How To Design A Bathroom That Creates Both Function And Beauty

When designing most bathrooms in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut, it’s imperative to create realistic expectations for how to best use space. In smaller bathrooms, often is it not realistic or practical to include both a separate shower stall and a dedicated space for a tub. Some bathrooms would look crowded with a double vanity and double sinks. When thinking about a bath remodel consider the area and how much room you and your family need to maneuver after a shower or bath to prepare for the day or a night on the town.

well-designed bathroom is an organized bathroom. Toiletries, hair dryers, curling irons, makeup, brushes, etc. can quickly clutter a countertop, making the bathroom look unattractive and feel uncomfortable. A tip for designing a more functional, organized and pleasurable bath is to determine what you need to store during the design stage and specify storage solutions to meet those needs.

We understand that time is our customers’ most valuable asset. Their days are hectic, and they don’t want to waste time searching for a favorite tube of lipstick or wait for a curling iron to heat up. Manufacturers have responded, offering vanities and storage solutions with interior adjustable shelving, pull-out trays, interior lighting, hairdryer/curling iron holders, interior electric receptacles, USB port charging stations and drawer dividers to keep baths organized and to increase their functionality.

In addition to adequate storage solutions, another functional criterion to consider when planning a new bath includes cleaning. The legs or base of the furniture placed in front of the baseboard might create a gap between the wall and the cabinet. This may not be a concern aesthetically, but it does create a challenge to clean the gap space. The issue may be addressed if the furniture has a solid base that can be notched around the baseboard to eliminate the gap or notch the baseboard to dead end into the base of the cabinet.

In planning a new bath, we never lose sight of the need for fixtures and features to accommodate different family members. This is especially important when specifying mirrors, sinks and shower fixtures.

Lighting is another key, and often overlooked, component of a functional and aesthetically pleasing bath. Good lighting makes a bathroom more enjoyable and bad lighting just the opposite. We understand how light interacts with materials, users and tasks to enable recommendations that are most appropriate for a new bath project. We often will look at the potential to add or expand natural light to a bath renovation project because natural light helps to make smaller baths appear larger. This often involves identifying opportunities for new a new skylight, especially in bathrooms without windows.

Effective lighting illuminates a space in layers using different components and strategies to paint the final picture. You can buy a functional $40 faucet in a home center, but most likely that faucet will not add much to the beauty of the bath. A similar analogy holds true for lighting. Merely placing a flush-mounted fixture in the center of the bathroom and a light bar over the mirror can provide functional light, but a single fixture or bath light bar may do little to beautify the space, create a mood or evoke a favorable emotional response. Layers of light contribute not only to the functionality of the bath but also to its design and beauty.

When we help our clients in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut to create the bath of their dreams, we recommend a focal point which could be a sculptural freestanding soaking tub, dramatic light fixture, unique floor covering or vanity.

If you would like additional ideas and suggestions to help design and build the new bath or your dreams, call our showroom at (401)526-4173 or visit us at 2949 Hartford Avenue Johnston RI.

Balancing Budget And Design To Make Your Kitchen Renovation Dream A Reality

When we work with our clients on designing their dream kitchen, dreams and budgets don’t always jibe. Our goal is to assist our clients in prioritizing what is most important to them in order to stretch budget dollars without compromising either utility or aesthetics.

The first question we typically ask is, ‘How do you want your kitchen to feel when you enter and use it?’ Materials, texture, lighting, color and utility create the feel of a room. We also encourage our clients to tell us how they plan to use their new kitchen. We ask how often they cook, and how many cooks use the kitchen at the same time. We also ask how often they entertain. Once we understand our clients’ goals and dreams, we capitalize on our years of design experience and our knowledge of products, space layout and construction to craft a design that meets their budgets and goals.

Unless the budget is unlimited, which is almost never the case, we help our clients stretch their budget dollars by paring down must-haves. Experience has taught us that warming drawers and steam secondary ovens are not frequently used appliances. They are nice to have and can really make a kitchen stand out, but their form typically outweighs their functionality. We find that a double oven can provide the same benefit as a warming drawer, especially for couples who work late hours and families with children engaged in after-school activities. One oven can be used for meal preparation and the other can be used to keep meals warm, providing the same benefit as a warming drawer without the extra expense. Plus, double ovens can be a real bonus if you entertain frequently or your home is the place for holiday celebrations and extended family gatherings.

Regardless of your budget, every new kitchen deserves an element that turns heads, that makes a distinctive design statement and that reflects the personality of the family member who uses the kitchen most often. This might be achieved with a dramatic lighting fixture, a statement-making backsplash or countertops adorned with rare hardwood.

Clients with smaller spaces can more easily stretch budget dollars because the diminutive size limits the number of cabinets that can be used in the space. This frees up budget dollars for distinctive appliances, lighting, backsplashes, plumbing fixtures or flooring.

Open shelving can help stretch budget dollars without compromising the look or functionality of space, providing necessary storage without the expense of an enclosed or glass-front cabinet. Full over-lay door styles typically require less of an investment than an inset cabinet. Quartz countertops are hot, but if the budget is tight, we often can find a granite alternative that provides a similar look and feel at less cost.

Cabinet hardware is another opportunity to stretch budget dollars. Cabinet hardware is jewelry for cabinet doors and drawers. We know of many options that provide a luxurious look without requiring a fortune to achieve it.

Our showroom understands how to stretch budget dollars and help our clients prioritize what is most important for their new kitchen. Wondering if your kitchen budget is reasonable given your goals? Please call us at (401) 526-4173 to discuss your goals and we will work with you to make sure that they are achievable within your budget. Better yet, make an appointment to visit our showroom at 2949 Hartford Avenue Johnston RI so we can show you where investments can be minimized without compromising a great look and functionality.