Many real estate agents will tell you that modernizing a kitchen or bathroom will add more value to your home than renovating any other room in the house. Before you begin, think about how much you want to spend and what realistic changes you can make in the space you have. If the sky is the limit in terms of budget and space, you can create a luxurious Mediterranean retreat or a spectacular spa. If your budget is limited, you can still evoke the feeling you want by decorating around the essential bathroom elements. When we renovated our bathroom, we learned a lot about planning ahead of time.
The first step in renovating a bathroom is to check with your local building inspector to find out about Building Codes. There may be restrictions for plumbing, electrical and general design for a bathroom. Keep in mind that these guidelines are in place for the safety of residents. It is a good idea to use graph paper to lay out the bathroom and present the drawing to the building inspector. Draw the layout of the bathroom to scale by using one inch to represent one foot. Be sure to include the location of windows and doors, as well as plumbing and electrical lines.
Contemporary or Traditional
The first thing you can do is to decide on a feeling for the bathroom. If you are thinking about a contemporary, Italian-style bathroom, you might want to decorate in neutral colors and use minimalistic cabinetry and glass sinks that sit on top of the vanity. For a luxurious traditional retreat, gemstone colors like rich reds and yellows can enhance the bath. Choose bathroom fixtures to convey the feeling you want. Home decorating magazines can help you decide on the look you want to achieve.
Selecting Bathroom Elements
Unless you are planning a very simple project, leave plenty of time to select your bathroom elements. You may be amazed at how many choices are out there. There are all kinds of finishes for vanity tops, including granite and marble. Lighting can range from recessed lights for a contemporary look to an opulent chandelier for a luxury bathroom. Sinks can be single or double, and they can be set into the vanity, wall-mounted, or sit on top of the vanity for drama. Vanities can have a plain design, or they might be antique look-alikes. You can see bathroom setups in tile stores and bathroom supply houses.
For a bathroom, make sure to use glazed ceramic tile or other types of tile that can withstand the moisture in the room. Granite, marble and slate are popular bathroom tile choices, along with small mosaic tiles. Glass tiles are becoming more fashionable. Neutral gray, brown, or black tile can make white fixtures stand out in a contemporary bathroom. For a traditional bathroom, a herringbone or basket weave tile pattern is always in style. Softer colors like beiges, yellows and blue also give a bathroom a traditional look.
References:
http://www.essortment.com/interior-decorating-choosing-bathroom-tile-designs-14885.html
http://www.abathroomguide.com/design-ideas/modern-style-bathrooms/
