacing your enclosure with something newer. The selection of basic sheet glass shower enclosures is great, along with many other shower enclosures constructed with various materials, and fashioned into various classic shapes.

Deciding on a shower enclosure and installing it is currently being approached in a low-key manner. Recently, modern bathrooms and showers have aesthetically progressed towards a simple, minimalist type of design. The shower in itself is a relatively simple device : a box where water is projected at you, and drains out through the floor.

A shower enclosure stops the entire shower room from becoming covered in water. It also makes sense to have a nice, solid shower head. Once the essentials are there, you simply add storage shelves for the shower materials and bath soaps, as well as some lights, and your perfect modern style shower enclosure is done.

When the floor area around the shower is at the same level as the shower itself – so the entire shower is one it is known as a level access shower. You can even get a shower enclosure that looks different from the bathroom. You might have tiles on the immediate shower, with a varying design for the rest of the bathroom proper.

Lighting can really add a bit more interest to very simple, modern looking shower enclosures. Details of the shower tiles and/or circles of light around the shower head can be artistically created using small halogen lights or other angled lighting.

When you install your enclosure on a level floor, you can more easily access the shower itself as there are no steps to take upwards or downwards, and the attached door is easy to open. This can crucial for elderly people who find that getting in and out of the shower significantly more difficult than more able bodied people. These doors also work well for handicapped people who need help with their shower.

A lot of people have foldable seats in their shower enclosures as well, so people can sit while they take their shower, ideal for the handicapped or elderly. The addition of a foldable seat can also be useful for a person requiring assistance during showering. Your shower enclosure can include the added safety of bars placed along the perimeter, which will allow mobility impaired people extra security.

Current shower enclosures also integrate a shower tray beneath the shower itself to prevent leakage from the basin into the areas below. This shower tray is composed of a durable, hard material and is installed beneath the matting or tile that the shower floor is made from.

Tom likes to write reviews about the health benefits of steam showers and to discover the best designed bathroom steam showers online.