Budget Wise Designing For Kitchen and Bath

November 18th, 2008 by writer

Price Pfister Pull-Out

Living budget wise has been on more people’s minds and wallets more frequently. Designing on a budget doesn’t have to be a sacrifice. For those building a new kitchen or bathroom, or reconstructing outdated kitchens and baths, there are excellent sales and price friendly sinks, faucets, and accessories that have not been compromised for quality.

You want a fashionable, striking appearance to your home. Your light fixtures, sink and faucet in the kitchen and bathroom, including tubs and showers: are what truly make these spaces great. Quality products of designer styles are available for less, particularly found when you shop online. Discover reliable online sink and faucet distributors who have many products for sale to assure the entire home has great designer quality pluming and lighting that will have you saving money! Create a truly fashionable accent in your home with reliable, chic products and excellent values. Don’t sacrifice your desire to update your kitchen and bath, there is no need to give up on products of quality and style.

Kitchen and bathroom faucet leaders, like Price Pfister, Moen, Delta and Danze offer great faucets for your kitchen or bath for under $100. Check out great sinks as well for under $100 by trusted brands like Kohler, American Standard, and Elizabethan Classics. With bathroom and kitchen accessories also offered at superior values, you can give either room a complete update with various fashionable styles contemporary to Victorian, in most any finish you need to match your style. For under $300, you can renovate or update your kitchen and bathroom spaces. Go the extra mile and discover great bathtubs starting at $350! Also check out great toilets that have advanced flushing technology to save you money on your next water bill.

Great finds are none too far away. Being budget wise doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice on style or quality. Shop right to discover excellent products offered at superior, unmatched values. Being able to get what you and your home need without breaking the bank isn’t something of a dream. You can create your own theme, and develop something you and your family will love. From kitchen and bath standards like it’s sinks and faucets, to accessories to help you customize and create a more ideal environment: you can have the kitchen or bathroom of your dreams all while living within your means!

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Bathroom Accessories You Can Not Live Without

November 5th, 2008 by writer

motiv londan terrace

We all know, the bathroom sink, faucet, toilet and tub and the bathroom’s lighting are a must have so you may clean, groom, and do as you please in an ideal environment. Yet, the bathroom’s hardware is a consideration not to be overlooked nor undermined! Bathroom accessories may be the short and sweet way to give you a great upgrade. More importantly, much of your bathroom’s hardware are necessary items, such as a place to hang towels, or the installation of your toilet paper holder by the toilet. For master baths, hall baths and half baths: bathroom accessories are a must.

You can find accessories in styles to suit the rest of your bath’s décor! Vintage or contemporary towel rings, towel bars, and racks come in the right finish for you! Check out great vanity shelves to be placed by the mirror and sink area. Robe hooks, hand rails, toothbrush holders and toilet paper holders will assist you in de-cluttering your bathroom while matching its existing decorative features. Also, find toilet tank levers, great for bathroom redecorators who don’t want to get rid of an existing toilet.

For something really luxurious, try a towel warmer for a fresh from the dryer feel when you get out of the shower or tub. Great value, you’ll never go back to using a standard towel rack once you experience the heated towel warmers.

Bathroom accessorizing shall not be overlooked! Bathroom hardware such as these items are available in great matching finishes to improve your bathroom’s flow and design. Top brands like American Standard, Delta Faucet, Hansgrohe, Kohler and Moen produce superior bathroom accessories and utilities such as faucets, sinks, and tubs. A copious amount of bathroom design professionals on your side leave no doubt that you’ll be able to fashion a bathroom just right for you and your family, with great bathroom accessories for an ideal bathroom experience you, your family, and your guests will appreciate.


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Types of Bathroom Sinks

October 24th, 2008 by writer

american standard retrospect

Bathroom sinks come in shapes and styles unique to traditional all made to match you and your bathroom’s character. It’s important that homeowners regard their ideal bathroom décor as to have set what they’re trying to accomplish.

Console sinks sit on two or four legs, and look almost like a table top sink. Often crafted in Victorian designs to suit the console sink style; these pieces also come in traditional, or modern styles as well. Any homeowner looking to renovate or develop a new bathroom may find console sinks in sizes and finish right for them.

Wall mounted sink designs are quite common; and fit right into the wall, leaving the space under the sink open and free. Available in all different styles to suit anyone’s taste and bathroom development desires: there are wall mounted sinks for everyone. Remember, having a pre-existing set up with plumbing in the walls is helpful when installing a wall mount sink.

Pedestal Style sinks are truly stylish. They’re style is quite impeccable and fashionable. They sit atop a stand, often crafted from ceramic. Like a sink on a pillar, these fixtures are great for smaller bathrooms where they seem to free up space. They as well come in different styles and finishes to suit you and your bathroom just right.

The bathroom vanity top may be a critical aspect of your bathrooms overall design. They sit atop cabinetry very well for a good amount of storage space, as well as leaving enough room open on the tabletop to assist you in your vanity tasks. Most vanity tops are designed with a small overhang to flow smoothly with the cabinetry and sink.

Undermount and self-rimming sinks also work well with cabinetry and provide the chance to have a good counter top for your bathroom sink space. Similarly, a vessel sink is almost like an inside out version of the undermount and self rimming, where it sits atop your bathroom counter like a bowl, yet works just like any other sink. Vessel style sinks a truly unique and quite a fashionable piece to brag about.

While space is a factor, so is your pre-existing plumbing, storage needs, and existing bathroom hardware when choosing the right type of bathroom sink. A bathroom sink can even be a decorative accent to really make the room great.

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Kitchen Accessories You Can’t Do Without

October 23rd, 2008 by writer

Swanstone Cutting Board

No matter if your hosting guests at a gathering or party, making dinner for one, two, or the whole family; or getting out the door in the morning: the kitchen is the main focus. Its function is key. The room’s optimal flow depends on great light fixtures and well working utilities like your oven, kitchen sink and dish washing machine.

Kitchen accessories enhance your abilities and capabilities in the kitchen by going beyond it’d traditional fare. Drying racks, cutting boards, soap dispensers or stovetop accessories set you up right for a great kitchen experience. Pot racks and rinse baskets or basin racks are great when cleaning. It helps improve the work flow to have an addition to your cleaning assembly line, reducing clutter and freeing up space.

Pot racks are made with hooks for hanging your pots, pans, and lids. They even come in great rustic or vintage styles for a real fashionable look. Basin and Pot racks come in different styles and finishes to match you and your kitchen’s design right.

A Kitchen without a cutting board has a front tooth missing. You can’t cut on top of most any countertop; because it will scuff, scratch, and stain making it difficult to maintain and will compromise your kitchen’s integrity. Bring reliability back and get a cutting board right for you. Heavy solid wood designs come in a size right for you for all your chopping, slicing, trimming, and cutting tasks. You’ll find yourself using the cutting board for prep work as well; cutting boards are great workstations.

Soap dispensers: what is more convenient or ingenious. Great for filling with dish or hand soap; it’s quite the convenience. Designed to be built into the sink or countertop by the sink; a dollop of soap is a quick pump away. Perfect for washing hands or (more commonly) when washing dishes; this is a must have kitchen sink side extra.

Integrating the perfect kitchen accessories will create a more ideal kitchen flow and they will also complement its design. Cooking or cleaning tasks that seemed daunting once before are eased up by sink, stove and counter top accessories for the kitchen.

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Understanding Different Types Of Tubs

October 22nd, 2008 by writer

American Standard Reminiscence

Bath time is a well-deserved experience every homeowner should be allowed to enjoy. A moment of silence, and a short lived vacation to getaway from it all. The tub in your bathroom must suit the room’s character and décor; and most importantly appeal to you on a more personal level.

The right style, finish, designs and tub size will warm your bathroom, body, mind, and soul before you even turn the water on! The ancient practice of bathing comes in many forms for your cleansing pleasure.  The clawfoot tub is a fixture with twofold usage. A place to immerse one self and clean up in a bubble bath, or to take a shower; or even a shower bath with clawfoot tub faucets! These fixtures have a style so unique you’ll be bringing a new decorative piece in to accent the bathroom. The coiled spray nozzle of a clawfoot tub faucet is traditionally vintage style flexible handheld device. A clawfoot tub come in styles and finishes for any homeowner to call they’re own.

Whrilpool tubs are well known, and a well favored bathing pastime, appreciated and loved by many. Fixtures and utilities of luxury enhance the experience of living. Bathing with massaging jets of water is bathing for kings. Many may feel they can not afford, or fit, a whirlpool tub into their home’s design. However the right whirlpool size, shape, style, and value is out there for almost any homeowner to enjoy.

When considering whirlpool tubs, check out air baths. These tubs put forward the chance to in no way depart from the bathtub. This is pure elegance: to bathe under light massaging bubbles from jets of air. Similar in nature to the whirlpool, the airbath uses air, instead of water; a different design for similar bath time escape. Do not miss out on the opportunity to experience an airbath; the right tub style and size is out there for you and your bathroom!

Your bathroom’s bath tubs, whether a traditional soaking tub, whirlpool, air bath, or clawfoot tub, are essential to your livelihood and well being. Tubs should serve as a decorative piece in your bathroom: to accent or enhance its existing décor. Bathtubs such as soaking tubs are great for young children, or whirlpool baths for a master bathroom. The right tub style, size, and price are out there for any homeowner to get what they need and deserve. Trusted bathtub producers such as American Standard, Jacuzzi, Kohler or Duravit have great tub designs for all to enjoy. 

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Types of Kitchen Faucets: A Complete Guide

August 25th, 2008 by

Single Handle Kitchen Faucet

Types of Kitchen Faucets

Have you ever seen that Kohler commercial where a woman tells her designer that she wants him to design her house around a faucet? You may have laughed, and said “Yeah, right! No one can do that!” Now you can – especially in the kitchen. Faucets have been revolutionized to be the “star” of the kitchen. Manufacturers have made faucets stylish and versatile while keeping the needed functionality you demand. There are many different types of faucets to choose from, and you have to pick what is right for you and the style of your kitchen.

Single Handle Kitchen Faucets

Single Handle Kitchen Faucets allow for quick and easy water flow and temperature adjustments with one hand, which is helpful when your hands are occupied. This design requires 1 or more holes depending on layout and styles range from traditional to modern. Most models are available with or without side sprays.

Two Handle Kitchen Faucets

Two Handle Kitchen Faucets provide precise temperature and water flow adjustment, with separate hot and cold controls, utilizing 3 or more holes of a sink or countertop.

Pull-Out Spray Faucets

Pull-Out Kitchen Faucets are a great mix of style and functionality. The faucet head pulls out and with a touch of a button the water pattern switches from regular flow to spray. This can be a big help when washing dishes, or getting those last scraps of dinner down the drain.

Wall-mount Faucets

Wall-Mount Faucets are a unique style that require no deck holes since the faucet mounts to the wall above the sink. This design does require water supplies that extend above the countertop in the wall. This is a great option if you’re looking for an antique style kitchen.

Pot Filler Faucets

Are you the cook in the house? Do you hate having to carry heavy pots of water from the sink to the stovetop? Worry no more! Pot Filler Faucets are a “must have” for an avid cook. The pot-filler is a cold-water faucet, and it is installed in addition to a regular kitchen faucet. It can be mounted on the wall or on a countertop near the stove. This way you can fill the pot while it is already positioned on the stovetop.

Bar Sink/Entertainment/Prep Faucets

Compared to a regular kitchen faucet, bar faucets are simply smaller. They go along with the bar/prep sinks that are also smaller in size. These faucets come in a variety of styles and designs utilizing 1-3 holes, depending on your needs and want for sink accessories. When used in a kitchen they are often matched to the same style as the larger kitchen sink and faucet.

Remember when choosing a faucet, it should not only look great, but it should work well too. Faucets should be drip free for its lifetime with normal use. There are styles and finishes for every kitchen- pick the one that is right for you.

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Easy Weekend Bathroom Updates

August 4th, 2008 by

When giving someone a tour of your home, do you conveniently skip over the bathroom? Does it look better with the lights off and door closed? If your bathroom is outdated, it might be time for a makeover. Small changes can make a big improvement, and even if you have a small budget, there are many ways to make your bathroom shine.

“Updating a bathroom benefits the home’s overall appearance and is something the homeowners can enjoy every day,” says Dan Auer of Faucet.com, a Web site with a vast inventory which includes all the fixtures and accessories needed for bathroom remodels. “Simple updates can have a big impact and can be done in a small amount of time.”

Easy bathroom updates include:

1) The Faucet

The faucet is the focal point of the entire bathroom and should be one of the main considerations when remodeling. If yours looks like it’s from a bygone era, it’s time to consider something new. Fashion and functionality are now available with many styles to finishes to choose from.

You might also consider replacing the sink to really freshen up the look. Pedestal bathroom sinks and countertop sinks are easy to replace and can make an immediate improvement.

2) Bathroom Accessories

Updating the hardware and other bathroom accessories can be a fast and affordable way to give the room an instant facelift. Towel rings, vanity shelves and even drawer handles can all make or date a room. New accessories come in variety of finishes, including chrome, brushed nickel and bronze.

Looking to add some bath accessories but not sure where to start? Try a towel ring by the sink for a hand towel so guests don’t reach for your bath towels. Sink a little cluttered? A vanity shelf adds stylish extra space; some models even have towel bars built-in. A towel warmer is a great addition to any bathroom and surprisingly affordable. The luxury of a toasty warm towel right outside the shower can’t be beat. These small items, in matching finishes, can add up to one great change to your bathroom’s look and function.

3) Lighting

New light fixtures can update the look of your bathroom as well as ensure safety while in the bathroom. Remember, because you use this room for your daily preparations, you want to have adequate lighting. Choose an overhead light and/or light above the mirror for ease and convenience. Choose from two, three or four bulb fixtures to adequately light the mirror area. Consider adding side sconces and adjustable lighting, so in the mornings you can turn the lights up to get ready and in the evenings, turn them down for a softer illumination during a relaxing hot bath or shower.

4) Showerhead

When updating your bathroom, add something you can enjoy every day. New showerheads come with a variety of options. They can be handheld, adjustable or even massaging. A new showerhead will prove to be a rewarding update to your daily routine. Many people find a custom shower system is a luxurious way to update their bathroom. Try a two-wall diverter system that sprays in several areas for the feeling of a spa shower at home.

5) Paint

The walls of bathrooms get abused with steam, hairspray, perfume and many other items that are involved in a family’s routines throughout the day. A fresh coat of paint will add a new, clean element that will update any room. Integrate fun colors into the bathroom by trying a new shade of paint, or stenciling in details to fit the overall room theme. When buying paint, consider having the paint store stir in a non-mildew additive because of the extra humidity associated with this room.

 

The best place to start your bathroom makeover is to look at Web sites like Faucet.com. The site offers many ideas and lots of style and finish options. Plus, shopping online can save you money and customer service is easily available for any questions so you are guided as you make your decisions.

“These five steps can be done in a short time for DIYers or within one day for a professional contractor, meaning you can enjoy the updates almost instantly,” adds Auer. “The bathroom is one of the most used rooms in the house. Easy updates will make sure it’s more enjoyable for both you and your guests.”

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Mini-makeover Ideas for Your Kitchen

July 31st, 2008 by

If you dream of an updated, upgraded kitchen, don’t feel guilty about it. Kitchens sell houses, as any real estate expert will tell you. They’re also the heart of the home, where we spend most of our time, studies show. So improving this important living space is a sound financial investment, and an investment in your family’s happiness.

You don’t need to spend a lot to create a dramatic difference in your kitchen. A mini-makeover may be all that you need to turn that blah kitchen into the showpiece of your home.

“When people think of kitchen renovation, they usually think of the expensive ventures, like replacing cabinets, countertops and appliances,” says Dan Auer of Faucet.com, a leading online retailer of decorative home products. “But starting small - with easy yet dramatic changes that can be done in a weekend - can make a big difference in the appearance and value of your kitchen.”

Auer offers a few tips for getting started on your kitchen’s mini-makeover:

* First, pick up some home magazines or visit some model homes in your area to get ideas. Pay close attention to the projects that will make the most impact but will be easy to accomplish, like wall color, sinks and faucets, lighting fixtures, cabinet knobs and accessories.

* Forego the frustration of home improvement stores, where what you want may not be in stock, or where you can spend hours looking for someone to answer questions or get the product you want. Take advantage of online resources, like www.Faucet.com, where you can see exactly what’s in inventory, and shop by style, finish brand or price range from a selection of more than 50,000 sinks, faucets and accessories all with just the click of a mouse.

* A new faucet can vastly improve the look and usability of your kitchen. Installing a new one is a basic improvement within the abilities of the average homeowner. When choosing your new faucet, keep in mind both the look you want to achieve and how you will be using the faucet.

For example, if you’re often trying to regulate water temperature with one hand (while the other handles 10 other tasks), a single-hand faucet offers easy control. If you’re creating a traditional or period-style look, consider a two-handle faucet. Serious cooks may consider adding a pot-filler faucet, which mounts on the wall near the range to allow you to fill a pot that’s already on the stove.

* “Sinks are an important factor in a kitchen’s overall appearance, yet many people overlook them completely,” Auer says. Stainless steel, cast iron, single bowl, double bowl or even triple bowl – kitchen sinks now come in styles, sizes, colors and features to fit virtually every décor and work space.

The number of bowls you’ll choose will depend on your personal preferences and how you use your sink. Heavy food prep use may call for two or even three bowls, while use as a rinsing station may require only one bowl. The material you choose should complement the overall look of your kitchen. If you need help deciding which sink is right for you, Faucet.com offers a Kitchen Sink Buying Guide.

* Next, look up – at your lighting. While kitchens in some high-end new homes may already be decked out with the latest in lighting, chances are if you’re in an older home you have some very basic overhead lighting. While this lighting might be functional, it’s not always visually attractive. Fortunately, it’s an easy job for a do-it yourselfer to replace a basic overhead fluorescent fixture with something equally bright but more visually appealing. Under-the-counter task lighting is also a must for a well-lit modern kitchen. And a few artfully placed pendant lights over a breakfast bar or kitchen island can impart elegance and practicality.

When you’re ready to start shopping for your mini-kitchen makeover, log on to www.Faucet.com for more ideas, inspirations and easy shopping.

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