How Do You Thrill A Teenage Boy?

PLAN



  Give him his own bathroom. Okay we’re pretty sure it’s not #1 on his wish list, but it may rank within the top 10. Once a Jack-n-Jill bathroom shared with his sister, we reconfigured the layout to create a private bathroom for the homeowner’s 14 year old son. The original shower and toilet room was partitioned off from the sink areas. We simply removed those walls, closed up the hall to the sister’s bedroom, which became her new walk-in closet, and created one large space, adding a floor to ceiling linen cabinet in the empty space next to the toilet for oodles of extra storage.

 

BEFORE

 

The tile selections were inspired from one of our website gallery bathrooms that the homeowner’s saw and loved. Dark “Bedrosin” 12” x 24” tile flooring was laid in a subway pattern with chocolate colored grout. The shower floor is a mosaic 2”x2” travertine, walls ZERA Walnut 12” x 24” tile laid vertically. To add visual interest one stripe of glass & stone mosaic was laid on one end of the wall and inside the soap niche. The 4’ x 5’ shower is enclosed with a Euro Frameless glass floor to ceiling panel and door. And what’s fair is fair, a 14” Kohler Rain Shower Head was installed, mimicking his sister’s new bathroom. We’re told this is one of his most favorite features.

 
For additional masculine elements the Hutton Collection espresso colored vanity with Italian Crema Marble top, and Dillon Collection sconces & towel bars are from Restoration Hardware. When designing a bathroom for a teenager, it makes sense that the space will grow with them. 

 
  

Are You Just Blowing Hot Air?

The Truth About Bathroom Exhaust Fans

Bathroom exhaust fans play a great role in determining the quality of the house’s ventilation system. Its main function is to remove moisture, not just funky smells and condensation on mirrors. You need to understand that too much moisture at home can cause damage to the structure of your house including the walls and also the ceilings. Furthermore, the moisture will also let bacteria, mildew, molds, and insects grow faster which can lead to health problems of your family members. Here are some things to consider about bathroom exhaust fans.

Check your existing fans. You can test your existing fans are good enough in drawing the air or not. Use a piece of toilet paper and place it up towards fan’s grill. If you find that the fan holds the tissue stay tight on the grill then it means that your fan is working just fine. It’s also possible your current fan can be ineffective in dealing with the function due to age or dust accumulation. You may want to consider replacing it, new fans these days are more energy efficient and effective in moving the air circulation inside the house and removing the moisture.

Proper venting is another crucial factor. Venting into an attic space will only create more moisture issues in the attic. Venting to the outside is ideal.

“In selecting new bathroom exhaust fan, it is suggested for you to get the quietest, most energy-efficient, and please consider the size that meets your need.  To make it simpler for you to compare the fans, you can use the HVI ratings that can be found on the packages. The good ones should have 0.5 sones or less of the rating. The fans should also consume about 20 watts when they are working.” (BathBlogs.com)

Exhaust fans are like faucets, to be used daily. So rule of thumb, get a good one, it can save you money in the long run. If you’re uncomfortable replacing it yourself, refer to a professional contractor who can determine if your existing electrical can handle the desired exhaust fan and venting is set up properly.  

Imagine Leaving All Your Troubles At The Door

 

No matter how stressful your day has been, we could imagine you would leave all your troubles behind upon entering this soothing sanctuary of a remodeled bathroom done in classic polished white Carrara Marble. The only original piece left is the Jacuzzi tub. The old bathroom had a wall between the tub and the room that housed the fiberglass shower and toilet. We blew out the wall between the shower & tub, rebuilt the wall for a private toilet closet, and built the 4’ x 6’ tiled shower connecting it to the tub, separated only by the Euro Frameless glass shower panels &

door.  

 

 On the back shower wall sits a double shelved soap niche and 12” wide bench for sitting or shaving conveniences. Shower hardware is all Kohler including the 14” Rain Shower Head. The tub front got a facelift too with custom recessed panels with two hidden panels to access the tub plumbing.

 Carpet truly has no place in bathrooms, so matching 18” x 18” Carrara Marble tiles were placed in a diagonal pattern for visual interest over a radiant heat floor system that keeps the homeowner’s bare feet toasty warm. Custom built his and her vanities at a 36”height, come with soft close drawers and doors and heavy duty rollout drawers under the sink cabinets to give additional storage. Vanity tops are also white Carrara marble stone slabs with Kohler “Ladena” under mount sinks and Restoration Hardware “Lugarno” collection faucets. And the walls are painted in Benjamin Moore’s “Manchester Tan”.

 

This was another bathroom that was inspired by one of our website gallery bathrooms. The homeowner’s loved the spa like look and made the similar elements their very own unique retreat.  

Are You Ready To Rock Out?

If you’re thinking of “rockin” your counter tops with natural granite you’ll need to understand beyond its mystical beauty of how to make it work for your specific purpose and space. Mottled, monochromatic or veined; gold or bold blue; affordable or budget breaking, granite defies nearly all typecasting, except that it is all the rage for kitchen surface durability. It's a natural stone, so every individual slab of the hundreds of named colors is unique in its hue, patterning and shading. And because the choices can be overwhelming to the uninformed, here are some tips for finding your perfect rock.

Paying for more than you use. Typically, suppliers will charge you for the whole slab, regardless of how much you use. Keep in mind that a unique natural pattern may require more than one slab to keep the flow within your counter top looking “natural”. Ask if there will be remnants. You may find you’ll have enough left to replace the powder bathroom vanity top too.
Differences in color. Mother Nature creates some common colors such as in natural hues, however with some rarer colors, costs will increase for slabs with a scarcer hue(s). Some granites contain semiprecious stone with flecks of labradorite, which can also increase the slab's cost.
Availability. Not only the quantity of stone, but also access which can be restricted by seasonal quarries or political unrest, can affect the cost.
Sources
While granite is found nearly worldwide, most granite is mined from Brazil or India. Indian granite is typically very dense, and is available in larger slabs and has lots of movement but is affordable. Brazilian granite is plentiful and handsome.

Composition
Not all granite slabs are actually granite. For countertops, "granite" is an umbrella term that includes several quartz stones that are acid resistant. ”Standard” granites with smaller consistent patterns are excellent for the look but can help eliminate waste when laying out a template with joints.
 

Names of colors can vary. Adjacent quarries, or even different suppliers, might have different names for the same stone. For example, this slab goes by the names Luisa Blue and Van Gogh.
 


Rock lingo. "Japurana," a term that appears in many slab names, signals a slab with a flowing pattern. "Giallo," another term that appears in multiple slab names, is Italian for "yellow" or "gold."

Counter top finishes.  

Polished: The most common finish; it's mirror-like, stands up well to stains and is the least porous

Honed: A matte finish that is typically not recommended, as it can stain and scratch more easily

Brushed/satin: Similar to a honed finish, though less matte in appearance and better performing

Leather: More polished than a honed or matte finish, but with a little texture

Flamed/thermal: Created by running a flame over the slab surface; has a rough, textured appearance and a varying surface depth

Antique: Has a brushed, dull appearance that is slightly textured

With all the variables in choosing the perfect rock for your project, ask the experts and "hone" in on their knowledge, it may make your investment rock solid.Resources for this article attributed to Houzz.com , Michelle Jeresek