wendysjungle
Trying out the new shower perch, the macaws loved it and the IRN wouldn’t stay on.
Monthly Archives: February 2009
Renovate Bathrooms for a Quick Sale
Cyndi Gerken
One of the most utilized rooms in any home is the main bathroom. It is also one of the rooms that is most susceptible to wear and tear. Due to the amount of steam and water that is used in a bathroom it is a room that has to deal with more moisture than any other in the home. Hence, it can be subject to mold & mildew and can destroy wallpaper. As the fixtures are used repeatedly on a daily basis they can also wear down quickly. Renovating the bathroom before a sale is a great way to generate buyer interest and add value to your home sale.
One truth about real estate is that buyers like to see new stuff. No matter what it is, or where it is in the home buyers like new things. It help to impress on them, the value of the home and property. So let’s have a look at the average bathroom renovation. The first question is “what are you going to replace?” For the sake of this example we will assume that everything is to be replaced with new items. First; take some time to plan the layout of the new bathroom. Decide if things will be going in the same spot or if a different configuration is in order. Once you have the plans ready to go, you can proceed to the nearest bathroom showcase store and start picking out your new fixtures. You will want to try to create a real theme for the room. As one of the smaller rooms in a home it is not a place to be mix and matching. Everything should flow nicely with clean and simple lines.
Perhaps the biggest choice that you will have to make in a bathroom is color. Tubs and toilets are fairly utilitarian devices, unless you choose to go with more designer or heritage themed items. These things can add real value to a room. Jetted and claw foot tubs are both enormously popular and add an air of luxury to a bathroom. Another thing you will have to consider is storage. If you have chosen to go with a pedestal sink and no counters then storage will be a bit more tricky. This can be combated by the use of a medicine cabinet and intelligently laid out shelving. also make sure that you choose a good long-lasting floor surface. tile or linoleum is a good choice as they are also water resistant. Carpet or laminate is not a great idea as they both can be easily damaged by moisture.
I am looking for a one piece bath tub surround to fit a large (73″x36″) jet tub?
Andy F
I have a 73″ x 36″ tub and would like a one piece tub surround. So far talking to Rona, Home Depot, and many more plus bathroom renovators…..the only one that can provide me with a one piece surround is Bath Fitters ($3000!!!!) I was hoping to find a solution for about half that amount (or less). I have installed a product called aqua floor (a bathroom product that installed like lino for tub surround uses) in a previous renovation, but, can’t seem to aquire that product anymore from my local vendors. Does anybody have an alternate solution for me other than tile or is there maybe even a product that you can apply (like paint or something) directly to the wall, that will work like a tub surround?
Shower head leaks when filling tub?
invisiblepedestrianchaser
Recently did a bathroom renovation, installed new plumbing. When we started filling up the tub with the spout on, water trickles out the shower head. Take the spout off, the shower no longer leaks. What is going on?
It is a Delta, if that matters-seems like Delta has a lot of problems with this? I heard it could be a diverter (sp?) or water pressure.
So when you say diverter, the thing that you pull up on the spout to make the shower come on instead of the tub faucet?
I checked and the unit was installed correctly, as in all the rough plumbing.
2009 Bathroom Renovation Trends
Eugene Makeev
Like every turning of the year, 2009 entails a whole new set of trends in fashion, gadgets, cars, and even in home remodeling. When applied beautifully, your home improvement project could set out a fabulous and functional finish that would be the envy of friends, neighbors and relatives. Being among the most essential rooms in your New York home, the bathroom is a great area to spruce up. So what are the bathroom remodeling trends that tell us what’s hot and what’s not in 2009?
Style and designs constantly evolve through time and might even sometimes find their way back into being trendy after some good long years of being out. The goal of your bathroom remodeling project should always be maximized comfort and functionality while achieving the most stylish look following the bathroom renovation trends of 2009.
The key terms to describe the bathroom renovation trends for 2009 are creative, bold and bright. Fabulous motifs for this year include stark contemporary, urban chic, zen to organic; and these could even be innovatively blended to achieve a personalized style. Patterns and colors that create a huge impact are popular this year. This can be implemented through geometrically patterned wallpapers and bold colors. To minimize the boldness and avoid overdoing the designs, these elements can be mixed with rich earthly tones like luscious brown, honey limestone, warm grey, blacks or whites in sleek reflective finishes or surfaces.
The vanity has gained a good deal of focus throughout the recent years and this is still a good focal point for your bathroom renovation project for 2009. For master bathrooms, a his and hers section still proves to be stylish and efficient. Streamlines make an irresistible choice. This design makes vanity countertops, sink, drawers and cabinetry seem floating above the ground through mounting them into the walls. With the spaces from one storage to another to serve as shelves. Scones can be added to the vanity mirrors to make grooming much easier, eliminating unflattering shadows.
Showers and tubs have fast become more than just bathing equipments and have evolved into optimal luxurious experiences. For your bathroom renovation project for 2009, you can choose to have a shower or tub depending on the available space and your personal preference. If space and budget permits, you can also have a separate tub and shower for flexibility. Double showerheads with body jets not only help make full use of space but also make up for a refreshing shower each and every time. Whirpools and Jacuzzis provide ultimate therapeutic massages. For tubs, go for the deep-soaking models with seamless look.
In 2009, bathroom renovation trends tend toward furniture in bright and cool tones with metallic hints and sharply geometric designs. For bath fixtures, bring out the artisan in you through jewel-toned artisan fixtures. Glass is also a superb element to add into your bath remodeling project through glass tiles and posh glass containers for your essentials. Sculpted in minimalist designs, hands-free bathroom faucets are efficient and cool additions. To add to the comfort and elegance, you can also have towel warming drawers and floor heating system.
Bathroom Renovation
Benard Worseley
If you plan to carry out a structural bathroom renovation, it is best to consult with professional bathroom renovators about local building codes along the way. Structural renovations are all about changing your bathroom’s wall by taking out sections of it and adding doorways or windows. It also involves plumbing work and raising ceilings.
When doing a bathroom renovations project, you will most probably add more value to your house since the money you will invest in remodeling your bathroom yields into equal or greater returns when you try to sell your house. It will always be a good idea to keep the receipt for most of the work you have done during the project since these expenses can be deducted from the taxes you will have to pay when your house is sold.
Before you start any project that involves bathroom renovations, it is best if you try to plan extensively. Also, if it is within your budget, better if you hire bathroom renovators Sydney that can efficiently do all the work with minimum supervision.
At St Ives Bathroom Renovations, they aim to give a lifetime experience. The friendly team at St Ives Bathroom Renovations will be there to help you create the bathroom of your dreams, whether it’s to transform a bedroom to a bathroom or simply to renovate an existing bathroom. They also provide fine tapware, vanities, basins, sanitaryware, glass blocks, tiles, spas and all other bathroom accessories. They are a family owned business and pride themselves on their exceptional one on one customer service. Their in house design team can help you design your tailored bathroom to suit your individual needs. They have renovated over 300 bathrooms from Wahroonga to Mosman.
How cheap are homes in New York City eg Bronx or Queens at current prices. ?
sathi anusiah
I am thinking of a 3 bedroom 3 or 2 bathroom home. with little or no renovation required somewhere near a substation or bus stop.
How can I decorate a basement apartment?
AllieKat
Adding to my troubles-we have wood walls in all but the bathroom and kitchen! Since we rent this apartment, and are on a budget, major renovations are out of the question for the most part. Any idea of how to brighten up and decorate/organize such a place? It’s kind of drab and dismal…I would love track lighting but know the landlord would never in a million years pay to have it installed lol. Just looking for some interesting and creative ideas on ways to decorate such a place.
The Budget-conscious 2008 Bathroom
Branden Schroeder
If you are thinking of putting your house on the market, it could make a big difference if you take a few weeks to improve it first. It is easy to make a home look more inviting without breaking your budget.
Real estate agents are advising that in today’s realty market, home owners do not get their money back on big reno jobs. Therefore a small reno job is all that is recommended to make your home more attractive to prospective buyers.
Almost all of us can paint the walls, doors and windows in our home. Not only is it an easy job but it is also a cheap job, and it makes a huge amount of difference in a home. The last two years have seen a big change in home decor; color schemes are almost non-existent.
To modernize your home, paint it all in white, pale beige, cream or silver gray. The favorite color scheme is white all over the house with either silver gray or beige trim. This may sound austere to you, but it does suggest a recent decorating job to the prospective buyer.
A bathroom reno can be a quick fix for your home. Do not be tempted to leave the bathroom ceiling unpainted. It may look pristine now, but once the walls are completed, the white of the ceiling will look shabby. Keep a fan running and do it all in one go.
If you are replacing flooring in the bathroom, then choose the bamboo colored wood floor tiles. Choose the same tone in your bathroom storage baskets, to carry the look through. Another sensible option in a bathroom is cork tiling; cork is mildew resistant.
Keeping the humidity out of the bathroom is an important necessity. If you have an ugly fan in your walls or window, think of changing your lighting to include a small attached fan.
The latest trend is to aim for the ‘spa-feeling’ in a bathroom, and many interior designers recommend dimmer lights in your bathroom to achieve this. Do you have room for a carefully placed table with magazines, candles and a wine glass?
If you decide not to paint white walls, but you wish to choose a beige or gray tone, buy a small pot of the paint and come home and run a tester. Do this by painting a large square on the wall, say two feet by two feet, and leave it to dry. (Drying makes a big difference to the color.)
The type of lighting you have will also make a big difference, so look at your two by two foot painted sample and decide if you really like the shade. Check it in the morning light, in the evening light and in artificial light.
So far your bathroom renovation has cost very little. If you want to splash out a little, then buy new taps. There are some very unusual designs out there which will give your bathroom the luxury touch.
Once you have painted everything white, it is difficult to resist throwing brightly colored towels and matching bath mats all around. However, to keep your bathroom up to date, keep ‘colors’ out and try natural shades for bath rugs and towels. The neutral colors can look very classy, and in a bathroom it also looks especially clean.
If you have a beige or gray floor, then you could add a silver gray shower curtain and towels and go for white bathroom rugs. The days of the burgundy and pink bathroom are out. The new bathroom will not be a bland white-out, it will be a vision of delicate lightness – and right up to the minute!
To complete the mood, light some scented candles and have some ethereal sounding music playing softly in your new spa.
Renovate Your Bathroom in a Green Way
pvyas
Green..green..&..green. The word has really become quite important today in the perspective of increasing danger of global warming. We need to protect our resources and ensure that a minimum is wasted, and better if the wasted ones are recycled as well. So the entire focus is on saving the natural resources, be it the construction of your bedroom or renovation of the bathroom. Government and some private organizations like green building association are working towards it and helping residential communities, Realtors, and individuals.
Bathroom is the place of solitude where one want to feel relaxed in a healthy and hygienic environment. The bathroom remodeling may be the initial step of your home renovation. In such blue economy situation, saving money is the top priority while considering bathroom renovation. There is no greater way of adding value to your bathroom than a greener way. The most prominent benefit of green bathroom remodeling is saving of water and energy resources.
Renovation with Recycled Materials
A number of bathroom hardware made of recycled materials are becoming popular like tiles, vanities and flooring. The use of recycled fixtures like refinished counter-tops and sinks encourages green bathroom remodeling and save your valuable money as well as conserve natural resources. The old fashioned claw foot tubs are regaining its popularity and might be a good choice for you.
Reduce the Water Consumption
Minimizing the water consumption must be your top priority while planning for your bathroom renovation in an environment friendly way. It should be considered that how much water is used in your bathroom, during flushing the toilet or during shower. You can reduce your water consumption by almost 20% by switching from old traditional toilet to smaller dual-flush toilet.
Old water guzzling shower heads are the prime culprits of wasting water. Replacing them saves in water bills. Dual- flush toilets help saving the amount of green washed into the toilet. It has two flush modes, one is for number one that flushes less water compared to the number two mode. That will definitely cut down your energy bills.
Remodel with Durability
It has been found that most of the bathroom renovation does last only a few years, and most of the waste that reaches landfill sites come from home remodeling including bathroom remodeling. This kind of bathroom remodeling creates a bad impact on environment as well as on your pocket. You make ensure that your green bathroom remodeling is durable and last longer.