So you want a new bathroom
As a kitchen and bath designer, I often get newbies walking into the showroom. They usually have a slightly stunned, vacant look on their faces as they slowly take in all the colors and choices that lay before them. Chrome versus brushed nickel, size of the vanity, coordinating the countertop and floor tile, regular toilet or comfort height, shower doors, and tubs. Yikes! You really need to think about a lot of stuff when you’re remodeling a bathroom because there are just so many components that are needed.
Many people come to a showroom and to a designer, like me, not only to get help to make sure their bathroom looks good and functions well but to have someone else coordinate the whole messy process.
By the way, if you think you need a complete redesign and want to move walls or drains, that’s probably another blog. But for those of you who don’t want to change the footprint of your bathroom, here are some tips:
1. Measure your bathroom carefully. Measure the vanity, the tub, the shower, and the shower door opening. Measure the door, and how much space is needed to open it without bumping into anything, such as the toilet.
2. A good place to start is vanity. If you have a 30″ vanity, you will probably replace it with the same size. Once you know the size, you must choose the style and the finish. Start with the color, or finish. Do you want a white vanity, a natural cherry, or a darker stain? Then look at the styles. Is your taste more traditional or contemporary? Do you like raised panel doors, like a kitchen cabinet, flat panel, shaker, or a cottage look? Think about storage, some 30″ vanities come with a bank of drawers, which offers great storage, and some have doors.
3. Do you want a mirror or a medicine cabinet? Choose a med cab if you want the extra storage. Many vanities have matching medicine cabinets available. Choose a mirror with a beautiful frame to bring more personality into the bathroom.
4. Coordinate your countertop with your vanity. Good choices for countertops are granite, marble, or Silestone. Avoid cultured stone products as they scream “builder grade,” and they scratch easily.
5. Decide if you want brushed nickel, chrome, or oil-rubbed bronze for your faucets, towel bars, etc., Brushed nickel is very popular, followed by chrome. Oil-rubbed bronze has a beautiful look but is a little more trendy. Over time the finish can also patina and spot giving it an aged look. Some people don’t like this.
6. Choose your faucet and order everything else (tub spout/shower trim, towel ring, towel bar, robe hook, toilet paper holder) from the same collection. Buy the best you can afford; cheap faucets will give you problems for years….not worth it. AND ensure you get a licensed plumber to install, not a handyman.
6. Choose your floor and tub/shower tile to coordinate with your vanity and top. If you go light on your vanity, go with a darker tile, and vice versa. Put the same tile on your floor and shower wall but in different sizes. For example, put 12″x12″ tile on the floor and maybe an 8″x10″ on your tub/shower wall. Ask for a coordinating border and put a 3″-4″ horizontal strip (listello) at eye level around the tub/shower wall. Add a grab bar if you have concerns about slipping. Note: Ensure your installer puts a good underlayment over your subfloor and under your tile (cement board or a product like Schluter Ditra). This is an important step, don’t skip it. Seal all grout with a high-quality sealer. Ditto caulk, this is not a place to go cheap.
7. Choose your toilet and tub. Ensure the toilet is a good flusher (flushes 800+ grams) and that the tub, toilet, and sink are the same color, usually bone or white. Another thing to pay attention to is that a Kohler’s bone will not be the same as an American Standard bone. Compare finishes if you are purchasing from different companies. Note: toilets are now available in “comfort height,” meaning they are higher and, therefore, easier to get up and down from. It saves those aching knees.
8. If you have a separate shower, decide whether you want a tiled shower floor or a pan. A pan is easy to maintain, but a 2″x2″ tiled shower floor has a more “custom” look, Make sure you have a good quality shower door, I like to upgrade my doors to 3/8″ glass. If you choose a frameless shower door, you will probably add $2,000+ to your bathroom. Add niches for soap and shampoo, or have a triangular shower basket screwed into the corner.
9. Assess your lighting and ventilation. Can you see well enough, or do you need to add a canned light above the shower or some recessed lighting in the ceiling? Do you have room to put sconces on either side of your mirror, or will you use an overhead light bar? Do you have a fan that vents well, or do you need to replace/install one?
10. This is also the time to consider adding or moving electrical outlets, installing heated floors, and a towel warmer.
11. Lastly, whether you hire a full-service remodeling company or use a local contractor, make sure whoever you hire comes with references (and do call) and is fully licensed and insured. There are many fine companies and contractors out there. Still, the reality is that many contractors are hurting right now and are “reinventing” themselves as bathroom remodelers – make sure they have the experience behind their sales pitch.