Bathroom Remodeling

Create a remodeled bath that's a haven from the outside world

Imagine for a moment that you're sitting in a steaming bath, enjoying the penetrating relaxation the hot water provides as it soothes and calms your aching muscles and joints. Feel the tension of the day melt away; your favorite music plays in the background as you gaze upon the rich, warm colors and textures of your newly remodeled bathroom.

That might be nothing more than a daydream - for now. But with the proper planning and research, and the proper budget, it can become a reality.

It is ironic that what is usually the smallest room in the house requires the greatest number of skilled professionals to do a renovation. The materials, fixtures and accessories involved, too, are on the high end of the cost scale. In that sense, the cost per square foot to renovate a bathroom may be higher than any other room in the house, because unless you yourself are a contractor, or a handyman extraordinaire, you can expect to be hiring a plumber, an electrician, a tile installer, a cabinet installer, and a painter or wallpaper installer.

If your idea of a bathroom is as a strictly utilitarian space, necessary for daily hygiene and nothing else, perhaps you can get by with just a superficial remodeling project, involving nothing more than replacing worn-out or broken fixtures and brushing a fresh coat of paint on the walls. But if you really want to enhance your lifestyle, and provide comfort and relaxation to yourself, your spouse and your family, the bathroom offers a wonderful place to express your creativity and indulge your most exotic decorating fantasies.

Since the room is so small compared to other spaces in your house, expensive materials can be used without the fear of busting your budget - and since the room is so private, you need only worry about pleasing yourself with the choice of color palette and patterns. And though the only necessities for a bathroom are a sink, a toilet and a shower, such sparseness is rare in all but the smallest homes.

Bathroom remodeling is often done with the tub as the focal point of the room. It can be a large whirlpool designed to soothe away the aches and pains, or a small and delicate turn-of-the-last-century antique to complement your décor.

There is now a dazzling array of sinks - some are undermounted, others self-rimming, and there is a new movement towards the old "wash basin" style, finished inside and out, sitting above the countertop. And don't forget pedestal sinks, and wall-mounted sinks. Be prepared to be overwhelmed with huge selections, in every color, texture, style and material.

The same holds true with faucets, which have been honed over the years to art forms. You will see that in every aspect of your bathroom redesign, the ways and methods by which you can express yourself are stunning and seemingly endless - and so it is with faucets, too.

Toilet bowls can be simple and functional - but are you remodeling to be "simple and functional?" No, you are remodeling to express yourself, to bring comfort to your life, to enhance the décor of your home. Here again you are faced with a myriad of choices: one piece or two? Gravity flush or power flush? Plain white or color? The list goes on and on.

What about wall coverings? Ceramic tile, marble, wallpaper or paint?

Often, we can get ideas and design assistance at the store where we are purchasing our tile or fixtures. Many ceramic tile and home supply stores have bathroom groupings set up using the latest materials and styles, allowing us to purchase a "custom" bathroom right off the shelf! Of course, we can also use a design professional to keep us on track and on budget.

There is no doubt that a bathroom remodeling project can be a daunting - and expensive - task, but one that is well worth your time, attention and money.