Bathroom

Spending my Money on Good Design.

A couple of days ago we got the final bids on the bath remodel, and this time it looks like we will really begin the bath overhaul. Seriously, all the parts and pieces are in and our contractor is ready to go as soon as we sign off.

One item that I want to replace but hadn’t found something I like yet was towel holders. This morning though, that changed. Actually I found a whole bunch of stuff that I want to buy, but is going to have to wait until we remodel bath number two. Anyway, what I found is the TP-H1 toilet paper + towel holder + shelf from DNA +. I’m not so much interested in using this as a toilet paper holder, but simply as a towel holder with a hook for something like a robe.

I love the minimalist look, the simple angular shape, and how the main structure of the shelf/holder is made from a white composite material in a single fluid piece. The design function is equal to the overall form, and materials. Such an overall simple shape, but so interesting at the same time.

At $480.00 it isn’t cheap, but what I’ve found out is nothing for a bathroom remodel ever is.

So Many Choices, So Few Rooms, So Little Money.

Our master bathroom remodel starts next Spring. All the parts and pieces have been purchased, we are just waiting on a date that works with our contractor and our schedules to start. As is often the case, once you have all the parts purchased, and you are set on a specific look, you often find something that makes you want to rethink the whole project or at least parts of it. Case in point this series of drainless minimal sinks from Giquardo.

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Carved from black granite, Belgian blue stone, or formed from white composite quartz the sinks are simply understated and elegant. Subtle minimal forms create beautiful round shapes and clean look without a visible drain. I really like the look, and in a smaller sized bathroom like ours, the thin wall mounted sink would visually open up the space below to help create a larger feel for the space. Now I just need to come up with even more cash, and see if I can just convince Kristy that we should get one of the double basin models, and re-think our remodeling plans yet again.

Tile Shopping

One of the things about our bath remodel that needs to be addressed is the tile for the wall. Originally we were going to go with Heath Ceramic tile, but it looks like we might have to pass on that due to cost, and the time it will actually get the tile we want. What we are looking at is on back order, so today we are tile shopping locally to see if we can find something that looks as good as the Heath tiles do.

So after two hours at the tile warehouse in Merriam, and having looked through about 500 sample of various tiles, we narrowed it down to a specific look and pulled the trigger. Semi-gloss white subway tile that will rise 48 inches, to a band of warm gray glass tile with a 4 inch insert of rectilinear glass tile, followed by more gray glass, then semi-gloss subway tile.

The pattern, and combination of materials work well together. A series of warm muted tones combined with the semi-gloss white. The opaque vs the transparent of the glass. The tile will surround the entire shower enclosure running across three walls, floor to ceiling. On the wall that extends behind the vanity, the longest wall in the room, the tile will run the full width of the bathroom filling in behind the vanity and mirror.

The only thing left to purchase is the mirror, medicine cabinet and lighting. We have a number of items on the short list, so the next step will be drawing up a perspective rendering of the bathroom and trying on the remaining fixtures virtually before pulling the trigger. Right now, it looks like the remodel will start at the end of March, and take about two weeks. Should be a fun spring.

Our Master Bathroom Overhaul Has Begun.

This morning I have spent a couple of hours looking at bath fixtures on-line. The planning for the bathroom upgrade is officially underway, with a construction date set for mid April to early May.

We love Modular 4. Seriously, living here is pretty amazing, and there are only a few small things that we would change, one of which is the bathrooms. There is nothing wrong with them in many ways. They are small but very functional. Our issues come down to finish. The fixtures while adequate, don’t compare to the rest of the finish on the home, and frankly they need an upgrade. The biggest gripe, the plastic shower surrounds in both baths.

So what is the plan?

Well the vanity stays. They are actually quite nice cabinets from Ikea, that have the same paper stone counters that are used in the kitchen. They look really nice, and they work. The sink, faucet, shelving, medicine cabinet, shower surround, shower fixtures all get replaced.

Starting this year with the master bath the plan is to remove the shower surround and replace it with a cast shower basin. Then a floor to ceiling glass wall will be installed with a sliding door to the shower. Multi-colored Heath ceramic tile will wrap the inside of the shower and extend across the main bathroom wall behind the vanity and medicine cabinet. The shower fixtures will be upgraded, as well as the faucet and sink. New glass shelving will be installed above the toilet and new towel racks will be installed across from the vanity.

The Heath Ceramic Tile we are looking at purchasing for the bathroom walls.

This isn’t a complete gut and rebuild, but instead a make over, since the bathroom is in great shape and just needs an upgrade.

Right now we are looking at fixtures from both Cosmic, and from Kohler. Yes Kohler. I keep checking out the higher end stuff they make and I am pretty impressed with the design, fit and finish on all of it. Plus I can purchase all of it from a place like faucets direct, and get everything at about three-fourths the cost of buying from a dealer or interior designer.

The Cosmic shower base and glass wall divider. Ours will have a sliding door and run wall to wall, and not be free standing.

update; as I was writing this Kristy was in the other room buying fixtures and hardware from faucet direct, so it’s official we have started the process.