From Bedroom to Bathroom

When looking for a luxury bathroom suite, you may trawl the internet or catalogues for ideas and often see bathroom furniture, freestanding baths etc installed in huge rooms; selling you that dream suite.

Generally, these huge spaces seem far from the ones inside your home, your current bathroom possibly much smaller or an entirely different shape to the rooftop New York apartments complete with Jacuzzi and sauna found in brochures.

Of course, this doesn't necessarily mean that your home cannot mimic these dream concepts. Your current bathroom maybe compact but what about the spare bedroom? Is there a room in your house that lays dormant? Maybe your children have flown from the nest or perhaps your home office is simply collecting cobwebs.

Just because a room has been labelled a bedroom or office doesn't mean that the space has to provide that function until the end of time, so why not convert it into your dream bathroom?

Firstly, before you start removing your carpet or wallpaper, in order for your new bathroom to meet with water by-laws and building regulations, you must first contact your water supplier and building regulation officer for approval and possible advice on your conversion: that completed, you can set to work on building your catalogue fantasy.

Secondly, find a decent plumber, you will have to re-route the water supply and waste pipes. Waste disposal can be cleverly adjusted by using a macerator and pump, again an experienced plumber is all that is required. 

Build up of condensation can spoil a bathroom within a relatively short period of time as it builds up damp and condensation which can lead to even worse problems. Ventilation is key, especially in rooms with no windows so make sure you invest in an extractor fan.

Finally, if you are looking to install a large cast iron bath, whirlpool or particularly robust units then make sure your floor can withstand the weight, especially in upstairs rooms and loft conversions – nobody wants to fall through the ceiling while in the tub.

Now it’s time to live the dream, with so much space on offer you can create the sumptuous (yet heavily ‘photoshopped’) look you desire. Bathroom City has a full range of high end products, perfect for filling those larger spaces, everything from Jacuzzi whirlpools to versatile Pelipal vanity units, so come and check us out!

www.bathroomcity.co.uk

Turn antique or old furniture into contemporary bathroom chic

Of course, our showroom is full to the brim with vanity units, storage cabinets and basin stands, for any bathroom suite, Bathroom City has a solution.

We understand though that certain bathroom designs deserve more attention, and sometimes a truly unique look needs a feature from outside the showroom.

Both traditional and contemporary suites can utilise this look, maybe a quirky vanity unit or magnificent mirror could be the key to turning your dream bathroom into paradise.

Is your house a treasure trove of ‘unwanted’ furniture? The garage often hides antique delights, perfect for giving an overhaul and sticking in the bathroom: you can turn furniture that you once hid away into the focal point of your bathroom suite.

Sound good? First things first is to find the right piece of furniture. Find something that suits your particular needs, whether its storage, style or size, the beauty of converting an older piece of furniture is that the possibilities are endless.

Not being limited by what you see in a showroom gives you the opportunity to pick furniture which may not necessarily be bathroom furniture. For example, an old dresser can be easily converted into a vanity unit with plenty of storage, while a bedside table could be the perfect solution for a cloakroom basin stand.

A converted dresser: traditional and practical

After selecting your furniture to convert, have a think about the colour scheme or features which will make it fit nicely with your current interior, take into account the bath, toilet, cabinets that you may have installed or plan to install.

Secondly, begin sanding! If you are changing the colour of the unit, you need to sand off the original finish. It’s monotonous and hard work but its well worth it to get the finish you desire, also consider sanding polished gold handles for a more rustic look.

Next up, are you installing a basin? Make sure you cut a whole that will fit your chosen basin snuggly with ample room for piping (this also should be taken into consideration when choosing your furniture).

Finally, make it unique! Think outside the box, there are thousands of ways to customise your furniture into truly original designs; try tiling the top of the unit for a hard wearing finish that matches your bathroom tiles. On the other hand you could completely change the finish with a brand new work top i.e. replacing wood with a stunning marble top.

If you have any ideas about converting your old furniture then please let us know, or, if you have done it yourself, send us some pictures and we’ll be glad to post them online.

www.bathroomcity.co.uk

Bathroom Design No Nos

Next to kitchens, bathrooms are the room that will add the most value to your home. The most important thing to remember when remodeling your bathroom is to do it at the right cost.  You don’t want to get everything at the cheapest rate possible, but you don’t want to spend so much that you don’t see any return on your investment either.  Here are a few things you can do to make sure you’re improving the value of your home, not diminishing it. 

Do not carpet your bathroom.  Not only is this an unappealing design, but carpet holds moisture.  If your bathroom is holding moisture it’s likely that it’s also holding mould and mildew.  Putting carpet in your bathroom is definitely a remodelling mistake.

It’s no secret that when in use bathrooms become stuffy and moist.  Don’t make the mistake of forgetting to provide your bathroom with proper ventilation.  If your bathroom isn’t properly ventilated, again, you will find yourself suffering from mold and mildew in your bathroom.

Using fiberglass in your bathroom is also a bad idea.  Fiberglass is relatively cheap and will break easily.  Instead provide your bathroom with porcelain, stainless steel, or tile.  While none of these materials are fool proof, they are certainly the most durable and stain resistant.  This makes them great options for your bathroom décor.

Bright colors are an additional bathroom faux pas.  Your bathroom should be neutral colors.  The bathroom is a place for relaxation so having a bright color will decrease the value of this room.  While you need to keep the bathroom relaxed, make sure it’s not too dark.  This is where you get ready in the morning so it’s important to make sure there is an appropriate amount of light to make morning routines easier.

Overcrowding your bathroom is another no no.  It can be hard to fit everything you want in a bathroom because generally they’re a small space.  Trying to cram everything into your bathroom will make the space even smaller and more difficult to use.  Having a spot for everything is a good way to eliminate this problem. Having a lot of open counter space will make your bathroom seem bigger so try to put everything away. His and hers sinks are another waste of space and an unnecessary item that make your bathroom look smaller.  The need for two sinks is seldom, especially when you start seeing all the water it uses.

Water efficiency is another big consideration to make when remodeling your bathroom. Today, there are many types of sinks and toilets that have water saving technology.  This will save you a lot of money in the long run and definitely increase the value of your bathroom. 

Remember these no nos when you’re remodeling your home and you won’t have to fret over poorly designed and functioning bathroom. The value of your home will increase if you take the proper bathroom remodel measures.

This article was written by Lauren Beerling, an affiliate of Brad Scott Construction

Renovating Your 'One Pound Home' On Budget

Your ears may have pricked up at the term ‘one pound house’ recently, as the scheme is being put in place in the UK to help out lower income families.

Of course, ‘one pound house’ isn’t necessarily true, one pound gives you the right to control the property but not actually live in it.

To put it simply, one pound, gives you ‘the right to buy’ a property in the future at a fixed price: if a property is £90,000 it will remain that price exclusively for you over the next 3 years.

This gives people the chance to renovate old buildings, make profit or a family home, and get on the property ladder.

With all this talk of home renovation at a cost, we thought it necessary to add a few tips of our own concerning the bathroom area.

The first way to save on your bathroom is D.I.Y. Of course, don’t take on plumbing or electrical jobs if you’re not fully qualified, but simple jobs like removing wallpaper or old installations can be done with the right advice, a bit of common sense and a lot of motivation.

This not only saves you money but also makes it a lot easier to calculate home much professional man power is needed for a job, for example: if a wall is covered in broken tiles and a tiler has to remove them before they start work, it costs a lot more for them to do that job then it does for you.

In other words, any cleaning, painting or job that requires mindless smashing, do it yourself: don’t pay someone ten pounds an hour to do it.

Moreover, your second biggest expenditure is materials, and on a budget it is difficult to acquire luxury materials like marble countertops.

If you are renovating your one pound property to live, then why not try a simple lino on your bathroom floor, it is affordable and can be used as a temporary solution until you have enough money for a more durable finish.

Jax Tara Round Surface Top Basin available at Bathroom City

Another money saving alternative is to check out local car boot sales or antique stores to find a second hand vanity unit, which will not only be cheap, but give tons of character to your room. Try looking for a vintage style cupboard and simply add a surface top basin such as the Jax Tara Round Surface Top Basin, and you will get a stunning original design for just £40.

http://www.bathroomcity.co.uk/product.asp?pid=1302

Bathroom essentials such as the toilet and bath can be easily acquired in sales, or as ‘seconds’ as long as the item doesn’t have any major defects and, if kept simple, you can gain a modern timeless look at an affordable price.

At Bathroom City, we have huge sales on all year round with thousands of modern products to choose from at budget prices. The Jax Drift range is one of our best sellers and offers a contemporary solution on a budget, such as the Jax Drift 410 Vanity Unit with Basin and Tap included for just £89.

http://www.bathroomcity.co.uk/product.asp?pid=2232

Remember when renovating your home, think of resale, and keep it simple, modern luxury usually stems from minimalism, so choose simple items with a clean cut look: as long as you keep things clean and don’t clutter with unnecessary accessories, a basic bathroom design will always be a winner. 

We've been featured!

We've been featured on Home Improvement UK's blog! This time we are giving away a handy tip to tile your bathroom or kitchen shelves. Check us out!

http://www.ukhomeimprovementblog.co.uk/diy/a-quick-guide-to-tiling-elegance/

5 Uses for Your Unwanted Bathtub

Soon enough there will come a time when you’ll decided to rip out your weathered bathtub and replace it with a nice shiny new one. 

But what to do with the old tub? 

Recycle? 
Freecycle? 
Chuck it in the tip? 

Here are a few ways the team at Bathroom City have found for re-using their old tubs.

The bath tub fish pond- Beautiful and ornate.

The tub sofa- It's creative and inventive.

The bath chair- It's unique and functional.

The bass. It even works!

The booze cabinet. There's always one..

Spring Fair Show NEC

Spring Fair Show NEC NEC, Birmingham - 5th - 9th, February, 2012 Bathroom City is pleased to see the Spring Fair is back at the NEC, and 2012 looks set to be the biggest show to date! Currently running, the UK's largest retail event is open until Thursday Feb 9th and showcases the best in home and gift products- perfect for adding that extra sparkle to your bathroom. With over 73,000 UK and international buyers attending, this is the perfect platform for suppliers to unveil and launch their exciting and unique home products to new and existing customers. Showcasing the best in British design, there's 3,000 suppliers offering the best brands on the market directly to you. Visitors are encouraged by Bathroom City to enjoy the 300,000 new products at the Spring Fair, especially in the home furnishings, home wares and interior accessories sections. This is the perfect opportunity to bag yourself some of the latest accessories for your bathroom or home additions to make your en suite extra exciting. As seen on BBC Breakfast, the Spring Fair is being held just a few miles away from us here at Bathroom City so if you're feeling inspired, pop in and see us too! http://www.bathroomcity.co.uk/Spring-Fair-Show-NEC.asp Other Shows at the NEC - Home Building Renovating Show