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Design Dilemma: Small Bathroom Makeovers

You see plenty of renovations of grand master bathrooms that are so large and sumptuous they measure about the size of the average living room. But what about those of us with tiny bathrooms? Can we do a bathroom makeover that is both efficient and at least cute, if not beautiful? The answer is yes. And though you may not see too many of these bathrooms featured on home and garden television shows, they are certainly out there. Let’s take a look.

Below, a small 50’s era bathroom of about 50 square feet needed a redo. The shower leaked, the window and lighting were inadequate, and a pedestal sink meant the homeowner had no storage. A shower-tub combo was protected by a run-of-the-mill shower curtain. The blue tile was dated.

The owners hired Kate Dickson, who spent two months renovating their small space. She installed a new tub, shower head and glass shower doors. Keeping the shower-tub combo allowed this full bathroom (the only one in the house) to remain a place for both a bath and shower.
What makes this bathroom truly special is the patterned cement tile floor, which acts as the bathroom’s focal point. The rest of the bathroom — all white and classic, frames the floor. The sleek glass door streamlines the room, giving it a clean, modern feel.

Above, a new vanity was installed with a ledge (visible in the first picture) that runs across the wall above the toilet, functioning as more countertop space and more storage. The new vanity features storage and chrome fixtures that were affordable and classic.

This relatively modest bathroom renovation underscores some important tips to consider when renovating a small bathroom.

• In a small space, consider using a glass shower door or tub enclosure. A shower curtain breaks up the room, while glass opens up the space visually.

• Dispense with window dressings and use frosted glass. This allows more light to flood in and also helps open up the space visually.

• Consider a storage niche in the shower. Your bathroom will appear more spacious and clean without shampoo bottles clogging the corners of the tub.

• Go custom. Although it will cost more to spring for a custom vanity, it’s the best way to get the most out of a space.

• Consider expanding your medicine cabinet.  In tight quarters where you need to make the most of storage, the best way of all can be expanding a medicine cabinet to stretch across the wall above the sink and toilet. The mirrors help expand the space and the extra shelves provide more storage.

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Design Dilemma: What’s in for Fall 2017

It’s fall! That means we’ll be spending more and more time indoors, entertaining, relaxing, and breaking bread with family and friends. But just because life is all cozy doesn’t mean it can’t be trendy too! Here are a few 2017 interior design trends that can help boost your home’s cool factor even as the crisper weather sets in.

Velvet

Velvet upholstery is all the rage this year. It’s probably a reaction to the streamlined modern looks of recent years, but there is something about velvet that speaks of luxury and lushness, a bit of excess, and certainly comfort. There is nothing austere about it, although velvet is often being used on clean and modern furniture shapes. Take a look:

Above, a San Francisco apartment walks the line between fashionably minimalist and cozy traditional, just by placing an aquamarine sofa in an otherwise all white apartment.

Here’s another view:

And here, a velvet couch feels like something you might see in a posh private club:

And here:

Jewel Tones

Hand in hand with the new fashionability of velvet are rich jewel tones that seem to perfectly reflect fall colors. Emerald greens, ruby reds, royal blues and regal purples are very much in style this season and probably are prominent as a reaction to the popularity of beige and gray in recent years. Certainly, they give a room much more personality!

For instance:

Or here:

Or here:

And here:

Each of the rooms above would have felt safe and boring, were it not for the deep jewel toned sofas. The other plus about jewel tones are that they are much easier to live with than primary colors and can mix and match with other colors without a problem.

Brass accents.

We’ve heard it both ways when it comes to brass. Some say it’s back, others say it isn’t. But what is clear is that people are searching for an alternative to the brushed aluminum look that has been standard now for at least a decade. No one wants to go as far as gold, and copper has had its day, but brass is a warmer metal that earthier and less garish than some others, and which can make a statement without seeming too trendy.

For instance:

Or here:

Or here:

We’re even seeing it in bathrooms:

And in bedrooms too, as you see above and below:

One thing that makes brass so appealing is its ability to combine easily with other metals. If you’re stuck with gold door knobs, for example, pairing a brass pendant lamp above isn’t going to raise any eyebrows. Same if you have a bit of copper or aluminum in the room.

Woven textiles

Nubby textures are another way to make an interior feel ready for primetime snuggling. This fall, there woven textures abound, not only on upholstery, but in rugs, wall hangings, pillows and more. They give a room depth and a sense of exoticism. For instance:

And here:

And here:

Bedroom as Restful Retreat
One last fall trend worth mentioning is the emphasis on the bedroom as a relaxing tranquil retreat. This is most often reflected in pale monochromatic colors that give a bedroom an almost spa like feel. For instance:

And here, in this children’s bedroom:

What else is in this fall?

• Bone inlay furniture.
• “Blush” or if you prefer, millennial pink.
• Terra cotta tile.
• Statement ceilings
• Matte black accessories in light fixtures and accents.

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Turning Your Basement into a Comfy Living Space

Many people think of their basement as being a dark, damp and rather depressing part of the home. Some people just use their basement for things like storage and try to avoid otherwise going in the basement any more than necessary.

However, turning your basement into a comfortable living space can be a great way to significantly increase the square footage in your home without having to spring for costly renovations.

Fortunately, doing so can be easier than you might think. These are a few steps that you can take if you would like to turn your basement into a comfortable living area. Then, you can use the area as an extra bedroom for one of your family members or you could even consider renting it out.

Add a Toilet

First of all, you’re going to want to make sure that the bathroom has proper facilities. An upflush toilet kit can make it easy for you to install a toilet in this part of your home, as its flushing mechanism allows it to be easily installed even 15 feet below traditional toilets set ups.

Seal it Off

Since the basement can be prone to moisture, you’re going to want to make sure that it’s properly sealed off. This can help prevent mold growth, can help prevent flooding and can also help you ensure that the basement stays at a comfortable temperature. Basement waterproofing can help you with this.

Add Plenty of Lighting

Since your basement probably does not have any windows, it can be a darker area of the home. This can make it feel a bit depressing. One good way that you can help counteract this is by adding ample lighting throughout the basement. Installing overhead lights isn’t enough; you may also want to add various lamps throughout the basement so that you can get the perfect amount of light for any situation.

Add Decor

Any room can look bland and boring if you don’t decorate it, but this can be particularly true when you’re turning a basement into a living space. Therefore, it’s a good idea to put plenty of effort into decorating your basement area.

For one thing, you may want to consider using light or bright paint colors, flooring and furniture to help brighten up an otherwise dark space. Adding decor to the walls can also help make the room feel more “home-like” and less like a basement.

Look Into Heating and Cooling Options

You may not want to tie your basement in with the heating and cooling system for the rest of your home. By investing in standalone heating and cooling units, however, you can help keep the basement nice and cozy during the winter and nice and cool during the summer.

As you can see, there are steps that you can take to turn your basement into a comfortable living area. If you follow these tips, you might soon find that your basement is actually one of your favorite areas of the home.