How to Add a Touch of Warmth to Every Home: It’s as Easy as 1-2-3
by: ARA
(ARA) - It seams that as we spend more and more time in our homes we are always looking to make our quality of life better. We are constantly seeking new ideas that embody both form and function. It is no surprise that people remodeling and upgrading their homes look to the bathroom to add luxury. The bathroom is quickly becoming one of the most lived in rooms in your house. After all, everyone wants to have that warm feeling when they are spending time in their living space. With the right changes you can create a spa like feeling with products such as heated tile, impressive baths with multiple shower heads, and towel radiators. Here are some tips for warming up your bathroom -- literally.
Start with a wall full of shower heads, to provide a pampering, steam-filled, hot shower. These days you can find all of the luxuries that you could possibly want, from multiple massage settings to the water coverage area; you can specify everything right down to the size of the water drops. These products can be found at any of the major bath fixture companies or your local kitchen and bath showroom. They start at under $100 and can be an inexpensive way to make a big splash in your new spa-like space.
Second, beautiful tile floors can give you that instant spa feel, but no one likes to step onto cold tile when getting out of a warm shower. Heated tiles systems can change the entire feel of your floor and your room. They come in two systems, electric and hot water. Your kitchen and bath professionals can help you decide what would work best for your space. If you’re doing even the smallest renovations, a system like this can make a large impact in your comfort level.
Lastly, there is a new product reaching the American market that has been a staple in Europe for years. Towel radiators differ from towel warmers in that they actually heat up the bathroom, as well as offering the added luxury of warming and drying your towels. If you are short on heat in your bathroom, this is an easy way to take it up a notch. The best part is they fit anywhere that you would put up your normal towel bar. “If you have to have heat in your bathroom it might as well be pleasing to the eye and give you the added benefit of a warm towel,” says Kate Bosley of Zehnder, a towel radiator company.
These unique products even come with programmable controls that give you the ultimate in flexibility, convenience and efficiency. You can set the radiator to turn on before you get up in the morning and shut itself off so you don’t waste energy. Wake to a warm bath and towel with no worries, because it only costs pennies a day. On top of that there is the count down timer. “Say it’s been a stressful day and all you want is a long soak in the tub. Well, you hit the timer function before your bath and by the time you get out you have a wonderfully warm towel to wrap up in. After 1 ½ hours the unit shuts itself off and returns back to its original program,” says Bosley.
Homeowners can easily install a towel radiator themselves. They can be hung on the wall with four screws and the proper wall anchors. After that, they just plug right in to your standard bathroom outlet. Check with your local professionals or the manufacturer about the appropriate installations on the new showerheads and radiant under floor heating systems. It is always best to do your homework and purchase top quality products that will last a lifetime.
As winter sets in the trend is for people to start to retreat to their homes and these days the house is not just a place to live, it is our sanctuary. Just imagine a long hot shower, stepping out onto a heated tile floor into a room that is cozy and warm, and grabbing that fluffy towel. Could you ask for more?
For more information on Zehnder’s towel radiators please call (888) 778-6701 or see them online at www.zehnderamerica.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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Showing posts with label Bathroom Decoration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bathroom Decoration. Show all posts
Monday, July 7, 2008
Kitchen and Bath Solutions
Kitchen and Bath Solutions
by: ARA
(ARA) - Home improvement has become one of our country’s greatest pastimes. Americans spent an estimated $214 billion on home improvements, maintenance and repairs in 2001, according to Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies research report issued in February 2003. Just how and where that money is spent can make a big difference when it comes to investing in your home.
Of all the rooms in your house, bathrooms represent the greatest and fastest return on your remodeling investment. According to Remodeling Magazine, more than 80 percent of your bathroom remodeling expenses can be recouped within a year of resale. Not every room in the house offers such a return. Surprisingly, kitchens are sixth on the list with just over 60 percent of the costs returned. Only bathroom additions beat bathroom remodeling with returns over 90 percent.
Despite today’s homeowner remodeling craze, you should weigh the pros and cons of taking on an entire bathroom project alone. Knowledge -- including admitting your strengths and weaknesses -- is the key to successfully completing any project on time and under budget. Ask yourself the following remodeling questions to ensure you are making the best decisions for your investment.
Is it a Remodel or Makeover?
“The first consideration should be the scope of work,” says Rick Peters, remodeling expert and author of “MoneySmart Makeovers: Bathrooms.” He asks: “Do you understand your home’s plumbing systems, such as where the waste/vent stack is?”
If the remodeling project involves more than cosmetic fixture replacements or surface redecorating, it may be time to call in an expert to assess your home’s plumbing and pipe placement. Peters suggests the following checklist:
Call a remodeling contractor when:
* Moving a toilet, sink, tub or shower
* Removing or adding walls
* Installing venting that runs through the roof
All of these projects require specific skills and knowledge of your local building and plumbing codes.
Try the following makeover projects yourself:
* Replacing a faucet, sink or toilet using existing plumbing
* Installing shower or shower-tub combination doors
* Installing new accessories, such as shelves or light fixtures
* Painting, tiling or wallpapering
These projects require some skill base, but even a first-time do-it-yourselfer may be able to complete them in a reasonable timeframe.
What’s the Real Deal on What You Want?
Tempted by what looks good? Check out the quality. Does that new faucet have rubber washers or plastic valves? A client of mine bought a faucet five years ago with plastic valves and it lasted exactly four and a half years. Cheaper versions of the real thing are not repairable and have to be replaced entirely. This means you are spending twice as much in 10 years as you would once in a lifetime for a better faucet.
Look for quality fixture manufacturers such as American Standard. The company’s Champion Toilet featuring America’s Best Flushing System, includes a Worry-Free Decade Warranty that covers the whole toilet inside and out. American Standard’s faucets come with a lifetime warranty on the washerless watertight seal, the function and the finish. Most of its sinks and toilets are made of vitreous china that resists dirt and bacteria. Even the acrylic tubs are made tougher with a fiberglass bonding for extra strength.
Bottom line: “Your bathroom takes a daily beating,” says Peters. “Buy quality.”
Is There a Great Cover-up Waiting for You?
A number of times, I’ve ventured into bathrooms that have been madeover by covering damaged tiles or walls with acrylic panels. “Sure it looks better, but the problem is still there,” says Peters. “In fact, panels like these hold in moisture and mildew that was the problem in the first place, and now it will get worse. Make sure leaks and damage are repaired and not just covered up.”
Peters also suggests using a mildew resistant drywall. “Standard drywall can’t stand up to the moisture in the air, even with proper venting,” he notes.
What’s your pay-off in investing time to answer these important questions before you start? You’ll end up with a successful bathroom remodeling project that adds to the value and enjoyment of your home.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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Courtesy of ARA Content
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by: ARA
(ARA) - Home improvement has become one of our country’s greatest pastimes. Americans spent an estimated $214 billion on home improvements, maintenance and repairs in 2001, according to Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies research report issued in February 2003. Just how and where that money is spent can make a big difference when it comes to investing in your home.
Of all the rooms in your house, bathrooms represent the greatest and fastest return on your remodeling investment. According to Remodeling Magazine, more than 80 percent of your bathroom remodeling expenses can be recouped within a year of resale. Not every room in the house offers such a return. Surprisingly, kitchens are sixth on the list with just over 60 percent of the costs returned. Only bathroom additions beat bathroom remodeling with returns over 90 percent.
Despite today’s homeowner remodeling craze, you should weigh the pros and cons of taking on an entire bathroom project alone. Knowledge -- including admitting your strengths and weaknesses -- is the key to successfully completing any project on time and under budget. Ask yourself the following remodeling questions to ensure you are making the best decisions for your investment.
Is it a Remodel or Makeover?
“The first consideration should be the scope of work,” says Rick Peters, remodeling expert and author of “MoneySmart Makeovers: Bathrooms.” He asks: “Do you understand your home’s plumbing systems, such as where the waste/vent stack is?”
If the remodeling project involves more than cosmetic fixture replacements or surface redecorating, it may be time to call in an expert to assess your home’s plumbing and pipe placement. Peters suggests the following checklist:
Call a remodeling contractor when:
* Moving a toilet, sink, tub or shower
* Removing or adding walls
* Installing venting that runs through the roof
All of these projects require specific skills and knowledge of your local building and plumbing codes.
Try the following makeover projects yourself:
* Replacing a faucet, sink or toilet using existing plumbing
* Installing shower or shower-tub combination doors
* Installing new accessories, such as shelves or light fixtures
* Painting, tiling or wallpapering
These projects require some skill base, but even a first-time do-it-yourselfer may be able to complete them in a reasonable timeframe.
What’s the Real Deal on What You Want?
Tempted by what looks good? Check out the quality. Does that new faucet have rubber washers or plastic valves? A client of mine bought a faucet five years ago with plastic valves and it lasted exactly four and a half years. Cheaper versions of the real thing are not repairable and have to be replaced entirely. This means you are spending twice as much in 10 years as you would once in a lifetime for a better faucet.
Look for quality fixture manufacturers such as American Standard. The company’s Champion Toilet featuring America’s Best Flushing System, includes a Worry-Free Decade Warranty that covers the whole toilet inside and out. American Standard’s faucets come with a lifetime warranty on the washerless watertight seal, the function and the finish. Most of its sinks and toilets are made of vitreous china that resists dirt and bacteria. Even the acrylic tubs are made tougher with a fiberglass bonding for extra strength.
Bottom line: “Your bathroom takes a daily beating,” says Peters. “Buy quality.”
Is There a Great Cover-up Waiting for You?
A number of times, I’ve ventured into bathrooms that have been madeover by covering damaged tiles or walls with acrylic panels. “Sure it looks better, but the problem is still there,” says Peters. “In fact, panels like these hold in moisture and mildew that was the problem in the first place, and now it will get worse. Make sure leaks and damage are repaired and not just covered up.”
Peters also suggests using a mildew resistant drywall. “Standard drywall can’t stand up to the moisture in the air, even with proper venting,” he notes.
What’s your pay-off in investing time to answer these important questions before you start? You’ll end up with a successful bathroom remodeling project that adds to the value and enjoyment of your home.
Courtesy of ARA Content
About the author:
Courtesy of ARA Content
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Create a New Bathroom for Under $50
Create a New Bathroom for Under $50
by: ARA
(ARA) – What do you consider the most forgotten room in your house? For many people, the answer is the bathroom. It gets a lot of use, but many of us live in houses where the bathrooms are sorely outdated. Yet having an attractive and well-designed one can make your daily routine that much more pleasant.
Remodeling costs are high, and a lot of us don’t have the time or skills to do it ourselves. But you don’t have to tear up your bathroom to improve it. Here are some easy and inexpensive ideas for updating your bathroom from bgh.com, iVillage.com and Environmental Graphics.
* Add some new towels. You don’t have to buy a whole new set. Just buy a set of hand towels or washcloths in a new color that will complement your existing color scheme. You could get a mix of colors or just one shade. Try rolling them up and keeping them in a basket for an attractive decorative accent.
* Add decorative tile appliqués. “Too often people think they are stuck with the same old tired tiles in their bathrooms,” says Sue Kelley of Environmental Graphics, a company that specializes in decorative products for the home. Kelley’s company provides an easy decorating solution, Stick ‘n Stile, for up-dating your old tiles. Stick ‘n Stile is a decorative tile appliqué product for both the kitchen and bath. You can easily create a new tile design or border by applying the appliqué right over the existing tile. Stick ‘n Stile comes in a fun array of shapes and sizes from whimsical butterflies to contemporary geometric squares to popular palm leaves. In addition to tile, the appliqués can be applied to other surfaces such as plastic and mirrors. The adhesive-backed appliqués are simple to apply and can easily be removed with the heat of a hair dryer.
* Frame your mirror. Make a plain mirror more decorative by creating a custom frame. Cut your choice of molding to fit around the mirror and paint it, using neutral colors or a brushed gold or silver. The frame can be attached to the mirror with liquid glue.
* A new paint color. Have fun by choosing a color that complements your existing tiles, but is a bit unexpected. For instance, if you have 1950s green tiles, try pale yellow. Or if you have black or white tiles, highlight them by painting the walls sage green. If you don’t want to go beyond white, update your color with tone-on-tone neutrals like ecru, oyster, almond or biscuit. Then you can add colorful touches with towels, soaps and candles.
* Get a new shower curtain. For under $20 you can find a distinctive shower curtain with interesting shower hooks that will make a big difference in your bathroom. If the room is small, a clear shower curtain or one in the same color as your bathtub will create the illusion of a bigger bathroom.
* Get rid of an outdated medicine cabinet. You can make a dramatic difference in your bathroom by replacing an old cabinet with a simple, wood-framed mirror. Once the mirror is in place, you may want to add a matching, free-standing storage unit or small table.
* Change your hardware. An easy way to alter the look of your room is to update details like drawer pulls, towel bars, shower controls, robe hooks and soap holders. You could even splurge on a new faucet. If you just want to change a few things, mixing metals is perfectly acceptable.
For more information on decorative products for the home, including Stick'n Stile decorative tile appliqués, visit www.sticknstile.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
About the author:
Courtesy of ARA Content
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by: ARA
(ARA) – What do you consider the most forgotten room in your house? For many people, the answer is the bathroom. It gets a lot of use, but many of us live in houses where the bathrooms are sorely outdated. Yet having an attractive and well-designed one can make your daily routine that much more pleasant.
Remodeling costs are high, and a lot of us don’t have the time or skills to do it ourselves. But you don’t have to tear up your bathroom to improve it. Here are some easy and inexpensive ideas for updating your bathroom from bgh.com, iVillage.com and Environmental Graphics.
* Add some new towels. You don’t have to buy a whole new set. Just buy a set of hand towels or washcloths in a new color that will complement your existing color scheme. You could get a mix of colors or just one shade. Try rolling them up and keeping them in a basket for an attractive decorative accent.
* Add decorative tile appliqués. “Too often people think they are stuck with the same old tired tiles in their bathrooms,” says Sue Kelley of Environmental Graphics, a company that specializes in decorative products for the home. Kelley’s company provides an easy decorating solution, Stick ‘n Stile, for up-dating your old tiles. Stick ‘n Stile is a decorative tile appliqué product for both the kitchen and bath. You can easily create a new tile design or border by applying the appliqué right over the existing tile. Stick ‘n Stile comes in a fun array of shapes and sizes from whimsical butterflies to contemporary geometric squares to popular palm leaves. In addition to tile, the appliqués can be applied to other surfaces such as plastic and mirrors. The adhesive-backed appliqués are simple to apply and can easily be removed with the heat of a hair dryer.
* Frame your mirror. Make a plain mirror more decorative by creating a custom frame. Cut your choice of molding to fit around the mirror and paint it, using neutral colors or a brushed gold or silver. The frame can be attached to the mirror with liquid glue.
* A new paint color. Have fun by choosing a color that complements your existing tiles, but is a bit unexpected. For instance, if you have 1950s green tiles, try pale yellow. Or if you have black or white tiles, highlight them by painting the walls sage green. If you don’t want to go beyond white, update your color with tone-on-tone neutrals like ecru, oyster, almond or biscuit. Then you can add colorful touches with towels, soaps and candles.
* Get a new shower curtain. For under $20 you can find a distinctive shower curtain with interesting shower hooks that will make a big difference in your bathroom. If the room is small, a clear shower curtain or one in the same color as your bathtub will create the illusion of a bigger bathroom.
* Get rid of an outdated medicine cabinet. You can make a dramatic difference in your bathroom by replacing an old cabinet with a simple, wood-framed mirror. Once the mirror is in place, you may want to add a matching, free-standing storage unit or small table.
* Change your hardware. An easy way to alter the look of your room is to update details like drawer pulls, towel bars, shower controls, robe hooks and soap holders. You could even splurge on a new faucet. If you just want to change a few things, mixing metals is perfectly acceptable.
For more information on decorative products for the home, including Stick'n Stile decorative tile appliqués, visit www.sticknstile.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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Courtesy of ARA Content
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Design Savvy Consumers Tackle Bathroom Decor
Design Savvy Consumers Tackle Bathroom Decor
by: ARA
(ARA) - Practically everywhere you look these days there’s a TV show or a magazine article devoted to home makeovers, decorating tips or remodeling. Not just for the professionals anymore, home design has entered the mainstream and consumers are a lot more sophisticated than they used to be.
“Interest in the home is definitely on the upswing, but I think it is more than just a trend,” says Ann Roever, product manager for Kohler Co., which designs products for the kitchen and bath. “I see it as a natural evolution of our culture and lifestyle -- 'design' is spreading into the home.”
All this attention to design has not only stimulated more interest in home decorating, but has also served to educate consumers. There is much more awareness about trends and what constitutes value. Consumers now have the confidence to choose what they want, and they know how to put it all together.
“Consumers are getting an eye for and a feel for design -- traditional, contemporary, eclectic or international,” says Roever.
This new design consciousness has even entered the bathroom. “Bathrooms aren’t just utilitarian spaces anymore, they are now extensions of the bedroom: a place you can go to relax or retreat,” explains Roever.
The bathroom decorations are now as carefully coordinated as those in other parts of the house. To assist consumers, Kohler develops complete design solutions that eliminate the guesswork and concerns about having to coordinate an entire bathroom. Called the bathroom suite, it offers an array of integrated products including fixtures, faucet choices and decorative bath accessories that are designed to coordinate well together.
“Bathroom suites take the worry out of the decision-making process,” says Roever. “A homeowner can fall in love with the look of a product -- say a pedestal lavatory -- and know that there are other products that go with that particular piece.”
Kohler’s bathroom suites are offered in a range of designs with numerous choices within each line. For example, the Memoirs suite, which is architecturally based and inspired by traditional crown molding, offers six different toilets, a bidet, a whirlpool, a cast iron bathtub, an acrylic soaker tub, two lines of faucets, pedestal lavatories and bath accessories. Homeowners can outfit more than one bathroom, and each will be completely different, yet the designs will be complementary.
Arguably, the most universal design of all the Kohler suites is the new Devonshire. "With the Devonshire suite, Kohler is offering more than one design at a competitive price point. Kohler knows that every consumer has different interests and tastes, and we’re offering many more design choices for every budget," says Roever.
Most suites at this entry price-point are ensembles -- they don’t include bathing or showering components. But with Devonshire, Kohler offers a bathtub, a whirlpool, a shower door, mirrored cabinets, bath accessories and, of course, faucets.
For more information about Kohler bathroom suites, call (800) 4-KOHLER or visit www.kohler.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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Courtesy of ARA Content
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by: ARA
(ARA) - Practically everywhere you look these days there’s a TV show or a magazine article devoted to home makeovers, decorating tips or remodeling. Not just for the professionals anymore, home design has entered the mainstream and consumers are a lot more sophisticated than they used to be.
“Interest in the home is definitely on the upswing, but I think it is more than just a trend,” says Ann Roever, product manager for Kohler Co., which designs products for the kitchen and bath. “I see it as a natural evolution of our culture and lifestyle -- 'design' is spreading into the home.”
All this attention to design has not only stimulated more interest in home decorating, but has also served to educate consumers. There is much more awareness about trends and what constitutes value. Consumers now have the confidence to choose what they want, and they know how to put it all together.
“Consumers are getting an eye for and a feel for design -- traditional, contemporary, eclectic or international,” says Roever.
This new design consciousness has even entered the bathroom. “Bathrooms aren’t just utilitarian spaces anymore, they are now extensions of the bedroom: a place you can go to relax or retreat,” explains Roever.
The bathroom decorations are now as carefully coordinated as those in other parts of the house. To assist consumers, Kohler develops complete design solutions that eliminate the guesswork and concerns about having to coordinate an entire bathroom. Called the bathroom suite, it offers an array of integrated products including fixtures, faucet choices and decorative bath accessories that are designed to coordinate well together.
“Bathroom suites take the worry out of the decision-making process,” says Roever. “A homeowner can fall in love with the look of a product -- say a pedestal lavatory -- and know that there are other products that go with that particular piece.”
Kohler’s bathroom suites are offered in a range of designs with numerous choices within each line. For example, the Memoirs suite, which is architecturally based and inspired by traditional crown molding, offers six different toilets, a bidet, a whirlpool, a cast iron bathtub, an acrylic soaker tub, two lines of faucets, pedestal lavatories and bath accessories. Homeowners can outfit more than one bathroom, and each will be completely different, yet the designs will be complementary.
Arguably, the most universal design of all the Kohler suites is the new Devonshire. "With the Devonshire suite, Kohler is offering more than one design at a competitive price point. Kohler knows that every consumer has different interests and tastes, and we’re offering many more design choices for every budget," says Roever.
Most suites at this entry price-point are ensembles -- they don’t include bathing or showering components. But with Devonshire, Kohler offers a bathtub, a whirlpool, a shower door, mirrored cabinets, bath accessories and, of course, faucets.
For more information about Kohler bathroom suites, call (800) 4-KOHLER or visit www.kohler.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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Ways to Make Your Bathroom More Energy Efficient
Ways to Make Your Bathroom More Energy Efficient
by: Chileshe Mwape
There are a number of design features and fittings that can improve bathroom energy efficiency and reduce energy bills and greenhouse pollution. Remodelling your bathroom to make it more energy efficient will improve your home because doing it right will reap the benefits of health, safety, comfort and will save you money and energy.
1. Energy Efficient Hot Water System
Select an energy efficient hot water system and place it as close to the bathroom and laundry as possible to reduce pipe length and reduce heat loss.
2. Energy Efficient Labelled Ventilation Fans
Bathroom moisture is often controlled by the use of an exhaust fan. The fan sucks out the moisture-laden air, which is then replaced by drier outside air.
Install properly sized energy efficient labelled ventilation fans to control moisture in the air while you shower or bathe. By removing moist air and drying out your bathroom, a ventilation fan will help prevent mold and mildew. Fans help remove moisture, which can increase the level of humidity in your house. High humidity can damage building materials. Worse, high humidity can cause mold growth and mold may affect your family's health. Install self closing exhaust fans to avoid heat loss or gain when not in use
3. Energy Efficient Labelled Lighting
Another easy way to make your bathroom more energy efficient is to install energy efficient labelled lighting (e.g., Light Fixtures: suspended lights, ceiling-mounted lights, cabinet lights, recessed lights, or compact fluorescent bulbs). Attractive, energy-efficient lighting adds value to your home and reduces home energy bills.
4. Insulation - Insulate Walls and Ceilings
The walls behind tubs or showers are often poorly insulated and air-sealed. Opening these walls as part of the remodelling project provides an opportunity to ensure comfort by sealing air leaks with caulk or expanding foam and installing insulation. Also make sure to air seal around plumbing and electrical penetrations.
5. Energy Efficient Windows and Doors
If you are replacing windows, doors, and skylights, consider those with the energy efficient label. New technologies in the glass and frame systems help make your home more comfortable, and lower heating and cooling costs too.
6. Energy Efficient Showerheads
The shower is the largest user of household hot water. Install an AAA showerhead to reduce the amount of hot water consumed. AAA showerheads are available at many bathroom supply stores and hardware stores. A flow rate of approximately 7L per minute is considered as AAA for showerheads.
7. Water Pipes and Water Saving Devices
Insulate hot water pipes to reduce heat loss and save energy. Install water saving devices like water saving aerators and flow regulators in your taps. Select water saving taps that have a similar water saving rating.
About the author:
Copyright 2005. Chileshe Mwape writes for the Designer Bathrooms website at: http://www.designer-bathrooms.org.uk/which features bathroom remodelling tips, ideas and supplies.
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by: Chileshe Mwape
There are a number of design features and fittings that can improve bathroom energy efficiency and reduce energy bills and greenhouse pollution. Remodelling your bathroom to make it more energy efficient will improve your home because doing it right will reap the benefits of health, safety, comfort and will save you money and energy.
1. Energy Efficient Hot Water System
Select an energy efficient hot water system and place it as close to the bathroom and laundry as possible to reduce pipe length and reduce heat loss.
2. Energy Efficient Labelled Ventilation Fans
Bathroom moisture is often controlled by the use of an exhaust fan. The fan sucks out the moisture-laden air, which is then replaced by drier outside air.
Install properly sized energy efficient labelled ventilation fans to control moisture in the air while you shower or bathe. By removing moist air and drying out your bathroom, a ventilation fan will help prevent mold and mildew. Fans help remove moisture, which can increase the level of humidity in your house. High humidity can damage building materials. Worse, high humidity can cause mold growth and mold may affect your family's health. Install self closing exhaust fans to avoid heat loss or gain when not in use
3. Energy Efficient Labelled Lighting
Another easy way to make your bathroom more energy efficient is to install energy efficient labelled lighting (e.g., Light Fixtures: suspended lights, ceiling-mounted lights, cabinet lights, recessed lights, or compact fluorescent bulbs). Attractive, energy-efficient lighting adds value to your home and reduces home energy bills.
4. Insulation - Insulate Walls and Ceilings
The walls behind tubs or showers are often poorly insulated and air-sealed. Opening these walls as part of the remodelling project provides an opportunity to ensure comfort by sealing air leaks with caulk or expanding foam and installing insulation. Also make sure to air seal around plumbing and electrical penetrations.
5. Energy Efficient Windows and Doors
If you are replacing windows, doors, and skylights, consider those with the energy efficient label. New technologies in the glass and frame systems help make your home more comfortable, and lower heating and cooling costs too.
6. Energy Efficient Showerheads
The shower is the largest user of household hot water. Install an AAA showerhead to reduce the amount of hot water consumed. AAA showerheads are available at many bathroom supply stores and hardware stores. A flow rate of approximately 7L per minute is considered as AAA for showerheads.
7. Water Pipes and Water Saving Devices
Insulate hot water pipes to reduce heat loss and save energy. Install water saving devices like water saving aerators and flow regulators in your taps. Select water saving taps that have a similar water saving rating.
About the author:
Copyright 2005. Chileshe Mwape writes for the Designer Bathrooms website at: http://www.designer-bathrooms.org.uk/which features bathroom remodelling tips, ideas and supplies.
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9 Ways To Inexpensively Decorate Your Bathroom
9 Ways To Inexpensively Decorate Your Bathroom
by: Samantha Birch
The bathroom has evolved over the past decades from a strictly useful and functional room to one that is similar to a spa. And just because there aren't thousands of dollars available for decorating doesn't mean that a bath can't be unique, dramatic and thoroughly satisfying. Here are nine frugal ways to spice up any bathroom.
1. Collections of inexpensive mirrors add both light and space to any bathroom. They reflect colors, faces and other decorations and add character and interest . Mirrors are much more effective when grouped together rather than being a scattered mass simply hanging on a wall.
2. Pictures or prints can be massed on a wall. For maximum impact hang them closely together rather than separated. Pictures can be striking if they have a 'theme', such as:
* Black and white photos - no color
* Older shots - from the 1930s or 1940s, for instance
* The frames are all an identical color
* The frames or photos have a uniqueness in common - oval shapes, women only, pets
This decorating tactic works best in a powder room, rather than a full bathroom, because of the high moisture.
3. Needlework makes a striking wall accent. For instance, sampler patterns from Colonial America are easily available and a few samplers grouped on a wall create a totally unique bathroom.
4. For color and charm, throw a rug on the floor. In a dull or drab bathroom, a rag rug or oriental carpet will add charm and beauty. Just be certain to use a non-skid pad underneath, especially if anyone will be stepping out of a tub or shower.
5. Collections can spark interest and admiration. Pottery is an unusual accent piece for any bathroom. Or you might consider old bottles, perfume atomizers, shaving mugs or other flea market collectibles. One especially exciting bathroom included replicas of old bottles with genuine antique stoppers made of silver and fashioned into old-time designs.
In a bathroom, be certain there is ample space for your collectibles, like a wide shelf with a lip or a generous window sill. Broken pottery or glass isn't helpful in any room - but it's especially destructive in a bathroom.
6. Color is, of course, the quickest, cheapest and easiest way alter any bathroom. Unusual colors on a bathroom wall, like melon, chocolate brown or peach, will add drama. Accents like brightly colored towels in a monochromatic bathroom will provide an outstanding accent.
7. Architectural details can spark interest. A piece of beaded or crown molding halfway up the wall or near the ceiling can transform a room, especially if it's painted a funky color. A more elaborate addition would be grooved paneling over half the wall. Even a shelf or picture rail adds interest.
8. Add living color with plants or freshly cut flowers. The energy of plants is soothing and creates a zen-like atmosphere that is very conducive to relaxation and letting go of stress.
9. A piece of furniture, space permitting, can add unusual detail to any bathroom. Furniture need not be expensive. Most Goodwill or Salvation Army stores will have a battered piece of furniture that can be revived with sanding, paint and some unusual and classy handles or knobs.
All nine of these ideas won't fit every bathroom, nor should they. Simply choose one or two, as your budget permits, and begin slowly adding details. And don't forget the 'before and after' pictures!
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by: Samantha Birch
The bathroom has evolved over the past decades from a strictly useful and functional room to one that is similar to a spa. And just because there aren't thousands of dollars available for decorating doesn't mean that a bath can't be unique, dramatic and thoroughly satisfying. Here are nine frugal ways to spice up any bathroom.
1. Collections of inexpensive mirrors add both light and space to any bathroom. They reflect colors, faces and other decorations and add character and interest . Mirrors are much more effective when grouped together rather than being a scattered mass simply hanging on a wall.
2. Pictures or prints can be massed on a wall. For maximum impact hang them closely together rather than separated. Pictures can be striking if they have a 'theme', such as:
* Black and white photos - no color
* Older shots - from the 1930s or 1940s, for instance
* The frames are all an identical color
* The frames or photos have a uniqueness in common - oval shapes, women only, pets
This decorating tactic works best in a powder room, rather than a full bathroom, because of the high moisture.
3. Needlework makes a striking wall accent. For instance, sampler patterns from Colonial America are easily available and a few samplers grouped on a wall create a totally unique bathroom.
4. For color and charm, throw a rug on the floor. In a dull or drab bathroom, a rag rug or oriental carpet will add charm and beauty. Just be certain to use a non-skid pad underneath, especially if anyone will be stepping out of a tub or shower.
5. Collections can spark interest and admiration. Pottery is an unusual accent piece for any bathroom. Or you might consider old bottles, perfume atomizers, shaving mugs or other flea market collectibles. One especially exciting bathroom included replicas of old bottles with genuine antique stoppers made of silver and fashioned into old-time designs.
In a bathroom, be certain there is ample space for your collectibles, like a wide shelf with a lip or a generous window sill. Broken pottery or glass isn't helpful in any room - but it's especially destructive in a bathroom.
6. Color is, of course, the quickest, cheapest and easiest way alter any bathroom. Unusual colors on a bathroom wall, like melon, chocolate brown or peach, will add drama. Accents like brightly colored towels in a monochromatic bathroom will provide an outstanding accent.
7. Architectural details can spark interest. A piece of beaded or crown molding halfway up the wall or near the ceiling can transform a room, especially if it's painted a funky color. A more elaborate addition would be grooved paneling over half the wall. Even a shelf or picture rail adds interest.
8. Add living color with plants or freshly cut flowers. The energy of plants is soothing and creates a zen-like atmosphere that is very conducive to relaxation and letting go of stress.
9. A piece of furniture, space permitting, can add unusual detail to any bathroom. Furniture need not be expensive. Most Goodwill or Salvation Army stores will have a battered piece of furniture that can be revived with sanding, paint and some unusual and classy handles or knobs.
All nine of these ideas won't fit every bathroom, nor should they. Simply choose one or two, as your budget permits, and begin slowly adding details. And don't forget the 'before and after' pictures!
About the author:
Read dozens of articles & constant new information on home decorating, furniture, unique home decor, home interiors & gifts, including a home blog, books on decorating and weekly specials.
http://online-home-shop.com
Circulated by Article Emporium
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