10 TIPS FOR A BETTER BATHROOM By John Clark.
Everyone loves a good top ten list! Read on and enjoy our top ten “Must Do” for remodeling a Fairlington bathroom,
1. Install a Pocket Door. Most Fairlington bathrooms are so small that doors can sometimes make them even smaller. Converting the swing door into a pocket door always opens up the space visually as well as physically. Pocket doors should always be installed by a professional as the installation often involves dealing with structural components of your home.
2. Venting? Always, always ensure your bathroom is properly vented. Many homes lack venting in the bathroom, resulting in black spoor-like stuff growing from the ceiling. Also many homes have undersized fans that often sound like a jet engine. When it comes to venting, our favorite is a quiet rated fan which reduces significantly the noise you will hear when the fan is on. This style of fan will have a grill in the ceiling and can have a light as well.
3. Comfort Height Toilets are just so much better! Comfort height or chair height toilets are much more comfortable for users. They are about 2″ taller then the old standard. If you have young children, you may want to have one toilet in your home that is at the lower height. Also a round front toilet rather than an elongated toilet bowl is a space saver in smaller bathrooms.
4. White Painted Beadboard lends an elegance and look to a bathroom that is classic and clean. For a long time, beadboard was not considered in a bathroom. Why? Because beadboard usually consisted of 1×6 pine milled with a tongue and grove and beaded on the edges and center. As the beadboard was wood, it was subject to moisture changes. The nice tight paint job looked great until the heating season when the beadboard shrank and showed cracking in the paint. The beadboard would look awful until the humidity of summer rolled around.
Now there are moisture resistant products in the form of 4′ x 8′ and larger sheets of bead-board. Manufactured from premium medium density fiberboard, the sheet beadboard is much more dimensionally stable and less prone to movement. ie a tighter paint job. We also like it because it installs much faster then the piece by piece method of wood strips. If you want to install the beadboard in your bathroom, make sure you purchase the moisture resistant grade rather then the standard grade.
5. Heated Floors. Quick Quiz: Can you name the healthiest, safest kind of heating system? If you said radiant heat, give yourself an A! Yes, we’re big fans of radiant heat, especially in the bathroom. Nothing beats stepping out of a shower onto heated tile on a cold winters morning. A preferred brand of radiant heat is Laticrete. They have a system that is well thought-out and easy to install. The running costs of radiant are minimal for a small area such as a bathroom.
6. Handheld Shower. One feature we suggest to clients who are upgrading, is to include a handheld shower. Handhelds are more flexible then a fixed shower head and allow you to do everything from bathing the dog to cleaning the tub or shower, as you can put water where you need it.
7. Taller Vanities. Like the toilets we mentioned above, vanities have grown up which is a godsend to those who spent many a time stooped over at sinks designed for the vertically challenged! The taller height is more comfortable to use. Don’t forget however, to have a stepstool handy for the little one’s.
8. Integrated Sink. Is a type of sink you can have with a solid surface product such as Corian, Silestone or Cultured Marble. The countertop material flows into the bottom of the sink creating a seamless bowl making for easy cleaning.
9. Hooks. Sometimes towel bars can be just too fussy and formal. Big hooks to hang towels allow you to hang and run and you have more hanging space. Some we have used, can be found at Restoration Hardware. Be sure to use the large ones to allow towels to hang freely so they may dry.
10. Creative Storage. A drop out tray in front of the sink provides a great place for tooth brushes and toothpaste. A drawer at the base of the sink cabinet also can be surprise storage. Corner shelves in the shower can be a great place for shampoos, razors and body washes. One trick we have done in the past, is to recess a cabinet into a closet of an adjacent room keeping the face frame of the cabinet flush with the bathroom wall.
Watch for future postings with more ideas for better remodeling.
The original article was written by John Clark.
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