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Design Lines
By Zola Hunt
Phone (435) 628-1500
Cell (435) 229-1916
June 27, 2007
Beautiful bathrooms help you to clean up in style
The Romans were known for their lavish baths with marble columns, high barrel vaulted ceilings, advanced plumbing, and furnaces that heated the floors, walls, and waters. They even had marble benches with running water below which was likely one of the earliest versions of flush toilets. For the Romans, bathing was an important daily communal event.
While our modern bathrooms may lack the splendor and social aspects of a Roman bath, they are still a very important part of daily life. The bathroom is where you begin your day, and an attractive and comfortably functional bathroom can help to get you off to a good start each morning; this room deserves extra attention.
Whether you are planning a new home, or would like to add some updated amenities to your older bath, there are some logical steps to take before you begin. Rule number one: do not begin until you have a plan on paper.
One of the most common errors made by do-it-yourselfers when it comes to laying out plans for bathroom remodeling is to try to fit too many things into too small a space. Today’s bathrooms are larger than ever, and a little extra space, even a few feet, can make a big difference in how the room functions.
When I am designing a new layout for an existing bathroom, I check to see if there is space that can be borrowed from a nearby closet or unused bedroom. If you are remodeling on a budget and do not plan to add on, you will be constrained in your room layout by the existing plumbing fixtures, with perhaps a few minor exceptions. This presents some challenges, and this is where extra creativity and planning pays off.
Once you have determined the layout, it is time to decide on a look that appeals to you. Once a look or style is determined, it becomes your guideline for making the selections for your new bathroom. It is necessary to do this early in the game, because cabinets and surface materials must be ordered. You certainly do not want to hold up the work on your new bathroom because you have not been able to make up your mind on the myriad of details necessary to create your new dream bathroom.
While bold and dramatic is good, I would like to caution against selecting fixtures such as tubs, sinks, and toilets in trendy or unusual colors. I have seen many bathroom fixtures in pink, aqua, avocado green, and other once-fashionable colors which the homeowner now finds completely repugnant. Classic and predominantly neutral colors for permanent items such as countertops and porcelain will stand the test of time, and will not become a potential buyer’s objection at some later date if you decide to sell your home. I prefer to use color as an accent, such as a border set into a tile backsplash, or in paint and accessories.
Plan ahead. If you plan to live in your home for the remainder of your life, add grab bars in your shower and tub, and provide storage areas where they will be easily accessible. Make sure the doors in your home, especially the bathroom, allow a minimum opening of 34 inches. Keep plenty of room free to navigate a wheelchair around the tub and toilet. Nobody relishes the thought of ever being confined to a wheelchair; however, a little planning while you are building or remodeling might allow you to remain in your own home in the event that these simple modifications become necessary.
Zola Hunt is an interior designer with over 20 years experience designing interiors for new construction and remodeling. She and her daughter, Lisa Berlin, own CliffRose Interior Design. They can be reached at (435) 628-1500.
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