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Top 10 Bathroom renovation tips
1. Choose elegant fixtures.
A pedestal sink with graceful lines is more attractive than a blocky cabinet vanity. A classic claw-foot tub is like bathroom sculpture. Even enclosed in a deck, the simple lines of the lip have an inherent beauty that surpasses most acrylic versions.
2. Sit in a bathtub before buying it.Bigger isn't always better. A 60-inch tub is fine for most people. It offers enough room to stretch out and provides a secure foothold, so you don't float into oblivion when the tub is full. Assess the angled back and lip for comfort and neck support -- a tub for two people slants at either end and has taps in the middle. If you only have enough space for a small tub, buy an extra-deep one.
3. Select durable flooring. Ceramic, marble and stone tiles are all excellent durable and water-resistant choices for a bathroom. Subfloor heating coils will make these hard surfaces warm. Well-sealed hardwood floors offer natural warmth and act as a foil for the other hard, cold surfaces in a bathroom.
4. Hang a stylish mirror.One beautifully framed mirror over a sink is more attractive than many surfaces covered with mirror. Supplement it with a wall-mounted adjustable makeup mirror, and consider installing a lighted, mirrored shaving niche in your shower stall.
5. Use found space.Take advantage of space between wall studs by recessing a tall storage cabinet into the wall to maximize vertical storage while saving floor space. The cabinet should have an interior depth of at least three inches and a door flush with the wall.
6. Build a shower area. Consider building an open-concept shower area that doesn't need a curtain or door and is less confining than a standard shower stall. In addition to well-designed drainage, a ceiling-mounted rain showerhead and/or a high wall-mounted showerhead that splashes less water will keep the area outside the shower drier.
7. Share space for added function.In homes with back-to-back bathrooms, a shared shower with access doors to each of the bathrooms maximizes limited space. Or turn a closet located next to a bathroom into a small ensuite with access to the neighbouring bath.
8. Design lighting that works. Good lighting is imperative. Combine halogen pot lights with wall sconces beside or over the mirror for lighting with no shadows. Always install dimmers.
9. Buy a quality toilet.When buying a toilet, it's not necessary for you to spend big bucks, but you don't want to scrimp too much, either. You can get a good-quality one-piece toilet for about $400. Models with elongated bowls and seats are usually most comfortable.
10. Incorporate luxury into your room. If you're fortunate enough to have lots of space to work with, indulge yourself with an expanded spalike bathroom that includes a dressing room -- a haven for privacy and relaxation. Outfit it with a television, fireplace, exercise equipment, makeup vanity and even a large comfortable occasional chair upholstered in thick white terry-cloth.
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Rubber Ducky Alternative
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By Connie Koenenn
What’s more relaxing than a hot bath?
A hot bath with “Floating Bath Books” (Longstreet Press), which offers soothing words of personal affirmation from its waterproof pages as you soak.
Citing a Yankolovich report that 55% of women cite “soaking in a hot bath” as their choice way to relax, Atlanta-based entrepreneurs Cynthia Good and Elizabeth O’Dowd have taken the process a step further.
Their pastel books made from waterproof plastic pages combine empowering meditations for specific circumstances:
“I let joy into my life at every chance… . I welcome my new role as a mother. Now I give birth to myself …” with appropriate aromatherapy to complete the New Age experience.
Lavender will help you relax and recharge, they say, and peppermint and rosemary will energize you. Ylang Ylang, jasmine and frankincense will make you feel sexier. Eucalyptus and teatree will help clear your head.
“People are viewing bathing as more than a daily chore–a chance to relax and enjoy some down time,” O’Dowd says.
Their collection ($9.95 each) includes “The Everyday Bath Book,” “The Healthy Bath Book,” “The New Mom’s Bath Book” and “The Newlywed Bath Book.”
Test-marketed in Atlanta-area bookstores and spas, the floating books got good early reviews, said Amy Burton, spokeswoman for Longstreet.
The “Floating Bath Books” are now available in bookstores.
Small Space Bathtubs With Personality
Is your standard tub not giving you enough depth to soak in? While technically a tub, these common denizens of small bathrooms really don't deserve the word, at least to a normal adult human. If you are looking for a way to jazz up your bathroom and have a tub that will actually allow you to soak in it, read on.
Many people see a soaking tub as a giant monstrosity that only a palatial luxury bathroom can accommodate. This is not so; there are many options out on the market! Look for a tub that is shorter but deeper, allowing you to soak comfortably while still fitting into your smaller space. Most smaller tubs will accommodate the same shower head as traditional tubs. If they are freestanding, they may require more in the way of curtains or panels to shield the walls and floor from water.
Japanese bathtubs have become more popular in recent years. These tubs are based around a tradition of soaking in very hot water. Japanese etiquette has it that the tub is used for soaking rather than cleansing, so the idea was that one would wash oneself before stepping into the water. Some North American companies have taken the idea of the sit-down tub and modified it to suit Western customs of cleansing in the tub. No matter what you choose, this can be a great choice for the person who enjoys completely surrounding themselves with hot water.
Walk-in bathtubs are becoming popular with the elderly and the handicapped, two demographics that can have difficulty negotiating traditional tubs. These are manufactured with doors that seal shut upon entry. Many have raised seats, rather like the Japanese-style tub, allowing for a comfortable shower or soak The walk-in design, plus handrails and seating, make these bathtubs much less risky for older or infirm individuals.
Some freestanding "claw foot" bathtubs come in a variety of sizes and, being freestanding, have a little more flexibility in their placement than built-in tubs. The traditional claw foot tub is comparatively large, but there are smaller versions out there. Claw foots tend to be very deep for their size, allowing for a comfortable fit.
In an awkward space, consider some of the corner tubs that have been built to fit into spaces that won't accommodate traditional tubs. There are many tubs built to fit into corners or that can be custom-designed to fit into nearly any spare corner with little space wastage. If you have an unusual bathroom layout, you might find that an unusually shaped tub can be the answer, while still allowing you to remain submerged.
A soaking tub is great for reducing stress, helping injuries heal and aiding relaxation and sleep. The same tub will also lend a bit of uniqueness to your bathroom, something that can make it more attractive to future home buyers, should you sell. With some careful shopping, you can find a tub with a "personality" that suits your requirements a lot more than the standard shower tub.
Want to soak in real Luxury, then answer me - what is the most expensive Bathtub in the world?
The Archeo Copper Bathtub including the bath set and handshower from Kallista is the correct answer. Although there are many more expensive custom built tubs, we are only talking about the most expensive bathtub in production. Archeo, meaning "ancient and beautiful" in Greek, perfectly describes this solid copper bathtub that is hand-crafted by the same coppersmiths who restored the Statue of Liberty's torch. The spacious bathtub is 65 inches long, 31 inches wide, 30 inches high and 21 inches deep. This luxurious tub can hold 71 gallons of water (that’s more than anyone can need) and weighs 154 pounds. An elegant, fluted-shell copper bathtub faucet set with handshower complements the bathtub. It also features a turn knob finely etched with a starfish sitting on a seashell.
Annette Teak Bathtub
Relax and indulge yourself in this Annette Teak Bathtub ($5,500) by 10 Crescent Lane. Hancrafted in Denmark, this rectangular-shaped bathtub is made from solid teak blocks that are kiln dried for six months, and interlocking invisible marine-quality rubber. By combining ancient traditions with modern technology, the Annette Teak Bathtub, will not only last a lifetime, but will also give you years of relaxation
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