1: The trend in
bathroom size over the past 20 years.
Bathrooms have been steadily increasing in size
over the past thirty years, and today's average bathroom is twice
as large as bathrooms of the 1970s. However, bathrooms can be
difficult to expand in existing houses without knocking down walls.
There are some ways you can create a more spacious look and feel,
without bringing in the sledge hammers.
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2: The illusion of a larger bathroom.
You can gain some floor space by replacing the
sink cabinet with a pedestal style. You'll lose some cabinet space,
but you can usually more than make up for that loss by hanging a
cabinet above the toilet. You can also save space by adding a sink
that mounts directly to the wall. If you like having your sink in a
cabinet, consider putting it into a smaller cabinet. You can top
your cabinet with a solid surface countertop; the small piece won't
cost much compared to the dramatic impact it provides. You can
finish with a vessel sink which sits on the counter for a great
updated look.
The easiest way to add the illusion of space is
with a new mirror, especially if you have an old small medicine
chest above the sink -- the type with a stainless steal frame.
These old-fashioned medicine cabinets really date a home. Replace
with a mirror spanning the wall all the way up to the ceiling. Or,
look for an extra large framed mirror and paint the frame to match
your décor. Use towels to add softness to the hard space. Don't use
a lot of little pictures on the walls; they create a cluttered look
and make the space feel smaller.
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3: The
contemporary trend and style
Minimal, linear, often metallic and futuristic,
contemporary bathroom vanities come in modern finishes such as
brushed nickel and chrome, and are usually free of extraneous
ornament and decoration. The result can be a synergistic blend of
strength and beauty. A contemporary aesthetic does not exclude
natural stone or natural woods. Natural materials will provide
lasting endurance and timeless style, and because they are tough
enough to withstand everyday wear, they will remain beautiful for
years to come.
The contemporary
one-piece bathroom vanity is one very popular option for
homeowners. This releases the customer of having to match fixtures
with sinks to cabinets. Other attendant items in the contemporary
vanity are: stainless steel towel rail, and/or a uniquely designed
trap. The trap though a small detail could be considered an object
of beauty itself depending on its character.
As the popularity of
vessel sinks has grown, so has the number of beautifully
hand-crafted products that practically demand exhibition. By
sitting entirely above-counter, vessel sinks can be displayed for
their beauty as well as their functionality. The great thing about
vessel sinks is they are not reserved for use in any one type of
bathroom. Modern designs, conservative spaces, rustic décor and
everything in between can all be enhanced by a vessel sink. Thus,
the aesthetic this type of sink accommodates is rather
extensive.
One of the least expensive and quickest things
you can do enhance your bathroom is to change the color of the
walls. Deep, lush colors can make a more impressive impact than
gentle pastels. Earth tones have also been showing a strong trend
recently. The idea is to create a strong impression, and nothing
does better than bold colors in contemporary design.
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4: Planning your
bathroom.
Bathroom vanity sinks must exist in
unity with the rest of your house. Ask yourself what this sink will
have to endure and does it belong with in my bathroom design? Is it
located in a place where there will there be lots of use, will
there be a danger of scratching and chipping or is it located in a
guest bathroom that rarely feels a splash of water? Stone is
practically indestructible, in addition to some synthetics and
metals like stainless steel. While porcelain can be easily chipped
and scratched, it can also be more easily repaired and cleaned than
metal or stone. Stone is a porous material and so can hold on to
stains.
The easiest way to add the illusion of space is
with a new mirror, especially if you have an old small medicine
chest above the sink -- the type with a stainless steal frame.
These old-fashioned medicine cabinets really date a home. Replace
with a mirror spanning the wall all the way up to the ceiling. Or,
look for an extra large framed mirror and paint the frame to match
your décor. Use towels to add softness to the hard space. Don't use
a lot of little pictures on the walls; they create a cluttered look
and make the space feel smaller.
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5: What Are Vessel
Sinks?
Vessel sinks are the trendiest and
bathroom sinks on the market today-but what are they? Think of the
old wash basins that people would have in their bath area or
nightstand, before indoor plumbing. This is the basic shape of
vessel sinks. Vessel sinks have a faucet that extends over the rim
to fill it. Some sit above the counter, while others are semi
recessed in the counter itself. You can find these sinks in a wide
variety of styles, colors, and materials. If you are thinking of
updating your bathroom for a more modern, yet classic look, you
should take a look at the vessel style sink. It will greatly
enhance the looks and feel of your bathroom as well as increase the
value of your home should you ever decide to sell it.
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6: Choosing Sinks
the sink material.
You can find a vessel style sink
made from many different materials, including stone, stainless
steel, porcelain, copper and glass. There are many different types
of stone sinks: Granite, Onyx, and Marble are some of the most
commonly used stone materials. Stone are generally more expensive
materials used, however they tend to be less fragile. Stone sink
needs treatment whereas glass and porcelain sinks do
not.
Glass vessel sinks will vary in price depending
on the process and the labor involved. There are different
manufacturing techniques for glass sinks. Sinks can be factory
molded, custom made, with blown glass or fused glass, single layer,
double or triple layered glass or even a combination. You will find
our more affordable vessel sinks to be made out of porcelain and
single layer molded glass.
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7: Choosing
Faucets
There are several faucet
alternatives for vessel sinks. First, check your current plumbing
limitations, supply valves height and the style of vanity you
select. Your choices may require reconfiguration of your supply
valves depending on the vanity you choose. If it is an open style
pedestal that exposes the valves or it is a vanity that will
conceal the valves. Of course if you want a wall mount faucet a bit
more plumbing work is involved.
For shallow vessels it is generally recommended
that you choose a faucet that directs the water towards the center
of the vessel. With a taller vessel the water does not have to be
directed to the center.
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8: Maintaining
Your Vessel Sink
If you have a vessel style sink
made of glass, china, porcelain, or any other surface that will
scratch, you need to take extra care when you clean it to avoid
scratching. Make sure you keep hard water stains off, and use only
gentle cleaners. Use a non-abrasive cloth on vessel sinks that
scratch along with a mild soap and water. For hard water spots, use
vinegar on a rag. Don’t use steel wool, abrasive cleaners, or harsh
chemicals which may damage the finish on some vessel sinks and make
them more prone to staining.
Remodeling your bathroom can give your home a
whole new look and feel. The bathroom sink is usually one of the
main focal points of the bathroom and therefore should be chosen
carefully.
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9: How to Install
a Vessel Sink:
For an above counter installation,
you will need a hole that is large enough to accommodate the drain
assembly. This is the plumbing hardware that allows the sink to
drain the water. If the bottom of your vessel is flat, then the
installation is straightforward. The only thing we would recommend
is a bead of silicone under the sink and around the edge to prevent
water on the countertop from working its way underneath the vessel.
If the vessel has a rounded shape – as with most glass vessel sinks
– you have two options. You can either use a vessel mounting ring
or you will need to provide a mounting hole directly in the
countertop for stability. If a mounting hole is utilized use clear
silicone to provide cushion and stability when mounting the sink.
The larger the hole, the more stability you will achieve in the
installation. Be sure to keep the height of the faucet you have
chosen in mind when making these decisions.
Whichever mounting method you use, you will
want to install the drain in the vessel before installing the sink
to the counter surface. Drains for vessel sinks come in two basic
configurations. Does your vessel have an overflow? If so, you will
need a standard drain. However, most vessel sinks do not have an
overflow and will need a “vessel style drain”. Vessel drains come
in many different styles and finishes. These drains do not have a
“pop up” assembly. Some are referred to as “grid drains” (referring
to the “grid configuration” on the top of the drain). Grid drains
were designed to let the water flow out of the basin but catch
larger objects from heading down the drain. be sure that you don’t
over tighten the drain assembly. Hand tighten the drain only. The
breakage we see with glass vessels is usually associated with an
improper installation of the drain. It extreme cases over tension
on the drain can lead to almost an explosion of the
sink.
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10: Making colors
work:
Colors change when light changes.
Northern exposure is cooler so it’s a good idea to use warm colors,
while southern exposure is warm and can easily handle a cooler
color scheme. It's always best to place samples of potential colors
on the walls or furniture where they will be used, then view them
at different times of the day under different light conditions. A
wall color viewed on a flat surface will appear different than when
it is on a vertical plane.
Color can be used
to promote a feeling of spaciousness. Contrary to popular belief,
dark colors do not make a room look smaller and light colors do not
make a room look larger. The visual appearance of a room is
influenced by contrast of color. The less contrast there is, the
more space there seems to be. The more contrast, the more your eye
jumps around the space to absorb everything, the smaller the space
appears. In other words, regardless of the color you select, by
using a monochromatic scheme in a small room, it will feel bigger.
If you have a large room and you would like it to feel more
intimate, use more contrast.
Jot down these
questions. The answers you provide will take you one step closer to
your goal of producing a balanced and eye-pleasing bathroom,
bedroom, kitchen, living room…..
What is the
purpose/function of the space?
What atmosphere or mood would you like to create within the
space?
How does light exposure come into play?
Do you want the space to feel larger or smaller?
These color
theories are tried and true and by reading about and understanding
the influence color has on a space and the influence light has on
color you have made tremendous strides towards selecting the best
colors to use in your remodeling project. For ideas and inspiration
on picking colors please use the tool below:
OPEN ADOBE® COLOR SWATCH CREATOR
Easily create the perfect color combinations!
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11: Where to
start:
When choosing a new house to move
into, frequently, the most frequently used rooms in the house being
the bathroom and kitchen do serve an important role in deciding on
the home you wish to live in.
If you are looking for help with the design of your modern
bathroom, you will find many ideas on our website. We have many
already finished customer bathrooms in our Exhibit Gallery.
Your home and lifestyle: Have you considered that the look of your
bathroom can often lead one to get an idea of your lifestyle? Ever
find time to relax and simply enjoy your bathroom? A shower can be
a time saver when compaired to time it takes for a bath. What type
of bathtub do you own? Does your bathroom meet up to your demands
for daily life?
We have many examples of different contemporary styles throughout
our website for you to find a style that meets functionality.
Whether you are looking to update an existing bathroom or
completely re-think your bathroom, you will see that bathroom
housewares have improved considerably over the years with many more
styles, designs, colors, materials choices and a wide array of
fixtures available. Your existing bathroom, sink and toilet may
function perfectly well, but replacing them with a new set can add
a unique and personal makeover that may be just what you wanted all
along. Our toilets are watersaving systems that not only look great
but will help reduce water usage and save on bills!
Relax and enjoy your new oasis!
Consider relaxing music with the glow of soft candle light with
your favorite wine, allow the troubles of the day to drift away as
you endulge in a new luxourous bathroom by ModernDanish.com
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Shopping Guidelines for Bathroom
Vessel Sinks
by
www.ModernDanish.com
Love the look of a
glass sink sink, but have no clue how to buy one? Well, what
follows are some great tips from our experts at ModernDanish.com on
how to buy the perfect vessel sink for your home.
1. Know your
sinks
How durable are these sinks? Not
unbreakable, but sturdy because they are "tempered". Tempered glass
is regular glass that has been heated to a very high temperature,
and then quickly cooled. This procedure strengthens the glass,
making it 5-7 times stronger than regular glass.
Sink glass is also
fairly thick, with typical thicknesses ranging from ½ inch to ¾
inch. You can go about your normal grooming habits such as brushing
your teeth, combing your hair, shaving, applying make-up, etc
without worrying about breakage.
Like the look of these "above the counter"
glass sinks, but don’t want glass? Consider a porcelain vessel
sink. You’ll get the look without the worry.
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2. Know your
space
The most popular glass sinks are
15-20 inches in diameter... about the width of your computer
keyboard... and about 5-8 inches deep... about the length from the
base of your wrist to ring or middle finger.
Make sure that you
have the appropriate amount of space to accommodate the sink and
accessories, plus maintain ample space away from the edge of the
counter and the wall so that the “fear of leaning on it factor" is
no longer a factor. 12-15 inches around the entire sink will
do.
Don’t have much space?
Then try a pedestal sink. Pedestal sinks are sinks that are
pre-mounted on a space saving pedestal. Don’t want to sacrifice
floor space? Try a wall mounted glass sink countertop. Both options
will give you an ultra modern sink while conserving space.
Have a large bathroom to fill? A glass vessel
sink vanity can help consume some space. You’ll get a glass sink
and a roomy counter that comes together.
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3. Know your
traffic
Since children have the uncanny
ability to break things. Vessel sinks are mostly tempered products,
so if one happens to great you can easily replace it. Children over
age 10 tend to be more conscientious of their surroundings, and
your glass sink stands a greater chance of surviving. Likewise,
your sink’s shelf-life will be greater with less foot traffic
around it. Most glass sinks are tempered so your child will not get
hurt if one breaks, just surprised.
A guest bathroom
or powder room is well-suited for these sinks. You’ll be able
express your style while impressing your neighbors, friends and
family. And who doesn’t like to be respected for their exquisite
taste? Most importantly, there will be less traffic and less
worry.
If you have a large family, a family with young children or one
bathroom and want the look of these glass sinks but realize that
glass might not be the best option, then consider a porcelain or
copper vessel sink.
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4. Know your
budget
Prices can start as low as $50 to
as high as $5,000. There could be many reasons for the difference
in pricing. Sinks can be factory made or custom made, blown glass
or fused glass, single layer or double layered glass.
Custom made and/or blown glass sinks are more expensive due to the
time and expertise involved in creating them. With custom made
sinks, you’ll communicate one-on-one with the artist of your sink
and you’ll receive expert knowledge about its creation and special
maintenance requirements. The best part: no one else will ever have
a sink exactly like yours. This comes with an upscale price of
$1,000 or more.
Consider the sink’s quality. Whether quality,
customer service or knowledge, sometimes you get what you pay for.
Be careful of sinks that start at rock bottom prices. They
sometimes come without warranties, the sellers are not
knowledgeable about the sinks and they’re simply quantity
discounters and have nothing more to offer than just a low
price.
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