Remodeling Your Bathroom - Where to Start?
The prospect of a new bathroom is enticing, but transforming your vision into reality requires some preparation. Following some simple but important guidelines will put you on the path toward
realizing your dream. READ MORE...
Form Follows Function
Define who will be using the new bathroom and what their needs are. Guest baths and powder rooms need only the basic amenities, but a master bath deserves more. It should be an oasis, a luxurious retreat from the stresses and intrusions of daily life.
Set a Budget
To determine what you should spend, consider how long you plan to remain in your home. If it's 10 or more years, you can make a serious investment. Should financing be necessary, figure out how much additional monthly debt you can afford. Factor about 30 percent for labor costs, plus 10 percent of that to cover change orders or last-minute problems. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry provides a helpful online budgeting worksheet at www.nari.org.
Picture It
How do you want your bathroom to look? Create an idea book with photographs from design magazines or product web sites, or take a mental inventory of bathrooms you have admired in other people's homes or even hotels.
Carolyn Robbins, a designer in Marin county, California, asks her clients to describe what they liked about their own previous bathrooms. "Past experience is a good reference," she says, in coming up with a design style.
Stay on Budget
Keep your financial homework close at hand and use it to track expenditures against budgeted amounts. You'll be less likely to authorize expensive change orders if you know you are within your spending limits.
Allow some flexibility. If you have your heart set on a deluxe spa tub, for instance, it may be worth forgoing real marble counter tops in order to balance your budget.
Tanya Brown, a designer with Taylor-Morley Homes in St. Louis, advises clients who can't afford all the bells and whistles in the beginning to focus on items that would cost more to install later. "You can easily upgrade things like light fixtures or faucets without retrofitting."
Select a Designer/Contractor
Ask friends and associates for references. Check the ratings/reviews section of online referral services. Interview at least three professionals and show them your idea book before making a decision.
Ask Questions
Talk candidly with your designer about your budget, preferences and concerns. Contractors and designers should bear these in mind during the design process. Experienced professionals are equipped with an arsenal of techniques and strategies for satisfying champagne tastes, even on a beer budget.
If you aren't using a designer, ask your contractor to review your ideas before ordering fixtures and materials. Ask for feedback about how your design would impact the cost of installation.
For example, relocating plumbing fixtures costs both time and money. Brown helps clients by showing a sketch of the desired placement changes to an estimator who can calculate the expense in advance.
Stay Involved
Keep on top of the project until it is complete. It's the best way to stay on track, under budget, and on top of any unexpected issues as they arise.
Bathroom Design Trends
Imagination and technology have opened up an exciting new world of bathroom design options, from the functional to the utterly luxurious. Today's consumers can customize their bathrooms down to the last detail, and then infuse them with high-quality color, lighting and sound systems that used to be reserved for living rooms. READ MORE...
In fact, a leading trend is designing the bathroom as if it were another living room. Major advances in plumbing have eliminated the need for an entire under-sink cabinet to hide the pipes and opened a new world of design opportunities.
"Fixtures now come directly out of the wall," says designer Carolyn Robbins of San Rafael, California. "So instead of a cabinet, you can use a simple platform - a slab of rock or a panel of walnut - and set the sink directly on top. You could even bring your mother's dresser in and place a bowl on top as a basin."
Lesley Pinder McCarthy, design manager for John Wieland Homes in Charlotte, N.C., is using a lot of vessel sinks in various colors, shapes and materials, including stainless steel, glass and ceramic. "White ceramic, especially set against brown or black, creates an Asian look," she says. "People want their sinks and faucets to look like pieces of artwork."
Place a sink on top of a slim dining table or a console for a sleek look; add chrome legs for a high-tech touch. Minimize countertop clutter by installing shelving underneath to hold items such as fine soaps and gorgeous towels.
"You want to expose these beautiful things that people love to see, because a bathroom is not just utilitarian anymore, but also beautiful," says Robbins. "People are living in their bathrooms today, instead of just coming and going.
To encourage a leisurely visit, Robbins suggests putting in a chaise lounge covered in terry cloth, along with a matching ottoman to hold coffee cups and reading material.
The ultimate in relaxation, of course, is a whirlpool tub or steam shower. Even trendier luxuries include radiant-heated floors; toilets with heated seats incorporating a built-in bidet, such as Jacuzzi's Refresh Personal Hygiene System; a shower "body" dryer that dries skin without the use of a towel; faucets with infra-red sensors for hands-free operation; mirrors with touch-screen capability for TV/Internet; remotes to control jet pressure and bath temperature; and recessed fixtures that can be raised with a remote or access panel such as Jacuzzi's Lift It TV Lift System.
Create different moods with a sound system that can provide uninterrupted hours of music or nature sounds and use dimmers and other gadgets to adjust lighting with a touch of your finger.
In a confined space such as a bathroom, you can feel free to express yourself. You can cover walls with bold colors, metallics or stripes. (This goes double for kids' baths.) If you prefer a monochromatic look, add visual interest with accessories such as bamboo baskets or personal mementos. Undecided? Pick a theme - retro, minimalist, Victorian.
The last word in bathroom design trends is safety. Non-slip surfaces, easily accessible tubs and showers, heavy-duty grab bars and faucets with scald-guard protection have become widely available and will make your bathroom as safe as it is beautiful.
Small Bathrooms - Big Results
Professional design techniques and clever space planning can help you make a big impression regardless of your bathroom's dimensions. When square footage is limited, you'll want to make every inch count. Reducing clutter should be the first order of business. READ MORE...
Think Positive
Play up your bathroom's best features by emphasizing qualities like intimacy and coziness.
"The warmth of natural bamboo floor or warm painted planks with brass inlaid details add to the texture and richness of a small place," says Carolyn Robbins, a designer in San Rafael, California.
"Add details one wouldn't expect and could be cost prohibitive in a larger area," she adds. Luxurious wood or stone accents and stylish finishes have a high impact in small spaces.
Color is Key
The best way to create a soothing, calming ambience is with color. Pale colors and neutrals make a room feel bigger because they reflect light.
"In an extremely small bath, the right wall color gives the room life," says Lesley Pinder McCarthy, design manager for John Wieland Homes in Charlotte, N.C. "You want a shade that is vibrant but not bright. Soft blue or a green-blue like sea foam are great choices. Avoid anything dark, boring or beige."
Use the same color on trim, doors, cabinets and counters as you put on the walls. This keeps the eye moving and gives the impression of more space. For the ceiling, go for a lighter tint of the wall color.
In a tiled bath, monochromatic colors and matching patterns make the room appear larger. Using the same tile for the walls, floor and shower allows your eye to flow and expands your visual space.
Fool the Eye
Raise or hang cabinets to keep the eye moving up, away from the floor. Robbins recommends using a counter and supporting legs for the basin area instead of a cabinet to create the impression of extended flooring.
Reflective and transparent materials can enhance the bathroom's proportions. Two mirrors positioned opposite each other to give the illusion of a never-ending room.
Allow natural light whenever possible. Instead of covering up windows, use light fabrics with little or no pattern. Hang curtains a few inches above the window frame to make the ceiling look higher. This trick applies to shower curtains, too, but, better yet, replace curtains with a clear-glass shower door. Choose glass rather than opaque shelving.
Strategic Space Planning
Create extra storage room by recessing shelving into the wall between studs or placing an etagere or over the toilet. Replace traditional doors with sliding ones or shoji-style screens. Save both real and perceived space by installing a wall-mounted sink. Use a single-control faucet.
Compact showers, sinks, toilets and vanities take up less room than standard sizes. Choose low-rise units such as a round toilet bowl that is shorter than an elongated one. Replace your existing bathtub with a lower-walled one to give the illusion of more space. Look for a five-foot tub with a flat bottom - it is deep enough for a pleasant bath and perfect for showering.
Aromatherapy - the healing power of smell
Imagine yourself in a field of mandarin orange trees. Now you can smell the fresh scent of oranges... and suddenly you feel your anxiety melt away. The truth is that scents can transport you, take you away from stress, assist with muscle pain, or simply start an evening on a romantic and sensual note. READ MORE...
With origins that date back more than 5000 years, aromatherapy is one of the most readily available forms of healing therapy. You already practice the art of aromatherapy every time you take a whiff of basil, oregano, cinnamon, or nutmeg in the kitchen.
The healing power of smell is often overlooked by many people, but not at Jacuzzi. We believe that aromatherapy is an essential part of the Jacuzzi® bath and hot tub experience. Essential oils, when inhaled, have both physical and psychological benefits and Jacuzzi helps you enjoy them to the fullest.
At Jacuzzi, we recommend you enjoy aromatic and sensual soaking baths and Pure Air® airbaths with a touch of sandalwood, rose or jasmine. You can take this experience to an even higher level with scents such as Neroli, patchouli, and ylang ylang. Don't be afraid to engulf yourself with aromatic effervescence. Products with essential oils are a perfect way to lift your spirits - even during a quick shower.
So during your next bath or hot tub, take a moment to stop and smell the roses, or lavender. You'll be glad you did.
* Always be sure to read all the safety data and instructions for the oils you choose before adding them to your bath or hot tub.
Hydrotherapy for better health
It's funny how your troubles can go down the drain with some bathwater. People everywhere have used bathing and enjoying hot tubs not just to clean their bodies but also to detoxify their souls. The benefits of hydrotherapy have been recognized for thousands of years, and are appreciated even more so today, when stress levels are higher than they have ever been. READ MORE...
The Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Hindus, and Romans, all used water in various forms to treat a variety of health problems. But while in the past hydrotherapy was prescribed only by alternative health practitioners, it has now gained more mainstream acceptance with traditional doctors. Europe is particularly open to this form of therapy, with many health spas and facilities that offer all types of water cures.
Hot water relaxes the body, soothing muscle tension. It is the ultimate form of therapy. It can calm your nerves while renewing your vibrancy and energy.
Contrast hydrotherapy uses both hot and cold treatments that dilate and contract blood vessels to keep them in shape. This method also improves organ function and digestion, increases circulation and reduces congestion and inflammations.
Neutral hydrotherapy uses water of temperatures between 92 to 98 degrees Fahrenheit to mimic the body's own temperature. It is used to treat insomnia and to calm the nervous system.
The most popular forms of hydrotherapy are the whirlpool bath and hot tub. Jacuzzi sets the standard in hydrotherapy by bringing state-of-the-art products to the marketplace that reflect extensive research, technological evolution, matchless performance and timeless design. Jacuzzi® whirlpool baths, air baths, hot tubs and even showers are used in homes all over the world, as well as schools, gyms and fitness centers to treat athletes' sore muscles and injuries. Each harnesses the power of air and water in a slightly different way. To learn more about individual products and how they can deliver the optimum hydrotherapy experience for your needs, please go to the products section.
So sit back and relax in a Jacuzzi whirlpool bath, air bath or hot tub and soak in the goodness. And while you're there, don't think of your experience as just a luxury, but as an essential part of your mental and physical health. A Jacuzzi soak works to cleanse your soul, and who knows, a bath a day may just keep the doctor away.
How to transform your bathroom into a home spa
We all deserve a private place where we can relax in comfort, let go of tension, recharge our batteries and emerge refreshed and energized. Many busy homeowners are remodeling their bathrooms into a retreat where they can daydream, read, listen to music or socialize. READ MORE...
The latest in water retreats
If your ideal home spa isn't complete without a whirlpool bathtub, you can find one in virtually any shape, size and color. Amenities include such features as air flow adjustability, quiet motors, control panels, heated liners and even underwater lighting systems. The latest models are also equipped with adjustable jet systems that can target specific areas to soothe tight muscles and aching joints.
A popular alternative is the air bath, which uses millions of effervescent bubbles to create a delicate curtain of heated air that rises through the water. The result is a gentle, soothing experience, more of a caress than a massage. Unlike in standard whirlpools, salts and aromatic oils can be used in an air bath.
For the best of both worlds, choose a combination water retreat such as Jacuzzi's Salon Spa, which can deliver the therapeutic benefits of a whirlpool or the calming effects of an air bath.
Designer showers
Steam showers, too, have evolved into multi-faceted systems. According to designer John Hall, who carries several new Jacuzzi models in his new Cleveland showroom. "A shower steam unit is one of the key elements in transforming your bathroom into a complete spa.
"One of the nice things is that, after a hard day of work or exercise, you can come home and step into steam," says Hall, who recommends installing adjustable heads that direct the spray to different levels. That way, if you're running late and don't have time to wash and dry your hair, you can point the spray low enough that your head stays dry. Many of Hall's clients also like placing the heads above the shower so they can enjoy a rainfall effect.
Create the ultimate ambience
To transform a standard bathroom into a luxurious oasis, think beyond the water features. Design elements such as cabinetry, color, light, sound and your choice of flooring - slate, marble or natural tile, for example - also shape the spa experience. Accessories run from the merely functional (non-misting mirrors) to the indulgent: radiant heated floors, towel warming drawers, even a fireplace.
Now ask yourself: What really makes your mornings hum, your evenings purr? If you love starting your day with hot coffee or cold fruit juice, put in an instant hot water system or a mini-fridge.
For a perfect evening, put on a CD, pull out a bottle of chilled wine, and slip into a tension-relieving whirlpool bath. Or opt for a calming air bath enhanced with aromatic salts and chromotherapy, while surround sound adds another cushion of comfort as the cares and demands of workaday life float far, far away.
