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Good bathroom design not only takes into consideration how good the bathroom looks but also how it functions. Part of this function is how a user interacts with the bathroom, including how much space a user has to stand in when using a fixture such as the bathroom vanity. Building codes require specific distances for use in any bathroom. In addition, the National Kitchen and Bathroom Association also recommends specific distances to help make the bathroom more comfortable.
Bathroom vanity lights can be old fashioned and obtrusive. Often they increase the heat in the bathroom and direct the light away from where you need it most. Replacing the bathroom vanity light with track lighting gives you more flexibility with your lighting, allows you to increase the amount of fixtures over your vanity and change the direction of the lights. The track also gives you the ability to change the appearance of the fixture by simply changing the track lighting fixtures.
Custom designer keys can really help you remember what key belongs to what item. Make custom designer keys with help from an experienced crafts expert in this free video clip.
Web browser toolbars are add-ons, or extensions, that you can add to your browser to extend its functionality. Sometimes add-ons get installed on your system without your knowledge or consent by third-party applications. Some toolbars can track your browsing history or even record your keystrokes and send your email accounts, usernames and passwords to third parties. You can remove add-on bars from all major Web browsers, including Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. In Internet Explorer, you can disable the toolbars. Some toolbars can be uninstalled by using the Control Panel.
The kitchen in many older houses has an undersized window, and replacing it with a larger one is one way to visually broaden the space. Enlarging a window opening isn't a difficult framing project, but it usually involves changing the size of the header, which supports the weight of the wall above the window. You can save money in this regard by nailing together two lengths of two-by-four lumber to make a 4-inch header. It's best to cut any exterior siding after doing the framing to make sure the hole is exactly the right size.
An old or outdated kitchen can quickly date and bring down your entire home. A new, complete kitchen remodel may cost as much as $20,000 or more if you let the pros do it, but you can get an updated and more modern kitchen for $1,000 or less by following a few tricks and tackling the work yourself. Utilize paint, tile and a few basic carpentry skills to transform the look of your kitchen on a budget.
Tiled countertops are used in many parts of the country as a practical way to create a waterproof surface for the vanity. Over time, however, tiles can crack and grout can become discolored. When this happens, the entire vanity can begin to look dated. Replace your old tiled vanity top with a marble top to update the vanity and give the entire bathroom a facelift at the same time.
Just because a kitchen is small doesn't mean that it can't still make a lasting impression. Decorate and design a small kitchen with help from an interior designer living and working in New York City in this free video clip.
You'd be surprised by just how versatile kitchen islands really are. Find out about repurposing kitchen islands with help from an interior and life designer in this free video clip.
Vanity lighting needs to be installed in a very specific location for the best possible results. Learn how low to place vanity lighting on the wall with help from a registered interior designer in this free video clip.
Updating your bathroom vanity can be accomplished in a number of different ways depending on your preferences. Learn how to update your bathroom vanity with help from a registered interior designer in this free video clip.
Designing a glass shower requires you to keep a few key things in mind. Learn how to design a glass shower with help from a registered interior designer in this free video clip.
Remodeling your bathroom can take up not only a lot of time, but a lot of your hard-earned money as well. Keep bathroom remodeling costs down with help from a registered interior designer in this free video clip.
Giving your kitchen a makeover doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. Learn about do-it-yourself kitchen makeovers with help from a registered interior designer in this free video clip.
Putting a ceramic tile top on a vanity creates a durable, attractive surface, which can match the tile in a bathroom or accent the colors in a dressing area. You can use tiles of any size, unglazed or with a shiny glaze finish, depending on your decor. Choose tile that is easy to cut and work with. Some ceramic tile is very brittle and hard to cut with smooth edges. Ask a supplier or a hobby shop for advice and match tile to the size and style of the vanity. The right tile can complement any vanity form.
Banisters are vital to keeping people safe on a stairway because they both supply a barrier to prevent someone from falling over the side and they also provide a rail to grip to prevent slipping. Some banisters are straight pieces of wood that just go down the stairwell without any material at the very top. Adding a banister at the top of the stairs makes the stairway safer for anybody traveling up and down it.
A bathroom shell, also known as a shower or bathtub surround, is a cost-effective solution if you want an updated look and have a tight budget. Replacing the shell is also an ideal time to inspect the walls for water and mold damage, and remediate the problem before it gets worse and more expensive. Giving your bathroom an updated look with a new shell can take as little one afternoon, but it can take up to 24 hours or more for the sealants to cure.
Many homeowners and renters seek methods to add lighting to their kitchens without performing major renovation. In some cases, the desire to add an overhead light in a kitchen without drilling comes from the need to complete the project fast and with minimal cleanup. Other times, you don't want to make any permanent changes or damage the ceiling, or modify the ceiling otherwise. No matter your reason for adding lighting without drilling, you can do it yourself, installing an overhead light in your kitchen in about 30 minutes.
A dormer can change the outward appearance of a house, but it also can be a major improvement for the interior. A dormer window in a bathroom will open that room to additional outside light. A dormer also can be used to extend the space for a bathroom, by changing a section of the roof from a slope to a framed room with walls. Framing for either of two possible styles is similar, but may require the services of an architect because it involves changing the roof structure. It also will require a building permit.
The WordPress Theme Editor screen offers an alternative to downloading your WordPress theme files, editing them and uploading them again. However, under certain circumstances you may see a Parse Error when you try to access the Theme Editor or other pages in your WordPress administration area. If you've edited the custom functions file for the Thesis WordPress theme, it may be the cause.
Selecting kitchen floors and counters requires you to keep a few very important things in mind. Choose kitchen floors and counters with help from a professional kitchen designer in this free video clip.
Not every kitchen renovation will increase the value of your home. Learn about the types of kitchen renovations that will increase value and worth with help from a registered interior designer in this free video clip.
In most kitchens, the corner kitchen nook is up against a wall. Find out if corner kitchen nooks have to be up against a wall with help from a registered interior designer in this free video clip.
Splash pans, or splash guards, prevent water from running off the side of your tub or shower floor and damaging your walls or floor. The splash guard installs along the corners of your tub, shower or sink and blocks the water from running down along the wall. The guards are especially helpful to your home if you have small children who spend a lot of time splashing around in the bathtub. The installation process takes a few minutes and you can remove the splash guard at any time.
A kitchen breakfast bar is an area with surface space for eating or cooking and usually with some seating. Building a raised counter on the breakfast bar will increase the surface space available. You could place dishes and eating utensils on the raised counter or use it as a display surface for fruit bowls, flower vases or a centerpiece. Building a raised counter surface yourself allows for customization in size and color. Your finished structure will resemble a long rectangular cube with the sides closed and the front and rear open, and a support in the center.
If you have a bathroom floor that you do not like, then you can transform the floor space with a few simple materials from your home construction supply and craft stores. Add a little creativity and you will have a new, inspirational bathroom floor by the next morning.
Extending a kitchen island by installing a ledge provides you with more surface space for cooking or storage. As with the original island countertop, a ledge extension requires a strong support to prevent its collapsing beneath the weight of the objects you place onto the surface. Unlike the original surface, you don’t need a cabinet beneath the ledge surface. Instead, the ledge is supported by a series of brackets underneath.
You can build your own bathroom cabinet with a minimum of parts and labor by building it into your bathroom wall. Such a hideaway cabinet uses the wall studs as the sides of the cabinet. The finished product will look less obtrusive than the standard design that is mounted on the wall itself. Before building your cabinet, consult your house plans or a plumber and electrician to make sure that no wires or pipes are hidden inside.
A home’s plumbing system is a network of water supply lines, drainage pipes and plumbing vents, all of which efficiently direct water flow in and out of the home. Because breaking out a concrete floor to plumb a bathroom in an existing home is expensive and labor intensive, many communities have building codes requiring the contractor provide for a future basement bathroom by installing the drains for a toilet, a sink and a shower before pouring the basement floor.
Electrical wiring is not something you treat like a toy. Even if you do all the work with the power off, wiring something incorrectly could create a short circuit or a fire hazard once you turn the power on. For this reason, follow all regulations concerning outlets. However, some aspects of wiring outlets aren’t regulated, at least not nationwide. The height of the outlet, except in certain circumstances, is actually up to you.
IKEA is a major manufacturer of bathroom furniture, including a wide variety of vanities. Although the selection of IKEA vanities varies in style and design, all of the company's vanities use standard plumbing fixtures and connections. That means that, no matter which vanity you choose, the plumbing is almost always the same. Connecting the plumbing for an IKEA vanity involves connecting the drain and hooking up the water supply lines to the vanity faucet.
One of the most difficult steps in installing a new vanity top is squaring the vanity top to the walls. The walls in older homes become out of square due to settling of the framing. Fortunately, since most vanity tops are either Formica or resin, trimming them is possible. Installing a vanity top with unsquare walls requires a belt sander to trim the edges without damaging the vanity top.
Waterproof spotlights in showers are standard canister lights with a waterproof trim that uses a gasket to keep water out. The waterproof trim makes the light suitable for installation over showers or tubs and in other wet or damp locations. Electrical codes and safe wiring practices make wiring the fixture to a GFCI protected outlet or circuit breaker the best practice. A GFCI protected circuit helps prevent electrical shocks by interrupting the electricity before a shock occurs.
Renovating a bathroom is challenging and time-consuming. If you haven't planned out your renovation project completely, the job is liable to be even more difficult. When you're getting close to a point of completion, you may not know how to finish. But finishing a bathroom doesn't have to be overwhelming. A few basic tools and a weekend are all you need to finish the job. Choose colors and materials that fit your budget and your home's decor to get the perfect finished look.
When homeowners remodel a kitchen, they often gut the entire kitchen so they can start from scratch. These types of projects can be very expensive, so any part of the remodel that you can complete yourself can save you money. One of the fairly easier parts of this project is building and installing wrap-around countertops. These countertops span multiple walls and meet in a corner.
Kitchen islands provide extra counter and storage space to many residential homes. Kitchen islands typically consist of cabinets on one side with a countertop that overhangs on the side opposite of where chairs are placed. Islands are freestanding structures that occupy the center portion of the kitchen, usually between two lines of cabinets. The process of framing a kitchen island counter requires significant carpentry skills and a few basic tools.
With the proliferation of small appliances designed to make cooking chores faster and easier, you may covet more food preparation space. Few serious cooks would turn down extra storage space, too, but kitchen renovations are often expensive, messy and inconvenient. Kitchen islands provide a decorative and useful alternative, but they're still pricey. When you get a little help by using a bathroom vanity for the base and a prefabricated countertop, your island can be ready to use in a matter of a few minutes. Whether you “upcycle” a salvaged vanity or start with a new one from the home improvement…
If you're looking to improve the appearance of your bathroom, one project to consider is installing a soffit above the cabinet. A soffit is a box-like area of the ceiling that is often used to hide pipes or wiring. Installing the soffit above the cabinet eliminates the space between the cabinet and the ceiling, and can provide a way to install recessed lighting over the bathroom sink. The task consists of framing the front and bottom edges of the soffit box and then attaching it to the ceiling and back wall.
When remodeling a bathroom, you may choose to use glass sheets to cover the walls. Glass protects the walls from moisture and is easy to clean, making it a viable option for high-humidity bathrooms. You can use the glass sheets as a backsplash behind the sink to cover the wall areas. Glass sheets are available frosted, colored and as stained glass. A strong glue will hold the glass in place so it lasts for years. Installing glass on a wall is much like gluing a large mirror above a bathroom sink.
A galley kitchen is a very user-friendly space for a cook, but a bar area will make it more user-friendly for family members and guests. Figuring out where to place a bar will require going over options to see what works. Every family functions differently in terms of cooking, dining and entertaining. By envisioning how to install a bar and stools in various designs, you can make an excellent choice.
Smaller kitchens sometimes have inadequate space for refrigerators. If the house is old, the size of the space may have been calculated for a much smaller refrigerator. Other issues include inadequate wiring to support a modern refrigerator. One solution is to borrow space from an adjacent room to create a new niche designed to fit your modern fridge so that it will not jut into the room.
Open shower designs are becoming more and more common in contemporary homes, especially those that have small bathrooms, since the lack of a shower enclosure helps to make the bathroom feel more open. However, if you prefer more privacy or are simply looking to change the look of your bathroom, there are multiple options for enclosing a shower. Before you choose a shower enclosure style, talk with your contractor, as some styles are more expensive and labor intensive than others.
Lighting is important in bathrooms, especially over the vanity, so you can see yourself in the mirror. If your vanity lighting contains only one bulb, you can replace the single fixture with two fixtures, and gain additional light. As with any project involving electricity, be cautious.
A repurposed dresser, whether purchased new or found at a thrift shop, makes a charming bathroom vanity. The dresser adds storage space and creates a starting point for the bathroom's design. Substitute either a dressing table with a large mirror or a cupboard with doors for the vanity. While retrofitting the bathroom vanity with a dresser is largely uncomplicated, consult a professional if you have any qualms about working with plumbing.
While most breakfast nooks are built at standard table height and use benches or booth-style seating, modern decorators have taken breakfast nooks to a whole new level. Now, people are building counter-height breakfast nooks and using bar stools to save space and add some extra storage under the nook. If you have the basic knowledge for installing countertops, then you can easily make your own counter-height breakfast nook.
Adding a breakfast bar to an existing countertop requires a lot less effort than installing the countertop. There is no need to create a stable base of cabinetry when adding a breakfast bar, as there would be when installing a countertop. As long as you have enough room to accommodate the bar and seating, you can use the existing countertop as the support base. Only the bar surface and a few countertop braces are required.
A breakfast nook suggests an inviting, cozy space recessed into a corner of the kitchen. While they never really went out of style, breakfast nooks are making a big comeback these days because they make the most of available space, optimize seating and provide additional storage. In open kitchen layouts, a breakfast nook can define the eating area with flooring, colors or patterns that harmonize with the existing color palette. Ideally, a breakfast nook is placed near a window, but it can be located elsewhere as long as it is away from the flow of traffic.
Whether you live in an old farmhouse or are planning on designing a kitchen for your new home, the farm-style kitchen evokes feelings of country and comfort. Many designers and companies produce vintage or weathered new cabinets and items for your kitchen, so you can bring the farm look together. Mapping out a plan and a design for your kitchen is the first step in tackling a remodeling project.
Incorporating some kind of accent lighting is wise to achieve aesthetically pleasing lighting in a room. It might not have a purpose other than to be eye-catching and dramatic, but that is reason enough to look into bathroom cove lighting. The easiest way to put cove lights in an existing bathroom is to add crown molding a few inches from the ceiling and run cable lighting behind the molding. The resulting defused, upward lighting adds a glow to the perimeter of the room that gives it an expensive, appealing appearance.
Removing or cutting the baseboards when you install a new bathroom vanity can lead to problems in the future. If you decide later to replace the vanity cabinet with one that's narrower, you'll have blank gaps on the wall -- unless you either match or completely replace the baseboards. Although you must anchor the vanity cabinet to the wall, you can drive the anchor screws through the cabinet and into the wall studs while leaving the baseboards intact.
