Sunday, 5 October 2008

Bathroom Themes For Stunning Bathrooms

While some households may have simple and design or style-free bathrooms for practicality and for its primary uses to the members and household guests, many overlook the advantages, appeal, look and feel of a stylish, classy and comfortable bathroom. Here is where a bathroom theme may come in handy.


Bathroom theme ideas are in this for the purpose of a guide to many who are new to designing their bathroom for style, class, mood, and comfort.


In looking for a theme for your bathroom, you can coordinate the bathroom theme you chose with the theme the whole house is in or you can come up with a more unique bathroom style, separate from the home's theme.


Do keep in mind that it is important to keep your floors, walls and countertops neutral no matter what bathroom design is in your mind and accentuate the theme with accessories instead. This way, it would be easier to redo your bathroom annually, if you tire of the old theme.


1. The futuristic bathroom

Many people who are fond of gadgets opt for this bathroom theme. Modernity of the society can be mirrored easily by the bathroom with the right innovative accents and accessories. This theme may easily be achieved by utilizing tech-savvy products such as automatic baths, nifty shower heads, and a smart toilet.


Smart toilets are said to save many marriages as this gadget is really clever in that it automatically shuts the seat and cleans itself after use. It has many automatic features that traditional toilets do not have.


2. Calm oasis

To produce a simple bathroom that elicits feelings of calmness and peace from the users, you can opt for the oasis of calm bathroom theme that uses light colors (light or baby blue, light or baby yellow among others). Light colors make the room appear larger and spacey. To add to the calming effect the bathroom gives off with the light colors it sports, you can add sweet-smelling and calming accessories such as lavender incense or sweet-smelling potpourri.


3. Kids' bathrooms

Bathroom for the kids can be made interesting by adopting a sea theme or a princess theme or a fairytale theme. It is best to ask your children how they want their bathroom styled before decorating the room.


With imagination and a tiny bit of research, a contemporary, stylish and classy but comfortable bathroom that fit personal preference can easily be achieved. It would be nice to consider the bathroom theme ideas mentioned in this article to achieve that dreamy, classy and comfortable bathroom you want your home to sport. It could be fun to include the kids in the bathroom decorating ordeal.


For more information on bathroom themes and bathroom lighting fixtures visit http://www.lightingbathroomfixtures.com for helpful insight.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=R._Madison

Wednesday, 1 October 2008

A Tile Shower Pan is the Great Mystery of Home Repair

A tile shower pan is one of the great mysteries of home repair or construction. Anything to do with tile showers is left to the pros. But actually many handy people install showers themselves once they see the mysteries revealed.


See the real trick to a tile shower is hidden below the floor. You can't actually see the tricky part from the top of the shower or from underneath for that matter. Not too long ago my tile shower started leaking. I finally saw the cracked grout down near the floor, but I thought there was a shower pan under the shower so why was it leaking?


Here's the scoop.

Tile floors are not waterproof. Water seeps right through tile showers, mostly through the grout. Grout is porous masonry so water slowly goes through grout. So the shower pan is actually a waterproof liner below the surface of the floor that catches the water.


But then where does the water go?

Ah, another trick. A tile shower has a special drain with two layers of drain holes. The bottom layer is actually below the floor, and that's the one the waterproof layer sends the water to. So the shower pan is built in three layers so all the water is captured and routed down the drain?


Three layers?

The bottom layer is a sloped layer of masonry built on the subfloor or concrete. It's sloped to help send the water toward the drain. The bottom layer is flush with the bottom drain holes. The second layer is the waterproof liner which is a tough vinyl sheet that's glued to the drain base to make a waterproof pool to catch all the water that seeps through the floor. The top layer is another masonry layer that's poured and sloped above the liner. This is the base for the shower floor.


That's the trick to a shower - the sloped layers and liner route the water to two layers of drain holes.


Now you have other choices when building a shower. Several materials can be used for bases, but the traditional construction is hard to beat for price and performance. Plus you can learn to do it yourself if you want to.


Get more tricks to building or repairing a tile shower pan at our site.


Al Bullington invites you to visit http://www.InstallingCeramicTile.net for answers to your tile questions.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Al_Bullington

Tuesday, 30 September 2008

Get Steamy in your Bathroom

Get Steamy in Your Bathroom
Steam cabins offer a healthy alternative to a shower, and give you a spa-like experience that is second to none. They are a truly indulgent addition to any bathroom, and will give you hours of relaxing pleasure.


A steam cabin can create all of these healing properties you would get from a commercial steam room, but from the comfort of your own home. They offer the conventional properties you would expect from a shower enclosure, and can be used without the steam effect. They are a pleasure to use, with hydrotherapy and massage from the multiple jets, allowing you to unwind from the stresses of everyday work and life. Some cabins also offer added features to make the experience even more enjoyable, such as LED lights, radio, USB connector for MP3 players, venting fans and a LCD touch screen control panel.


Steam has many detoxifying and relaxing properties; skin begins to sweat at 37°C, and as your temperature increases, the body counteracts this change by producing sweat, as a cooling mechanism. This perspiration also allows the removal of toxins, such as heavy metals, alcohol, nicotine and cholesterol, which improves the general condition of your skin. When the temperature exceeds 43°C fat also becomes water soluble, enabling it to be released through sweat, therefore aiding weight loss.


Steam also has links with improved circulation. In order for the body to create sweat, the heart must work faster to boost circulation. The heart is a muscle, and like any, with increased exercise it will strengthen, thus improving your cardiovascular system, without having a detrimental effect on blood pressure levels. The pressure is unaffected as the heat from the steam allows capillaries in the blood to open, increasing their surface area and therefore allowing increased blood flow through them.


Steam bathing is also effective as a means of aiding respiratory problems, such as colds, asthma, bronchitis and other allergies. Steam penetrates the respiratory membranes and moistens them, relieving irritation. The heat and moisture loosens secretions and stimulates the throat to discharge mucous, thus cleaning out the respiratory system. It is the combination of water and heat that are beneficial over, say a conventional sauna.


Steam also helps us to relax both physically and mentally, relieving symptoms of stress and muscle pain, by creating a calming environment and somewhere that you can really enjoy personal indulgence, so treat yourself today with a steam cabin. There are a wide variety of steam cabins available on the market, with one to suit any style or decor of bathroom, and their appearance is similar to that of a shower enclosure, ensuring they will complement the look of your bathroom. So treat yourself today and invest in a steam cabin and wind the hours away in pure relaxation.


Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/get-steamy-in-your-bathroom-250524.html

Monday, 29 September 2008

Oval Bathroom Mirrors

Oval-shaped bathroom mirrors are very versatile because they can look good with or without frames. In this article you will see the different facades of oval bathroom mirrors and for sure you will fall in love with its elegance and versatility.


Framed Oval Mirrors

Different frames of bathroom mirrors may be made of plastic, wood, aluminum, etc. The frames that you choose will greatly depend on the theme or motif of your bathroom. If it's Victorian-inspired, then mirrors with Venetian frames will surely compliment your bathroom. If the motif of your bathroom is more focused on country or nature-inspired themes, simple and natural-looking wooden frames will more or less look perfect in your bathroom. For bathrooms with a contemporary theme, aluminum-framed mirrors would definitely compliment the design of the room.


Frameless Oval Mirrors

Although aluminum-framed mirrors fall under the category of contemporary or modern bathroom mirrors, the dominant sets of contemporary bathroom mirrors are frameless. The simplicity of frameless mirrors not only adds to the air of sophistication of the mirror but also boosts the bathroom's elegance and charm.


Little Details Matter

Whether you choose to purchase framed or frameless mirrors, you have to consider every aspect of the mirror, down to the littlest physical details. You have to be very keen in observing the minute details of the mirror because it could either make or break the look of your bathroom. You wouldn't really want to ruin the look of your bathroom by being too hasty and careless in purchasing a mirror, right?


Add A Little More Pizzazz

If in the past, bathrooms were just considered to be a place of bathing and performing other personal bodily and physiological necessities, today's bathroom goes beyond the utilitarian function. Nowadays, people are already seeing the important role of the bathroom in their daily relaxation and unwinding moments.


The design of the mirror that you will purchase will more or less play an important part in making a bathroom look beautiful and relaxing. According to feng shui, oval mirrors are great bringers of good and positive vibes due to the its never-ending and infinite symbol. You can add more pizzazz to your oval mirrors by adding some oriental-inspired frames. You can browse the Internet for some do-it-yourself instructions on how to attach frames to oval mirrors or you could also go to your local glass or mirror store and have them attach the frame for you.

By: Tim Lee

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Saturday, 27 September 2008

Latest Shower Cubicles in the Market

Many innovations in technology have come about resulting in a multitude of gadgets being invented with the sole aim of providing added comforts to human lives. The stressful and unpredictable life condition that our generation is going through makes it imperative that we depend on these gadgets to lead a better life, A well furnished bathroom is seen as such an amenity to cool the frayed tempers and nerves at the end of a hectic day.


A neat and clean bathroom without clutter can provide a soothing visual experience too. Separating the dry area and wet area adds to the cleanliness of the bathroom. Shower cubicles serve this purpose well as it controls bath water from spilling out to other parts of the bathroom thereby flooding it. These shower enclosures come in many sizes, shapes and colors to meet the varied requirements of different customers.


A shower enclosure consists mainly of three parts. The glass cabinet or the outer shell and a shower tray at the bottom are part of the basic structure while the third part contains the showering system including the spray and faucets. Before installing a shower cubicle, you have to evaluate the space available in the bathroom and buy a cubicle accordingly, to optimize the space outside.


If you are hard pressed for space, create a custom made nook for housing the enclosure. If there are no space constraints, a partition for covering up the pipe work can also be put up. In any case, it is advisable to fix the enclosure along a wall.


Written by James Chapman, a director of Bella Bathrooms Ltd who supply Shower Cubicles products across the UK.


Bella Bathrooms is an online retailer formed by 2 plumbers from the North East of England. Having hands on experience of custom bathroom installation and products has enabled Bella Bathrooms Ltd to only select quality bathroom products for their online shop. They sell bathroom furniture, bathroom suites, showers and bath related products for consumers through the United Kingdom.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Chapman

Friday, 26 September 2008

Choosing a Towel Warmer for your Bathroom

Heated towel rails are the modern equivalent of creating a focal point in a bathroom. They are both practical and stylish, offering a place to store and warm your towels, as well as creating a design feature for your bathroom. Designs derive from sleek polished chrome with sweeping curves, sharp geometric lines or three dimensional models and blend together creativity with exceptional design.
Towel warmers, or radiators, are available in a variety of styles to suit your bathroom styling. Gone are the days where a towel warmer is a standard, boring necessity in your bathroom, and here are a range of modish radiators which will add an element of class to your bathroom. Due to the increased surface area a heated towel rail creates over a conventional radiator, they are also more efficient and environmentally friendly.


Hudson Reed are the leading manufacturer of brassware and have a huge range of high quality items, ensuring that your bathroom products are a real investment for the future and built to last. Plus, there is no reason why if you move house you cannot take your beautiful towel warmers with you, to form a chic addition to your new bathroom. Their broad selection of contemporary heated towel rails unites style and striking modern designs to complement your individual flare and make a unique statement about your bathroom d?r.


The selection of designer towel warmers from Hudson Reed are the epitome of modern elegance. They have innovative styling that creates a statement in its own right, whilst retaining efficiency and functionality. Their designer towel rails come in a variety of sizes and shapes to suit every taste and preference, and will turn your bathroom in to a luxuriously warm environment. Models include tube on tube, circular, grid and flat construction. To fit your designer Hudson Reed towel rail, their minimalist radiator valves offer a discreet solution and are supplied in pairs.


At the other end of the scale, Hudson Reed Traditional Towel Warmers are full of the ambience of yesteryear. Their fabrication will highlight and be sympathetic to other traditional features in your bathroom, creating a habitual haven with undertones of contemporary features. Most towel warmers in their range are available in either chrome or gold, allowing you to match them to other brassware in your bathroom. To fit your traditionally-styled radiator, Hudson Reed have traditional radiator valves, supplied in pairs to tie in with the design elements of the heated rail.


Bathroom radiators’ power is measured in BTU. BTU is the standard means of measuring output powers in a heated towel rail, and stands for British Thermal Units. Radiators are also shown in watts, the conversion of one to another equates to 1 BTU measuring 3.412 watts. For more information on the best BTU for your bathroom, consider the size of the room to heat, a smaller room will require a smaller BTU, or consult your plumber for advice.


When updating the heated towel rail in your bathroom, it is important to replace the valves also, and ensure that they match the design, colour and fitting of your new radiator. Valves, like taps, are available with different designs of handles, which can be chosen to mimic the design of your taps and shower handles. They are also available in either a straight or angled fitting, which will dependant on the style of radiator that you choose. Also, radiator valves are available in wither a traditional on/off mechanism, or a thermostatic one, which allows you to choose the level of heat emitting from them, and can be altered in accordance with your central heating system and seasonal changes.


Heated towel rails can also create a means of securing other radiators in your house from thermostatic inefficiencies and costly surges. If you choose a radiator without a thermostatic valve, if the heating system malfunctions, this can create a means of venting any excess heat created by your boiler, thus preventing other radiators in your house from malfunctioning and generating expensive bills.


A towel warmer or radiator should always be ideally fitted on the coldest wall of your bathroom, often the one with the window on. This will depend on other existing fixtures in your bathroom, but a window or external wall is optimum. By fitting to the coldest wall you will increase the efficiency of the radiator, as heat will emanate equally throughout the room.


When you have chosen your beautiful addition to your bathroom with a new towel warmer, you will desire for it to retain its original appearance. To care for the outer surface of your new radiator, never use any corrosive or hazardous products, such as aerosols on the surface or in close proximity of the radiator. The radiator should only be cleaned with warm soapy water and a soft, non-abrasive cloth. This will ensure the longevity of your bathroom radiator.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/bath-showers-articles/choosing-a-towel-warmer-for-your-bathroom-281733.html

Tuesday, 23 September 2008

Bathroom Remodeling Ideas - Find the Right Idea For Your Bathroom

The ideal bathroom is a room where you can take a bath; feel comfortable and magnificent about yourself. It's the place where you take care of yourself. Therefore, it is a shame if your bathroom does not look good nor function properly. Take time to read through these bathroom remodeling ideas so that you can pump in extra life to the room that keeps you hygienic. You do not have to spend much for your bathroom just to give it a boost nor have to do a total overhaul like changing the bathtubs etc. Remodeling can be costly, hence, there are simple things that you can do that will cost less and make your bathroom look better than before.


As part of the bathroom remodeling ideas, something should be done about the bathroom lighting. The way a room is lit up sets the mood for the room. Nobody wants to stay in a bathroom that looks too dark or too bright that you'll feel like you are trapped in an operating room. A bathroom that is well lit is one that allows you to properly see yourself when you look into the mirror. Use soft focus which is mounted at eye level or a little above eye level or diffused light fixtures on the wall over the mirror. It would also be better if you install lighting fixtures that allow you to make lights dimmer or brighter.


A bathroom sink is an integral part of the bathroom. Changing sinks should be part of your bathroom remodeling ideas. There are many types of sinks available out in the market, there are copper sinks, hand blown glass sinks, custom sinks, gemstone sinks, stone sinks, stainless steal, hi-tech etc. Each of this sink type has its own advantages and disadvantages; it's up to you to look for the perfect sink that will match well with the theme that you are trying to pull off. Faucets go hand in hand with sinks. Of course you'll prefer to get a faucet that matches well with your sink and the rest of the room. However, before selecting one, you should ask questions pertaining to installation and maintenance of particular faucets. The more durable types of faucets are those that where created from copper and brass. In bathrooms, faucets may be limited to traditional, country and contemporary styles and it comes with accessories that match like towel bars and robe hooks.


Less costly bathroom remodeling ideas include making little changes such as changing door handles, doorknobs, towel racks or repainting the color of your cabinets and doors. Make sure that all the elements you choose will blend perfectly with each other. You don't want a bathroom that looks like a Frankenstein. With all these, your bathroom will not go through a total overhaul but it will certainly look better.


Wendy Pan is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about bathroom remodeling ideas, please visit Bath Remodeling Online for current articles and discussions.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wendy_Pan

Monday, 22 September 2008

Bathroom Wall Decor - Creative Ideas For Bathroom Wall Decor

A bathroom whether it is an independent unit or attached to a bedroom will always have tiles running around all wall surfaces. I some cases the tiles are fixed up to 4 feet height and then the wall are painted with a waterproof painting to prevent the seepage of water into the brick walls.


If you bathroom is small, you can use this to your advantage. Normally the small or big size of any space is perceived because of the border walls of any room. Using unique flooring and wall decor ideas you can easily remove the perception of borders and the room looks bigger.


You can do this by creating a flooring pattern in the bathroom using tiles and then continue this pattern on the walls as wall decor theme. You can do this up to 4 feet height as well. This will break out the dimensions of the bathroom and it will appear bigger.


Thus bathroom wall decor plays a major role in how the bathroom look when finished this because unlike every other room in your home, a bathroom has a limited number of furniture and decorating accessories available.


However if you follow a design theme while creating the plans and other drawings, it becomes very cost effective. First of all in most cases such as apartment bathrooms the height of the bathroom is smaller than the rest of the room. This is done because the dimensions of the bathroom are smaller too.


In such cases all can be treated with murals of ceramic times. While choosing the tiles it is necessary to understand who is going to use the bathroom. A bathroom wall decor theme will differ from a teenager’s bathroom that a kid's bathroom.


Everything from color schemes to which pattern you choose on the tile such as baby animals, flowers, etc will have a great impact on bathroom interiors. For example a mural on the wall showing baby animals taking a bath is a great choice for the kid's bathroom wall decor. However for a master bathroom or teenagers bathroom use of mirrors on the walls will bring more attraction and the teenager will love it. So bathroom wall decor is all about fulfilling specific needs for the specific age group.


Copyright Shrinivas Vaidya.

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