When planning a bathroom remodel, start with a budget which tells you what you can afford, i.e.  one expensive feature like a tile floor? You might want several big ticket items but can’t afford them all this year. If you’re not sure which one is most important, taping pictures around your bathroom can help you see which feature you’ll use/enjoy most. You can also defer a big ticket item to the following year.

Any remodeling project is a huge investment of money and time. Leave time to plan the project so you maximize it’s value. Consider the value an appraiser will give your new bathroom, i.e. an $8,000 bathroom update in a home worth $160,000 makes sense but spending $25,000 doesn’t make sense. Use Remodeling Magazine’s annual “cost versus value” reports to learn the average cost for your bathroom remodel (see  Remodeling Trends here at Home Tips 4 Women). READ MORE

Picking paint colors is extremely difficult. You might want to use a blue or beige but there are literally hundreds of any one color to pick from. We worked with a decorator who created the design board at left, to help the customer pick their colors quickly. He wanted blue and picked sky blue from the multiple choices offered.

Fortunately we’ve learned to always audition new paint colors as shown below left. We painted just one wall of the bathroom undergoing renovations. Learn what happened next as the most careful planning doesn’t always work. READ MORE

Bathrooms are a key part of every house. While they might have started out providing key functions, bathrooms are evolving to become more of a retreat within the home, a place where you can relax in a jacuzzi tub or steam shower. When you’re building a home or planning a bathroom remodel, you need to put together a roadmap that outlines the activities you are planning for this room. For each activity, you need to identify the features you want.

Now you’re wondering who’s dreaming as most of our bathrooms are smaller, i.e. a full bath might only be 5 by 8 feet and there’s not much you can do within that space. Maybe … maybe not. Antique vanities are gaining popularity and they can set the tone for a very different feeling when you’re in the bathroom. READ MORE