Tips on a Possible Bathroom Vanity Remodel

Posted on July 20, 2011 by admin

Did you just look at your bathroom and feel your heart cringe?  It’s probably time to remodel.  But don’t think that means thousands upon thousands of dollars.  There are some really effective ways to transform your bathroom from outdated to outstanding!  So before you bust out your checkbook and hire a professional, here are some tips on remodeling your bathroom.

First of all, get rid of the lime green paint.  I know modern style includes bright colors, but lime green?  Probably not the best decision.  For wall paint in the bathroom, aim toward more neutral, calm colors.  Go for neutral tones of creams and light blues.  You want to step into a waterway oasis.  Not a circus tent.

Once you have completed the paint job, if necessary, look at your fixtures.  A great way to transform a bathroom is to update the lighting, mirror, sink, and bathtub fixtures.  So instead of the old gold-ish knobs for the sink, try stainless steel fixtures that are sleek and modern.  And coordinate with the light fixtures.

So maybe you have some tiles that you would love to replace in the bathroom.  Or possibly the counter space.  That isn’t always the best choice for the budget, but there are always loopholes!  Create a diversion.  Instead of focusing on the negative, makes some positive changes.  Decorating a space can make all the difference in the world.  Painting is so key.  If your cabinet space is not working for you, don’t be afraid to give it a new finish.  You can transform a boring, stark white space into anything.

Okay, so now it’s time to think about the bathroom vanity.  You might have only one sink, and little counter space, but that’s just fine.  Accentuate the good features of your bathroom vanity.  Look at the mirror and light fixture.  Once your fixtures are updated, try adding a frame to your mirror to add some uniqueness.  An important lesson to learn is to not clutter your space, especially with limited vanity space.  So if your bathroom vanity is not spacious, don’t overstock your hair products right on the counter.  Look to the cabinets and organizers to help out.

So by now you’re thinking it would be great to not have a cluttered space, but your linen closet isn’t big enough to help you out.  No need to panic.  Organization is a wonderful tool to making the most out of your space.  There are lots of organizers available if you need some help.  If you don’t even have a linen closet, there are lots of options.  Have your handyman build some shelves.  Or you can purchase some cabinets that sit above the toilet area.  They do not have to be massive structures that consume your bathroom.  There are some very slender cabinet structures available for your bathroom.

So before you spend a fortune on remodeling you bathroom or bathroom vanity, look at what areas most need the updating.  Chances are promising that there are plenty of ways for you to transform your bathroom on your own.

 

 

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Bathroom Storage Ideas For Your Bathroom Remodel

Posted on April 15, 2011 by admin

Chances are if you are doing a bathroom remodel it’s for one of the three reasons. Either you are selling your home and you know that a good old update is a GOOD idea and will probably make your home sell better. Or you could be the type of person that simply likes change and likes to change with the times. Or you could also be the type of person that simply wants to update their bathroom because of the simple fact that everything is older – bathroom stuff does not keep forever.

Eventually you get little dents and bumps, your bathroom sink becomes corroded, your toilet becomes unhinged or dingy. Well, you get the point. It doesn’t really matter who you are or why you want to do a bathroom remodel, the main point here is what to use for bathroom storage. You have a few choices available to you, but there are two of the most popular and common storage places; bathroom vanities and a linen cabinet. A vanity is; a sink, mirror and all the storage necessary for cosmetic activity for a bathroom.

Okay. Easy enough. These bathroom vanities come in a wide variety of shapes, colors, styles and of course textiles. Everything from different kinds of woods to faux wood to glass to marble and everything else in between. The second type of storage space is the linen cabinet. A linen cabinet is; will keep towels, sheets, and more neatly organized. It’s a “linen” cabinet, which means you keep linens in it.

Again, these linen cabinets come in a wide variety of shapes, colors, styles and of course textiles. Everything from different kinds of woods to faux wood to glass to marble and everything else in between! If you want variety or style, you can have it with these two options no matter what your decorating sense might be! Personally, I like to have a vanity and a linen cabinet in my bathroom – especially considering they are used for two different reasons. But, if you don’t have a bathroom big enough, you could choose one or the other or you could choose a larger vanity and a smaller cabinet or visa versa.

The choice is really up to you. These days, vanities also have a wide number of faucets and features you can add on in order to make the bathroom BE whatever you want it to be. Some people use a bathroom for what it is while others want to make it a calm and serene place they can take baths or showers and just relax. I chose to make my bathroom really calm and cool. It’s a special type of place I like to go when I just want to get away from it all!

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What Bathroom Accessories Should I Have When Doing A Bathroom Remodel?

Posted on March 25, 2011 by admin

At the moment, I cannot think of anything more annoying than being in a bathroom and needing something and it not being available to me. A comfortable and an efficient bathroom should have all the essential features as well as some extras. For example, not only should you have a toilet (obvious), but it might also be nice to have something to hold your towels such as a linen cabinet. Oftentimes when people are doing a bathroom remodel they are at a loss as to what they need. Honestly, with all the different choices available to you, you can be anyone and have any type of a decorating sense and still make your bathroom look unlike anyone else’s.

A bath can be simple or extravagant. It is entirely up to you! Here is a sort of check list you can go through when it comes to thinking about accessories you might want in your bathroom for your bathroom remodel. The first option you are going to need is a place to put towels and washcloths. If you are like 100% of the other people in the world, you are going to need something like a linen cabinet. These line cabinets come in so many different shapes, sizes, colors and textiles – you really have your choice of options.

Probably the most common ones would be the “tower” linen cabinet. These are taller rather than wider. They might have an open or closed option up top, a shelf or two, as well as some cabinetry down below as well. You can use the shelves for towels or you could make it more organized and place your towels in the cabinets and place other things on the shelves such as candles, bath salts or lotions.

The second most important – and common item are the bathroom vanities for your bathroom remodel. Again, these come in so many different shapes, sizes, colors and textiles – you really have your choice of options (bathroom and home options are always like this!). Bathroom vanities come in two main options. You can either get a bathroom vanity with a sink or you can use a bathroom vanity (usually) in lieu of the linen cabinet, however, you can have both.

The bathroom vanities usually hold things like extra tissue paper, hair dryers, hair brushes, cosmetics, perfumes, nail products, etc. Our bathroom at home has a bathroom vanity plus a linen cabinet. Our vanity holds all of these products and it really helps to keep the bathroom very tide and organized. Just don’t use the bathroom vanities as a box you keep all your… well, crap. In other words, keep in nice for yourself.

Don’t just throw stuff in there willy nilly! The last thing you should consider is upgrading your mirror. I love mirrors in bathrooms – especially if the bathroom is on the smaller side. Bathrooms with mirrors in them make the bathroom look so much bigger! Mirrors, also come in many shapes and sizes. You can choose to get a mirror that simply hangs on the wall, or you could get one for the bathroom vanities you are buying for your home. Either way, all three of these items are absolutely necessary. Not a luxury, but an essential item to “make” any bathroom!

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How Can I Measure Bathroom Vanities For My Bathroom?

Posted on March 18, 2011 by admin

When it comes to any kind of a remodeling project, the LAST thing you want to do is to not measure your space. It doesn’t matter if it’s a kitchen, a garage or something outdoors like a yard or a deck – if you measure correctly it will cause a while bunch of problems and possibly cause your project to be stopped! If you have something store bought like bathroom vanities or a linen cabinet, this isn’t something you can exactly cut and expect to just slide it in. If you do this, it could end up causing you more problems than anything else.

There are two ways you could go about this. You can either utilize the services of a store and have them come in to measure everything for your bathroom remodeling OR you could do it yourself. If you hire someone, you can almost guarantee there are going to be no problems – though there are those rare occasions.

Also, if you hire someone it is going to be costly and you have to consider labor charges. If you do it yourself, its much cheaper, but again, please make sure you follow the directions in order to get it done correctly! The first thing you need to do if figure out exactly what size you want your vanity to be. Bathroom vanities come in a wide array of sizes.

What you need to do is get a tape measure and measure the space where the vanity goes. You also need to measure the old vanity so that you know how big it was before you buy a new one! Then, in order to measure the vanity space, you can actually take the one you have now OR you can simply measure around where you would like the vanity to be.

Make sure if this vanity or linen cabinet is by a shower, tub, sink, etc. that you make sure there is enough space to move around. I’ve been in homes before where something is a little too big and not only does it make everything look a little “odd”, but it’s also hard to get around in. You get in the tub and bang your shoulder off a sink, you wash your hands and hit your rump on the door handle! This is not a comfortable or correctly measured bathroom by anyone’s means!

When remodeling a bathroom or any room, this is not a very attractive attribute! Also, if you are upgrading or installing any extras like mirrors, make sure that you have enough room in between the chair rail (if there is one!), the top of the ceiling and anything else it might be able to touch. Once you do the measuring, everything else should fit into place nicely!

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Choosing The Best Vanity For Your Bathroom Is Easy!

Posted on March 16, 2011 by admin

A lot of people go to a store or a website online and they see all the hundreds upon hundreds of ideas – and it really starts to overwhelm them. But, there is an easy way to figure out the best vanity for your bathroom! Educate yourself on the options, sit down and write yourself a list of what you need and what you want out of the vanity, and write down your budget and try your best to stick within it! There are two main and very popular types of bathroom vanities. These include:

- Antique: Which, is as it sounds. It’s usually made out of wood, it has an antique look and feel to it, maybe a vibe of Victorian if you will. They are either very ornate or very simple. These vanities can be very expensive depending on the materials that were required to manufacture them!

Traditional Bathroom Vanity

- Contemporary: These are pretty modern looking, but very cool! They are usually made out of other things besides wood, such as metal, glass, plastic, etc. They are very diverse indeed!

Contemporary Bathroom Vanity and Linen Cabinet

Among the types of vanity you can choose from, you can also choose from different materials. Of course wood is the most popular, but you have other options as well:

- Wood: When you speak of wood and vanity units it’s a really broad term. You can find pine, oak, birch, cherry. You can find different colors, paint, polishes and more.

- Glass: This is usually a less expensive route than wood, but it can still be pretty expensive depending on the intricacy and if the glass is cut and formed by a machine or a person.

- Marble & Granite: This WILL be more expensive than wood, but it’s also more luxurious looking and feeling as well. Marble and granite come in all sorts of colors and patterns, choose the best for your bath.

These bathroom vanities and linen cabinets also come in an array of sizes such as:

- Single Basins: These are, you guessed it, single basin vanities! Everything about this is simple; the construct, the installation, the plumbing.

Contemporary Vanity with Single Basin

- Double Basin: These are double basin vanities with two sinks. This is great for master bedrooms that have big bathrooms!

- Multiple Basins: These are usually used for commercial restaurants and businesses. They are big and they do take up a lot of space, but for a business that is needed!

Every single vanity for your bathroom has a different size, length, color, extras, etc. You can also add on things as well such as mirrors, lighting, extra sink additions, etc. If you are trying to find something like a mirror, make sure you measure it correctly! The last thing you need is to find a mirror that is TOO big for your vanity or too small – it will definitely look out of place!

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Shelving Ideas For Your Bathroom

Posted on March 11, 2011 by admin

Let’s be honest, your bathroom probably holds a lot of things. This is something that most of us don’t want to admit, but it’s still true! A lot of people’s bathrooms are simply too darn small to fit all the stuff they need to use, in it. So what do you do? Well, you could take a minimal approach or you could take another approach and start taking a look at different shelving units. You really have three big options ahead of you right now:

Bathroom Vanities: If you already have a sink, this might not be the best option for you. However, you can find bathroom vanities without the sink and just the stand part. This will not only add extra counter space, but the bottom part also has an enclosed area for things like toiletries, bath towels, make up, cleaning products, hair tools, linens and much more. Plus, you can add on extras like a mirror or lighting for your vanity. It really depends on what you are looking for! These come in different sizes, but shapes, colors, styles and of course materials.

Bathroom Oak Linen Cabinet

Linen Cabinets: These are usually enclosed units that have shelves inside of them, sometimes inside and outside. I like the enclosed ones because you see less of the things you are (really) trying to hide away. You can also add the above mentioned items to these as well; toiletries, bath towels, make up, cleaning products, hair tools, linens and much more. These come in different sizes, but shapes, colors, styles and of course materials.

Shelving Units: Usually this is the most simple and cheap design you can build. They are open spaces, they have anywhere from three to 6 shelves, and you can still add your usual toiletries, bath towels, make up, cleaning products, hair tools, linens and much more. These usually do NOT come in different sizes, but shapes, colors, styles and of course materials. Like I said, it’s very simple. Usually they have either metal or wood to choose from. The metal is usually silver or gold and the wood is usually white, black or original wood style.

Teak Bathroom Vanity Cabinet

All in all, the choice is yours, but the important thing here is to know that you DO have choices. If the shelving units for a bath are the cheapest, I would have to say that they vanity is the most expensive, but again its more about luxury, whereas a shelving unit is more about space. If you don’t have a vanity at all – get the vanity option you will be thanking me later, especially because of all the options they offer.

From designer sinks to different types of materials they use, to different process, to different styles – you will definitely, without a doubt, be happy with your decision when purchasing a vanity for your bathroom.

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What Steps Should I Take To Complete My Vanity?

Posted on March 8, 2011 by admin

When it comes to your bathroom, the sky is the limit – or it’s limited to your creativity and space anyway. Some people already have everything else in place, they just need a vanity or a new vanity to complete their product. However, for those of you that are completely redoing your bathroom, you will need quite a few different aspects to really complete the project.

The next few products are of course optional, but if you want something really complete looking – or if you are redoing the house to eventually sell it, you might want to think about these extra options.

- First and foremost, the vanity will most likely be the focal point of the bathroom, so in choosing one, make sure you remember this. Bathroom vanities come in so many shapes, colors, sizes, and styles you really have your pick as far as what you want and what you need. Two things to consider; 1- Make sure you get a product that will FIT into your bathroom and 2- make sure its convenient and efficient (it has what you need). If you need more room for linens, you might want to consider a vanity with linen cabinets. If you want more sink and counter space, consider a vanity with a lot of counter space. If you want a his and hers, get one with two sinks, etc.

- If your vanity for your bathroom does NOT come with a sink, you will have to pick one out on your own. Most of the websites and stores will offer “recommendations” as far as sinks go. You also have a lot of options when it comes to faucets and sinks. You can choose the traditional route, which has the sink below (through) the counter. You can also choose a more modern look with vessel or bowl sinks. They also have different materials, styles and colors for these sinks and faucets as well.

Traditional Bathroom Vanity and matching mirror

- I have honestly never seen a vanity without a mirror. It sort of defeats the purpose. In order to pick a mirror, you need to take a look at the height and width of your vanity. Choose too small of a mirror for your big vanity and it will look out of place, choose too big of a mirror for your small vanity, and again, it looks out of place. Mirrors are pretty simple. Glass, not usually in styles (though they do have different cuts and edges), not any colors or anything like that.

- The last item you need to consider is the lighting. You can choose a more traditional approach and place lights right above the mirror (regular bulb lights) or you can go down a different route and choose ceiling lights, dimmers, wall sconces, strip lights, wallchieres, rope lights, etc. If the light is going to use more than just a strip of lights, for example the sconces, you will find different styles, colors, materials and designs to use.

All of the pieces in your bathroom should match. Should. It’s not a rule. The decor police won’t come after you if you want to have a cottage style vanity and a modern lighting system, but in a lot of cases it’s best to stick within styles to make sure everything looks good!

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Why Do I Need A Vanity For My Bathroom?

Posted on March 3, 2011 by admin

I guess in the literal sense, you don’t really NEED a vanity, but it does create a nice atmosphere and make your bathroom complete. You can choose from a variety of vanities which include things like a sink, faucet, linen cabinets, lighting and so much more. Frankly, you might not NEED it and it might be a luxury, but it’s still a nice thing to have!

This is also a great way for smaller bathrooms to gain space by utilizing the space on the counter and the linen cabinets that are built into the vanities. More storage is probably one of the biggest complaints from home-owners regarding their bathrooms. But, with a linen cabinet and vanity, you won’t have this problem anymore.

You can store things like toiletries, bath towels, make up, cleaning products, hair tools, linens and much more. A vanity will usually have three parts to it. The top part is the lighting – which is very important. Then, comes the vanity itself – with you like cottage style, vintage, Victorian, modern or anything else in between, you can find a style to suit your needs. The bottom part (which is where the usually comes in) will have the cabinets or doors.

Bathroom Vanity with Linen Cabinet & Mirror

Some vanities don’t have a bottom part because they are free standing without a stand or without legs – they are wall mounted! I think one of the nicest things about a vanity is the options, you even have options when it comes to the sinks and faucets. You can choose from a traditional approach (built inside the counter space) or you can choose from a more modern look like a bowl or vessel sink. These are really cool, let’s be honest.

I found a website online that had JUST sinks and there really are a million and one options to choose from. If you live in the tropics, you can choose from a seashell or clam shell design, if you like modern stuff you can choose from beveled glass, if you want something super simple, you can choose from a ceramic basic, if you like it more technological, you can skip the traditional faucet and sink altogether and get these “waterfall” type of faucets with a sink type of pan that the water flows into.

It’s really neat and apparently quite popular – I’ve been in several restrooms at hip Hollywood restaurants that had this style of sinks. A vanity is all about creature comforts, your decor style, convenience and efficient. If something can make your life a little easier and a little better, why wouldn’t you take advantage of it?! If you are worried about your budgets, don’t be.

Another thing about these vanities is that they are cost efficient. Choose from millions of styles and designs that fit your budget and make your bathroom be the dreamscape you always wanted. What’s not to love!

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How Can I Find Bathroom Vanities?

Posted on February 8, 2011 by admin

One of the best things about the Internet is your ability to literally find anything your little heart desires – even bathroom vanities. I would say this is by far one of your best options when it comes to finding the perfect vanity for your bathroom. Not only can you find tons of sites with bathroom vanities of all sorts, but you can find price budgets that fit your needs as well.

One of the things I would suggest when finding bathroom vanities online is to go to an actual vanity store. Sure, you can try some of the other options below, but I stand by my opinion that you should buy home appliances and products from a home store. Here are a few of the other options you have as well as a guide to digging a little deeper to find the right vanity at a home store online.

- Home Stores: These are stores that specifically sell home items. It can be everything from a variety store that offers a little bit of everything from dishes and pots to tables and counters. Or, you can triple your chances of finding the best vanity for your needs by finding a store that specifically sells vanities, mirrors, linen cabinets, etc. To do this, all you really have to do is check out some of the search engines online.

White Bathroom Vanity and Linen Cabinet

You can search for items; linen cabinets or bathroom vanities. Or you can search for a specific item you may have seen in a store such as; Contemporary Double Sink Vanity. This will allow you to find that exact vanity at a variety of stores online. Once you get to the store, you can then further your search results by searching the products by type of vanity, color, style, materials used and of course price.

You could start out with a few thousand vanities, but by choosing your selections you can dwindle it down to a few hundred, possibly a few dozen. It’s a really simple technique of elimination.

- Auction Sites: Sites like eBay and Amazon do sell vanities. However, you can’t really be sure who these people are that are selling the products. They could be Joe Schmo for all you know. Plus, you have to deal with seller and buyer ratings and in the end, if you don’t do enough research on the seller, you could get burned sadly.

Burned: Buying an item and never getting it! If you do this option, please make sure you deal with either an authorized dealer or you make sure the person has VERY good feedback – especially if you are buying a $900 vanity for your bath! Unlike stores, if you want a linen cabinet and a vanity and a mirror and a sink you probably will have to buy them all from different sellers.

The store option above lets you buy all the items from all the same person – possible getting a shipping and handling deal.

- Authorized Dealers: These are NOT people who make the products, they simply buy them for a wholesale price from the original company and sell them to you, This could be good or bad depending on whom you are dealing with. It could be bad because they could have bought a vanity for $500, but they are marking it up, maybe a little too much, and selling it to consumers for triple the amount.

Make sure if you do buy from a dealer that you do a price search. If they are charging a $500 or more mark up price, you are getting ripped off! Save your money and go elsewhere!

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Define Your Vanity Style With Bathroom Vanities And Cabinets

Posted on January 25, 2011 by admin

It used to be that back in the day when it came to a bathroom remodel, you didn’t have a whole lot of options to choose from. Sure, you could choose bathroom vanities and a linen cabinet, but you didn’t really have a whole lot of other options in the design or features. This has changed tremendously over the past 10 years though and now, no matter who you are, what you like, where you live or what budget you are on, you can have the bathroom that you always dreamed of!

In fact, at present there are more than fifteen different kinds of bathroom vanities available in the market and more being made every single day! Not only do these bathroom vanities and linen cabinets give you a chance to do a bathroom remodel, but they also give you a chance to have extra space for storage in your bathroom. When it comes to the bathroom vanities and a linen cabinet it’s important that you think about what you want and what your requirements are.

Does it have to be a certain size? Should it be a certain color? Does it matter what the knobs look like on the cabinets and vanity? Should it be made out of a specific type of textile; wood, steel, glass, etc. These are the things you want to keep in mind when searching for bathroom vanities and a linen cabinet. If you are looking for a formal feel in your bathroom, you must choose a traditionally styled decor bathroom design.

For this kind of vanity cabinet, a wood of dark toned style will be required. However, wooden cabinets need careful maintenance. When it comes to the “style”, you have just as many styles of bathroom vanities and a linen cabinet that you do with anything else in your home. Everything from trendy and modern to contemporary to cottage style to Victorian and much much more. Choosing what you like shouldn’t be too hard!

By the way, when picking bathroom vanities for the bathroom remodel, also keep in mind what types of mirrors you want. Every bathroom should have at least one mirror and this can easily be done by either upgrading your mirror on the vanity or adding another mirror on the wall elsewhere in the room. As with the vanity and the line cabinets; upgrading mirror means you have a choice of colors, styles, sizes and types including etched mirrors and more fancy features.

Again, this is completely up to you. I try to keep everything in my home with the same type of flow and decor, but if that’s not what you want, you can have a contemporary home and a really funky bathroom or visa versa. It’s your home, love it no matter what!

 

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