Preparing for Bathroom Remodel

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A little over a century ago the bathroom was where people went to powder their wigs, causing it to be called the powder room, a name that we still use today. However, how we use it and what we require of it today has changed dramatically from colonial times. Our lives range from hectic to overly full these days and we often find ourselves working longer hours, leaving for work earlier, and returning later than ever before. We now need to care for our bodies and soothe our souls simultaneously, causing most people to seek the comfort, convenience and sometimes luxury a master bath offers. Whether a homeowner’s budget is small or large we all seek to create the most luxurious personal haven we can afford in our bathroom remodel.

A bathroom remodel can be a major undertaking requiring the skill and expertise of many different service professionals and craftsmen. As we said in our kitchen remodel article, Design-Build remodeling firms are the perfect solution. One-stop shops for the design and construction they bring together the services of designer, remodeler, architect, plumber and electrician. There is only one point of contact so if something should go wrong, you only have one call to make.

Seeking Professional Help with Your Bathroom Remodel

Your home is your single largest asset and making smart decisions when undertaking a remodel can improve its value. This kind of home improvement could show a strong payoff when it comes time to sell your home, or could help your home sell faster. Before you invite someone into your home to do bathroom remodeling work you will want to take the time to research them carefully. Don’t just ask for references, you must follow up with those references and ask them tough questions. For example:

• Were you happy with the contractor’s or remodeler’s business practices?
• Were you able to communicate easily with the bathroom remodeler?
• Did the remodeler listen to your needs?
• Did the crew show up when expected?
• Were you comfortable with the tradespeople that the remodeler contracted?
• Was the project completed when expected? For the amount you agreed to?
• Did the remodeler fulfill the obligations set out by the contract?
• Did the remodeler stay in touch with you throughout the project?
• Would you use the remodeler again on another project with hesitation?

When you meet with a professional remodeler about your bathroom remodel be prepared for a lengthy and in depth meeting. There are many questions that will need to be asked in order to get to know you, your objectives for the bathroom remodel, the style and the extent of its function, your family’s individual needs and the likes and dislikes of everyone who will live with and enjoy the finished project.

At Fred Berger Design & Build LLC we have put together a list of questions covering many aspects of kitchen and bathroom remodel for your consideration. Think of it as a wish list to help make sure that you have left no stone unturned and get everything you could want in your finished kitchen or bath remodel. It is a pretty exhaustive list so you may want to print out the list, get a cup of coffee and make yourself comfy before you start to go through it. You can get those here: 101 Home Construction Questions for Kitchen Remodeling and Bath Remodeling Success

Things to Consider for Your Master Bathroom Remodel
There are three types of bathrooms in the American home. There is the master bath that has become an extension of a master bedroom suite, the family bathroom shared by everyone in the household, and the half-bath which is the ones your guests are most likely to see. Each has it’s own special set of objectives; respite, efficiency and convenience.

The master bath today is designed with the convenience of two people in mind. In a large scale master bath you will find separate areas for grooming, showering, bathing and toileting, often with special attention paid to luxurious materials and glamorous
fixtures.

It seems that the busier our lives get the more sumptuous the master bath becomes. As personal time gets harder to find a place in your home you feel you can relax and indulge becomes more important. That explains why more and more home owners are equipping their master bath with personal spa amenities and raising the level of indulgence and pampering they used to have to go to a day spa to find. Today custom designed dressing areas, steam-equipped showers, rainbars and personal saunas are finding their way to the master bath. And we are enjoying these amenities in more beautiful materials than ever before often using granite, travertine or glass tile.

Starting Your Family Bathroom Remodel

You may want to start by looking at the physical space you have and the people using that space. Are they elderly, toddlers or teens? Will more than one person need to use it at the same time to get ready for school or work? Consider creating separate zones for bathing, showering and toileting to maximize the bathroom’s functionality. If the space is large enough you may be able to create 2 smaller bathrooms in place on one large one. Building them back-to-back would save money as the plumbing lines would already be there.

Storage is frequently an issue in a bathroom and even more so in a family bathroom. There needs to sufficient space to hold and organize cosmetics, toys, linens, grooming products, appliances and cleaning products. Keeping the area clean and clutter free is important for the safety of everyone using that bathroom. Custom built-in cabinetry can be a beautiful solution to these organizing needs allowing you to create a combination of shelves and drawers for your family’s specific storage needs. If custom cabinetry is not in the budget a bathrooms storage capacity can still be boosted with the thoughtful and creative use of other cabinets, shelves, baskets and hooks.

Lighting is an important consideration in a bathroom remodel. In addition to good general lighting (ambient light) make sure that your lighting scheme puts illumination where you need it (task light), and when possible, enhances the look of the room (accent light). If your bathroom is divided into zones you will need to light each area; tub and shower, in the toilet area and over the vanity.

Recessed fixtures are a good source of ambient lighting and the number of fixtures required to light your room will depend on its size and layout. You will want to use these in the dressing area, over the vanity, in the toilet area and by the shower or tub. Task lighting will be necessary for grooming; applying cosmetics, shaving and hair styling. It is best to have task light come from both sides and/or radiating from the middle of your face for good even lighting. Lighting that comes from directly above should be avoided as it will cause shadows. Accent lighting isn’t necessary in a bathroom but can be the touch transforms the room from utilitarian to dramatic.

The Half-Bath or Powder Room

The half-bath, or powder room, is often located near an entrance to your home or family room and is the bathroom most visited by guests. For this reason you may want to make this tiny little room more than just useful. You may want it to make a good impression or have it be an extension of your personal style. Consider using wallpaper or a custom sink with elegant faucets to dress this room up. Maybe a one-of-a-kind custom vanity fabricated from a piece of antique furniture suits your style.

What would yo like to have in your dream bathroom? There are so many aspects of this project to give serious thought to. We invite and encourage you to review our questionnaire/list of things to consider when considering a bathroom remodel. Then call Fred at Fred Berger Design & Build LLC and schedule a consultation. You will be happy you did.