Different Bathroom Flooring Ideas

Whether you are designing and building an entirely new bathroom or just refreshing an old one you have a whole range of different flooring options to consider. The key with bathroom flooring is to create a pleasing look that matches the rest of the room but also to consider the practical aspect of what you choose.

Carpet

Carpet is the classic choice for most rooms in the house but less so for the bathroom. As much as you can try to keep the floor dry, you will have a hard time. Regular soakings of carpet will undoubtedly lead to problems such as mould and you will find yourself needing to replace it after no time at all. Despite this big problem, many people do still choose to carpet their bathroom. Particularly deep pile carpets do offer an excellent luxury feel on your feet after a bath so long as you’re prepared to replace it fairly often.

Laminate Flooring

Over recent years laminate flooring has seen a big surge in popularity. It provides a good looking, easy to lay flooring option for any room in the house. If you are planning to lay laminate flooring in the bathroom however you should be aware that it can be susceptible to water damage. Warping and rotting can occur with regular exposure to water although this can be minimised by stepping out of the bath or shower onto a bath rug or at the very least a towel. Alternatively there are some waterproof laminate flooring options but they can be more expensive than the standard offerings.

Tiles

Tiles have quickly become the number one choice for flooring in the bathroom. The main reason for this is practicality. Good quality floor tiles aren’t damaged by water and simply wipe clean. Larger floor tiles are best as they reduce the amount of grout used which is the only part that you will notice damage to. Tiles come in such a wide variety of colours and styles that you’re sure to find something to suit your room and tastes. Laying floor tiles isn’t out of the realms of possibility for the average DIYer but a professional will have it done in no time.

Lino

Lino flooring has drastically declined in popularity over the last few years and was more popular for kitchens than bathrooms but it does offer a good cheaper alternative to tiles. It is just as easy if not easier to clean and doesn’t damage easily. The biggest setback and the reason most stay away from lino is simply that it doesn’t offer the same great look as tiles or other alternatives.

If you are thinking of decorating, why not consider tiling as there are many ranges and designs that can be used in a bathroom or kitchen. Browse the different range of tiles available for the home from Online Tile Shopfor some creative ideas.

Explanation & Norman Bates' Mom

Yesterday I posted about feeling like I was barely treading water...  Thank  you so much for the kind notes & emails & phone calls and I'm so sorry to have worried anyone!!  I really am doing fine, I'm just a little overwhelmed with having so much on our plates right now.  I'm not sure if I can explain in it any other way other than that I'm (and it's not just me, it's my husband too) stretched really thin right now but that I'm truly excited about everything we've got going on.  I'm so happy with how our house is turning out and my boys are at such a fun age...  I wish I could spend every moment with them...

I just feel like there aren't enough hours in the day & I feel like I'm dropping balls left & right.  I'm trying so hard for the balls not to be work balls but it doesn't leave much time to take care of things at home and with our house. 

This year, Christian entered kindergarten & I am getting my first taste of how much involvement schools want/need from their parents.  We want to be involved & all of the things the school's putting together are amazing, but we're finding it really hard to keep up...   ESPECIALLY without a kitchen. (Bakesale goods on Friday? hahahahahah  I will most likely be employing the I Don't Know How She Does it Method,which consists of a grocery store dessert that's been lovingly "distressed" a bit ;) ;)    (I'm not sure if I'm kidding or not.)  It's hard enough to get a lunch together ("Lunchables" for today & more days than I'd like to admit.. uggg) and a clean kid out the door, let alone anything else. 

{I WISH this was Christian's lunch.}

I am so behind on phonecalls & emails with my friends & family & blog friends, and feel like I'm not really there for anyone, even though I want to be.  I find myself thinking of everyone and that I'll call them or email them "after work" but by the time I finish up at night, (I've been working late a lot) I just need to be with my kids who are dying for some attention.  (I can think of no less than 20 friends/family members who I need to get in touch with.)  In the grand scheme--- I KNOW these are normal problems to have, and I really am fine... It's just sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming.  I don't want to let anyone down.  I am running around like a madwoman & probably shouldn't even be spending this much time complaining to you ;) ;)

SO...  Here's the post I've been trying to post for over a week or so now, with  maybe 5 minutes at a whack.  (When I sat down to try to finally finish it yesterday, something came up at work so I quickly threw the dog treading water pic up to let you know where I was at.).....

Whenever I look at houses, I find the one element that really makes me love a space is good natural lighting.  In our new (old) house, I loved all of the large windows throughout the house & knew that if we added more, it could be just right. 

{before}

{after:  we added two floor to ceiling windows and widened the space between them for a larger fireplace wall}

In the kitchen, we added a second window to balance out the assymetrical location of the first window, which i love!!--

In our master bedroom, we took out the entire wall and replaced it with a massiving sliding glass door for a view into our courtyard.  (My computer isn't letting me attach pics from our network right now so just imagine it, sorry!!)

...AND....

I can now say that I am a window addict.  I want to add them wherever possible.  In our upstairs loft, I orginally wanted to add one window in between the two existing ones so that we'd have a better view.  Here's what it looks like now:

{The loft"----  our current living room, kitchen, dining room, everything.  Our clothes are in the dresser under the microwave.}

I sit in the swivel glider (which will be going in the baby's nursery when the house is finished) and turn it so I can see outside into our back yard...  The boys will sit on my lap and the baby falls to sleep whenever it's his turn.  Every weekend morning, I sit there like Norman Bates when he's dressed up like his mom, looking out the window:

{hopefully I'm slightly less creepy about it}

But it's really helped me find some peace inside & I love it.  This is the view:

We have deer in the area behind our yard & if we wake up early enough, we can see them playing on pretty much most mornings. We found a tick in the baby's ear over the weekend which is a bit worrisome.  :(  Its entire head was embedded in Luke's ear lobe and it took at least ten minutes to pull it out with tweezers while he screamed.  :(  I felt so terrible. (It had broken in half and the head was still stuck inside.)  After we got the tick out, I just held him and rocked him in the glider and he fell asleep clutching me & trying to catch his breath.  (We've taken him to the doctor and will be watching him for the next 3 weeks for signs of lyme disease but so far, he seems just fine.)


So now...  I think I might want to take out the wall and make it an entire wall of windows for a bigger view outside..   Could you imagine this as a wall of windows??:

We have to decide how low we want the windows to go because it's on the second floor but I am really leaning towards adding this on to our already too-many-projects list. 

Anyway, I'm off for the day- and thanks so much for bearing with me.  Big hug.  (And I'm sorry I worried anyone!!)




If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.

Home Improvement Tips 101

There's no place like home - it might little or huge this is the place where we have a tendency to live with our family and friends feeling safe and happy. Folks would always need their home to seem during a smart and clean manner. Therefore on a periodic basis seizing home improvement project is not a dangerous idea. Principally home improvement things are do-it-yourself. It is merely a course of adding new things in your home or refurbishing it. Equally home improvements are of many varieties; here you'll be able to apply roofing, flooring, siding, repairing, replacing, windows, painting, improving back yard and a lot of more. These are durable things and doing it yourself could be daunting. So the most effective would be to hire a home improvement contractor which will try this task simply for you. They're the manner to spruce up your home.

You first want to understand the wants of your house. Apprehend the factors involving home improvement: why do your would like to boost your house or garden currently? Are their any barriers concerned? What is the budget comprising to try to to the duty? Don't move ahead while not correct designing, once you finalize the budget follow it. Finding a home improvement contractor wouldn't be troublesome - select some native home shops or do a well research online. Look only for a reputable home improvement company and justify them your needs. Overall completing this job would increase the price of your home.

Home Improvement Tips
For some individuals hiring a home improvement contractor may be expensive - do take into account below given do-it-yourself tips:
Kitchen - Kitchen renovation is fun. You would like to choose right materials for your kitchen. Going for marble and granite kitchen countertop would be a permanent choice as you visiting use for upcoming decades. Other things to be thought of is color choice, suitable lighting, getting appliances and choosing quality sinks.

Toilet - For a toilet it is sensible to have sliding or ceiling ambience light and choose some sensible lavatory cabinets, marble counter tops and vanity tops with shiny reflective surface.

Flooring - You need to concentrate more on flooring. Check if you wish repair to loose resilient floors and Vinyl floors. You want to clean and repair the carpet when even required. Apprehend additional concerning wall-to-wall carpeting too as it gives outstanding look to your home.
Backyard - When it comes to garden the simplest thing to feature up is Floating fountains they are just are cool. If you need a new walkway to be colorful then flagstone, concrete pavers and bricks are of good choice. Do contact any excavation company if your want pond clearing. 

The Most Effective Way to Hang Mirrors

A home is not complete without mirrors as they bring a certain amount of warmth to a home. A mirror can be a decorative item that is hung over a fireplace, or in a hallway close to the door. If a mirror is positioned correctly, it can make a room appear more spacious and brighter as it reflects the natural light. This is especially important in a bedroom or study.

All of the above can only be achieved when the mirror is hung correctly using the right fixtures and fittings. It is tempting to hang a mirror in the same way you would hang a picture frame, but this is not always right.

Small Mirrors
 

Often a small mirror can be fixed to a wall using small adhesive pads. Often in a small bathroom or even a bedroom the mirror is the size of a tile and the weight of the mirror can be supported using the adhesive pads.  Check that the surface you are attaching the mirror to is clean, free from grime and that the pads will stick to the wall securely. Ensure the mirror is straight before you attempt to fix to the wall, as peeling the adhesive pads from the wall will create a mess and the pads will become less secure on the back of the mirror aswell.  Create a small pencil line that is straight using a spirit level and then line up the mirror to the line. 

Framed Mirrors
 

A framed mirror can be hung in the same way as a picture frame if the mirror frame is not too heavy. Check the back of the mirror to see if hooks or wire has been provided. A heavy mirror must only be hung with mirror chains and not picture wire or cord. A heavy mirror requires support and sturdy material will do this, rather than wire which can snap under the weight of the mirror as it rests on a hook.

Mirror Screws
 

Some full length mirrors look great in a hallway or bedroom. The design of a full length lends itself to the mirror being attached directly to the wall and not hung using hooks. These mirrors will have holes in the corners of the mirror. Use mirror screws (often provided with the mirror) and screw these into wallplugs through the fixing holes in the mirror. Make sure that wallplugs are used to ensure the screws can be fixed securely to the wall as they will be supporting the mirror. To hide the screws, you can include a domed cover to hide the screw’s countersunk head.

Perform These Checks Before You Start Drilling

If you need to drill holes into the walls in your home, make sure that you have carried out the relevant checks before you even pick up the drill.

Electrical & Pipes - Check for any hidden electrical cables and pipes with a cable detector. Especially if you are drilling over a fireplace or close to electrical sockets and light switches.

Keep cords out of reach – If you are drilling with small children around make sure to keep cords out of reach to avoid strangulation or children getting tangled in the cords.

If in doubt – Always seek professional advice and do not attempt the task yourself.

Mirrors are hung all over the house, in hallways, kitchens and bedrooms. If you are hanging a mirror in a bedroom, make sure it matches the décor. For bedroom design ideas and inspiration take a look at Doors Direct, who provide a wide range of sliding wardrobe doors for the bedroom.

Barely Treading Water...

{image credit:  J.Pat Carter from here } 

 say some prayers for me. ;) 

Thanksgiving Pilgrim Hat Dessert

 

 

I have been making these Pilgrim hats for several years and they are always a big hit at Thanksgiving. And the best part is, they are EASY!

You will need:

• Chocolate cookies (I used Keebler Striped Shortbread and turn them over)
• Reese's individually wrapped peanut butter cups (unwrapped) :)
• Orange frosting in a tube

Place the cookie striped side down, put a little frosting under the Reese's Peanut Butter cup. Set that in the center of the cookie.



Take the orange frosting and put a bead around the bottom of the Reese's.  Make a square on it to be the buckle.  And you're done!  How much easier could that be?!

Some of the orange frosting looks a little crazy, but I don't worry too much.  As soon as the kids see them, they're gone--crazy buckles and all!

 

 

Thanks for your visit!

 

Pam


I am linking to the following parties:

Debbiedoos Newbie Party with a Twist




Our Kitchen Plans... from restaurant sketch conception to real life kitchen!!

Life has been so hectic lately but things are great overe here.  I feel like I can barely catch a breath (more the combination of work & under-construction-home-baby-life than the house itself) but I really am loving seeing everything come to life around us.  Our kitchen cabinets arrived & the frames have been installed!!!  It's really starting to take shape!!!  Here's what our kitchen looked like before:

 

We completely removed the wall between the kitchen and the living room to create one big open room.  Here's the wall "before"--

 

 

We, like most families, spend a ton of our time in the kitchen, so I wanted to make it a little larger and I also didn't like the fact that once the wall between the kitchen and the living room was removed, you'd be looking at the side (sliced) view of both the kitchen & the dining room so I decided to move the kitchen wall two feet over (stealing from the dining room) so that the kitchen would span the entire width of the living room.  We also rearranged the general layout of the kitchen.  Here are the plans drawn up by CarrMichael Construction:

 

 

We got rid of the peninsula in the kitchen separating it from the breakfast room because I've always wanted a stand-alone island and because I wanted it feel more like one large space instead of kitchen & breakfast room.  The island visually separates the living room from the kitchen just the right amount & without it, I think it might feel a bit too much like you were cooking in the living room. 

Mike (owner of CarrMichael Construction) has been amazing with helping us plan the kitchen and is really great with scale & space. (His wife, Tara, has been amazing too, in feeding us while our house is under construction!!  She's also become a close friend and is the type of person who thinks nothing of last-minute late-night "emergency" shopping trips - yes I know a shopping trip isn't ever really an emergency but to a post-pregnant lady with a photo shoot the next day, it feels pretty close!- and is always there when you need her.)

Here's what the kitchen is looking like now:

Here's an example of the type of direction Mike gets on the kitchen from me:

{nothing better than plans conceived while eating at a restaurant...  I think the first set of "plans" Mike got from me were scribbled on the kids menu of Uncle Julio's while we were all out with the kids. }

me- "Ok, Mike, got it??"
Followed by his laughter...

...And then this is what he gives back to us:

(I drew a little on the hood in the pic to show you the actual shape of the hood...  The draftsperson used a generic hood from the program that was curved & we're going straight.)

..Just what I meant by the scribbled sketch = yay!!!

And this is what happens:

The island will be all drawers and will be built out of horizontal panels of reclaimed wood.  (Even on the drawer faces)  What you're seeing in the current photos is the drawer boxes which will be hidden by the reclaimed wood panels.  I'm a big fan of drawers in kitchens (especially for kitchens with kids because they're easier for them to keep organized & access) and so everywhere we can do a drawer, I've done one.  The island is full of storage:

We've also been working with Tom Owens of Owens Iron Works in Herndon (who is also doing our stair rails).  The shelves will attach into the ceiling and into the marble countertop like this: (this is a side view)

 

Tom & the team at Owens are true craftsmen & I can't wait to see the shelves!!  We'll have wooden shelves inset into the iron frame for a soft landing for dishes, mixing bowls & drinkware.

 

Here's the view into the kitchen from the breakfast room originally:

{Am still loving the previous owners' vintage barstools and am keeping them, maybe playing with the stain.  Thank you to them!!!}


...And here's the view now:

There won't be any upper cabinets in the entire kitchen and I'm leaving the wall above the sink empty so I can pack it with my collection of vintage oil paintings.  The kitchen is generally very clean & simple so I want to introduce a slight bit of mayhem/clutter/color  in there above the sink.  The paintings also feel more "living room" less "kitchen" to me so I think the painting wall will bridge the kitchen-living-room-gap nicely.

An important thing to me in kitchens (and any room really) is that each view or elevation looks good and is functional.  I really wanted a centered range & hood for the kitchen's focal point and this meant moving the sink to the other wall, however, I didn't like how it would be squeezed in next to the refrigerator and also wanted the sink wall to be pretty (&functional!!)....   So, we moved the fridge over into the original pantry area (seen below where the white doors are.)

 

I thought & thought about how far away the fridge would be from everything else & finally deicded that as long as we found one with an icemaker & water, we'd be okay with it being so far from the sink.  Here's the slot for our new (smaller) fridge:

{We added a second window in the breakfast room for balance and because we wanted a better biew into the yard.  We've added windows wherever possible in the house.  It makes SUCH a difference and everywhere I look when I'm inside, I see outside.}

....Now that it's in, the refrigerator actually doesn't seem far away at all, so I am so happy we made the move.  It also helps to expand the kitchen itself beccause we added cabinets & a countertop next to it for storage & space to set down groceries and prep.  (A lazy susan is in the corner for our canned food.)  The microwave is under the counter beneath the window, which is great because now someone can grab something from the fridge, heat it up in the microwave and not even have to go near the main cooking area.

I'm selecting paint for the perimeter cabinets (drawers really) today so wish me luck!!  I'll keep you posted!!  Also, thank you so much for the kind words about the FW Magazine cover...  It was a really fun experience!!



If you'd like help creating a home you absolutely love, contact me about our design services.