Designing A Bathroom For Children

Think of how much fun you and your children will have designing a bathroom especially for them or even adding an addition onto the existing bathroom and making it their own special room. Even large homes have small bathrooms with insufficient space so if you can annex an adjoining hall closet or bedroom this can solve some of the space issues. If you enlarge the room what better way to utilize the additional space by providing your child with his or hers own bathing or wash area. By allotting a designated area to young children could alleviate some of the morning traffic when everyone is trying to get ready at the same time.

In order not to incur a greater expense, if possible try to break down a wall that attaches to the plumbing wall. This means you don’t have to worry about installing new plumbing since it is less expensive to install new bathroom fixtures where the existing pipes run. Now that you have added extra square footage, it’s time to organize the bathroom. You may not be able to install a separate bathtub or shower, but you can install a new sink, some added storage cabinets for their bath toys. Partitioning off the bathroom so it gives them the feeling it is uniquely their own place, can be done by installing retractable sliding doors that are quite safe or build a divider wall.

Be practical when choosing a bathroom theme

Now if you have the luxury of an extra bathroom that can be designated strictly to the children, then the design options are endless. So where to start? This should be a joint decision between parents and children. It is recommended to go with a theme that is inspirational to your child or children. First select the color, pastel pinks and blues may not always work if it is a unisex bathroom. Bold colors tend to work well with an all white bathroom suite. White ceramic tiles with some rows of solid colored tile will help in creating a consistent look from the shower to the sink area without distorting the theme. Try to stay away from decorative tiling with animated images, remember children do grow up and their taste in bathroom décor will change. Be practical in your decision making, you may want to sell the house one day. Having to replace a complete shower wall covered with Mickey or Minnie Mouse could be very expensive.

Designing a child’s bathroom can be done on a budget. Providing you don’t go out on a limb and decide to turn the bathroom into one big theme from taps to sinks because they will get tired of this look. It’s easier to paint over a wall than to replace tiles and more practical to stick with white neutral bathroom furniture. Also consider adding shelves into the wall of the shower or bathtub these spaces can hold soaps and bathing toys for children.

By Shelley Murphy

Design Bathrooms on A Budget

Creating a stunning bathroom complete with all the luxuries from whirlpool baths, a double basin vanity to radiator towel warmers, finished off with glam bathroom fixtures and accessories for the ultimate dream bathroom is every homeowner’s desire. When starting to explore your options for creating your prestigious space you should start with a wish list of desired needs. The two points of interest at the top of your list will be budget and space, and then sub-dividing the list into two categories, “what can I live with” and “what needs to be replaced.”

Most often we tend to visualize everything brand new and over look the fact that by simply replacing small fixtures such as a new basin mixer tap can bring new life to an existing pedestal sink. When you look at the big picture, you not only save money especially if you are a do-it-yourself person, but you also save on having to purchase a new sink freeing up funds for other necessities such as a new bathroom mirror or new bathroom accessories.

If you are looking to give your shower a modern contemporary look, durable solid glass constructed doors is not only an affordable way to update the look of your bathroom, but allows you to do away with traditional plastic shower curtains and gives the bathroom a sense of spaciousness. Shower/Bath glass enclosures is also a fashionable way of dressing up your bathroom, they are easy to install and much easier to clean than cloth or plastic curtains. Finding solutions to meet both your needs and spending allowance for your bathroom remodeling projects, doesn’t mean compromising quality. Purchasing one good quality item, such as a whirlpool spa bath may mean looking at the “what you can live with” check list in finding items in your bathroom that can be refinished.

Refinish Bathroom Furniture and Save Money

New bathroom furniture does not necessarily mean the physical purchase of a new bathroom cabinet or wall mounted vanity, try refurbishing the cabinet or vanity instead. With a number of commercial products that can easily strip away old paint and wood finishes makes for an easy-to-do weekend bathroom project, with a little sanding and a fresh new coat of paint, varnish or wood lacquer, you will be surprised with the new look of your bathroom cabinet or bathroom vanity. Also determine who will be using the space, will it be a family bathroom or a tranquil place to relax and unwind. Setting clear goals will aid in deciding the bathroom design you are trying to achieve. If there are water works happening in your bathroom meaning children who splash around during bath time, then you most definitely want to think about using durable materials such as acrylics and ceramics. Baths that are filled with Stone Cast Resin with twinned skinned acrylic are far more durable than cast iron or steel where acrylic is less prone to cracks and scratches and pottery only bathroom suites are less susceptible to damage and stains compared to wood finished bathroom suites.

When it comes to space often rearranging the layout of your bathroom to either create the illusion of space or open the space for more functionality to accommodate the family is a workable solution. Today’s baths are available in a number of sizes and shapes, corner baths are an excellent choice for space conservation since they fit tightly into any corner of the bathroom creating a unique focal point and again are ideal for the price consciences consumer.

Turning a dull bathroom into an enchanting delight comes from inspiring ideas which can easily be seen on the internet or by taking a trip to a bathroom shop. Get advice from the experts and do some price comparison. If you are out and about shopping around for bathroom products remember to bring the necessary items to avoid several trips, paint swatches, tile samples, measurements including a floor plan, existing hardware if you plan to replace bath/shower or basin taps for exactness rather than guessing, and pictures of your existing bathroom, this will help with your selection and give you a visual sense of how the bathroom will look. Finally, while trying to get the maximum utility out of your bathroom, always balance out your needs with your bottom financial line and not to stray from your budget.

By Shelley Murphy

European Bathroom Design - Why Is it Becoming A Popular Choice

So, you got your eyes on those European bathroom designs and applications you see on the glossy papers of the magazines and papers? Thinking you cannot afford it? Now, it is not impossible at all. All you need to have is the right combinations of fine bathroom package and essentials. You can easily live in a house with a European influence by having your bathroom affixed with the right pieces of European-inspired furniture, equipments, devices, and storage cabinets.

To help you in conceptualizing European bathroom design, here are the following must-haves:

First, and the most popular choice, is having a frameless shower doors. This is typical in a European home. Frameless bathroom doors have in fact originated in Europe. These are great choice not only for aesthetical reasons but for safety as well. They emanate a grand, elegant effect because they make your bathroom look and feel so different.

Apart from that, a frameless bathroom shower door is easy to maintain. So, having one is also a way to keep your European bathroom spotless. It is usually constructed out of materials that have passed rigid safety tests. And this is the reason why frameless bathroom doors are sold widely in the US.

You can get a frameless bathroom shower door that come as package together with the new tub or shower unit. If you don’t want as complete package, you can have one that can be fitted over your standard tub.

When purchasing as a separate unit, it is important to consider mainly the sizing that matches your existing tub or shower unit. You don’t want the hassles of tripping back to the store where you purchased the wrong one to replace it, so make sure you have checked this issue.

Next must-have is a shower that has its nozzle stuck onto the wall. Floor drain is another vital European thing that must come with this shower concept.

Curtains are essential. While there are many kinds of curtains available, choose the right one. Curtains can actually pass as optional, but having those lovely designed curtains will surely push your new bathroom like it is into uniquely elegant place.

Half-tub and bidet are other must-haves. Half tub allows you to sit and not lie down. The bidet on the other hand is the kind that lets you clean some parts of your body that are not often tanned.

Having these essentials will make it easy to conceptualize your new European bathroom design. And since this is most likely new venture for you, always consult a professional.

By Anthony Lee

Handicap Shower Safety - 10 Money Saving Keys to Fall Proof Your Shower Area

Is your bathroom full of potential life threatening hazards? Consider the hard surfaces (toilet, bathtub, counter, towel racks) that can deliver swift blows on the way down from a fall. Or, the loose throw rugs that make that room so cozy…and so deadly when feet get tangled in them. Falls account for nearly 6,000 deaths each year and 5.1 million injuries. It takes a split second, a misjudged step, a few drops of water on the floor, or many other combination’s to set in motion this potentially life altering event.

Showers and the elderly or disabled can mean squeaky clean or surely injured if care is not taken to ensure safety. One fall can cause a downward spiral for quality of life and independence. To avoid becoming one of nearly 5.1 million who are injured in falls, take action on the following 10 safety tips. Everyone will benefit.

Safety Tip One

Water tends to stick around for a while even in dangerous places. You MUST have a bath mat outside your shower. Safety grid or rubber brush mats provide secure traction on wet surfaces, are stiffer than the pretty throw rug and safer with walker use.

Safety Tip Two

Glass can be just as deadly as water. Many bathtubs have sliding glass doors. Remove these (and the frame which can catch fragile toes) and replace them with a shower curtain rod and shower curtain. There are several reasons for this, most importantly, the danger of cuts, bleeding and potential death from falling into that glass.

Safety Tip Three

When balance and strength are an issue, a tub transfer bench eliminates stepping in and out and allows easy access from the seated position at all times. This will not work with glass doors or in a shower-only stall. Tub transfer benches are NOT shower or tub chairs, which fit entirely inside the tub or shower.

Safety Tip Four

Today’s economy is pressing money saving measures from every angle. Medical equipment does not have to be the exception. Your most basic shower bench or bathtub chair will be the cheapest. Prices climb, though, when you add a back, arm holds and other accessories. (Remember Medicare considers the entire set up a luxury — exception being a 3-in-one bedside commode.) Skip the entire cost by using a plastic patio chair! You likely have one, with a back and arms too!

Safety Tip Five

No matter what type of bench or chair you use, ALWAYS use a no-slip mat as well. This mat MUST contain each leg of your chair or bench (inside the tub) especially if you are using a plastic patio chair. Sitting height is not adjustable on a patio chair tending towards more pressure against the slippery floor to try and stand. Use caution and grab bars.

Safety Tip Six

Diagonal Grab Bar placement should be avoided. Rule of thumb follows that for pulling up from a seated position place the bar horizontally. For stepping in and out assistance place the bar vertically. Diagonal placements can allow frail hands to slip downward on the very aid that was designed to help. Smart placement is the key.

Safety Tip Seven

Built-in shower seats look good in a picture but can become a water slide in reality. Simply place a folded towel on this surface to provide more traction. Yes, the towel gets wet and yes, it pads a frail bottom and yes, your loved ones will thank you for that.

Safety Tip Eight

Suction Cup grab bars are great! BUT… if you need moderate assistance to get in and out of the tub, stick with an installed grab bar. Suction cup bars are not fail proof and can pull the tile off a wall given the proper load. However, no tools are necessary to set up, they are completely portable and boast flexible position changing as needed.

Safety Tip Nine

Do not trust your safety to the shower curtain rod, the towel rack or the washcloth rack in the shower. These were designed to hold a wet towel at the most… and every one needing grab bar assistance weighs more than a wet towel. Keep in mind, though, that when building or modifying for safety, installed grab bars make nice towel racks and can then double in purpose.

Safety Tip Ten

Consider the health giving effects of a shower, even sitting on a bench. Water of various temperatures on the body can be calming, soothing and healing far more than we realize. Your safety is number one. Protect your health as well. Be persistent in gaining the strength, balance and mobility needed to enjoy this health giving aspect of life.

More than 70% of all falls in a home happen in the bathroom making it one of the most feared rooms of the house. However, the necessity of the bathroom remains. Move forward with caution and confidence with these 10 Safety tips.

By Marcia Oliver

Simple Bathroom Decorating Ideas

There are a number of simple bathroom decorating ideas that don’t require a line of credit but still add something fresh and beautiful to the home. These easy, do-it-yourself bathroom changes can turn a boring bath into a work of decorative yet functional art.

The most important of all simple bathroom decorating ideas is just that - keep it simple. The bathroom and its fixtures are necessary in every home, and the best way to keep them looking nice is to keep the decor simple. This is especially important because most bathrooms are on the small side. An over-done small room is not pleasing to the eye. It feels chaotic instead of calming - not the place for a relaxing soak in the tub.

Here are a few bathroom decorating ideas that reflect simplicity while adding color, organization and flair to any size room.

The Bathroom Mirror
 
Most bathroom mirrors are just a rectangle stuck to the wall - no frills at all - with plastic clips and screws. To add a finishing touch, build a decorative frame around the mirror using wooden strips of molding that can be purchased in a variety of styles, sizes and designs at any home store. Then simply paint or stain the wood in a color that is complementary to your bathroom décor and attach it to the mirror edges. It gives the room a finished feel and looks like you spent hundreds on a fancy, framed mirror.

Turn Towels Into Decorations
 
Get creative with towel storage by putting pegs on the wall to hang the towels instead of folding them. This is great for a bathroom with minimal storage as well as for houses with teens and kids (and adults too) who don’t want to fold their towels and put them away. All they have to do is hang the towel back on the peg, and the bathroom looks neat and picked up. Towels come in fabulous colors and this can be a great way to inject a burst of fresh color into a more neutral room.

Use Bins and Baskets for Storage Decor

There is no reason why bathroom storage cannot enhance the room’s décor. Get some baskets, bins and boxes that are colorful and spice up the atmosphere of the room. This can be as simple as taking some spray paint to any storage baskets and bins already on hand. A big basket is a great way to display those extra towels and transform them into a decorating tool. Storage boxes and bins can bring in a touch of color, and they also help keep things looking ship-shape and organized.

Which brings us to the easiest way to enhance any room in the house - keep it clean. A big mess never looks appealing, so be sure to tidy up the bathroom on a regular basis. A clean room always looks well decorated.

By Peter J Lee

Small Bathroom Design Ideas Involve Some Careful Consideration

Small bathroom design ideas are many but they all have to keep in mind the requirement of space. You cannot simply use every kind of design or color in a small bathroom design idea. There has to be simplicity in the design and color if you do not want your bathroom to look gross.

But even if a bathroom is small, it can be made to look elegant with the help of some easy ideas. Here are a few small bathroom design ideas to help you in this matter.

Visual accents have become a very popular means to accentuate the show of your bathroom. While bright wallpapers in general circumstances would add shine to your other rooms, in case of small bathrooms they become a little risky. A lot of designs or busy patterns tend to cover up the wall and makes the area look smaller.

Subtle wallpapers should be chosen. It is even better if you do not put any pattern on a wall. Take the largest wall of the bathroom and do not put any designs there. This will make your bathroom look much larger in size.

Just like the walls, floor coloring is important too. It is advised that you go for floor colors that are light or neutral. This makes the small bathroom look roomier.

Light blues, light shades of gray and tans are the best choices for this kind of bathroom. Light colored walls and floors give a new dimension to your bathroom. They make it appear more sophisticated and airy.

Lighting is a very important aspect of small bathroom design ideas. Light has the wonderful capability of making a space look bigger. So if you have a small bathroom, then it would be a good idea to light it up with additional lights.

If you don’t have space for additional lights, then you can use bulbs that have a high wattage. This makes the bathroom appear brighter and very inviting. This in turn gives the feel that the walls surrounding the bathroom have drifted further apart.

By Dudi Permana

How to Install and Care For Your Shower Wall Traverine Tiles

Travertine tiles add a decorative feel to the bathroom. Bathroom installations are incomplete without this creative addition. This incredibly beautiful stone has a high maintenance issue. People love and hate this stone simultaneously. However, this issue doesn’t alter their decision to install the durable stone in their shower area.

The maintenance of travertine tile isn’t an issue, if you maintain them regularly. Their longevity is determined by the way you maintain them. Hence, a dedicated effort improves the endurance of travertine. So, how about replacing your old shower tiles with travertine? Just give it a try and I can assure you that you’ll be proud of your tiling decision.

You can remove the old tiles from the shower area very easily. Firstly, scrap off the grout with help of a chisel knife and hammer. Now, remove each tile at a time by hammering the tile with a chisel. Remove all the dirt and grit from the wall. After cleaning the tile, put a good quality mortar on the surface and paste the travertine tiles on it. You can also use a spacer to simplify your task.

After installing the tiles, keep the area untouched for 24 hours. Now, fill the gap between tiles with help of a grout. Prepare a grout mixture and put it on the trowel for easy application. Don’t forget to wipe the excess grout with help of a cloth. Select a portion at time and grout the tiles perfectly. These days, you can also buy colorful grout for the installation of your travertine tiles.

If you can’t install the travertine tiles yourself, then appoint a professional tiler to do the job. You can also seal the tiles so that they retain their shimmer. However, installation doesn’t end the job for you. You should maintain them regularly. Blot all the stains, dirt and spillage as soon as possible. You can also appoint a restoration expert to conduct the activity once in two to three months.

So, don’t think any more and add an extra edge to your bathroom with help of travertine shower tiles.

By Jason Colling

Colored Marble Tile Flooring For Your Bathroom

All throughout civilization, there has been no doubt of marble’s eminence. One of the most popular places in the modern home for marble floor tiles is the bathroom.

Marble has retained its ranking as the supreme building material for vanities. A natural marble vanity or sink stands out as the one and only choice for many discriminating and aesthetically-inclined homeowners.

While marble has the characteristic of being etched and stained by water and chemicals, the use of modern sealants has significantly reduced this major risk.The stone that inspires poetry and has been used to create architectural wonders across the world is in fact a metamorphic rock, which was formed by the alteration of limestone or dolomite.

Marble is used for both interior & exterior flooring applications. Marble is available in many colors like milky white, red, black, mottled and banded, gray, pink and green. Some manufactures offer marble tiles in the form of green marble tiles, green marble slabs & green marble blocks.

New Technologies Have Reintroduced Marble Tiles As Bathroom Vanities

A more recent advance in tile fabrication technology has enabled marble floor tiles to be within the reach of many homeowners. A sink could be a bowl of polished marble which sits atop a vanity. A tall faucet empties water into the vessel. It is a simple, yet supremely artistic way to decorate a bathroom that will make all your houseguests green with jealousy.

Marble tiles on the floor of a bathroom are almost a commonly seen necessity, if a homeowner’s target is to create a luxurious bath. These tiles are available polished or honed. Honed tiles generally provide more traction. Polished tiles do provide a more elegant look, however they can be very slippery when wet, so bath mats need to be placed at strategic points in the bath or shower room.

Marble Could Also Be Used As A Shower Wall

Many professional interior decorators know the key to a luxuriously created bathroom is to utilize marble around the walls and the tub. Most Jacuzzi bath tubs and Roman tubs look far more elegant wrapped in stone. Marble is also a popular fixture in shower walls and in steam showers; again however, traction is a factor that need to be seriously taken into consideration.

Marble mosaic tiles are often used on shower floors, and the grout lines provide the necessary footing to prevent slipping.Hand-carved marble trim pieces are also good for use in framing bath mirrors, and a wide variety of marble accents will round off your ultimate dream bath.

Tumbled Marble Also Makes For A Rustic, Old-World Bathroom Feel

The current rise in the popularity of “tumbled marble” has seen an increased use in many homes. These rustic tiles look more like travertine, wherein they have a rough finish, and often have little pits full of crystal, as well as an an uneven edge which is usually rounded at the corners.
These varieties are available in many sizes and are good for backsplashes, showers, and flooring. The hand-carved look of these tiles helps provide an excellent method for counteracting the formal air which marble typically lends to a room.

By Vanessa A.Doctor

Ideals for Remodeling Small Bathrooms

With more and more households adopting urban living, the luxury of space is becoming more and more appreciated, such that designs for small but efficient bathrooms are sought more than of expansive bathrooms. These small bathroom designs that are economical in space and money are fast getting peoples interest. Because even though the remarkably lack of space, these new age toilets makes more than enough in terms of accommodation and efficiency. Small bathrooms can become luxurious, too when you put extra ideas into place. Going around to stores that carry bathroom supplies, you will get the ideas for remodeling small bathrooms.

Approaches in small bathroom designs are quite popular to those households located on metropolitan areas. New York for instance, and the surrounding suburbs of Boston and Washington DC with its high density population, leads the pursuit for smaller yet highly posh and sophisticated accommodations.

Are you in the midst of remodeling your small bathroom? How would you fill your roughly 7 square feet of bathroom space? Check out these fantastic ideas for remodeling small bathrooms.

Yes, bathtubs are extremely space consuming, yet some models try to incorporate several features into one compact package. Like the Steam Shower and Whirlpool Combo WAS-2245 from Wasauna.com. This shower combination offers several fantastic features: shower nozzles at the ceiling to afford non concentrated showering and a hand held showerhead. 22 adjustable body massage jets and a foot massager will relax tired muscles with pinpoint accuracy. The 3 Kilowatt steam engine can generate enough steam and the temperature detection system will ensure that the temperate remains steady. All these come into one compact 59” x 59” x 86.6” package.

While ideas for remodeling small bathrooms are aimed more for convenience, some ideas are indeed aimed to be aesthetically pleasing while maintaining space-effectiveness. Like for instance the Wasauna Bathroom Vanity Table WAS-0003 also at wasauna.com. tabletop integration is not an oft used design, and this vanity, while sporting the tabletop design also features a tempered glass sink. This package also includes a mirror and a mini shelf.

Porcelain fixtures are still popular choices regarding ideas for remodeling small bathrooms. Cost effective and considerably sanitary looking, porcelain sinks and lavatories also have the uncanny knack of fitting to just any sort of ambiance or decoration.

By Milos Pesic

Bathroom Mirror - Using Appropriate Frame in Accordance to Its Placement

It has been part of our daily routine to use a bathroom mirror; most of us fix themselves with the help of the mirror. Brushing the teeth, combing the hair, applying make up, washing our face and more are some of the daily activities that require a mirror to accomplish each routine.

A mirror is known to its function than being a piece of decoration inside a home. But today mirror are now level up with other existing decoration in our home, bathroom mirror are made to reflect one’s physicality. It is also use for different function; it can actually make a place bigger. It also has the ability to change the over all look of a bathroom.

Bathroom mirror comes with different shape and style. For modern homes framed mirror are a big help in making a mirror function to be a decor instead of being plain mirror who use to reflect an image. A lot of these framed mirrors are use as decoration; it can also give an accent to a room.

Typically a bathroom mirror is use to its function, and you may wonder why some mirror reflects an object much better than other mirror? As an observation, a mirror reflects better if it has proper lighting around or above the mirror. Though lighting fixture for a small room is good enough but for a larger area an appropriate lighting fixture that will provide brightness on the whole area is needed to have a good effect on the mirror’s reflection. Bathroom mirrors require lighting above it to give you beautiful outcome on your mirror.

Most of the bathroom mirrors are made with lots of function. Some mirrors are attached on medicine cabinets that are usually installed inside the bathroom, but it is more appropriate to separate cabinet from a mirror. Replace it with decorative frame to add beauty to your mirror and make your bathroom look elegant with the help of your bathroom mirror. Use plastic or metal frame which has the ability in restraining molds due to water exposure.

Choosing a frame for your mirror is important and you must consider the area where you will place the mirror. Wooden frame mirrors must be situated in living room or any part of the house except in bathroom. A wood that is exposed on water can create molds and may ruin the beauty of the mirror.

By Allison Manalang Ayson