Q-and-A: luxury for the bath
Dear Debbie;
We’ve made a plan to renovate our ensuite bathroom, enlarging it to give it a spa feeling. I’m a bath person, my partner not so much, but we splurged on a freestanding tub. Have you any ideas for making this new space more special? Janet
Dear Janet;
The spa bathroom conjures up images of calm comfort, a place to indulge in soothing scents and sounds while luxuriating in a bath or shower. For shower lovers such as your partner, there are multiple sprayers, lighting options, seats and sound systems that deliver the same rejuvenating experience as your soaker tub. Double sinks are a luxury, especially for couples who are leaving the house at the same time.
A feature that is often overlooked are heated towel bars. Wrapping yourself in a warm towel, especially in cooler months, is a special treat. Heated towel bars are much more common in Europe, and are often used simultaneously as room heaters. North America has caught on, with companies such as Amba Products,
www.ambaproducts.com who offer a full range of styles and heating types. Shown here are a pair of Jeeves warmers from Amba, that have straight bars with a polished finish. Bars are solid stainless steel, not plated, so no flaking. Jeeves is heated by a thick cable, while other models hold liquid (glycol and water) warmed by a heating element.
Not just for warming towels, certain models double as space heaters. The Solo is a freestanding unit that simply plugs in and can be moved from room to room. The Solo uses dry element technology and takes only 15 to 20 minutes to heat up. The bars never get too hot to touch, so are safe around children. Install a warming rack in the mud room, and include a horizontal rack for drying shoes and boots or hang coats from robe hooks. Kitchens, family rooms, bedrooms, these warmers enhance any space. For your ensuite spa, a towel warming rack or two will make a splendid finishing touch. Dear Debbie;
We are renovating a large bathroom on the main floor of our farmhouse. It gets lots of use with four kids racing in and out. Have you any ideas to make it practical but OK for when company comes? Lois
Dear Lois;
I’m sure you have seen the hands-free faucets in restaurants, airports, and other commercial buildings. But they are becoming very popular in homes today too. The sensor technology turns the water on and off so that there is no need to deal with taps. There are also battery operated motion-activated soap dispensers. The hands free combination stops a lot of germ transfer. And it also helps to keep the sink clean. The kids love it and might even wash their hands more often. And you and your guests will appreciate the accent on hygiene these products offer. Look for good sources such as Delta and Moen at your kitchen and bath store.
Dear Debbie;
We love the look of the big floor tiles we see on display, but will they work in a small bathroom? Louisa Dear Louisa;
You can use 3’x 3’ floor tiles; position the tiles so that the full size tiles are centered and the cut tiles are at the perimeter. This will actually make your bathroom look bigger.