Category: Bathroom

Here’s how.

Don’t fear you on the right page to solve that Dreaded Dilemma. If you’ve given up on fixing your old bathroom repeatedly and having to call out an emergency plumber, then it’s time for a new bathroom altogether. Bathroom layouts are not easy and small ones are supposedly “difficult”. But, if you think about it, the smaller the easier. I am not asking you to re-decorate Buckingham Palace. If you are in the process of re-doing your bathroom and have a fabulous idea board going, add some of these tips to the pot. Once you’ve got all your ideas together, contact a plumber cranford nj, tiler, painter and bathroom expert to make sure these ideas would work in your household.

However you intend to renovate your bathroom, getting the usual aspects like the repairs will make this process a whole lot easier to manage. Plus it will be one less thing to think about when you can just focus on decorating. Whether you opt to use the services of a slab leak repair company or a professional who can help install a new shower, this should all be done before any sort of improvement to the aesthetic is done.

These simple tips will get your creative juices going, as well as keep you focussed on getting that small bathroom to look grand, grander and grandest.

1. Throw the bath out, not the water.

Very often old apartments or houses will have the remains of a horrible little bath in a small bathroom. I am a natural born showerer, not a bather, so my advice is to ditch the bath for a more contemporary style in the bathroom of having only a shower. Just bring in a plumbing company to do this for you, and this will free up a huge amount of space – so that you can swing the cat.

If you simply have to have it – then check out the next point, I make. (There may be little people in your home who deserve to be bathed – every now and again.)

2. Keep the bath but trash the shower curtain.

A shower curtain will visually close 1/3 of your bathroom, so unless you are tied to its strings, replace it with a frameless glass panel which will allow streams more light into the space. They are easy to install and are simply made for small bathrooms. They also won’t cost you a great deal to install.

Avoid the sliding ones that are available; rather have one or go for the folded hinged panels. This example is a perfect way of solving the problem – small bath with a shower enclosed with a hinged glass panel in lots of lovely light.

3. Find unique mirrors and collectivise them.

Mirrors will not cost you too much to install into your small bathroom. They add tremendously to the overall plan and I would suggest that you go out in search of unique ones that can form a focal point in the small spaced. They are particularly effective above the vanity and along one side of the room.

I love these boxed in ones which double up as little storage containers. A little bunch of flowers, or some nice soaps displayed will add to the charm of the space.

4. A wall toilet will give the illusion of a bigger space

Having one of these in your small bathroom is dependent on available space behind the wall for the built-in tank. Please, please make sure that you position the toilet at the right height. My pet hate is sitting on the throne and dangling my legs. You have to sit on a toilet, not perch and very often men are the ones installing these and 90% of the time, they cannot get it right. (Don’t allow them to hang mirrors either!)

Shelving above the toilet is a grand way of adding storage and again, if you can, extend your vanity shelf to go all the way across to create a narrow ledge.

5. Reframe your outlook in the shower.

If you can only afford to go slowly, slowly in your re-decorating of your small bathroom, do this first and foremost. How people showered, in the olden-days, in those dark dingy dungeons of an excuse for a shower, I ask myself? Yes, you have to do this.

Trash and whistle for the plumber immediately. Prize no. 1 would be to have no walls, but if you can’t afford to bash, then at least update.

Moved in to your new apartment and confronted with a bubble-gum-pink guest bathroom? Fear not, especially when you can simply get in touch with the contractor and find out more about what the best addition for your bathroom would be. In this instance, of course, you can’t go wrong whatever you do, but generally, you need some inspirational tips and ideas to get cracking and do a makeover to your small guest bathroom that will not necessary cost the budget of a small developing country.

Unless you are living in a palace where there is a Marie Antoinette Suite, most guest bathrooms are multifunctional as the majority of the time they are just another bathroom in the house. Then when you have a guest, if you are anything like me, it gets transformed into a tidier more pleasurable place to be. That is, as long as you haven’t completely neglected all functionality of your guest bathroom’s plumbing systems. If so, you may have a bigger issue on your hands and you may want to get in contact with a berwick plumber before it’s too late.

So, with all their uses they can be easily cluttered and neglected in the décor department. These are some ideas for you to jazz up that room and decorate so that it is both functional and stylish. Some ideas are for remodelling and some are purely for accessorising beautifully.

5 tips to get your guest bathroom on the road to recovery

# 1. Add glamour

You want to feel comfortable and pampered in a bathroom. When guests arrive and are confronted with a 5-star hotel suite of a bathroom they are going to be most impressed. (perhaps they will even pay for their night’s accommodation) Glamour can come in many forms, but one of the main ones is good serene (and don’t forget flattering) lighting. Even little touches like having a heated towel rack instead of just hooks can add to the glamour. If you’re looking to buy a heated towel rack, check out this post on EasyHomeConcepts.com to find the best option fr your small guest bathroom. The small bits of glamour can pull the room together and really spoil your guests! Think lovely mirrors, flowers, pleasant colours and a touch of glitz. You could even invest in some premium frameless shower screens to give your bathroom a luxurious feel.

# 2. Choose a colour scheme that is clean and shiny bright

A few coats of paint on your dated vanity will do the trick in most instances. You more often than not will need to install a new countertop to an old bathroom as these are the first things to start looking drab and grubby. New lighting is a must and if you can afford it, get new taps and basins. Add some colour coordinated prints on the walls and you are away.

# 3. Turn it into a room rather than a mere wash place

To really enliven a bathroom, you should have some nice art work. For a visually stimulating feel in a small space such as a guest bathroom, group three or five pieces on a wall- this can make a big impact and replace that tatty old bath mat with some pattern on the floor. The in thing is cotton printed rugs that add to the unexpected and stylish look in this small space.

# 4. Layer and accessorize as any other room in your home

Add touches that will make your guests feel welcome while bringing beauty to the room like super vanity accessories, lotion and soap pumps, soap dishes, a stylish waste basket. I love wooden and basket accessories and there are some really unique ones on the market these days.

# 5. Give your guests space

Guests bathrooms are usually smaller and more confined than other ones in the house and as I have said, they get cluttered. So you really have to be strict here – remove all unnecessary items and make sure there is proper floor space and space for your guests to hang clothes, put their toiletries somewhere, do their make-up and generally freshen up.

Thanks for reading!

-Jess

Thinking about repainting your small bathroom this Spring? It is all about enrichment – and a Pop of Color can do the trick. If you page through tile catalogues you will see that the neutrals and naturals are in vogue. You could even talk to a Bathroom Remodeling Service if you’re stuck! Well, that is a relief. I remember my parents’ home where avocado green was the order of the day. Please no. Perhaps a splash of the color on the walls would be acceptable, but certainly not for the bath, the basin and the toilet.

Too much of one thing is not on and certainly not IN! The only thing that should be in abundance is cleanliness and along with this style. Yes, you can. Small bathrooms, can have style. Adding colour will add some pizzazz. Here are some great ideas to get you started.

1.Clever and Creative use of Paint – and then build on from your selection

This is the easiest way to start my friends. Go off and seek the colors that you love. Hone it down to a few colors only. You have to control yourself here. Love the lime green, but darn the yellows are fab. But hang on, wouldn’t porcelain blue be great. I can hear you muttering this.

The easiest is to go white/neutral and be done with it. But you know, as well as I a dash of color adds a great deal of personality to a room.

Paint is relatively inexpensive so start here. All things follow from this.
This idea of having wainscoting in blue contrasts beautifully with the rest of the white bathroom. It is relaxing and adds a sense of depth to the room.

2.Establish what you want on the walls and where.

Make of list of what you have, what can go and what needs to be updated. Then decide on the finishings.

For example, if you know you want a large black medicine cabinet, shop around and find the perfect one for your bathroom. If you need more information, websites like uniquevanities.com may be able to help you out.

Generally speaking, during this stage of a bathroom remodel, it is also beneficial to contact a plumber to work out any necessary changes to your plumbing and heating that can be made to accommodate your plans. For example, a plumber can help to locate the best possible location for your boiler. Accordingly, you can learn more about the different services that a plumbing and HVAC specialist can provide here: www.paultheplumbernh.com/manchester/heating/boiler-services/.

3.Tiles in all shapes, sizes and colours.

I am personally not in favour of tiling the entire bathroom. In some instances, it works, but in most I feel that it can be a bit stark. Your decision.

Rather use colored tiles to focus on sections of the bathroom if you can.

This cleverly tiled bathroom gives the impression that the window is larger than it actually is through the use of a different color. Note the lovely color accents in the pink towel along with the natural greenery. It is peaceful, but yes still has a punch to it.

Select the mauve and pinks or the lime green shades. Note some areas are not tiled and by incorporating three types of tiles your eye is drawn upwards to make the bathroom look more spacious. Colored mosaics along with a textured similar coloured tile adds interest and depth. The white floor tiles also add to enlarging the small bathroom.

4.Wallpaper is scrumptiously luxurious

The problem is choosing it. So many beautiful designs lead to indecision; very often this leads to ignoring it. Trust me I know. My rule of thumb – look through the range and select the one you keep going back to. Just like the paint color, you then work around that design.

Photo: Veneer Designs

This beautiful wallpaper is accentuated with gold trimmings on the mirror and lights and gives a very glamorous look. Simply some paper on the wall and a touch of bling. Not difficult to achieve.

5.Use color splashes in other areas

Towels and bathmats are the best kept non-secret when it comes to adding Pops of Color. This grey and white bathroom has been glammed up with purple accessories. Heck, when you are tired of purple, change the towels.

Overall, it’s not only the colours you decide to paint on your walls, or which tiles or wallpaper you choose to add, it’s also ensuring that the utilities in your bathroom all actually work properly and it’s not just about the aesthetics. So, before you start anything, make sure your shower works correctly, the tap runs hot/cold water as it should, and ensure your drains aren’t clogged and are all cleared out! If you encounter any of these issues beforehand, then it’s best to visit a local plumber to get these fixed as soon as possible. This way, you can get onto styling your bathroom as you wish. As for this, there is lots more to come!

Jess

Decorative details make a bathroom more personal. And more comfortable. By adding small touches, you can turn your bathroom into a place of beauty and where you can wallow away happily in your own space.

1. Have a seat

By adding some furnishings to your bathroom you immediately create a sense of luxury. No reason why you can’t introduce a plush chair upholstered in some beautiful linen. It also adds a practical dimension to the space – after all isn’t it nice to be able to fling your silk dressing gown onto something luxurious. Additionally, some people struggle with getting changed due to poor mobility so this could really help. On top of that, it might be worth looking at the AHM Installations website if you feel that you would benefit from a walk in style bath or shower. A stylish chair and perhaps a small side table will give your bathroom a brand new look. You can find something at a contemporary furniture shop or you could, of course, re-upholster an old chair that has been sitting around with nothing to do. Search antique shops for something special – they very often have smaller furniture than the more contemporary shops and a lick of paint and a bit of gilding will transform an old chair perfectly for the bathroom.

2. Mark the space with a bench

Add some comfort and luxury to your bathroom with a lovely rug and an upholstered bench. Think big here – the fabric could either be matchy-matchy with your towels or tiles, but it could look sensational if you went a little off-beat and chose something bright like a lime green or chartreuse. A good upholsterer can advise you on how to really bring it to the fore; perhaps some deep buttoning or some tassels. A bench or a chair makes the perfect spot to drape your clothes on, or simply to sit and titivate.

3. On the big screen

In small spaces, you should really go or frameless showers. It will keep the look open and make the space feel so much larger. It is also a good idea to have the tiles on the floor – and please make them special – it is after all only a small space in which you are working, to run the whole way through into your frameless shower. This will draw the eye to the end of the space and make it look larger than it actually is.

4.Walls and all

Again to create a sense of space and add interest to your shower, consider tiling the floor and the walls with the same tiles. Mosaics are very in these days and they come in some really striking colours and shapes. Add into the mix a fabulous hand painted tile – perhaps in a recess or where you want your toiletries to sit. This will draw the eye to something special in the space and give it an individual personality. Tile shops as I am sure you are aware, can be quite daunting with their array of choices.

5. Don’t sweat the wet

If your bathroom can allow for it – it is a fabulous idea to have what is the rage at the moment – a wet room. This is where you can enclose your shower and bath by glass panels. This makes for quite a cosy effect and allows the vanity and dressing area to keep dry. Best of all would be if you can incorporate a skylight above the enclosed area. That will be the pièce de résistance! Skylights in bathrooms give an amazing feel to the space and of course, let in some natural lighting and you will feel very relaxed and special in your personal bathroom boutique.

6. Add some shelf life to the space

This is both practical and personal. I recently helped with a renovation of a bathroom and although it was small we were able to add an old shelving system to the back wall. The shelving was painted white and the back wall was duck-egg blue (one of my favs at the moment). Carefully curating ornaments on the shelve added a furnished feel to the space and it worked really well. You should also carefully consider where you place your bathroom’s vanity unit. If you want to make your bathroom look bigger, the placement of a vanity unit can be the deciding factor of how big your bathroom looks. For examples of the different vanity units that available, be sure to visit bathroomsandmorestore.co.uk to see what they offer!

Always be on the lookout when browsing through second hand or antique shops. You will be amazed at what a lick of paint can do and how simply it can add a decorated feel to your room. You are not – I hope – going to be spending a fortune – so it doesn’t quite work trash it or give it away!

7. Turn your bathroom into a gallery

Think framed mirrors, pictures and plates. If you keep the walls neutral, a fabulously gilded framed mirror will look sensational as will your pictures framed in a similar style. Again, look through those shops and your scrounging will pay off. I also like black and white themes in a bathroom. White walls with black or charcoal grey framed mirrors and pictures make for a very stylish feel to the space. Old plates can look fab too and they are not going to break your piggy bank.

8. Room with a view – if you have it flaunt it

If you are in a fortunate position to have your shower or bath with a view, then you should seriously consider shutters in the space. They can be cleverly manoeuvred to close the bottom section to screen you off and give you privacy, and to have the upper section open to the view. This is especially important when choosing a window for your bathroom that is particularly open, like bay windows; if you can see out, people can most likely see in! You can find good info on the cost for bay windows shutters at The Great British Shutter Company for your chance to preserve your privacy. The shutters can be opened to let in the natural light when you are not using the shower to prevent rust. This will add a new dimension to the small space and really make it feel larger. It might also be worth checking out Money Expert (https://www.moneyexpert.com/gas-electricity/) for a fantastic home energy quote so you can put more money into improving your bathroom and home.

If we are going to rank “attention to detail in the home”, bathrooms fall just behind kitchens.

So folks, get your bathrooms up to scratch. No point in having a fab newly decorated home and ignore the bathroom. This space is not only for getting clean and spruced up, it is supposed to be a place where there is a bit of a “Wow” factor. Remember, the layout and the finishes in the bathroom are not dictated by size.

Having no real limitations on design then, there is no excuse for a tatty and drab bathroom.

Tip No. 1. Standard size measurements – understand how they can work for you.

The common layout in a compact bathroom is all based around one plumbed wall where the fixtures are operating off one source of water supply and outlet drain. This is purely an efficient way of operating in a bathroom, as it saves on all the plumbing required as well as the distribution of the heated water supply.
So before you rush off and start planning all sorts of fixtures across all walls, first work out your plumbing layout and then work within the following guidelines for bathroom fittings. If you need any further guidance or information regarding your plumbing, it might be a good idea to have a look at a somewhere like https://www.emergencyedinburghplumber.co.uk for more information.

Bath:

Standard = 152 cm long x 76 to 81 cm wide. The depth can vary between 35 to 50 cm.
If your bath is mainly for showering, a shallower one might be best. But if you intend to use it primarily as a bath then you might invest in a deeper one.

Toilets:

Minimum is 76 cm wide, but best your work with a space of between 81-91 cm. you need about 61 cm of space in the front of where your toilet is placed. In older homes or apartments this may not be the case, but if you are renovating then you will need to keep this in mind as there are regulations on this.

Shower:

If you are choosing to have your bath as your shower as well you will need to consider how high the glass enclosure should be. If there is a steam-function, then the glass must reach the ceiling and be completely enclosed. Otherwise, the top should reach about 193 cm above the floor.

If you have enough space for a separate shower – the bigger the better. If it cannot swing a wet cat in it, do not fit it in. Glass showers are all the rage at the moment, as they make a bathroom seem bigger than it actually is and fit in with almost any room style! You can have the floor flush with the floor of the bathroom which gives a nice barrier-free design or you can go for a curb to define the parameters of the shower. A curb is normally about 8-10 cm high and 10-15 cm wide. Consider looking at walk in showers as well. This will give you further ideas on how to save space in your bathroom, whilst keeping it fashionable, trendy and useful.

Single basin or sink:

Minimum is 76 cm. A comfortable size is between 91-107 cm.

Double basins or sinks:

If you really need them then you can work within 152 cm minimum, but 183 cm is a better, more comfortable dimension.

Counter height:

These vary from 81 to 91 cm.

Medicine cabinet:

The depth of these need to be about 10-13 cm and between 9-11 cm for the interior shelving. Most prebuilt ones are about 46 cm wide and 76 cm high.

Towel rail:

These are normally about 91 to 107 cm above the level of the floor. If you are wanting to use larger bath towels, then it is best to set them at between 122 to 127 cm high.

Ceiling:

Most ceilings in smaller bathrooms, on average, are about 244 cm high.

Mirror/top of the tiles and window alignment:

It is a good idea to get your lines in a row. So it is a good idea to have the top of the mirror and the top of the tiling in the shower area all in line with the top of your window. This works by getting your eye to look upwards encompass all heighten aspects. It gives a cleaner look.

Tip No. 2. Draw out your shape and fit your fittings accordingly.

Just as I have done here – fairly simple arithmetic and a simple layout will give you a picture of what you can fit into your space. And by disciplining yourself to do this you can then have a better understanding of how to brief your architect or builder, (or partner in R&R renovation and renewal!).

Tip No. 3. Once you have worked out your dimensions and know what you are dealing with do some homework and upgrade your finishes.

You are saving on swings and roundabouts here. Less material needed, may allow you to upgrade your finishes. That means you can have really fab floor tiles, or the latest modern taps and showerhead. These do make a big difference, so it is really well worth the investment. The lighting fixtures placed on both sides of the mirror will give a sense of glamour to your daily grooming (and after all don’t we all need a bit of that dears?) and the natural wooden shelving gives a nice clean solution for storage. You could spend this money you’ve saved on something like windows if they need replacing. James Hardie Denver has a selection of windows worth a look. Windows are very important as you want your bathroom to be light and bright and ventilation is vital due to the warm and wet nature of a bathroom.