Bathroom design do’s, don’ts to help modernize your space
Andee Parker looked down on Houston from her window seat on a recent flight and gasped. What she saw looked like a big muddy ocean.
“It’s one thing to see all of this on the news, but when you drive down the street and see mountains of carpet and drywall and furniture along the curb,” Parker says, her voice trailing off as she talked about the devastation left by Hurricane Harvey.
The Woodlands builder, designer and owner of Casa Bella Design Group, spent the past week helping friends and neighbors — and sometimes strangers — muck out flooded homes.
As so many Texans clean up and try to move forward, Parker offers advice for those needing new bathrooms, a big project.
Here’s her advice to help you move forward:
1. Pause. Before you jump in, make sure the room is fully remediated — cleaned, disinfected and dried. Then, take pictures of the ceiling, floor and every wall, especially if they’ve been stripped to the studs. You’ve likely done this for insurance or FEMA claims, but you want to do it for yourself, too. Photos will help a repairman or contractor know exactly where to find electrical and plumbing infrastructure.
2. Safety. Make sure electrical outlets are dry. If you planned to keep your bathtub, you still need to pull it out to be cleaned and dried. Parker notes that there’s a hollow space under bathtubs that can fill up with water that will stick around, mildew and mold.
It’s also worth checking for asbestos products. Many homes built before 1975 could have been built with Sheetrock or Fiberglas insulation that contained asbestos, Parker says. This is the time to get it out and replace it with less problematic materials.
3. Tub or no tub: This decision is up to you — not your Realtor friend who tells you a master bath with a tub will help sell your home. Feel free to skip the tub as long as you have one in another bathroom in your home. And don’t feel obligated to install a Jacuzzi tub. Today’s common choices are called “soaker tubs,” but they’re really just ordinary bathtubs. Resist the urge to buy one online. Buy a tub you can actually climb into so that you know if fits the way you want.
If you’re only going to have a shower, make sure it has a bench, Parker says. Accompanying that bench should be a hand-held shower sprayer so that anyone with a disability can shower more easily; and this option falls into the category of “aging in place.”
4. Plumbing fixtures: The silver family — chrome and polished or brushed nickel — is popular right now. Whatever you buy, be sure it’s the real deal. “If something is unbelievably inexpensive there’s a reason: it’s probably poorly made, and it’s a knockoff,” Parker says.
5. Cabinets: The top choice — for remodelers from millennials to baby boomers — is a flat-front, or Shaker style, cabinet that is simple and clean. Ornate options with raised features will date your home.
6. Floor tile: Manufacturing of porcelain floor tile has come a long way, Parker says. Technology allows tile design to look real, whether it’s mimicking marble or wood. Wood-grain porcelain tile is a popular choice; when you shop, look for one with a “through body” finish. If you choose tile in a dark color, let that be the only dark thing in your bathroom.
7. Grout: Be particular. Select premixed grout that’s epoxy- or resinbased rather than old-school, cement-based grouts. They’re a little more expensive, but it will resist stains so your floor will look nice longer. This is a little gift you should give to yourself and to the person who cleans your floors.
If DIYers want to save a little money, use regular grout but mix it with sealer instead of with water. You’ll get the same, stain-resistant result.
Grout color matters, too. Select grout that matches the background of your tile. You’re going for a clean, minimal look.
8. Installation: Don’t just pick out floor tile and grout and think that task is finished. Ask your contractor and installer to lay the tile with 1⁄16-inch spacers. The trend now is to have the tile laid as close together as possible, without those big grout grooves.
“It’s tedious, but I don’t care,” Parker says of the extra work. “The look is better, and you’re adding visual square footage to the room because you’re not adding these thick lines everywhere. You want flooring that keeps your eye going instead of breaking it up.”
For flooring, be sure to get a matte or honed finish — use polished tile on walls. “I don’t recommend anyone ever using polished tile on a floor,” Parker says. “You’re absolutely guaranteeing yourself a trip to the ER. Wet feet and polished tile equal disaster.”
9. Tile size: The 12x12 tiles are out; larger rectangular tiles are in. Try 12x24 and set them like bricks — even if your bathroom is smaller.
10. Lighting: If you’re aiming for a simpler look, skip the chandelier and use recessed lighting with sconces at the sides of your mirrors. Use LED lightbulbs; they’ll brighten your room and even make you look better.
11. Paint: Parker recommends using Sherwin-Williams Duration paint because it’s water tolerant and comes in a matte finish. Use a satin or semigloss for your door and trim. Her favorite color combination right now is a pale gray (Sherwin-Williams Light French Gray) for walls against white (White Flour) baseboards and trim. When you’re choosing colors, be sure to look for undertones. If you’re not sure, ask paint store workers for help. Be sure to pick a shade of white with the same undertones for trim work.
12. Mirrors: If you’ve got a bigger budget, consider a mirror with a fabulous frame. Even on a budget, you can find nice mirrors at discount home stores.