Master Bath Over $50,000 - KBDA 2017 Gold Winner

Read article : Master Bath Over $50,000 - KBDA 2017 Gold Winner

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Photos: Jon Mancuso Photography

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Lori Carroll & Alexander Burch, Lori Carroll & Associates, Tucson, AZ

Curves and angles have long added interest to kitchen and bath designs. While they can sometimes make a contemporary space seem stark, the right combination can add drama and warmth.

This Oro Valley, AZ master bath is the pinnacle of such a space, with curves caressing squares and rectangles at every turn. Lori Carroll  and co-designer Alexander Burch of Lori Carroll & Associates created this 347-sq.-ft. oasis for clients who were looking for a mix of modern and casual style with a relaxing aesthetic.

The focal point showcases dual-sided wall-mount “block” lavatories, where Lacava sculptural white vessel sinks hang gracefully from blocks finished with The Tile Shop’s Metallic Glaze Porcelain tile. The sinks are paired with Puravida Single Hole Faucets from Hansgrohe, sitting just below a Jura Grey Limestone floating countertop from Arizona Tile. Open shelving is incorporated on both sides, and a suspended, dual-sided mirror serves as a room partition, with LBL Tube 2 lighting on each side.

A storage system featuring Italian White Oak Veneer cabinetry from Stone River Studios includes open shelving with baskets. Deep drawers were added to store small personal items and toiletries to reduce clutter.

Beyond the sink area, Lacava’s Ovale Freestanding Soaking Tub takes advantage of the floor-to-ceiling windows. The contemporary silhouette of Hansgrohe’s Puravida Freestanding Tub Filler complements the space.

The Imola Koshi Dark Grey rectangular tile flooring changeswhen entering the bathing area, moving up to the walls of the curvedopen shower. The Metallic Glaze Porcelain tile is continued on the walls, bordered within the wall design by Bronzeworks Beach GrassLiner. The shower delivers a spa-like experience via the Puravida Rainshower, Handshower and Bodysprays from Hansgrohe.

Completing the space are a Kohler Persuade Circ Dual Flush Toilet with Elongated Bowl, Motiv Sine Collection hardware from Ginger and Bruck Scobo Sconces.

A spa shower without taking bath

Read article : A spa shower without taking bath

May 16, 2008|BY ALLISON E. BEATTY

If steamy showers in an Italian marble paradise are not in your bathroom budget, don't worry. There are plenty of ways to design a luxury shower enclosure without spending a fortune.

Shower stalls have become a mainstay in many master bathrooms, as hurried lifestyles push homeowners toward efficiency in bathing. Instead of lounging around in the tub, they often pause for a few minutes in the shower. While the journey is shorter, the surroundings can be just as luxurious.

Many homeowners are looking to create a spa-like environment with multiple water jets, rain showers, steam showers, and plenty of upscale tile and stone. Home builders have taken note, rearranging floor plans to accommodate larger showers with all the fancy finishes.

The enclosure may have thick clear glass or a large opening instead of a door, depending on the desired look. These fancy shower stalls often come complete with marble or granite floor and wall tile and body spray, and a built in bench for relaxing. While it is easy to spend several thousand dollars outfitting an enclosure, there also are ways to be practical.

The first step is to think about your priorities. If you want a spa-like environment with pulsating water options, focus on the shower heads and sprayers. A water jet system with four sprays that cover most of a wall could cost $2,000 or more, but there are many fixtures that deliver a scaled-down level of luxury for $100 to $500.

Grohe, for example, has a Freehander shower unit that includes two pulsating body sprays on a pivoting arm. The unit is wall mounted and sells for about $350. American Standard has several rain shower heads, which bring a rush of water cascading down, for around $100. There also are many hand-held body sprays starting around $100.

If your top priority is the design, look beyond the builder's standard glossy 6-inch tiles to the world of natural stone. While real natural stone can cost $15 to $25 per tile, there are many ceramic and porcelain tiles with similar patterns that are priced from $2 to $12 per tile.

For an extra $200 to $500, you can add a cream tumbled marble design made of ceramic. Some people even carry that look throughout the bathroom, changing the floor tile and tile above the vanity. That type of change could cost an extra $300 to $800.

The layout of the tiles also can create a spa-like environment. "You can install larger tiles on the floors and walls," said Jeff Benach, vice president of Lexington Homes, LLC (LexingtonChicago.com) in Chicago. "By going to an 8-by8-inch tile or a 12-by-12-inch tile, it makes the room seem larger and gives it a more upscale look."

Tiles also can be installed in varying patterns to create some drama.

Many tiles are sold in groups of two or three sizes, making it easy to create a brick pattern or a random design on the wall or floor. Depending on the design, a unique wall or floor pattern might cost $200 to $500 more than a standard tile installation.

Patterns with varying tile sizes or that are laid on an angle often require more labor and materials, which increase the cost. "From an installation standpoint it's more expensive, but it's a good way to give it a custom look without spending a fortune," Benach said.

Another option is to mix in different tile colors or materials. Glass tile insets have become a hot trend and can help showcase a shower stall, said Janis Mitchell, design coordinator for 2100 Condos, a Rokas International development (RokasInternational.com) at 2100 S. Indiana Ave. in Chicago.

A clear or translucent blue glass tile can create an interesting contrast when added as a row around the shower walls. Glass tiles often are one to two inches square and also can be arranged in geometric shapes to highlight one part of a wall. They also can be used along the wall behind the vanity to tie in the sink area with the shower stall.

Another way to create impact in the shower stall is with a fancier door. Some homeowners like the crisp look of having a thick, clear glass door. "It makes a big splash," Benach said. "You can make a rich feeling bathroom without going into rich wood floors or stone floors, which are beautiful but expensive."

There are many ways to create a stunning shower enclosure on a budget. The trick is to focus on a few key areas and always keep your priorities and budget in mind.

11 Most Badass RVs You Can Buy Today

Read article : 11 Most Badass RVs You Can Buy Today

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Driving cross-country in a multi-million dollar RV is an experience few Americans will ever get to enjoy. While many may fawn over massive machines like the unstoppable Zetros 6×6, few of us have the means to obtain a purpose-built doomsday machine. Sure, there’s the obvious financial obligation, as luxury RV setups can run north of $3 million, but concerns about parking, maintenance, winterizing, insurance, and who’s going to drive the damn thing are also factors to consider.

Earthroamer XV HD is about as ferocious as it gets outside of military spec | Earthroamer" />

Riding atop a Ford F-750 chassis, the Earthroamer XV HD is about as ferocious as it gets outside of military spec | Earthroamer

Fortunately, many of the world’s elite moneymakers have the means to hire a trained driver, and with some of these land yachts running well over 40 feet long, merging and parking can be a real pain for the untrained. But RV enthusiasts aren’t just into slate tile floors and crystal chandeliers, and hardcore 4×4 vehicles are still a hot commodity as they crush terrain by day and then raise their rooflines at night for spacious living.

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Newmar’s King Aire line takes a unique, but very ornate approach to RV-making, and the amount of time, money, and energy that goes into making one is insane | Newmar

We recently took the time to peruse the web in search of some of the most over-the-top RV options money can buy, and came up with a surplus of unique options. There really is something out there for everyone, and if your pocketbook is up to the challenge, you can have an entire penthouse suite on wheels built to your personal taste.

1. IKON by Renegade

The IKON by Renegade is one purpose-built RV, with trailer towing being one of its strongest suits | Renegade

The IKON by Renegade takes semi-truck styling and combines it with luxury amenities and industry leading self-sufficiency. From handcrafted solid hardwood cabinetry and plush Villa Ultraleather furniture to quartz countertops and heated porcelain tile floors, the good life comes standard in this RV. Tech-wise, it also features things like Samsung 4K LED TVs, Bose Home Theater Sound, and a set of high-tech stainless steel appliances that deliver the goods when it’s time to eat.

It also features VegaTouch control systems, which have dual 10-inch touchscreen controllers with iPad, smartphone, and tablet compatibility. This means you can integrate interior lighting, systems monitoring, HVAC controls, window coverings, awning and slide-out controls, and a whole lot more into an all-in-one touchpad that doubles as a monitor for the perimeter observation camera system.

The Renegade IKON can be outfitted with all manner of amazing interior amenity | Renegade

Buyers will love finding features like hand crafted hardwoods, and a Theater Mode that automatically lowers the shades, dims lights, and raises the 50-inch Samsung UHD 4K TV so it can automatically tie into the Bose home theater system. While a porcelain tile shower and adjustable LED vanity lighting systems are also nice, it’s the Renegade’s attention to towing capacities and ability to be lived out of for weeks on end thanks to its oversized water, septic, and fuel tanks that make it a preferred RV for motorsport enthusiasts.

2. Winnebago Brave

Winnebago Brave takes vintage styling and applies modern technology and mechanics to form a restomod RV | Winnebago" width="757" height="424" />

The Winnebago Brave takes vintage styling and applies modern technology and mechanics to form a resto-mod RV | Winnebago

Back in the late 1960s and 1970s, there was no mistaking a Winnebago motorhome for another RV thanks to its bold “Flying W” badging, iconic “eyebrow” designs, clever interior, and boxy body lines. But over time the iconic styling of yesteryear began to morph into a mish-mash of ho-hum engineering and bland RV styling.

But now it’s time to fall in love with classic RV styling all over again, because Winnebago has followed in Dodge’s Challenger footsteps and has rolled out a resto-mod version of the machine that got America hooked on RV life in the first place.

Vintage interior within the Winnebago Brave looks straight out of the 1970s | Winnebago

The all-new Winnebago Brave takes vintage styling cues and blends them with modern practicality, efficiency, safety, and useful amenities in order to give the next generation of motorhome enthusiast an RV that is both retro and reliable. While you won’t be able to pick one up for the $4,000 price tag associated with the original, these classic and quirky motorhomes are priced to fit a more modest budget, and can be customized in a wide array of colors and interior design layouts.

3. Global X Vehicles Pangea “Perky Mog”

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Global X Vehicles takes safety orange and gives it a new purpose on this Pangea roof lifter | Global X Vehicles

Global Expedition Vehicles’ Pangea Lifting Roof version of the unstoppable Mercedes-Benz UniMog can be built on either a medium or heavy duty chassis, and can be tailored around various cab configurations. Referred to as the “Perky Mog,” this clever 4×4 RV has a unique lowered position that allows the windows to be covered with the hard side top section, while maintaining full walking height within. Once in the raised position, a huge loft area becomes exposed, which can be reconfigured to the buyer’s preferred sleeping layout, and can hold up to two queen size beds.

Pangea Lifting Roof monster are gorgeous living quarters that feature ornate wood floors, and a loft for sleeping | Global X Vehicles" width="757" height="504" />

Inside the Pangea Lifting Roof monster are gorgeous living quarters that feature ornate wood floors, and a loft for sleeping | Global X Vehicles

Since each vehicle is tailor-made to the buyer’s specifications, there is no cut-and-dry approach to purchasing one of these machines, so be prepared for a lengthy build list and turnaround time. A few of our favorite touches include the G-KAS mounting body isolating mount system, having cab-to-cabin access, exterior tool/utility boxes, how the seating area converts into an additional sleeping space, and how the stair treads are hinged and lift to reveal hidden storage. Add on a duo of high efficiency 200-watt PV solar panels, a 140 gallon fresh water tank, amazing off-road capabilities, and the ability to buy one in 16- to 18-foot lengths, and you’ve got one hell of a capable 4×4 RV on your hands.

4. Newmar King Aire

Engineered to embody “the pinnacle of luxury travel,” the Newmar King Aire takes style, comfort, and technology to a whole new level, with the 2017 model sporting a restyled exterior, and a Spartan K3 tag axle chassis that has been attached to a steel superstructure. Inside, contrast cross stitching highlights the dash, which features a wireless non-slip charging pad, full LCD driver display, and two 12.1-inch touchscreens for system controls and 360-degree outward visibility. Meanwhile, a one-off 11-speaker JBL cockpit audio system and exclusive fabrics from Ralph Lauren add additional flare to the front of the cabin.

King Aire line takes a unique, but very ornate approach to RV-making, and the amount of time, money, and energy that goes into making one is insane | Newmar" width="757" height="482" />

Newmar’s King Aire line takes a unique, but very ornate approach to RV-making, and the amount of time, money, and energy that goes into making one is insane | Newmar

For tailgating purposes, two Girard Nova side awnings extend over a specially designed sidewall housing a 43-inch Sony 4K UHD TV and a Bluetooth-compatible Bose soundbar, which rests atop one of the tallest basements in the Class A segment. Buyers can choose Maple, Cherry, or Rift Oak hardwood cabinetry, while polished porcelain plank tile, heated and cooled Pompeii leather front seats, and a 49-inch Sony 4K UHD TV come standard, with a Blu-ray/DVD player and Bose CineMate home theater system. The King Aire’s master bath is available with an industry-leading 50-by-34-inch shower, complete with full tile and a Fresca panel with massage sprayers and a foot washer, and even comes finished with a Whirlpool stacked washer and dryer.

5. Earthroamer XV HD

Earthroamer XV HD is about as ferocious as it gets outside of military spec | Earthroamer" width="757" height="409" />

Riding atop a Ford F-750 chassis, the Earthroamer XV HD is about as ferocious as it gets outside of military spec | Earthroamer

EarthRoamer has just expanded its product line in order to offer the highly anticipated F-750-based XV-HD. Designed to accommodate up to eight people comfortably and sleep six, this off-road RV features enough ingenuity to make living off-grid for a few days a breeze, as the HD offers anyone looking for wilderness adventures both driving prowess and fantastic amenities.

Extra windows and a raised roof allows living quarters to feel anything but confined in Earthroamer’s XV HD | Earthroamer

The XV-HD takes luxury off-grid ingenuity and infuses it with solar panels, a monolithic battery bank, 46-inch military tires, 200 gallons of fresh water, a compact washer/dryer, and a whole lot more. At just over 35-feet long this is no mini RV either, giving all the more reason for Earthroamer to utilize Ford’s 6.7-liter PowerStroke Diesel engine and all 725 pound-feet of torque.

6. Bespoke Coach Sprinter Van

typical Bespoke Coach Sprinter is not overtly adorned with external upgrades, but leans more toward a VIP look | Bespoke Coach" width="757" height="466" />

A typical Bespoke Coach Sprinter is not overtly adorned with external upgrades, but leans more toward a VIP look | Bespoke Coach

This next road trip specialist is a bit of a hybrid, because while it isn’t a massive RV, it isn’t really a van either. Bespoke Coachworks has been customizing vehicles in Southern California since 1985, and over the past 30 years has created countless custom audio, video, interior, and exterior solutions for celebrities and the elite. So when the Sprinter van finally began getting imported and badged by Dodge and Freightliner back in 2007, requests for customized versions flooded their ears.

After decades of working with companies like Bentley, Rolls Royce, and Mercedes-Benz, the thought of pimping out vans seemed a bit strange, but after one luxury van conversion spawned the next, Bespoke Coachworks knew it was on to something. From opulent mobile offices, to family coaches with built-in beds and entertainment suites, this unique chassis offers an endless array of options for anyone wanting a small and swanky RV, all without the headaches associated with piloting a land barge.

The interior of one of Bespoke Coach’s Sprinter vans may not be large, but it certainly is luxurious | Bespoke Coach

Bespoke Coach’s luxury mobile office incorporates the best technology, design, and materials into a first-class experience, tasking top engineers, designers, and fabricators to make coaches that are both user friendly and innovative. A few of our favorite options include the driver wall partition with motorized privacy window, custom upholstered walls and ceilings, the marine-grade circuit breaker panel, and those Maybach inspired captains chairs. There are also standard iPads, Samsung TV screens, power inverters, customizable lighting, Focal audio upgrades, and Dynamat sound deadening throughout, with a laundry list of unique upgrade options waiting on the wing for the right price.

7. Marathon Show Coach

Marathon Coach, Inc. is widely revered as the world’s largest luxury bus converter and dealer, and specializes in taking commercial buses supplied by Prevost and customizing them into the most opulent RVs imaginable. Built around a Prevost H3-45 chassis, these custom buses feature engineer-driven technologies and a unique “California design viewpoint” that leans toward shades of warm taupe and rich chocolate brown, with deep indigo blue accents inside and out.

Inside, buyers will find things like a marble, limestone, and travertine “basket weave” floor inlay that has been surrounded by Italian porcelain tile, as well as a custom fireplace enclosure designed for both ambiance and warmth. There are soft touches like velvet tufted sofas finished with chrome nail heads, and a stitched leather recliner at the large work desk for when duty calls on the open road.

Marathon Show Coach is a swanky, multi-million dollar cruiser designed for the world's elite | Marathon Coach Inc." width="757" height="504" />

The Marathon Show Coach is a swanky, multi-million dollar cruiser designed for the world’s elite | Marathon Coach Inc.

In the back you will find features like an oversized glass and limestone mosaic shower with a telescopic, glass pocket door that goes opaque at the touch of a button, an integrated, 8-inch rain shower head, as well as a hand-held shower wand. There also are Hans Grohe faucets and fixtures, custom-made hammered stainless steel sinks, a walk-in closet, a TechLink electrical system, and Crestron controls.

8. Sportsmobile Classic 4×4

With the camper lowered and doors closed, this house on wheels turns into a 4×4 Ford battering ram | Sportsmobile

The Sportsmobile Classic is one of the most recent creations in a long line of heavy duty 4×4 “Adventure Vans” coming out of Sportsmobile. After a successful prototype testing phase, the Classic 4×4 can now be had in a Ford Cutaway body that molds it with a steel reinforced fiberglass shell and an integrated penthouse top that drops flush into the shell for streamlining purposes.

The Sportsmobile 4WD Vehicle is designed to appeal to the most discerning off-road enthusiast, and in order to do so only the best heavy-duty components are installed for a balance between maximum off-road performance and on-road comfort. Over five decades of experience in the designing and manufacturing of van campers has led to this point, and while these machines can only be had on 2008–2014 Ford E-350 models equipped with the 6.8-liter V10 and barn doors, sourcing a gently used donor shouldn’t be an issue.

Sportsmobile has long been synonymous with hardcore off-road vehicles that can be lived out of | Sportsmobile

Full production of the Classic started in late 2016, and the 4WD Conversion model includes a lot of hardcore 4×4 upgrades. A few key features include an Advance Adapter Atlas II All Gear Driven transfer case, a Dynatrac Pro-Roc 60 front axle, Dana 60 rear axle, Fox 2.0 Performance Series Shocks, a high knuckle front end for extra tie rod clearance, and an extra heavy duty steering arm.

We could go on about the military wrap springs that were specifically designed for this van, or how the front sway bar comes with a quick disconnect system and custom shocks, but it would take forever to go over this list of performance upgrades. Finished with a practical and rugged, adventure-ready interior, this RV is a pop-top for the most discerning 4×4 enthusiast.

9. ShowHauler Motorhomes

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ShowHauler specializes in melding semi tractor trailer strength with high dollar RV resplendency | ShowHauler

ShowHauler Motorhomes are heralded as “the safest motor coach on the road,” and their coach frames utilize a unique tubular steel structure consisting of super strong floors, sidewalls, and ceilings. The underbelly is completely undercoated, block foam is placed between steel side-wall supports prior to bonding aluminum exterior walls to the frame, no rivets are used, interior walls are reinforced to create a structural cage, and adhesive bonding is used to apply a bubble type insulation.

Being built on a standard truck chassis with a higher Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) than a typical motorhome allows for greater carrying capacities, so weight is never a concern and neither are highway crosswinds nor oncoming traffic. Internally, buyers get to choose the hardwood they want for cabinets and fabric patterns and colors, all window framing is finished with hand-formed hardwood, counter-tops are genuine Corian, and buyers can choose either polished ceramic tile floors or carpet.

A ShowHauler interior can be outfitted with anything the buyer desires, it just depends upon how deep your pocketbook goes | ShowHauler

We personally dig the cab pass-thru, having 7-feet of interior headroom, the cab-over bunk and vent, the 12 gallon gas/electric water heater, 30,000 BTU ducted gas furnace, and the ability to tow damn near anything. ShowHauler Motorhomes are part luxury living quarters, part big-rig, and all cross-country cruiser.

10. Mercedes-Benz Zetros 2733 A 6×6

Mercedes-Benz Zetros 2733 A 6×6 is one hell of an intimidating RV | Daimler

We eluded to it in our intro, and here it is up close. The all-wheel drive behemoth commonly referred to as the Mercedes-Benz Zetros 2733 A 6×6 is based off a semi with a cab-behind-engine layout, and offers sensational traction and versatility, plus customizable living arrangements.

This triple-axled truck typically weighs in between 25 and 27 tons, and while its powertrain and chassis configuration either come out of the Actros and Axor series of full-size work trucks, it also utilizes a unique Unimog/G-Class 6×6 approach. Powered by a 7.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine, this lumbering beast only puts down around 326 horsepower, but generates around 1,000 foot-pounds of torque in the 1,200–1,600 RPM range.

With room for ATV loading in the rear, this 27-ton monster is all you need to dominate the wild | Daimler

Buyers can opt for either a hydraulically/pneumatic nine-speed manual transmission (eight forward gears plus crawler), which has a direct-ratio top gear, or they can get the six-speed Allison 3000 SP/PR automatic. The permanent all-wheel drive VG 1700 transfer case has an off-road ratio that is about 20% lower than its all-wheel drive cousins, so crawl control is a strong suit here. Towing capacity has also been increased by about 70% when compared to the on-road gears, and torque distribution between the front and rear axle(s) is 1:3.21 thanks to the splitter box, which becomes 1:1 if the differential lock is engaged.

All told, the Zetros has three mechanical differential locks, all of which can be easily selected via a rotary control that shows the logical sequence in which they need to be engaged. Drivers must start with the center-axle before engaging the rear, with the front remaining the final option, reserved for when terrain is at its most extreme.

11. Iveco Astra HD8 8×6 Expedition Truck

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Expedition Trucks always has something insane on its for sale page, like this 8×6 behemoth for instance | Expedition Truck Brokers

Our final contender today comes from Expedition Truck Brokers, a company that has specialized in connecting buyers and sellers of expedition trucks for over 20 years thanks to a crew that tackles every aspect of the purchasing and customization process. Everything from buying and building, to long distance overland travel and selling transactions get attended to by this highly trained team of 4×4 specialists, and getting things right requires “first hand experience with vehicle based travel in rough conditions through remote regions.”

Simply put, Expedition Truck Brokers sources hardcore off-road “wheel estate” for private individuals and professionals in order to provide the ideal vehicle for overland journeys, expedition support, promotional events, and film. While most people would never need something as insane as an 8×6 diesel behemoth, there is a very particular kind of clientele out there that has the bankroll and need for something like what you see here.

Iveco Astra HD8 8x6 also features 8 wheels and more torque than an ocean liner | Expedition Truck Brokers" width="757" height="504" />

It may take eight hours to parallel park, but this Iveco Astra HD8 8×6 also features eight wheels and more torque than an ocean liner | Expedition Truck Brokers

While plenty of other heavy-duty RV options are available on the Expedition Truck Brokers’ website, it’s this Iveco Astra HD8 that has our vote for most badass of the bunch. Professionally manufactured in Germany, this chassis has been widely revered internationally as a construction and mining industry staple, but never a weekend getaway machine … until now.

A few of our favorite highlights and features outside of the Astra’s massive cabin and practical living quarters are the highly autonomous multi-climate design that handles both tropical and frigid environments, and the 600 horsepower EURO-5 Cursor 13 diesel engine. There’s also that dedicated motorcycle platform, all those external storage units, and a slew of locking differentials designed to tackle any terrain.

(cheatsheet.com, https://goo.gl/I0gYaI)

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Your personal spa awaits — in your bathroom

Read article : Your personal spa awaits — in your bathroom

Most bathroom spaces are small and not terribly exciting. Many don’t have windows, especially in condos, but you can make the smallest room in the house special, the perfect place to start and end your day — your very own spa.

I have just finished remodelling this bathroom, which was not huge, but I wanted it to have a real sense of glamour. My journey began by choosing the tub, as this is usually the most expensive item. Freestanding baths, whether clawfoot or sleek and modern, are the biggest bathroom trend right now. Once you have made the decision to treat yourself, the homework begins.

You will want to check out the many varieties of baths, keeping in mind the space it will live in at your home.

Visit showrooms and don’t be shy — climb right in and try out the tubs. And ask lots of questions, such as: Where do the taps go, freestanding or on the wall?

You are looking for a combination of style, comfort, price and ease of maintenance. The least expensive are fibreglas, acrylic and porcelain over steel.

All three are at the lower price range, but they can scratch or chip and even fade over time. They are all light and easy to install. Cast-iron tubs will last a lifetime and do not chip or stain easily. They are very heavy and you will need extra help to install them and might even require the floor to be reinforced.

However, because they are heavy, they retain the heat well, which I love. They are also expensive.

Proving more and more popular are solid-surface tubs because they come in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be fixed if they chip. They are natural looking, but they are still heavy and quite expensive.

One of the most exciting materials used to make bathtubs is QuarryCast. This is the bath I chose, as it is superior to everything else I saw.

Made by Victoria+Albert from finely ground volcanic limestone mixed with resin, it has a wonderful hand-finished feel. The natural white comes from the stone and is glossy and silky to the touch. It is harder than acrylic, which makes it incredibly strong and ensures there is no creaking when you lower yourself into the tub.

I was hooked; time to move on to the flooring and shower tile.

Again, there is so much from which to choose. Ceramica Sant’Agostino is an Italian tile that is available worldwide. They lead the way in innovative floor and wall tile. Last year, they introduced a tile that looks like carpet. It sounds crazy, but it is a textured tile, which I love, as I am constantly slipping in the bathroom, probably due to the fact that I am a splasher.

This bathroom is small, but I still put down oversize tiles and the room actually looks bigger.

In the shower, I took the same grey as the floor and added a pure white, creating fat stripes.

I did not apply the tile to the rest of the bathroom walls. Instead, a giant black and white photo of Sophia Loren was blown up onto thick canvas by Motive Media, a visual communications company, and adhered to the surface with wallpaper glue.

They will take your beloved art and photos and turn them into wallpaper. The photo is a stunning background for my stylish tub. The wall taps are also by Victoria+Albert and are part of the entire drama of the bathroom.

It’s exciting times for the smallest room in the house. Enjoy your research and go a little wild.

 

Debbie Travis’s House to Home column is produced by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Please email questions to house2home@debbietravis.com. You can follow Debbie on Twitter at twitter.com/debbie_travis, and visit Debbie’s website, debbietravis.com.

9 Tips To Ensure You Get Your Dream Bathroom Remodel

Read article : 9 Tips To Ensure You Get Your Dream Bathroom Remodel

This bathroom remodel ideas post is sponsored by Sears Home Services.

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In our last house, we thought we were in our forever house. We bought it when the wee ones were almost 3 and not quite one. At the time, we planned to live there until they graduated high school or longer, and we treated the house that way. We replaced all the windows, we made an amazing front walk and redid all the landscaping. My favorite project included a gut of the master bathroom, and a complete kitchen remodel was next on our list.

Plans change, and we sold that house five years ago now. This house is now our forever house, except that forever is definitely a much shorter horizon. We built the new garage last year and just finished a roof replacement on Monday. I met with the house painter yesterday, and a completely redone basement (needed due to water issues that we’ve since fixed). Are you surprised that our master bath is on the list again?

We learned from our last house, and I have a ton of bathroom remodel ideas, both ideas we incorporated as well as some new trends that have sprouted. Our new bathroom won’t happen overnight, but even small changes can make a difference. I pulled out the brass and chrome fixtures from throughout my bathroom already. Just that little thing helped make our bathroom (built in 2005) feel less dated.

9 Bathroom Remodel Ideas

Add heated floors.

This was the best thing we did in our remodel. Hands down it was the best idea we had. Since we ripped out (all three layers of) the old flooring, we laid heating coils under the new floor. Nine months of the year, we used this floor and loved it. There is nothing worse than a cold Chicago morning and dancing from rug to rug to avoid frostbite on your feet.

We set it up to include a programmable switch. It turned on ten minutes before we headed to the bathroom each morning, so it was beautifully warm every time. It turned off by itself, and oh my word it was worth the investment. This is hands down the best of my bathroom remodel ideas ever. I’ll never do a remodel without one again.

Create a point of interest in your bathroom.

As much time as we spend in bathrooms, you want to enjoy the look. In our old bathroom, the towel rack hung over the far end of the bathtub. We had to walk from the shower over and climb in the tub or carefully reach over it to get our towel. That towel rack went away in the remodel, but initially we had no idea what to do with that blank wall. There was an identical blank wall on the other side of the tub.

Fortunately, my contractor came up with a fantastic bathroom remodel idea. I knew I wanted a window from my shower to make it feel bigger since we couldn’t increase the size of the shower itself. We chose an arched design, and our contractor suggested a tiled arch shelf built into the wall to hold some knick knacks and bath oils, etc. It turned out gorgeous. A shelf like this may not be the best fit for every bathroom, but it created a great point of interest on an otherwise boring wall. How can you give personality to your bathroom?

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Make sure you have enough storage.

Our current second floor has no linen closet. In fact, there’s nowhere to really store towels and sheets and other items in general. There is some wasted space behind the bathroom door, and we purchased a wooden shelf that we painted white to act as a temporary closet. It isn’t the prettiest, but it’s functional. For now.

When thinking about bathroom remodel ideas, don’t forget about storage. Do you have enough with your current setup? In our last house, we added a storage tower between the two sinks. We had a large bathroom and a long sink area, so this worked well. It separated my husband’s stuff from mine, and all our “things” stayed out of sight.

When we remodel our current bathroom, we won’t put a tower between the sinks because our bathroom is narrower. On the far edge of our vanity, we have wasted space there, and we’ll extend the cabinet up to create storage for towels and sheets and add some vertical interest with a change in heights.

And yes, we’ll build in a real linen closet where that space is currently wasted.

Choose the right sink.

Growing up, sinks were all the same. They were slightly oval and mounted into the counter. Now? Oh my word, the options! In so many bathrooms, a vessel sink looks amazing. It’s so sophisticated and so many have the personality many bathrooms lack.

They can be pretty expensive, however. A more traditional sink now comes in a variety of shapes. We chose a rectangular sink that gave me more room to presoak laundry in the “extra” sink since we had a second floor laundry and no laundry sink. It was large and gorgeous. An undermount sink worked great for us there because it minimized dirt that got stuck around the seal of the sink. In our current bathroom – because storage is at a premium – we know we’ll do a top mount sink that gives us more room in the vanity, but that doesn’t mean we won’t find one with the right look for our bathroom.

Choose the right fixtures.

Now that you have your sink, make sure your fixtures fit the aesthetic of your bathroom as much as you sink does. If you have a vessel sink or pedestal sink, make sure your faucets have enough room for you to wash your hands and more.

When it comes to the shower, it’s easy to find a showerhead in the same family as your sink faucet without it being identical. Do you want a showerhead you can move easily? Do you want an overhead shower for a more spa like experience? One of the bathroom remodel ideas I nixed last time was a steam shower. I didn’t think it was worth the money. Once we were done, I regretted it. Now there are smart showerheads that create that spa-like experience.

More and more fixtures provide great spray while still saving water. I miss the days in my old Chicago apartment where my shower beat on me. When I think of all the water wasted, I cringe. I can regain that experience with many showerheads now available without the need to hang my head in shame for the excess water.

Build a niche into your shower.

I am not a fan of the shower surrounds. When I do my bathroom, I want tile everywhere, which allows a ton of customization. My current bathroom? Yep, it’s a surround. And there’s nowhere to put shampoo or soap or anything. Shaving my legs? I’m balancing with a foot on the wall, and it isn’t pretty.

Another of those great bathroom remodel ideas? Build your shower to fit your needs. You can find a place to create a niche in a wall to hold your bath products. Make sure your contractor tilts it so water doesn’t stay in it. This is not only a functional addition, but it looks cool, too. We flipped the direction of the tiles we used elsewhere in the shower so they were diamonds instead of squares, and it looked fabulous. Major custom look without a major custom price. That inset? It’s a prefab option so my contractor didn’t have to build it by hand.

Create a bench, too, if you have room. We were able to have enough room for a bench so I could sit while shaving without feeling cramped in our last shower. Barely. Not every shower has that ability, but even in a standard size shower, you can build a foot rest into the tile so you have a secure place to rest your foot or booty while shaving. As with the inset for shampoo, just be sure your contractor angles it to avoid water pooling.

Don’t go too trendy.

Full bathroom remodels aren’t cheap. It isn’t the most expensive home renovation you can do, and it provides a great return on investment relatively, but you don’t want to go super trendy so that someone walks in and says, “Oh, yeah, this bathroom was done in 2016.”

That doesn’t mean you want to be blah or avoid any trends at all, but think about what has a longer term appeal. The pink tiles in my old master bathroom? I know they were from 1993. By 1996, I knew that. Avoid those traps.

If you plan to live in your house long term, create a bathroom that is your haven. You live there, not the person who’ll buy your house in 15 years. If it fits with the rest of your house design, go for it. What works in my 1925 more traditional home doesn’t work in an Italian villa style or in an ultra modern home. The overarching philosophy behind my bathroom remodel ideas is what matters.

Honestly, I can look even now at our bathroom remodel from five years ago and know that we chose too trendy a color wood that is too dark, especially with the granite countertop (which I do still love). This is where an expert designer comes in handy to help ensure you love your bathroom today and in 10 years. They have so many bathroom remodel ideas to make it fit you without being so trendy you’ll regret it.

Look for flooring with personality.

We chose rough stone tiles. Smooth is not your friend in the bathroom. The rough surface wasn’t uncomfortable to walk on, and we never had to worry about falls. Even better, the crags and such in the flooring meant we never had puddles when leaving the shower. We actually removed rugs from the bathroom entirely, which I loved. Why? The water that doesn’t evaporate quickly enough in a humid bathroom? Yuck.

While we love stone, that isn’t the choice for everyone. There are so many neat options out there today. Porcelain and ceramic tile come in so many neat patterns and textures now. Don’t do wood, as wood and moisture don’t get along. There are now wood looking porcelain tiles, however. Whatever you choose, find something that complements the entire style of your bathroom.

Update your counter surfaces.

We honestly may update our countertops in the master bathroom and in the guest bath on the main floor before we do a complete redo of the master bath because we have so many other major projects on our list with this house. Right now, they are a very cheap laminate countertop that doesn’t go with the aesthetic of the house. It bothers me every time I look at them.

Countertops aren’t as expensive as you might think, especially as bathroom counters tend to be a fairly limited area. Quartz is a great alternative because it requires no maintenance. You can find great designs with this. I love granite, personally. The uniqueness of granite and the personality it can bring to your bathroom make it worth the investment in my book.

Ready to Implement These Bathroom Remodel Ideas?

Just writing this, I’m excited to redo three of our bathrooms whether just a little countertop change or a full remodel. I’m not quite ready, but when I am, I know what I’ll do. Sears, of course, offers everything you need, whether you’re looking at a quick change like refacing your cabinets or a complete overhaul of your space.

Taking these bathroom remodel ideas and doing the whole thing? Sears has a savings of $500 on bathroom remodels of $1,500 or more through 11/30/2016.

Replacing or refacing your cabinets? Get $500 off a project of $1,500 or more through 11/30/2016, too.

Changing up your countertops? You can save $250 off a countertop purchase of $1,500 or more through 11/30/2016.

And of course, Sears offers free consultations on your projects so you can easily figure out what exactly you want to do and how much it will cost. Just know that if you’re anything like me, you’ll end up increasing the scope of the project as you go along, so make sure you budget for some changes!

What are your best bathroom remodel ideas?

great bathroom remodel ideas will give you a good place to start. Some tips on how to stay happy with it long term and some ideas you may not have thought about." />s

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