BATHROOM DESIGN CHECKLIST

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BATHROOM DESIGN CHECKLIST


Written by smith
Sunday, 11 January 2009

BATHROOM DESIGN CHECKLIST

Choosing appropriate fixtures, fittings, sur?faces, lighting, and accessories is almost as important as determining a good layout. And don't forget storage space. Below, you'll find a quick check?list of bathroom components to consider. You'll find more information on each of these topics in Chapter 3, "A Shopper's Guide."
Fixture and fitting options. There's endless variety in bathroom fixtures and fittings. If possible, visit several showrooms to see the latest in tubs, showers, toilets, bidets, sinks, and faucets.

Surfaces.Floor, wall, and countertop surfaces should be durable as well as attractive. Wood, stone, tile, plastic laminate, solid-surface, glass, carpet, and re?silient flooring are commonly used.

Saunas and steam showers. These luxurious features, once found mainly in gyms and health clubs, have recently entered the residential bathroom.
A sauna is a small wood-lined room (often sold prefabricated) that heats itself to around 200?F. Be?sides insulated walls, a solid-core door, and double-paned glass (if any), you'll also need an electric or gas sauna heater. Minimum size for a sauna is about 65 cubic feet per person.
New steam units are small enough to be housed in any number of handy locations inside a storage cabinet, in an adjacent closet or alcove, or in a nearby crawl space. Besides the steam box, all you need is an airtight shower door, a comfortable bench, and effective ventilation.

Artificial light. Don't leave lighting as an after?thought; it should be part of the initial design. Today, there is a wide range of incandescent, fluorescent, and halogen light sources on the market, and a huge selection of fixtures to house them.

Natural light. Would your bathroom benefit by having additional natural light? You can achieve this by enlarging or adding a window or skylight. Windows on two adjacent walls provide more uniform lighting than a single source does.

Storage. While a powder room has minimal storage requirements, a family bath should include individual storage space for each family member, as well as places to keep cleaning supplies, paper products, soap, and incidentals. Vanities and other cabinets come with a variety of racks, shelves, pullouts, and lazy, making limited storage space more efficient.
Today's bathrooms may also double as dressing and grooming areas as well; take time to consider these requirements. And how about a compact washer and dryer team, or a built-in ironing board?

Hardware and accessories. You'll be selecting door knobs, drawer pulls, towel bars, a toilet-paper holder, and other accessories. Though it may seem premature, you'll want to coordinate them with your fixtures, fittings, and surfaces to create an integrated overall look.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 25 February 2009 )

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