Our friends over at Apartment Therapy featured this awesome article recently, and offered some great tips for dealing with ugly bathroom light fixtures.  Since we love interior design, especially bathroom design on a budget, we knew we HAD to share these incredible ideas with you, our readers! Check out the tips below or head over to Apartment Therapy, to read the full article.

1. Change the Shade: This is one of the simplest and least expensive ways to update an old light fixture, and it can completely change the look of a bathroom. Hardware and lighting stores sell bathroom shades and kits, and they can help you match a new shade to your old fixture.

2. Spraypaint the Old Fixture: Cheap, brassy fixtures are a common problem in old apartment bathrooms. When the finish (not the style) of the fixture bothers you, spraypaint is an easy fix. Turn off the power circuit (this step is important!), remove the fixture from the wall or ceiling with a screwdriver, spray it with primer and a couple coats of color, then reinstall.

3. Replace the Light Fixture Yourself: If you’re handy and your project involves a one-to-one replacement, you may want to consider swtiching out a ceiling fixture or pendant on your own. (For a good overview of what constitutes a DIYable electrical project, see this article from This Old House.) The most important step is to turn off the power supply from your home’s circuit panel before you do anything.

4. Hire an Electrician to Replace a Fixture: For anything more complicated than a one-to-one fixture replacement, you’ll want to hire an electrician. Some electricians charge per circuit box, while others charge an hourly labor fee. Prices vary regionally, so call a few different electricians to get a sense of standard rates in your area.

5. Work with What You’ve Got: Sometimes the best way to handle an outdated bathroom is to embrace it. Find accessories (like towel bars or other bathroom hardware) that match the finish of your fixture, and take cues from the pre-existing color scheme when decorating the space.

Ever tried to apply makeup in the dark? I have, and the end result isn’t pretty – this is why my bathroom has ample lighting – I need to see what I’m doing to my face!

If you’re about to embark on a bathroom remodel and you haven’t yet considered your lighting options, then you came across this blog serendipitously.

Perhaps you’re about to have a “light bulb” moment?

The way the bathroom is lit is going to have a huge impact on the general mood your bathroom conveys. So, let’s talk bathroom lighting, shall we?

A bathroom should be well-lit, preferably with a natural light source (sky light or window), and carry the option of becoming dimly lit if need be. First, do ensure that your vanity mirror is properly lit. One of my personal favorite ways to light up a vanity mirror is a wall-mounted bathroom light bar with globe light bulbs, placed just above the mirror. It’s a very basic look that lights up your vanity area amazingly well, and gives you the ample lighting you need for your personal hygiene routine. But you can also veer from something as simple as this and get creative with a funky wall-mounted bar that uses LED (light-emitting-diode) technology. Your vanity mirror can also be lit up using wall sconces (one on either side of the mirror is ideal), and whether your bathroom’s theme is vintage-inspired or has that ultra-modern look, there’s a wall sconce out there to suit your style. Try this antique-looking wall sconce for an old-style bathroom or this sleek-looking wall sconce if you’re after a minimalist contemporary look.

Your lighting options are virtually endless and the vanity’s lighting isn’t the only thing to consider when lighting the bathroom. You’ll likely want to add ceiling (overhead) lighting. This allows you to opt for a softer lighting effect by only turning on the ceiling light, perfect for quick bathroom visits. As with your vanity lighting, the options are endless, but for the ceiling, recessed lighting may be your best option, and if you add a dimmer switch, you can easily turn a brightly-lit, functional bathroom into a romantic spa-like escape. If you’re aiming for an eccentric look in your bathroom, and you’re working with high ceilings, you might consider a chandelier for your overhead lighting. Or, consider this Tiffany-style ceiling light, which would work especially well if you’re mixing and matching a few different decorative ideas and you have an artsy personality.

Here’s a brilliant idea: task lighting. Task lighting refers to a direct beam of light that illuminates a particular area. I highly recommend this for a separate bath area, and for those who enjoy long, luxurious soaks with a good book or magazine. Task lighting is perfect for instances when you want to dim the lights and create a soft, relaxing ambiance, but still need enough light to read. This is where task lighting comes in handy.

And for the trendiest of bathrooms, take your bathroom lighting one step further with lit LED fixtures!

Oh, and don’t forget a night light for those groggy, middle-of-the-night trips to the bathroom!

We love stumbling upon bathroom tips and ideas like this one, which we found on the DIY Network.  Toilet problems can be common to any bathroom, but the article below features some easy ways to remedy these problems.  Check them out below, or head over to the DIY Network to read the full article.

Problem 1: Water Trickling Into the Bowl, or “Phantom Flushes”
You may periodically hear your toilet begin to spontaneously refill, as though someone had flushed it. A toilet that cuts on and off by itself, or runs intermittently, has a problem that plumbers call a phantom flush. The cause is a very slow leak from the tank into the bowl. This problem is almost certainly caused by a bad flapper or flapper seat. The solution is to drain the tank and bowl, check and clean the flapper seat, and replace the flapper if it’s worn or damaged.

Problem 2: Water Trickling Into the Tank
If you hear a sustained hissing sound coming from your toilet, it’s probably a result of water trickling into the tank via the supply line. In this case the parts to check are the float, the refill tube and the ballcock or inlet-valve assembly. The hissing sound is typically caused by water coming through the inlet valve. First check to see whether the float is sticking or needs adjusting. Next, check to make sure the refill tube isn’t inserted too far into the overflow tube. (It should extend only about 1/4″ below the rim of the overflow tube.) If neither of these adjustments solves the problem, you’ll probably need to replace the ballcock assembly as described above.

Problem 3: The Bowl Empties Slowly
A bowl that empties slowly — also known as a weak flush — is usually the result of clogged holes underneath the rim of the bowl. Use a curved piece of wire to poke gently into each flush hole to clear out any debris. Coat-hanger wire works fine, and a small mirror will help you see under the rim. You can also use wire to loosen debris that may be blocking the siphon jet in the bottom of the drain. Be careful not to scratch the bowl.

To read about the rest of the common toilet problems and there cures, click here.

Apartment Therapy continues to be our go-to source for interior design inspiration.  Since bathroom design is my specialty, I love seeing what fun ideas Apartment Therapy comes up with, and figure out how to apply them to my bathroom.  Bathroom renovation can often be a daunting thought, but sometimes a simple updated bathroom design can be all it takes to turn your bathroom from a snore to a delight.  We recently saw these ideas for soft metallic accessories, and I think they would look fabulous in any bathroom that needs a design turnaround.  Check out some of my favorite images below, or head over to Apartment Therapy for the full display.

ART DECO MY BATHROOM!

In the last Bathroom Design 101 blog, we bathed Edwardian style. In this blog, we’re traveling forward in time to the very next era, and retro chic is the name of the game. Today, interior designers are incorporating 1920s-inspired looks into homes using, for example, Art Deco-style furniture and vintage chandeliers for that old Hollywood vibe.

The roaring twenties, also known as the Jazz Age, was a time of freedom, fun, and excess in North America. Jazz music was popularized and the flapper redefined women’s fashion; sound was put to film and everyone was buying Ford’s Model-T. When we think of the 1920s we think gangsters, flappers, and old Hollywood glamour. But, when remodeling our bathrooms we should think of the ‘20s for its Art Deco movement, and how it influenced interior design.

While we can’t go back in time and relive the ‘20s, we can redecorate our bathrooms using 1920s-inspired themes!

The appeal of remodeling a bathroom with the 1920s in mind lies in its sheer simplicity, understated elegance, and functionality. Founded on the Art Deco style, a 20s bathroom is sleek, stylish, simple, and functional.

Between 1920 and 1930, functionality began to take over the decorative excess of the Victorian and Edwardian periods, and this was also true in the bathroom. Hygiene and sanitation became somewhat of an obsession in the ‘20s; therefore the bathrooms of the time reflected this. In most bathrooms, the fixtures were white. Gleaming chrome and white porcelain looked clean and sanitary, which made them the top decorating choices. While it’s true that in the late ‘20s, tub and sink manufacturers began introducing different colors (pink, blue, etc.), stick to white fixtures for your greatest return on investment should you ever sell your home.

You can recreate a 1920s bathroom look using either a claw foot tub or an existing built-in tub. If you’re redesigning a bathroom with a built-in tub, there’s no need to tear it out. During the ‘20s, claw foot tubs were gradually phased out as homes were being built with tubs already in place. If your bathroom’s existing built-in tub is old, chipped, or cracked, an easy, less expensive option is to update it with an acrylic tub liner. In the same way built-in tubs took over bathrooms during the 1920s, acrylic is now taking over today’s bathrooms as the easy-to-clean, functional material of choice.

For your 1920s-inspired bathroom’s flooring, a geometrical tile pattern is ideal. Black and white tiles are a smart, classic option. Or use smaller, colored tiles in two or three color combinations. All-white tile is also an option that reflects the clean look of a 1920s bathroom.

Built in pieces became popular during this period because of the desire to keep everything neat and clean. Decoration was always included with a functional piece; hence, recessed medicine cabinets became the rage. Everything had its place, and towel racks were often built right into the sink, as in this console sink, which would be a perfect addition to your 1920s bathroom.

In the 1920s, the metal built-in medicine cabinet right above the sink became the norm and defined the functional aspect of the time.  Adding one like this would certainly give your bathroom that 1920s appeal.

If you choose to go with a basic mirror above the sink, another option is a traditional wall-mounted medicine cabinet elsewhere in the bathroom.

Next, add a tall, narrow wood cabinet from floor to ceiling to store toiletries and towels.

Place a heated towel rack in your bathroom for added luxury. Contrary to what some may think, built-in water-heated towel racks were quite popular during this era and incorporating one into the design not only adds to the look, but keeps your towels nice and toasty!

A typical 1920s bathroom’s walls were tiled from the ground halfway up. If you choose to recreate this look, avoid the cost of ceramic tile by getting the look with an acrylic subway tile wall instead.

Speaking of walls, here’s an idea, frame and hang an old 1920s movie poster to really complete the look (or perhaps the very first screen adaptation of a famous novel).

Craving something a little less jazz and a little more country? Not to worry, my next blog will be all about giving your bathroom that country-style look!

We know the easiest way to revamp your bathroom decoration and make it feel like a full bathroom renovation is to repaint your walls.  Adding color to any space, particularly the bathroom, can add new life to the room and make it feel as though you’ve done much more than alter its hues.  Check out the roundup we’ve created below for great painting tips and color tricks that will help revamp your drab bathroom into a fabulous space.

1. We’ve heard it plenty, and even posted about it earlier, but green is an amazing addition to any room! Use it as a neutral color, and you’ll be surprised what your results are.

2. Speaking of green as a great neutral, we found this great post about using ochre as a color in your interior (and exterior) design.  We think it would look great in your bathroom.

3. HGTV has some excellent tricks for powerful color combinations that will turn your bathroom decor into something worth talking about.

4. Tired of those brush marks you get when painting your walls? Here’s a great trick for how to get rid of them!

5. Check out our website! We have awesome photo galleries, with plenty of colorful walls, that are sure to inspire your next bathroom transformation.

We recently stumbled upon an excellent organization idea on one of the best home organization blogs out there, Unclutterer.  The idea centers around the idea of treating your house and the items you have in it as though you are the bouncer at an exclusive club.  See what they had to say in the excerpt below, or head over to Unclutterer to read the full article.

“This exclusive club concept is how I think about most physical objects and obligations in my life. For something to come into my house or occupy my time, it has to pass the red velvet rope test. Your home and life aren’t places for junk, they are privileged places for the things you truly value.

If you have a difficult time thinking like a bouncer, ask yourself: “If I wouldn’t give an object to a friend or ask a friend to watch over it, do I really want it in my house?” For example, I wouldn’t give a friend my junk mail or a rusty potato peeler or a broken washing machine. My friends don’t deserve these objects in her house, and neither do I. Also, I wouldn’t ask a friend to keep track of early drafts of my book, but I would ask a friend to keep an eye on my cats if I were to go on vacation. Early drafts of my book are clutter, but my cats are prized possessions. Drafts should go, but cats can stay.

When we treat our homes and lives with respect, when we think of them as exclusive clubs instead of dumping grounds, it’s easy to determine what is clutter and what isn’t. Put a trash can, recycling bin, shredder, and donation box near the main entrance to your home to temporarily hold the things that shouldn’t be fully welcomed into your space. Then, as needed, trash, recycle, or donate to charity these collected items. You’re the gatekeeper to your life. Be a bouncer and ruthlessly decide what is exclusive enough to make it past the red velvet rope and into your life and your home.”

Ever the excellent source for bathroom design inspiration or interior decorating ideas, Apartment Therapy recently featured this post about out of the ordinary sinks.  We’ve placed pictures of a few of our favorites below, but head over to read the full article here.

I consider myself to be somewhat of a neat freak. Hey, I like to keep the house clean, and I hate clutter – just about everything in my home has its place. Cleaning ain’t so bad… Loading the dishwasher is not a problem, that’s easy. Vacuuming can be fun, in fact it can be a bit of a game (how much dirt can this baby actually suck up?).

As much as I enjoy cleaning the house, and as much satisfaction as I get from seeing my house sparkle, and while I do love that “fresh pine scent”, I have to draw the line somewhere; and that would be at the bathroom. Truth be told, I’d rather not have to clean the bathroom, and here’s why: soap scum and mildew – not my favorite things to be cleaning, and scrubbing, and desperately trying to get rid of. These 2 bathroom culprits can be very stubborn and tough to get out!

But there is something that can save us all from endless hours of cleaning in the bathroom. I mean, with today’s busy lifestyles, who has time? There is hope, and it’s called acrylic. Strongly consider an acrylic tub liner and wall surround for your next bathroom remodel, and not just because of the easy-to-maintain factor. Apart from acrylic being unbelievably easy to clean (and keep clean), acrylic tub liners and wall surrounds have a number of clear-cut advantages.

Read on for 5 reasons acrylic is magic!

1. Easy to clean and maintain. This one’s my favorite. Acrylic tub liners and acrylic wall surrounds do not require any heavy scrubbing, and this is music to my ears! Because acrylic is non-porous, soap scum and mildew won’t accumulate on it. Here’s how to clean an acrylic tub liner: mix a solution of ½ vinegar and ½ water, spray on, wipe off, and rinse. How easy is that? Not only is a cleaning solution such as this environmentally friendly (i.e. non toxic), it’s super easy to make! Harsh cleaning solutions are not needed to clean acrylic tub liners and wall surrounds. Besides, who wants to inhale those fumes? Because acrylic is so easy to clean, just think of all the time you’ll save!
2. Quick installation. As you’ve already figured out, I just love the easy-to-clean aspect of an acrylic tub liner and wall surround. Spray and wipe…I’m still reveling in this! But there’s so much more to be aware of when considering an acrylic tub liner for your next bathroom remodel, and, if you hire a professional, the quick installation time is definitely a huge plus. Your bathroom won’t be out of service for days, or even weeks. Installing a tub liner and wall surround typically takes one to two days, depending on who’s doing the job and the dimensions of the bath area. So, no trips to the local YMCA, or to mom’s, just to take a shower or bath. The whole family could be able to enjoy the brand new bath area in less than 48 hours!
3. Way less expensive. Installing a brand new bathtub, plus taking down old tile and replacing that too, requires a lot of man power. This is a major job that often requires breaking down the surrounding walls, removing wall tiles and floor covering, and disconnecting the plumbing. Hiring a contractor to do the demolition work as well as the remodeling can cost upwards of $13,000! Besides, why take apart the entire bathroom if you don’t have to? You may not want the floor to change, and the vanity may look just fine, but the tub is another story… in which case revamping the bath area can make a big difference! Installing an acrylic tub liner and wall surround is a fraction of the cost of a traditional bathroom remodel, and the change is quite dramatic. Imagine an old, 1970s bathroom with a mustard yellow tub and green and yellow flower-patterned tiles…got the picture in your head yet? Now imagine all this, gone, and replaced with a white gleaming, new bath area, and all this at a very affordable price!
4. Durable. Acrylic bathtub liners won’t stain, peel, crack or chip like a traditional steel or cast iron bathtub would, yet an acrylic tub looks no different. Acrylic is the most durable bath and shower material on the market. Because the color runs right through the entirety of the material (i.e. it’s not just sprayed on top), it doesn’t lose its luster. The new acrylic tub will still look brand new years later. In fact, a big motivator for choosing acrylic as the primary bath area material for new or remodeled bathrooms it its durability. Consumers want strong, sturdy surfaces that will maintain their showroom finish and color for years to come; and acrylic fits the bill.
5. Green. If you install a tub liner instead of ripping out the old tub and tile, hundreds of pounds of waste will not end up in a landfill. So, not only is a tub liner a quick, easy, and cost-effective way to remodel a bath; not only is it aesthetically pleasing and modern, it’s a very green way to remodel a bathroom. By installing an acrylic tub liner over an existing tub; the tub never ends up in a landfill. Acrylic tubs are good insulators, keeping water hotter, longer, saving energy in the long run. Acrylic material lasts a lifetime, no need to replace it, and again, less waste in landfills. How cool is that?

BATHING – THE EDWARDIAN WAY

Have you tried Bath Fitter’s design your own bathroom feature yet? If not, give it a go, it’s so much fun, and you can play interior designer for a few minutes (or hours, depending on how many designs you create)!

In this Bathroom Design 101 blog, we’re going to think throwback, time travel, memory lane, retro – however you want to describe it, we’re looking at a traditional bathroom design.

I love the idea of walking into a room and being transported back in time – it’s like your own little era-inspired place – one that you created and one that you can enjoy every single day! You know, an era-inspired bathroom is almost like an escape from modern life. Nowadays, we have gadgets galore; cell phones, plasma TVs, computers (you get the idea), so why not create a traditional bathroom space where all of that stuff is tossed out the proverbial window, if just for an hour a day.

A traditional bathroom will convey, in one way or another, a design period from the past. You could bring your bathroom back to the Victorian era, or step into the not-so-distant past with a ‘20s-inspired look. The traditional bathroom is typically outfitted with a claw foot tub and a pedestal sink; this is the kind of classic design you just can’t go wrong with.

For this installment, let’s go back to a period of time that occurred (roughly) between 1901 and 1915 called the Edwardian period.

The Edwardian-inspired bathroom

The Edwardian period is marked by Queen Victoria’s death; and when she died, she took the Victorian era with her. Her son, Edward VII, claimed the throne and once he did, fashions began to change. For example, the tight corset was abandoned during the Edwardian era. While fashion was changing, so was interior décor.

For a traditional, Edwardian bathroom, seek out vintage-inspired fixtures with traditional brass faucets, and pair them with dark, mahogany wood cabinets and marble countertops. This reproduction custom Edwardian-style mahogany vanity is a perfect example of a typical Edwardian vanity.

While you’re not obliged to, the Edwardian era favored gold, therefore, traditional-style gold-colored brass faucets as opposed to chrome, would be more appropriate when recreating this design style in your bathroom.

Your Edwardian bathroom wouldn’t be complete without a gorgeous, old-style-inspired claw foot tub, all the rage during the Edwardian era. Claw foot bathtubs hit the scene in the late 1800s and didn’t go out of style until the 1930s when built-in bathtubs became the standard.

An alternative to a cast iron claw foot tub (a very heavy piece of hardware indeed) is an acrylic claw foot tub. Acrylic claw foot tubs are much, much lighter, therefore easier to move. Scratches can be buffed out quite easily; water will stay warmer longer; and the material is softer to the touch than cast iron’s metal surface.

Shifting away from the darkness of the Victorian interior, Edwardian colors were fresh and light, with an informal feel. An ideal color palette on the walls would be blue and white. Wallpaper would work extremely well in an Edwardian bathroom. Patterns of the time were feminine, with floral designs being highly favored. Colors were predominantly pastels: blue, lilacs, greens, yellows and grays. Add some Edwardian-inspired art, and you have just created the perfect Edwardian bathroom!

Since we’re talking eras, we can’t stop here – my next blog will explore the key elements to creating a “Roaring 20s-inspired bathroom” – I can’t wait!