(Family Features) As America's economy strengthens, remodeling and home renovations are on the rise. "Homeowners are looking for ways to update their current homes, rather than buying a new property," said Sarah Reep, director of designer relations and education at KraftMaid Cabinetry. "From simply adding a new faucet to completely gutting a bathroom, there are many ways to revitalize any home." For homeowners seeking inspiration for their bathroom renovation, here are the top trends to know:
Whether you enjoy following the housing trends or prefer the tried-and-true styles, there is a variety of new products to add beauty, value and functionality to any home.Place statusQuartz Countertops: According to the NKBA, 54 percent of NKBA designers are now incorporating quartz into their bathroom designs, compared with 48 percent in 2010. The low-maintenance mineral boasts a higher durability against cracks and dents than marble. DeNova sells quartz surfaces in a wide range of custom colors and patterns.Another way to upgrade your bathroom and increase its pleasant spa like qualities is to incorporate a stress relieving shower panel. A shower panel is a streamlined rectangular structure that is installed either in a stand-up shower or over a bathtub. It usually consists of a showerhead, a hand held shower device, various massaging water jets, and knobs for diverting water, controlling temperature, and adjusting pressure.Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=1623983A bathroom vanity, a combination of sink, cabinet and mirror, is possibly the fixture we notice first when we enter a bathroom. Choosing an elegant contemporary bathroom vanity can bring the feel of a comfortable room to the bathroom remodel. Bathroom vanities, useful for storage and organization, come in one-sink or two-sink models. Deciding on the size of your bathroom vanity will depend on the number of people who plan to use it, the dimensions of your bathroom, and the amount of items needing storage. Consideration of the other storage available in the bathroom is important as well.Added Storage Space: "Homeowners are looking for ways to decrease clutter and increase organization in their bathrooms," said Reep. For the homeowner with dozens of bottles, jars and accessories, KraftMaid's vanity filler pullout creates storage while saving space with its slim vertical design.Talking about the status of the place, it simply means how the area looks prior to onset of the project. Since there are two types of remodeling, partial and complete; as a homeowner you need to determine the extent of the remodeling. When you say partial renovation, the job specifications include repainting, installation of cabinets, addition of lighting and other fixtures. All of these works look manageable; thus, it can even be done by the property owner himself. However, when you talk of complete remodeling, massive demolition, plumbing, replacement of floor tiles, and the like are some of the major works that need professional help. In short, the more extensive the work gets, the more you need a substantial amount for remodeling.Seeing Green: The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) reported that 24 percent of their designers used a green color palette in their clients' kitchens last year. KraftMaid, a leader in the semi-custom cabinetry industry, offers cabinetry with color finishes -- such as Sage -- that can add a burst of color to bathroom walls.Adding luxury and enjoyment to a bathroom remodel can boost your sense of wellbeing, as well as the value of your home. One potential way to do this is to incorporate a whirlpool bathtub into your bathroom-remodeling scheme. A whirlpool bathtub can bring the tranquil atmosphere of a spa right into your own home. Designs for a whirlpool bathtub come in oval, rectangular and even corner models so large or small bathrooms can accommodate one.In order to save money and protect the environment you may decide to install a water-saving ecoflush toilet. These toilets are designed to function efficiently while using considerably less water than older model toilets. Using ecoflush toilets helps save money on your monthly water bill due to reduced water usage. The ecoflush toilet also helps the environment by conserving water, a precious and non-renewable resource.Satin Nickel Faucets: From 2009 to the end of 2010, the percent of NKBA designers who specified a satin nickel faucet in the bathroom rose from 45 percent to 57 percent. Brushed nickel faucets in the bathroom fell from 66 percent to 38 percent.Another storage possibility for a bathroom remodel is bathroom cabinets. Having plenty of space available to store away toiletries, cleaning products, and linens, which may not all fit in the vanity, is important to consider for your future bathroom. Bathroom cabinets come in many configurations and styles. This makes it easy to fit them into potentially small or tricky spaces. Whether they are wall-mounted or free standing, you can find bathroom cabinets to store all your bathroom related belongings.
Wendy MacDonald wmacdonald@familyfeatures.com 1-888-824-3337 ext. 235 http://editors.familyfeatures.com
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