Are you planning a new bathroom or just doing bathroom renovations?
Either way, you’ll need to make quite a few decisions, including whether to
install a traditional or modern designer bathroom suite.
Since everyone has different tastes, it’s not possible for anyone to
tell you what to do and you’ll need to choose yourself. It may help to look at
the pros and cons of each type of bathroom.
Traditional Designer Bathroom Suites
Traditional bathroom suites
are quite different from their modern counterparts. You will need to understand
these differences in order to make the right decisions.
Many people feel that traditional suites offer more elegance and
cosiness.
Bathing: Traditional bathrooms often combined shower and bathtub, with
the showerhead over the tub and a curtain to pull around, or simply offered a
bath option. The tubs for this style are very comfortable and beautiful. Think
claw foot tubs and rounded edges. The bathtub is usually stand alone in these
designs, keeping it easy to clean behind.
Taps: The taps in traditional bathrooms were usually bronze or chrome,
but other styles could be used, as well. Pewter handles, for example, are quite
popular in these older designs and are very elegant looking.
Toilet: A high level toilet is the usual option for a more traditional
space and the toilet will stand apart from the wall. It may have the tank above
or just behind, depending on your preference.
Sink: Console basis are a good way to go, though you can also opt for
the stand alone column sink, if you prefer. Either one is a good choice for
this type of design.
Modern Bathrooms
Most modern bathrooms have as much space as possible. Many modern
bathrooms are neutral in colour, but they can also include a nice pop of accent
colour, like red or yellow. However, the normal palette is neutral, in white,
cream, and beige.
Bathing: Where there is enough room, the suite will include a separate
bath and shower, but not just any shower. Steam shower, hydro massage showers,
and power showers are all popular choices for this style of bathroom. Tubs tend
to be built-in, rather than stand-alone, and are blockier than the older
designs, in most cases.
Taps: In the modern bathroom, taps are as easy as they can be. You can
choose dual taps with chrome finish, or a single tap that will change how warm
or cold the water is depending on whether you turn it to one side or the other.
Toilet: The modern toilet can feature a number of benefits, including
auto flush, dual flushes, or several other features. Wall mounted toilets are
preferable when it comes to smaller spaces, to allow for a feeling of
spaciousness in the bathroom.
Sink: Wall hung sinks help give the room a little more space. However,
the material is what really makes a sink modern or not. You’ll see a lot of
basins set atop counters, done up in glass, stone, or even metal. The materials
are what make the sink look modern, as well as the design, which is usually
swooped and curved to give it a pleasant look.
Planning for Bathroom Renovations
Are you planning a bathroom renovation? While this can be a great way to
give you a whole new look to the room, you really need to plan ahead. Here are
a few tips to keep the reno going smoothly.
Keep Fixtures Similar: Even if you’re changing everything up, you want
to be sure that your fixtures are somewhat close to the originals in position,
at least. It adds cost and time to the renovation if you are going to move all
the plumbing around. You should have a floor plan drawn up with electrical
grids, to show workers exactly what you want them to do.
However, if the pipes are older, you might consider replacing them,
which means you can put the fixtures anywhere you like. It does tend to cost a
bit more, but it’s worth the effort to prevent future plumbing problems.
Add More Ventilation: Condensation from the hot shower is dangerous to
the room and to your health. It can cause dampness in areas no heat or light
reaches, which will cause more health issues in the long run.
Be sure your design is meant for a bathroom and allows for venting so
you can keep things safe and dry. If you don’t, you could end up with wood rot,
among other things. Just what you get depends on the area and what it’s been
exposed to.
Design Your Lighting: The lighting in a bathroom is nearly as important
as the fixtures. Consider everything you’ll be doing in the room. For example,
the mirror is where you’ll shave or put on makeup, so it needs great
illumination. You might put lights around the actual mirror, or angle them from
the ceiling to provide the best illumination.
Having a shower light can also be helpful, particularly if the shower is
dark when the curtain or door is shut. Evaluate the need for a waterproof light
in the shower section, as well as a light in the main part of the bathroom.
Keep in mind that the light in the bathroom is best diffused, so a pretty cover
on the light is a good idea.
Include Storage: There are so many things you can store in the bathroom,
from toiletries to cleaning supplies and more. However, you won’t have space
for these and more if you don’t make the effort to add more storage options.
Depending on the space you have, under sink storage, a shelf or even a cupboard
may be a better solution. Look for something that fits in with your chosen
bathroom suite items. From lighting to colours, there’s something for everyone
to choose from.
Corner shelves are a good way to maximize your small bathroom space and
can help you find the perfect spot to put your supplies.
Waterproof the Room: If you can waterproof the room, do it. Tile backer
boards are an excellent option and will help prevent moisture related problems
in the future. You really want to avoid any wall interiors from getting
unpleasant mould or fungus, and waterproofing is the best way to go about this.
It’s fairly easy to install and is wonderfully cost effective in the long run.
When you compare what your repair costs will cost if some mould should
come into the room and make the house unliveable. You’ll be paying for a hotel,
repairs, materials, and a number of other things. Essentially, if you have a
mould problem, it will be costly and will remove you from the house
unwillingly.
Add Technology: You have a number of options for technology at this
point and many can be incorporated right into the bathroom, to provide a more
complete experience. Auto flush toilets and television screens, etc. can all be
used to make your bathroom a more interesting space, particularly if it is
modern. However, even traditional bathroom suites can enjoy a touch of tech,
you might just have to keep it hidden behind some décor.
Make the Bathroom Feel Bigger: It’s easy enough to do this if you use
mirrors, light colours and smaller details. Look for fog-free mirrors that will
be useful in the misty bathroom after a shower.
Selecting the Right Materials
When you’re installing your bathroom suite, it’s a good idea to look at
what materials you’ll use with the suite. For example, you don’t want a green
toilet with red tiles unless you’re particularly fond of Christmas.
You should choose the bathroom furniture and toilet, tub, and sink
before you select the background colours and designs. You can choose between a
variety of materials, including things like wood, tile, vinyl, stone, and more.
The material used on the floors and walls should set off the features and
compliment the colours you’ve selected for your main items.
Keep in mind that most bathrooms are
designed for functionality only. Why not take some extra time and decorate your
bathroom to the max? You can choose a different theme for each bathroom, or
decorate them similarly. The choice is yours.
Are you ready to start setting up your bathroom? Whether you choose
modern or traditional, you will end up with a beautiful bathroom. Call us
today
for more information on how we can help you get ahead in your
renovation or new bathroom.
