Posts Tagged ‘bathroom design’

In the nineties, the kitchen became the social center of the home and earned the title of “new living room.” More space was added, paint colors got brighter, the lighting got cozier, bar stools and Barista tables appeared and chopping block islands proliferated. Now this same renaissance is underway for bathroom design. In fact, the new designs for bathrooms have them looking more like spas than mere toilet-rooms. Whirlpool tubs, double sinks and powder rooms are becoming the norm, as the bathroom transcends into “the new living room.”

While on a vacation, one of the most impressive features is usually the bathroom design. Women love that there is a separate vanity area with lighting, mirrors and a sink, where they can put on their makeup, brush their teeth, do their hair and spread out their supplies a little. Additional drawer space reduces clutter, which the men can appreciate. Rather than a shower stall, there is a separate whirlpool-spa tub and an enlarged shower area with space for drying off, which eliminates the need for shower curtains. New designs include heated floors and towel racks, natural halogen lighting and soft paint colors, in addition to multiple sprayers, all of which add luxury hotel caliber ambiance to one’s bathroom.

Creating new designs for dream bathrooms can cost as little as $5,000 or as much as $50,000, experts say. According to a 2007 report from Remodeling Magazine, luxury bathroom remodels recoup 78.3% of the costs at resale time. “While most people don’t create their dream bathroom for their home’s next owner, it certainly is a nice extra to know it can dramatically improve the value of the entire home,” says Karuna Talwar, Direct Buy Gurnee owner and bathroom design consultant. Consumer Reports found that the national average cost is around $10,000, although there are obvious ways to save on your bathroom home designs. For instance, don’t move the toilet, consider stock items, use tile sparingly and shop around at expos, showrooms, Home Depot, Waterworks and independent interior design stores for items.

While choosing new designs for their bathrooms, a number of Americans are deciding to “go green” while they are at it. Here are some interior design tips for achieving your own environmentally-sound bathroom. First, go organic with your bath linens and shower curtains. This one is a no brainer and does not cost much to do. Organic cotton requires less pesticides and is usually softer than regular materials. Vinyl or plastic shower curtains can be extremely toxic, cautions Annie B. Bond, author of Home Enlightenment. Instead, choose a heavy cotton duck curtain, she adds. You can find a number of eco-friendly bath products at www.gaiam.com. Then, choose natural bath products made without chemicals, like those at Aveda, to create a chemical-free zone. There are also green cleaning products, like the “Greenworks Cleaner” or “TerraCycle Cleaner.”

Overwhelmed might be the first feeling that sets in after the excitement of deciding to update your home. You have a lot to think about including cost, design and most importantly, who are you going to trust with your design and vision. Once you begin your search for the right person, you will quickly realize there are many people to choose from. The hard part is finding the one person that will listen to you, complete the job on time, and will stay withing the agreed budget. In addition, give you the quality you deserve and the customer satisfaction that is always expected.

To help ease the stress I have created a list of three key points for you to consider when talking with potential designers and what to expect from them.

Experience
First thing first. You don’t want a greenhorn on your dream remodel. The designer/contractor can make or break the vision you have by not having the experiences required to execute a Scottsdale home design. I recommend choosing someone that has been in the business for several years, minimum, and has an extensive portfolio and list of references. One reason this is so important is the seasoned designer usually has a crew they have worked with for several years. This is important because they know exactly what to expect from them and how they work. In addition, you don’t have to worry about having random strangers in your home that have no connection to anyone. The last thing you want is the workers to quite on the designer/contractor because of unmet expectations or some other issue.

Common Vision
During the beginning stages of an interview for Scottsdale Interior Design, ask what design specialty they are before really telling them what you are envisioning. By going about it this way, you can avoid someone giving you answers that they know you want to hear. Additionally, if you get this question out of the way at the beginning, you can avoid spending unnecessary time interviewing someone. If they specialize in doing all designs, ask to see their portfolio so you can review their work and make sure it is what you are looking for.

Additionally, when working with a designer, you want to make sure they are listening to you and what your overall vision is. A truly great designer will take what you want and guide you along the way, not give you a cookie-cutter design that doesn’t fit your vision, personality or flow of the house.

Organization

It doesn’t matter what business you are involved in, organization is key. The last person you want on your job is scatterbrained, unorganized and forgetful. When you get the references from the potential designer, actually call them and talk to them! Ask them how smoothly the job went, if it was completed on time, on budget if the job was done in an organized fashion that made sense. Meaning that they didn’t forget to install the island before laying the tile. Or that when they called to ask questions, the designer always prepared and knew what stages the project was on.

By covering these three key points, you should feel pretty comfortable in your decision and not be so overwhelmed when thinking of your Scottsdale home remodel. Lastly, choose someone you get along with and relate to. If you find someone that matches your criteria but you don’t get along with well, I would recommend to keep looking. In the end, you will have just as bad of an experience than if you went with someone else.

New interior designers are devising innovative designs that re-imagine how we live. A lot of the new design interior ideas are based on the 21st Century trend toward futurism, with sleek stainless steel, open-concept flooring and over-sized, space-inspired, rounded furniture. Other modern designs seek a return-to-nature, using more natural materials like stone, wood, water features, natural lighting and plant-life. Each architect interior designer has his or her own notion of what beauty is, but ultimately it is the clients who make the call. If you are looking to transform your space, then check out www.freshome.com for interior design ideas before embarking on your design interior adventure.

When you design interior spaces, you sometimes have to work in small areas and find ways of de-cluttering. This is typically the case when you are dealing with interior design kitchen work. Many cooks hate the boxed-in feeling of a crowded kitchen, which is why Elica Om has come up with a sleek black stove hood that sits up on the wall, like a mounted flat-screen TV, for a more open-concept kitchen. You can purchase this amazing piece for £975 at www.johnlewis.com.

Another option is Daniele Lago’s futuristic 36E8, which encases your dishes in a tall, sleek cabinet that doubles as an art-piece. You can find this piece at www.lago.it. Sometimes you need to work around walls and existing features or condense space a little in a large square kitchen. The Pedini round kitchen countertops improve the chi flow of your house, while also putting the stovetop, the sink, the fridge, shelves and cutting boards all within one step of each other. Find these modern designs at www.pedini.it.

When you design interior spaces, a lighting designer will try to open up confined spaces through optical illusions and the interplay of illumination. For instance, if you are in a confined bedroom or office and you crave a bit of outdoor beauty indoors, then you will be delighted to see the programmable SkyCeilings by The Sky Factory, which lights up images of a real sky, and can change for sunrise or sunset to improve your mood. Check www.skyfactory.com for this amazing innovation! For bathroom design, you will want to check out Kaldewei’s bathroom indirect lighting systems, which allow you the ability to transform your space into several different LED shades and styles, depending on your mood. You can turn on the underwater spotlight with white light for a peaceful bath, or you can stimulate productivity with red, inspire yourself with green or calm yourself with blue. Check out www.kaldewi.us for more details.

If you are considering interior design services to sell a house, you may not know where to begin. Hanley Wood LLC did a recent study on the average cost to design interior renovations. Kitchen renovations recouped 94% of the cost at resale, so an $80,000 kitchen would cost the home owner $20,000 when all was said and done. A mid-level bathroom remodeling job (costing around $10,000) recouped 102% of the original cost, making it one of the most practical upgrades. For a luxury bath, home owners may put in $25,000-$50,000 but will recoup over 90% of their original cost. Decks have a 90% return, as do windows. An attic bedroom addition will bring back 94% and a new roof 85%. Home siding pays for itself by 103%. So is it worth it to hire a professional interior designer? In short, yes!

Inside the home, the details hold a sentiment of their own. Tall white pillars stand regally on either side of the breakfast bar, demarcating the culinary expertise of those who work here, while cozy yellow halogen lighting beams down on the workspace in Old Tuscan style. White crown molding along the baseboards of an older home shows that this home owner is a person who appreciates craftsmanship and who likes lavish things. Rounded doorways carry a cozy Mediterranean feel, welcoming all who enter. Truly architecture interior design is a meaningful art that has the power to shape our moods.

When it comes to architecture and interior design, award-winning professional interior designer Russell Versaci says it is all about the “Eight Pillars of Design,” which are: invent within the rules; respect the character of the place; tell a story over time; build for the ages; detail for authenticity; craft with natural materials; create the patina of age; and incorporate modern conveniences. So what does Versaci mean by “follow the rules?” He says that custom designs can often stem from studious tradition, so it is good to use the past as a guideline. You “respect its character” by working with the surrounding land and topography, rather than cutting down all the trees and leveling hills.

To “tell a story,” architects can create a storyboard of past additions to envision what innovative designs made it what it is today. To “build for the ages,” high quality building materials should be used. Molding, roofing, windows and details should follow the old character of the house to “detail for authenticity.” Materials like wood, stone and pine have a vibe that synthetic materials just can’t match, Versaci adds, which is what he means by “natural materials.” To “create the patina of age,” it’s okay to leave some elements of the home old and weathered or vintage-looking; weathered bricks, salvaged mantles or antique door knobs, for instance. Lastly, the home should be outfitted with modern heating, plumbing, air conditioning, computer wiring, hidden control panels and security systems.

This year, many residential architecture interior design projects made the list of the American Institute of Architect’s best custom designs. These interior design trends showcase what the modern American spirit is all about. For instance, architect Thomas A. Roszak designed a home in Northfield, Illinois that sought to open up his living space. The 8,200-square-foot house relocated the kitchen next to the kid’s playroom and blends one room into the next along the first floor, with glass panel walls dividing each space. Digital light, HVAC, audio, security and video systems further modernized this cutting-edge home, giving its owners a sense of total control over their space. The colors also promote sociability and uses autumn foliage colors to bring a part of the landscape into play, harmonizing the setting, the jury said.

A lot of the modern designs for architecture interior design are extremely minimalist. They use strong lines and simplified colors; primarily stark white and stainless steel. Lighting is often hanging and bleak. All items are carefully stowed away in nondescript storage bins imperceptible to the naked eye. Furniture is amorphous and multi-functional, often bending, twisting and reattaching into different shapes. Large windows and cityscape “looking” rooms devoid of all furniture are in-style right now. While it may be austere to some, others find it clean and refreshing.

Most people prefer DIY style for their bathroom renovation. For readers who do not know what is DIY, it means do it yourself. DIY bathroom remodeling is a good option if you enjoy learning new things, have patience and willing to get your hands dirty. This is also a cost effective method to beautify your bathroom.

Should you DIY?
DIY bathroom renovation is definitely a cost saving and a satisfying process, but should you DIY? Most people DIY project management, color selection, demolition and remove and repair most fittings like hooks and towel rails. However, if plumbing or electrical jobs are involved you need to get professional help, unless you are very skilled.

Bathroom Renovation DIY Project Planning Tips
You need to first decide if your bathroom needs a full redesign or just a makeover. If there are a lot of people using the bathroom, this could vary significantly. You can have a spacious bathroom if you plan and design the process of bathroom renovation DIY well. You can work this out with the help of computer software, or if you have a major renovation plan you can hire a professional.

If the layout and water proofing system is fine, you can renovate your bathroom by changing the color scheme, replacing cabinets and retiling. You cannot however do a major plumbing or electrical jobs in bathroom renovation DIY, as this is not permissible legally.

How to know how long the bathroom renovation will take?
This depends on the bathroom renovation DIY plan. Depending on the work request at hand, you can expect something like this to take one to four weeks to finish.

Legal issues
Whether you DIY or not, check with your local authorities if you need to obtain a permit. You would need a permit if you are planning to reconstruct your bathroom from a scratch.

Bathroom Renovation. DIY (Do It Yourselft) Saves Money
The cost generally varies a lot depending upon the work. An approximate cost charged by a renovator would be between $12,000 -15,000 for a small job, up to $20,000 for a medium renovation and above $30,000 for a complete renovation. Check with your renovator for the exact costs.

Hiring a Professional Takes Consideration
DIY bathroom renovation would definitely work out cheaper by a few thousand dollars, but it needs some skill, time and motivation. Doing everything yourself can give you a sense of real accomplishment. Also this would make you feel proud of your achievement each time you are in the bathroom.

When hiring a professional be sure to discuss the project in detail and have them explain back to you what they intend to do before signing any contracts. Hire an industry qualified, licensed and insured tradesperson to avoid hassles.

By: Chet Lystrom

Most experts in the field of property sales and interior design agree that a contributing factor to a homes positive resale growth is maintaining its cohesiveness, while executing thoughtful upgrades to bathrooms, kitchens, and bedrooms. That is why it is important when initiating a remodelling project to create a plan that keeps intact a consistent, flowing design. A renovation or remodel aided by the technology of 3D CAD software can do wonders for a homes appearance and usefulness, while a poorly done project will quickly turn a home into a hopeless money pit.

For the inexperienced do-it-yourselfer, or interior designer looking for an easier way to create a visual presentation and plan for a renovation or remodel, CAD software is a compelling way to go. Bathroom, bedroom and kitchen design software allows the user to quickly and easily create an accurate, graphic representation of how a room might look in a home. In recent years CAD software has been developed and revised for a much more user-friendly experience. The result is that a user need not be a computer expert, or CAD systems specialist, in order to utilise the technology. Essentially, CAD software takes much of the guess-work out of remodelling kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, or any room in the home.

Going into a home remodel/redesign without a clear visual concept of what the finished project is a very slippery slope to travel upon. When making even minor changes to bathrooms and kitchens you run the risk of ruining the cohesive flow of a homes interior design. This type of disruption can drastically reduce the value of a home, because of both the visual impact, as well as the practical problems that might arise. By being able to custom create a 3D environment in advance of any work actually being initiated; one is able to understand the effect of any changes that are to be made, in terms of style, design, and flow. The advantage of the perspective gained by using CAD software ensures the ability to accomplish a remodel that dramatically improve the bedroom, kitchen and bathroom design, and maintains cohesiveness throughout the home.

Imagine the joy of being able to enter a virtual 3D environment where you can add, subtract or rearrange anything. You can change colours and fixtures as well as view everything around a room literally from a different angle. This is possible with 3d CAD software. With all of this easy to use and relatively inexpensive technology at your disposal, using CAD software is like turning on a brilliant light where you were previously stumbling around in darkness.