Thursday, June 24, 2010

TILE IS NOT A DIY PROJECT!!!!


Second to the kitchen it is a well known fact that bathrooms are a big part of what attracts people to purchasing or even renting a new place. Having a nice up to date bathroom is a must even with the economic slump and their a still ways of pulling it off and keeping costs down.

Nothing can make a bathroom look tired faster than drab out of date tile. Just look at the difference between these two photos. See how the older white tile is drab and yellowed? A lot of tile stores have discount sections where the tile is over half the original price. But new tile is only part of it!



When deciding to re-tile your bathroom be sure to hire a tile expert to do the job. I can't tell you how many times I have seen homeowners do there own tile and in the end its bumpy, uneven, and doesn't look good. Its a common misconception that its a DIY project since all the current DIY shows make it seem so easy but if you want a good job you need to hire a tile expert.

The reason? Because as the years go by houses move, shift, and settle which causes the framing to shift and move creating uneven and not so level walls. And in some cases the original framing was never leveled correctly to begin with. You may not notice when looking at your walls but when new tile is laid you will notice. To make sure that your new tile is laid flat hire a professional tile installer they know how to correct the problem and make up for uneven walls minimizing bumps and making sure you don't end up with a job your not happy with.

How do they do it? Well it takes years of tile work and a trained eye but basically they know where to apply more thin-set and where to apply less maintaining a flat level tile installation. When the job is done professional flat and no bumps!

So to save yourself heartache and wasted money leave the tile work to the experts!! Please visit out website.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

BLUE IS BETTER!!



Blue is calming, blue is the color of the sky, blue reminds us of the Caribbean, and blue looks great with white!!

So for something new this month I am showcasing blue bathrooms! To get away from the same old same old, and get back to designing a space that you are going to enjoy not what a potential buyer will like.

Traditionally when we think of bathroom renovations we think white, and neutrals but what about that beautiful baby blue or royal blue? There are so many different ways to dress your bathroom in blue. From Country, to Minimalist, and Victorian blue can be used in all facets of design.

Another misconception is that in order to have a beautiful bathroom is needs to be large. Not true!! Small bathrooms can be dressed up to look like showpieces with a little creativity and a little work.



Here in this royal blue beauty they used two his and hers large pedestal sinks with enough room for soaps and toiletries, and again lots of white trim for contrast against the strong blue color. They opted to pain the ceiling the same color as the walls, placing a simple crown molding to show the separation between the walls and ceiling. The floor tile was done in stone and kept neutral so as not to overwhelm but it does have subtle blue vein's running through it.




There are a lot of different options out on the market today to make your bathroom yours and something you can enjoy. Maybe its a new clawfoot tub, or beautiful glass tile. New shiny fixtures can add so much, and we can't forget light, light is often overlooked but sometimes it is as simple as adding a privacy window that lets in light but you still keep your privacy! There are many different lighting options.

So you can see there are many ideas. If you can imagine it can be done!

But blue definelty is beautiful for a bathroom!

If you have any questions don't hesitate to contact me I would be happy to answer!