Marrying Style With Practicality
February 24th, 2008 by admin
Practicality is highly overrated sometimes. When you focus only on what something can do for you, it lessens the overall enjoyment, doesn’t it? When you’re trying to remodel your bathroom, wouldn’t it be nice to create style without caring about practical details? At the same time, if you achieved both, wouldn’t that be the best of all possible worlds?
Looking at your needs and wants
Every bathroom-remodeling project starts with determining what you need. But when you’re looking for style too, it’s time to get out that list of “wants” you’ve been holding onto.
For your needs, you’ll want to ask yourself:
• Does my bathroom function properly? Should anything be replaced?
• Are my bathroom fixtures and furnishings out of date?
• Do I need more space or just different storage options?
• What kind of budget do I have?
In terms of your wants, the questions are a bit more fun:
• What kind of theme would I like?
• What styles appeal to me?
• Are there any trends I’d like to follow?
Once you’ve answered these questions, it’s time to start shopping for a way to combine your two goals. Remember to take measurements of your space before you go so you know what will or won’t fit within its confines.
Practicality and contemporary style go hand in hand
What’s great about current bathroom-remodeling trends is that designers have begun to understand that customers want it all. Beautiful bathroom mirrors now conceal medicine cabinets while vessel bathroom sinks add counter space and hidden shelves for storage. A tropical-looking vanity table brings the islands into your home and provides room for your family’s shampoos. Footstools can have removable tops that conceal extra soaps or cleaning products. A towel rack can match your Parisian theme by including details of the Eiffel Tower on either the hardware or your towels.
Other ideas include:
• Over-the-toilet cabinet designs that offer vertical storage space
• Stylish shower fixtures that hold toiletries
• Hidden compartments in decorative accessories
Making your needs and wants match
The bathroom that contains a stylish look as well as ample practical features is one that has successfully married the two. Here’s how you can make sure that you’re keeping these two areas in balance:
• Decide what you need
• Decide what you want
• Shop for style that accommodates your practical needs
• Find ideas in magazines or online
• Look at other bathrooms to see how they handle space
• Remember that there is an option for everything—you just need to know where to look
Visit www.KitchenAndBathWarehouse.com for a large selection of bathroom mirrors, vessel bathroom sinks, vanities, and accessories that will make your practical and stylish sides happy—not to mention your wallet.
Elliott Williams is VP of Marketing and Public Relations at Kitchen and Bath Warehouse Publishing. Before coming to K&BW, he had his own home-remodeling business for 15 years. You can learn more about interior decorating and remodeling, particularly kitchen and bathroom design, at: www.KitchenAndBathWarehouse.com
Tags: bathroom styling, mirrors, remodeling, storage space, vessel sinks
Related Posts
Posted in Home Improvement |