Archive for October, 2009

Planning Guide to Designing a Bathroom Reno

Posted by Dave McIntosh on October 30th, 2009

You may be planning a revamp of your old bathroom or doing a complete bathroom renovation. This will help you plan and provide you with some bathroom design ideas you might use. Designing a Bathroom RenoIn planning a bath space, there are some basic points you may like to ponder upon. Let’s start with the basic questions,

1. What is the size of the bathroom?
2. Who will use it? (guests, you personally, children, two people or the whole family)
3. What would you like to have in your bathroom? (Shower cubicle, jets, tub, vanity etc)
4. Are you planning a partial or complete revamp?
5. Do you need to make some electrical changes?
6. Do you need to buy new fixtures? (tub, shower, toilet, vanity)
7. Are you going to be changing the location of some fixtures?

Start with first things first and find out the size of the room. Measure up the bathroom area and make a rough sketch with the fixtures you have. Then draw another one with the changes you want to make. It could be a vanity, shower enclosure or a new tub; make sure you think of the space. This will help you estimate the exact area you have to work with.

The next thing you should work on is a realistic budget. Even if you are thinking of only a partial redoing, estimate the costs as things can add up and it can be expensive. It’s important to take into consideration the extra cost if you plan on moving things around.

With the budgets and fixtures you want figured out, it is easy to concentrate on the design or style and layout of your bathroom.

Designing a Bathroom RenoSmall space modular bathrooms are in vogue. There are a lot of people looking for smaller bathrooms fitted with modern amenities today. With some creative thinking, you should be able to fit the things you desire in, say a shower unit, for instance. You can get corner shower units that save space and can also be very attractive. The sauna, shower unit and tub are all possible, just work on it in a way that helps the space look open. Be creative in your planning and design!

Fixtures and fittings

To achieve the bathroom of you dreams, you will need to pay attention to your bathroom fixtures and fittings. Tubs, showers, vanities, toilets, and fittings like faucets and sinks set the design of your desired space.

Tubs come in different shapes sizes and colors all helpful for different designs and sizes of room. For instance by getting a deeper bathtub you can saves space because you sit straighter up, saving on the length. When you have a good amount of space on hand, you can play with that space with fewer constraints. Often large whirlpool tubs are a choice people are looking for. But you still need to work on fitting everything you plan to add into the space you have.

Toilets most often are matched to the tub by color but still have a huge variety of styles. Some people can get bogged down here with all the choices. Just remember your budget as that will help you make the choices you need.

Designing a Bathroom RenoThe Vanity is the other major fixture in a bathroom and there are many styles to fit your need. The size needs to fit comfortably in the room. For small bathrooms people are using very attractive pedestal sinks to accommodate to space.

Sinks come in a sundry of shapes, colors and sizes too. The contemporary bathroom vanities deserve high scores on utility and function. You get sinks in all shapes and sizes for both big and small bathrooms and in materials from fancy wood to steel and glass, so find something that goes with your bathroom theme. The designer variety includes wall-mounted, counter sinks in steel, glass, ceramic and a combination of accessories and colors to match.

Modern bathroom Faucets may sound like the simplest thing to choose. Often the faucet for the tub, shower and sink are all in the same style. Here you need to pay attention to details like the material they are made of. You can often change the style by changing the handles and trim packages. Taps are functional things and you need to consider the water flow and temperature control system before you buy. There are designer taps you get that are the perfect combination of style and function.

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Easy Kitchen Reno Ideas for the Small Kitchen

Posted by Dave McIntosh on October 24th, 2009

Kitchens are more than just where we cook a meal and wash dishes. They are where our day begins and ends. Where the family gathers for conversation, homework, and snacks, and where we entertain friends. Easy Kitchen Reno IdeasWith the prominence of this space in both our homes and our lives it’s no wonder that kitchen remodeling is the number one home improvement project.

The kitchen is one of the most used rooms in the house. And just because you have a small kitchen doesn’t mean you’ll be spending less time there. So it needs to be functional, comfortable and look great. Your small kitchen design should not only look its best but also serve your needs.

But if you have a small Kitchen you may be saying things like:
- My kitchen is so small, how can I create more working and storage space out of such a tiny area?
- I need practical advice for my small kitchen and I don’t like the design ideas that kitchen companies offer me; am I being too fussy?
- I have an idea of what I want but the plans presented to me do not have the inspirational kitchen design ideas I am looking for. Please help me.

Creating a kitchen layout isn’t always the easiest task though. So in order to ensure that the results are good, make sure you seek professional design help from more than one place especially if you’re having difficulties. The help is readily available from kitchen specialists or from cabinet manufacturers.

Easy Kitchen Reno IdeasStyle is always important in design, and of course, when you’re decorating and designing your dream kitchen, you want the finished product to be both in a style you love and one that fits seamlessly in with the rest of your home. Kitchens require a different approach in design than you need to take with your living room or your dining room. This is because kitchens, like bathrooms, need to be functional as well as beautiful.

Kitchens are the center of a lot of activity in your home. In addition to the obvious – cooking – kitchens offer a gathering place for casual family meals or a catch-up cup of coffee with friends and neighbors. So they need to be designed in such a way that they facilitate all the activities that tend to happen there.

Remodeling your kitchen doesn’t necessarily need to be an expensive project. In fact, with a minimum of effort and expense you can reface your existing cabinets and update the flooring which will give your kitchen a brand new look. Of course, a lot more can be changed if you decide a more complete redesign or total redesign is needed. A complete make-over will end up costing you more money, but it also provides a greater increase in value of your improvement.

Today, the main purpose of kitchen cabinets is to store dishes, small appliances, pots and pans and food, of course. But they also serve as a focal point regarding the style of your kitchen and how your kitchen makes people feel.

Easy Kitchen Reno IdeasSo need ideas? Below are some great small kitchen design ideas to help inspire you. I am sure they will help you develop some even better ideas to turn your small kitchen space into a big hit.

- Use a small and minimalistic table
- Try using see through or transparent chairs which will give the illusion of having a larger space.
- Maximize the window space.
- Try using a mirrored or reflective backsplash which also creates a larger appearance for the small countertop space.
- Maybe use a stove built right in to the counter top
- Add a contemporary shelving unit into the wall space for holding spices and utensils.
- Consider elevating your dishwasher. If you elevate your dishwasher by nine to 12 inches, you will be surprised how easy it is to load and unload. Never again will you have to bend over! This idea causes the countertop, in many instances, to be interrupted. The resulting platform is an excellent height for a microwave, TV, or radio.
- Consider incorporating energy efficient appliances.
- Contemporary cabinetry especially white cabinets can make you kitchen look bigger.

If you’re in the mood for a little kitchen decorating, there are tons of great kitchen interior design ideas and schemes from which you can choose. The kitchen is the heart of most homes, and so it is a room that you typically want to give a lot of design attention to. Whether your kitchen needs a minor facelift, or if you’re in an “everything must go” kind of mood and want to give your room a complete overhaul, try using some of these kitchen design ideas. They will help get you on your way.

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