Budgeting for a Bathroom Renovation

Bathroom renovations top the list of the most common home renovation project types.  Whether your bathroom renovation is sparked by a leaking or burst pipe or by a desire to upgrade your finishes and fixtures, the process is still the same.  First you will need a plan of attack (that's where professional designers-like myself- come into play), then you will need to select you finishes, fixtures, and accessories; and finally you will need to hire the right building professionals to make your renovation a reality.  

To help you establish a budget the National Kitchen and Bath Association recommends you break down your renovation costs into eleven categories:

1.)  Design:  4%

Photo courtesy of Kustom Home Design

 Hiring a professional designer will ensure your investment is as beautiful as it is functional.

Photo courtesy of Kustom Home Design

 Detailed drawings help the contractor stay on time and in budget.

2.)  Installation:  20%

 The largest chunk of your budget will pay for skilled labor costs so you have plumbing and tile that won't leak or crack.

 3.)  Fixtures:  15%

Photo courtesy of Kustom Home Design

Photo courtesy of Kustom Home Design

Plumbing fixtures like showers and tubs are an important design element and they should account for a large portion of the budget.

4.)  Cabinetry & Hardware:  16%

Photo courtesy of Kustom Home Design

Cabinetry and hardware, such as knobs & pulls, make up a significant amount of a bathroom budget while also making a significant visual impact.

5.)  Countertops:  7%

Photo courtesy of Kustom Home Design

 Countertop prices vary dramatically depending on the material selected, but they usually account for 7% of the budget.

6.)  Lighting and Ventilation:  5%

Photo courtesy of Kustom Home Design

Photo courtesy of Kustom Home Design

  Wall sconces, recessed lighting, accent lights, exhaust fans, and pendant lights make up 5% of the budget.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.)  Flooring:  9%

Photo courtesy of Kustom Home Design

 Tile flooring works well in bathrooms, but if  you heat your tile floor expect this portion of your budget to increase.

8.)  Doors & Windows:  4%

Photo courtesy of Kustom Home Design

Photo courtesy of Kustom Home Design

Don't forget about the cost of new doors or windows while developing your renovation budget.

 

 

9.)  Walls & Ceilings:  5%

Photo courtesy of Kustom Home Design

10.)  Faucets & Plumbing:  14%

Photo courtesy of Kustom Home Design

 Faucets, plumbing controls and mixing valves are all important and expensive parts of your bathroom renovation.

11.)  Other:  1%

Photo courtesy of Kustom Home Design

 Somewhere along the way you will find a unique item, design element or product you won't want to live without.

The average bathroom renovation cost is $16,000.  In my experience, guest or kid's baths tend to cost between $15,000 - $20,000 while master baths usually cost between $20,000-$35,000.  You can spend less than these amounts and you can certainly spend more; however, you should try to budget 5%-10% of your home's value on a bathroom renovation.

 If you are considering a renovation project in the Upstate of SC and you don't know where to start or how to proceed, contact Kustom Home Design for a free initial consultation.  We are in the business of making your renovation dreams a reality.

Creating your Own Handmade Curtains

Handmade curtains are getting a lot of popularity not only in the United Kingdom, but also around the globe. Some people might think that all curtains are handmade. There are some that are created by machines and there are some that are personally made and hand crafted by professional sewers.

You can�t really say that it is rare to find handmade curtains, but it is difficult to know whether a curtain is handmade or not. If you think that making a handmade curtain is really hard, here is a simple do-it-yourself technique to create a simple curtain with amazing designs.

Buying the Cloth and Choosing the Design

Buying the cloth and choosing the colour and design is a very important factor when creating handmade curtains. If you want to find high quality cloths with great designs, it is best to look at the products of Kurtinz as they offer the best on the market today.

Make sure that the cloth that you will choose will complement the design of your house. Well, you don�t want to adjust the design of the house just because you made the wrong choice when it comes to the fabric.

Do not choose a fabric with only a single design on the other side. Make sure that both sides have the same design.

Prepare the Measurements

After buying the fabric and choosing an appropriate design for the curtain, the next step is to prepare the measurements. This is dependent on the size of your window and the type of curtain that you want to put. You can consider curtains that are covering a wide area including a part of the wall or you can create a curtain that will only cover the window itself.

Most people choose curtains that also cover a part of the wall since it is quite elegant. Start by measuring the parts of the window, but make sure to put an allowance before cutting the fabric. Try to put an allowance for the top part because the rod will be inserted in it.

Start Sewing

This is the hardest part of the process, especially if you don�t know anything about sewing. You need a sewing machine because doing it manually may cause problems in the design.

Put the fabric in the machine and sew the sides first. You can also add a lining, but make sure that that it is located at the wrong side of the fabric. Make sure that the layers are aligned properly and hold on to the pattern and follow it slowly until you finish sewing. Make sure that you will not lost track of the pattern because you will have to redo everything when it happens.

You can always add other designs on the curtain but it will be more advanced. This is definitely the simplest way to make handmade curtains. It is not as elegant as the curtains that you can buy from Kurtinz, but the looks and appearance will definitely complement your interior design.

Beautiful Basement Remodeling Ideas and Designs (+danh s�ch ph�t)

Traditional Family House Made of Sandstone Project DG in Spain

 DG House is a residential project completed by I�igo Esparza Arquitecto in Navarre, Spain. House looks traditional, boasting two volumes made of sandstone. Surrounded by a fence on which plants can climb, the house features a private terrace and a porch for lounging and relaxing. In the hot summer days, a cold drink and a book is all you need to keep your soul happy. Ground floor of the house, accommodating the kitchen, living room and dining room, was envisioned as a unified social area, encouraging interaction and activities of all kinds. It�s airy, well-lit and most important, connected to the porch and the adjacent public garden.

 �Towards the main facade, a stripe containing the service area, laundry and garage ensures the privacy of the house. The volume of the first floor holds the night-area, with three bedrooms facing the garden (south-west) leaving the dressing-room and bathrooms towards the main facade. Finally the basement contains a multi-purpose space and the facilities room.� The back of the house offers a little bit more privacy to the residents. A swimming pool landscaped with local plants was also part of the plan.

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Masterful Bath Design Reckognizes Aging Isn't an Option, It's a Priviledge

AFTER

BEFORE

A gentleman attending my Universal Design class which is geared towards helping people understand our changing needs as we age and how our homes can be designed to respond to these needs in beautiful ways had a problem.  He and his wife had done their homework and had planned ahead.  They bought a single level patio home in a newer development that was intended to be used by seniors or others with accessibility concerns.  The only problem was that the master bathroom was designed just like every other bathroom of it's time - large garden tub, tiny dark shower, cramped water closet, low vanity cabinet, cold tile floor and harsh overhead lighting.  He wanted to know what I could do to help make the bathroom work for them now and in the future.

Existing Shower

 

 

Existing Tub

So we embarked on a journey to develop a design that would accept and respond to a person's changing physical, cognitive and emotional needs that result from the privilege of aging.  I first identified many areas of concern such as the need for multiple area rugs (huge tripping/slipping hazard), a dark inaccessible shower, a deep soaking tub with no grab bars and a large window that can cause serious injury if someone slips in the tub and falls against it, a tight water closet with a narrow door and more.  After a series of meetings and design reviews, we came away with a wonderful plan.

New Luxury Shower Full of Stylish Safety Elements

The tub was removed because it was rarely used and the guest bath still had a tub.  The shower was enlarged and made much safer and more accessible.  We incorporated all of these elements in the new shower:

�         Wide door for easy maneuvering	�         Slip resistant tiles and grab bars
�         Recessed niches to keep soap and shampoo off the floor where it can spill and cause slipping	�         Exhaust fan with a heater to minimize the discomfort of drafts associated with large open showers
�         Overhead, waterproof lighting to prevent corrosion and bursting of the light bulb	�         Two shower heads including one hand held device
�         Open floor space for a removable bench or shower seat

Best of all, though, the shower is now luxurious and beautiful.

New Watercloset with Wide Pocket Door

Existing Watercloset

 

The watercloset was too narrow with a slender door opening that would make the space inaccessible if a walker or wheelchair were ever needed.  To make the space functional, yet still private we used these solutions:

�         Enlarged the size of the water closet	�         Made the door a wide pocket door
�         Added grab bars, a comfort height toilet, and better lighting	�         Used removable furniture for storage that can be removed if a wheelchair is needed in the future

Existing Vanity Cabinet

The existing vanity was too low, outdated and had hard to use fixtures and hardware.  We custom designed vanities with the following design solutions:

�         Raised heights to allow for  more comfortable reach and reduced back strain	�         Faucets with lever handle controls for ease of use
�         Extra tall toe kick to allow for temporary use of a wheelchair	�          D-shaped cabinet pulls for ease of use

New Vanity Cabinets

The plant shelf allows the clients to enjoy their irises and provides a discreet place for the hamper without the expense of a built-in hamper cabinet.  The new sconces provide better lighting and an updated feel.

Lastly, to get rid of the area rugs and mats, we installed electric radiant heating elements beneath the new tile flooring to allow for warm floors and no tripping hazards.  The programmable thermostat allows the clients to control the temperature and set times for the floor to be heated or unheated.  Waking up to a warm bathroom floor is a small comfort that makes a big difference.

By making these changes to their master bathroom, my clients have insured that they will be able to live in their home longer and more safely.  They have made an invaluable investment, not only in their home, but more importantly in their independence.

To learn more about the effects that aging has on the way we live in our homes and ways we can accommodate this inevitable change and wonderful privilege with practical universal design strategies, contact our office for your personal design consultation or attend one of my universal design classes.

3-Storey Modern And Luxurious House With Timeless Design

This amazing house by Finnis Architects in Brighton East, Australia, is a modern 3-storey house with one floor excavated. The underground floor has a garage and utility spaces, while the upper floors are dedicated to the day and night areas. The day area is strategically situated on the ground floor, so that it can blend in with the outdoors spaces situated at the same level. The outdoors space is very important in the layout and it consists of focal points. One of them is the small patch of lawn, very carefully landscaped. The interior is modern and luxurious, lots of light and wide open spaces with smart accents look great.

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