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Three Bathroom Problems Solved

February 17, 2023 By creatingyourspace Leave a Comment

Do you feel you like you barely have room to move around in your bathroom? If you are tired of bumping into the sink every time you hang up a towel, it may be time you employ techniques that enable you to increase your sense of space. From smart storage solutions to visually enhancing your space, you can turn a small, awkward bathroom into something comfortable and chic with just a bit of planning.

Problem # 1: Lack of Storage

Is your bathroom vanity cluttered with products? Does it seem like there is no place to store extra towels, toiletries and cleaning supplies? We understand that there is nothing like a clean, streamlined bathroom, but finding space to store those extra items can seem impossible.

The Solution

Steal space from territory that has not been used in the bathroom. This can be the blank walls next to your vanity mirror, the area above your toilet, or corners that go unused. You can even consider adding a shampoo niche inside your shower so that you can keep soap and shampoo off the countertops and floors. Also, be sure to use baskets to keep small toiletries and items neat and organized. Lastly, do not forget about the space behind the toilet. Perhaps, you can add some style and storage with a beautiful shelving system or cabinet.

Problem # 2: Tiny Blueprint

Are you adding a master bath to your bedroom but find that there is little room to add in a toilet and sink? Do not worry this is a common problem that several homeowners will face.

The Solution

Try expanding the sense of floor space by keeping everything off the floor. Opt for a floating toilet and sink. By suspending these items, it will help make the room feel much bigger. Additionally, keep furniture to a minimum. Furniture and bulky items can create an overwhelming atmosphere. Opt for lightweight, smaller pieces to create a sense of balance in your small space.

Problem # 3: No Room for Separate Shower Stall

Do you want a separate shower enclosure but there is no room? If your home has one main bathroom, you may find that keeping the bathtub is necessary.

The Solution

You can turn that small space between the bathtub and the sink into a shower stall by installing tile or other wet-room flooring. Use a frameless shower stall to avoid making a visual interruption, or you can do something traditional by combining the bathtub and shower. You might think that a small bathroom would require the use of smaller tiles, but often the opposite is true. The less visual interruptions or lines that your eye has to dissect, the larger the room will feel. Work with your flooring professional to determine the best size tile for your space. You might be surprised!

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Filed Under: Design & Decorating, Kitchen & Bath, Tile & Stone

Choosing the Perfect Bathroom Tile

September 19, 2022 By creatingyourspace Leave a Comment

When deciding to begin a bathroom remodel, we get excited to explore all the different ideas that can be incorporated. We look at countertops, sinks, cabinets, bathtubs, but most importantly, we look for the perfect tile. Tile is a timeless bathroom remedy that can functionally enhance the aesthetics of the the room. We generate a theme from what we have seen before and have liked. Maybe you saw a rustic design at a restaurant, or perhaps your friend’s house has a simply beautiful, all-white design. While we search through a plethora of Pinterest pins and available options in a store, you begin to form an idea of the direction you want your bathroom design to go. To help you guide you during your decision process, here are our top three rules to follow in choosing the perfect bathroom tile.

Design

The first step is that you will need to select a design style that is meaningful to you. Decide if you want dark or light tiles, ceramic or stone, a lot of character or simple, textured or smooth. Perhaps you want a patterned tile to be the focal point of the room. Try not to select more than three tile types in your bathroom. It’s not cost effective and as a general rule, too many styles can feel busy and chaotic. To make your design feel more uniform, you will want to pick a primary tile and secondary tile. Your other tile choices can be used for trim, accent, and added character throughout the room. Use accent tiles to create a dramatic effect or a custom look on the floor, in the shower, around the tub and even as the sink or tub splash.

Scale

If you are stuck on the size tile, consider the relative scale. If you select a 12×24, you can use it to accentuate the length of a room or give interest to the space. You can use more uniform and symmetrical options like 12×12, 16×16, 18×18 or 24×24 tiles if your bathroom has multiple fixtures to cut around in a small space. If you go with a larger tile, it can make a small room feel larger. Don’t be shy about using a large format tile in a small space, but be careful not to go too big in very small spaces, or it can look out of balance. Another general rule of thumb to consider is to never put larger tiles on the walls than the tiles on the floor.

Maintenance

Ask about the maintenance for different types of tile or stone. Be sure that the maintenance of the products aligns with your commitment to maintaining the product! Glass tiles are beautiful and can make great for accents but require a little more maintenance to keep them clean and bright. Look into some mosaic glass designs to add even more character in your showers or bath and only add a small amount of overall maintenance.

Picking the perfect tile can be fun. Trust your instinct, but do the math. Take the time to create a rough layout to make sure the size and pattern of the tile make sense for the layout of the space. Tile can be a significant investment so lean on the experts to help guide you. With these simple guidelines in mind, you are ready to create your bathroom that feels like your own personal sanctuary!

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Filed Under: Design & Decorating, Tile & Stone

Designing Your Guest Bathroom

July 31, 2021 By creatingyourspace Leave a Comment

There’s nothing that makes a guest feel more welcome than being able to use a stylish and comfortable bathroom. Often, the guest bathroom is neglected and cluttered because isn’t used as frequently as the other restrooms in the house. However, it’s time to take your guest bathroom from drab to fab by implementing crafty design schemes into your bathroom’s decor.

How can you make your guest bathroom more appealing to visitors? Below are some tips that are useful for decorating a guest bath.

It’s important to provide enough space for styling tools and toiletries. Leave the pedestal sink in the powder room. Be sure to install an outlet near the vanity so that your guests can have the option of utilizing a flat or curling iron.

Balanced or equal lighting should be used in the guest bathroom. Options for lighting placement include sconces placed on both sides of the vanity mirror, a small chandelier or attractive lights mounted over the mirror. Using framed mirrors instead of flat glass can really elevate the look and feel of the room.

Make use of shelves and baskets to add extra storage space. Decorative storage accessories can hold hand towels and soaps. If you travel, collect soaps, lotions and toiletries from hotels and display them in a basket for your guests to use.

Try Unique Designs

Since your guest bathroom won’t experience a lot of wear and tear because it’s not being used on a consistent basis, you can use materials that you might not ordinarily choose for a bathroom. Laminate or luxury vinyl that looks like a rich and exotic hardwood can give the room a warm and inviting feeling. Tile can also achieve this and provide durability for years to come. You can also purchase waterproof laminate flooring or waterproof vinyl flooring for extra durability. Or, go with something natural and durable like waterproof hardwood flooring!

Because your guest bathroom is typically a smaller space, this is your opportunity to incorporate materials that are a little more expensive like glass mosaics, metal tiles, natural stone accents. Using these materials will make your guest bath the topic of conversation! Don’t forget the sink splash. This is a great place to add a decorative tile to give the room a little more personality.

When decorating the guest bathroom, you can play with contrasting colors to create a stunning effect. So, if you always wanted a vessel sink or a bold pattern flooring, then now is the time to try it. You can push the limits and try unique decor with the guest bathroom. Have fun!

Creating Your Space

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Filed Under: Design & Decorating, Kitchen & Bath, Tile & Stone Tagged With: decorating, design, glass tile, guest bath, guest bathroom, interior design, mosaic tile

Re-Grouting for Beginners

April 3, 2020 By creatingyourspace Leave a Comment

Tile is a beautiful decorative floor and wall covering. It is not uncommon for it to be in many homes today. While tile can look great, poor or dirty grouting can really ruin the aesthetics completely. Your first attempt should be to clean your grout lines. This step can be done with a grout cleaning brush, baking soda, and water. Use the paste to scrub away any debris. Clean up the paste afterward with just some vinegar water and a mop. However, sometimes the grout installed is broken or just completely off-color. So if you are looking to replace your grout, here is everything you need to know:

Oscillating Tool

Safety is essential, start by putting on safety goggles to prevent debris from shooting back into your eyes. An oscillating tool may be better to use a cordless version. This tool requires some precision work, and a cord may get in the way. Use your blade on each grout line to remove the grout. This step takes patients. Be careful and delicate, not to chip or break any of your tiles. Use this tool to remove as much as 80% of the grout. You do not need to be perfect for the first time. Lastly, use a shop vac to vacuum up the remaining debris.

Extra Clean Up

After your first run, you can use your oscillating tool to remove more grout. For harder areas, a flat head screwdriver can do the trick. Use the screwdriver to trace around all grout lines and remove more grout. You can finish with a dull utility knife or carpet knife. Be very careful not to break the blade and cut yourself.

Regrouting

For larger grout lines, use sanded grout. You may need unsanded grout for grout lines that are thinner. Delicate tiles may also scratch with sanded grout as well. Make sure your tiles can withstand sanded grout before investing. Next, mix your grout and water thoroughly. It should create a thick paste. Use a grout trowel to apply your grout directly into the seam. You can use your grout float to wipe away excess grout. Next, use a moist sponge to remove the excess grout haze from the top of your tiles. You may also want to invest in cheesecloth to help clean as well. Remember, you can only swipe one time with a sponge to wipe clean. Several swipes will just smear your existing grout. Rewet the sponge, ring it out, and repeat until all grout is gone from the top of your tiles.

Re-grouting can be a great project to spruce up your backsplashes or tile work. Do not rush the process and be thorough. The prep work can take some time but is worth the extra effort. For more insight on flooring tricks and tips, make sure to subscribe.

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Filed Under: Tile & Stone Tagged With: grout, grouting, re-grouting, tile, tiles

What Type of Flooring Do I Choose?

February 18, 2020 By creatingyourspace Leave a Comment

Are you in the market for new floors? If so, if you are anything like us, we tend to be guilty of overlooking the importance of flooring choices and how that choice will affect the style and function of our home. To help, we have listed a few tips below that will help you choose the right flooring for your lifestyle and family!

Daily Activity

Your lifestyle is critical when choosing the right flooring for your home. For instance, do you have children, pets, or friends and family coming and going? If so, your floors must withstand heavy traffic and be resilient to moisture and dirt. Ceramic tile and vinyl flooring are durable, tough, and ideal for high-traffic areas. Hardwood floors are durable, but will scratch and over time and require refinishing. If you prefer softness underfoot and have minimal traffic, consider carpet or using area rugs over hardwood and tile flooring. Just keep in mind the function and style of each room and choose your floors accordingly.

Specific Room Tips for Individual Rooms

Foyers

Foyer entryways should always say welcome and introduce your style. A key factor to remember for entryways is preventing dirt and debris from being tracked into the home. If snow, rain, mud, and sand are elements in the entry, consider stone, tile or hardwoods. Just make sure you place an entry mat outside before entering to trap and absorb much of the debris.

Interior Floors

To protect your entry interior floors, rugs are always the perfect solution while adding pops of color that enhance the entry foyer.

Living Rooms

Family and great rooms are active rooms, so remember that area rugs are ideal over tile and hardwood floors. They help add an element of comfort and style to your classic flooring options.

Bedrooms

Many people still prefer carpet in bedrooms simply for the softness and warmth on bare feet.

Kitchens, Bathrooms, and Laundry Rooms

Keep in mind that kitchens, bathrooms, laundry/utility rooms are considered work areas, and the flooring should resist water as well as be durable.

Flooring Cost

Flooring is priced per square foot for product and labor. Understanding flooring pricing is an essential factor to keep you on track and within budget. Keep in mind the product grades of quality and the padding or moisture barrier for carpet, hardwood, and vinyl plank flooring. Another factor for flooring cost is longevity. Floors need to be maintained, and the type of flooring you choose will depend on how often you must replace them.

Please reach out with any and all questions. We are here to help you make the best decision for your next floor!

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Filed Under: Carpet, Hard Flooring, Tile & Stone Tagged With: flooring, flooring choices, flooring options, floors, new floors

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