Having a soft-close toilet seat is an inexpensive and affective way to keep the level of kid’s injury in the bathroom low. Adjustments you can make for a safer bathroom include putting a grab bar inside the shower stall, this is helpful for everyone not just kids—it can get slick in there! Also, having a pedal sink, with no cabinet doors, that is anchored to the wall, can also improve the safety level.

Also think about a hand shower in addition or instead of a wall shower. Not only is it great for you washing shampoo off of your little ones, but children are less scared of hand showers, which will be especially helpful when they are transitioning from taking a bath to taking a shower. Having a hand shower also benefits you while cleaning your shower/tub unit, it makes it a lot easier. You can use a hand shower to replace a regular shower head (that slides up and down on a bar, adjusting to height), or you can have both.

Another factor to consider when remodeling for kid’s safety include cleaning supplies. If you do keep cleaning supplies in the bathroom, think about adding a special shelve, above the door frame where you can store them. This way they are out of reach for the kids, yet easily accessible for you. Keeping them in a plastic caddy that you can just grab would add to the ease of keeping the cleaning supplies up there.

If the bathroom is strictly a children’s bathroom, make it functional for kids. Ideas for this include hanging towel racks at heights so it is easier for them to grab. Also consider making the bathroom cabinets and shelves low enough so that they can reach them without climbing on anything (like the toilet, tub, or sink, giving them a chance to injury themselves). Also, providing storage containers for items (bath toys, towels, etc) that is easily accessible to young kids will also give them less likely chance of injuring themselves in the bathroom.

Making these adjustments will allow for a safer bathroom for your children. If you think there are additional things you would like to do, you should check out the Child Safety Store, just browsing their website will inspire some other ideas as well. ”

Source: Remodeleze.com

* Bathtub is old and shows years of use and wear
* Bathtub does not match rest of décor in the bathroom
* Bathtub is in a home purchased by a new resident

More often than not, refinishing a bathtub is not a do-it-yourself type of project unless the person doing it himself or herself is a licensed contractor with experience in refinishing bathtubs. This is not a do-it-yourself job because there is so much involved in the process that includes the following items:

* High-volume, low-pressure spray gun
* Respirator or face mask
* Palm sander and sandpaper
* Masking tape
* Paper
* Epoxy paint or primer
* EP-acrylic top coat
* Chemical cleaners
* Bonding agent for porcelain and tile

If you plan on refinishing your bathtub, you should clean the entire tub prior to beginning the job so that you get the most out of the project. Clean the area of the tub you are going to refinish with the chemical cleaners you have purchased. Once you are finished cleaning dry off the area thoroughly so you can begin to sand the tub. Once the sanding is complete, you can add the chemical adhesive, especially if you are working with a porcelain or tile tub. The final step is to paint the bathtub.

The Pros of Remodeling the Bathroom of an Investment House:

Give it the WOW factor! The Wow factor is probably the major reason you would renovate the bathroom. There are three rooms that you want to be impressive; and the bathroom is arguably number one. Mr. and Ms. Buyer will often make their decision based on the condition of the bathroom.

Whether you choose to remodel the whole thing or just replace certain components should be based partly on the critical need of the bathroom in the buy-decision. Done properly a bathroom renovation could well be the deciding factor between getting your price and not selling your house.

An ugly, poorly maintained bathroom will have the potential buyers lowering their pricing expectations disproportionate to the amount it would cost to renovate it. A buyer purchasing a renovated house has expectations that certain things are in good shape that’s why they’re buying a house that’s already been renovated.

Whether its a face lift or a total gut, that one room can make or break the deal.

If you’re working with a very limited budget you can decide which particular parts of your bathroom that you would like remodeled, such as the tub or the toilet or the sink.

If money is not an issue, you may make the decision to remodel your whole bathroom. In addition to deciding what parts of your bathroom you would like remodeled, you will also have complete control over the products and materials used.

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The fact is that a drab, dull bathroom can make you feel like you’re dragging your morning along. It’s not the place you want to see right before you hit the sack. It’s the place we run to when we want to hide; it should be the perfect place to spend time!

Bathroom remodeling doesn’t have to be a major undertaking. A few simple touches can turn your boring room into a potty paradise. You’ll want to lock yourself in and never come out. Here are some great remodeling ideas.

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One of the biggest wastes in a bathroom is water. Select fixtures that help minimize water use. A dual-flush toilet saves water usage by having one flush for water waste and another flush for solid waste. It takes less water to flush down liquid waste than it does for solids. Use faucets and shower heads that conserve water as well. Replace your old faucet with a faucet that has a self-closing tap that shuts off the water when you release the button. This conserves water while you are shaving or brushing your teeth, as well as prevents leaks. Use a low-flow shower head in your shower. It drastically cuts back on the amount of water per minute used compared to an ordinary shower head. To save even more water use an air shower device. It is attached to your existing shower head and can save water usage by an additional 30%. It pumps each water droplet full of air, which makes each water droplet bigger yet still feels just as strong and wet as typical water spray from a regular shower head.

Consider a tank-less or a solar water heater. They may be a bit more expensive to install initially, but in the long run they save you a bundle on utility bills, as well as conserve power and water.

Use energy-efficient lighting in your bathroom. Fluorescent lighting uses a lot less energy than incandescent lighting. You can soften or brighten the light by using dimmer switches, adjusting the level of brightness for your comport level.

When choosing tiles for you bathroom make-over, envision recycled ceramic, glass, or porcelain tiles for your walls, counter tops, and flooring. They come in a wide array of styles and colors, and you have the satisfaction of knowing that you will be helping the environment and saving energy. Every glass bottle that is recycled actually saves enough energy to operate a 100-watt light bulb for approximately four hours.

Going green in your bathroom gratifies your conscience, saves money and the environment, and offers a splendid re-sale advantage to boot.

The interesting thing about modern bathrooms is that no two are alike. Because of the varying sub-styles under the “modern” umbrella, you can take pieces from one style and mix it with another and never clash. Urban, Asian, Zen and futuristic are all inspired by a basic theme – they must be highly functional and efficient with a sleek minimalistic design. That usually includes cutting-edge fixtures and components. The layout, design and elements that go into a modern bathroom will vary by lifestyle, home décor, needs and personal taste. So what does it take to create a modern bathroom?

There are basic aspects of a successful modern bathroom remodel. Once you understand these key elements, you can shape and mold your bathroom to suit your lifestyle. Let’s get started.

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Size Matters: The size of your bathroom matters when it comes to choosing a paint color. Most interior decorators will advise you to choose colors that make your space appear larger, for this is what many want. However, if your bathroom is large (lucky you!), you may want to make it appear smaller and/or more intimate.

So use this rule of thumb: Lighter colors make a space appear larger, while darker colors shrink a space.

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Apart from getting the satisfaction of building it on your own, you will be able to tailor that bathroom cabinet to your own style.

The Things You Need

The materials needed in building kitchen cabinets need not be expensive and extravagant. These materials should not be costly to be proven durable. All you need to make sure of is their resilience and sense of permanence that you can find out by asking around from people who know better, or by researching the net for materials that are reasonably priced but are of quality. Below are what you must have in order to construct your own kitchen cabinets and the steps that you will need to take.

Materials needed:

Dowels
Table
Saw
Jigsaw
Router
Drill
Sander
Sandpaper
Clamps
Wood Glue
½-inch Plywood
1×6 Lumber
Drawer Slides
Measuring Tape
Hinges
Knobs
Flathead Screws
Finishing Nails
Wood Putty

Steps to Be Followed:
1. Get your measurements – In building cabinets, the first thing you will have to do is to ascertain the measurement of the section where you intend to install the cabinets. After doing so, move the measurements you got to the ½ inch plywood to be able to assemble the pieces later on. You can then use the saw to start cutting the plywood in accordance to the measurement you made. You can refer to the web for your desired cabinet designs.

2. Bring together the cabinet pieces – Put the cabinet pieces together with respect to your desired design by nailing the cut portions. Use the finishing nails for this process. Strengthen the frame of the cabinet pieces by using wood glue. Use the clamps for holding the pieces while waiting for the glue to dry.

3. Fasten a face frame to the cabinet – Bore holes to the fastened surface of the face frame. This frame will be needed eventually to hold the doors that will be connected to the cabinet. In order to do that, you will need four pieces of 1×6 lumbers for every cabinet that you wish to make. After doing so, you can now attach the lumber pieces by using wood screws to come up with a frame. Drill the necessary holes into the face frame then using nails, append it to the cabinet frame. After nailing, you may use the wood putty to coat the nail hollow.

4. Cut the doors of the wood – To make doors for the frames of the cabinet, cut the plywood into a size of ¼ to 3/8 inches extend beyond for the purpose of easy opening. The table saw should be used in cutting the plywood. The next thing to do is to sand the edges for a smooth outcome.

5. Apply wood stain – Apply wood stain and polyurethane finish to the frame and the door of the cabinet before attaching the door to the cabinet itself. Do the second coating once the first one is totally dry. Once the second coat is dry and ready for the final touch, apply your polyurethane coat to the cabinet. Let it try overnight.

6. Do the installation – When your cabinets are dry enough, you are now ready to do the last step in building your bathroom cabinets – the installation. Attach the cabinets to the studs in which you wish them to be at. Screw the cabinets into the studs and finally, attach the cabinet doors to the cabinets to complete the job.

Below is a guide to the some of the most trendy bathroom counter materials:

Artisan Tile
Custom designed tile mosaics are ultra chic. Using top-quality glazed artisanal tile on the backsplash areas of sinks and counters is a way to add a pop of color into a kitchen and make it truly unique.

Granite
Durable, attractive, and long-lasting, this material is as trendy as ever. However, there have been recent reports (like this one from the New York Times) that says some of the granites used in may countertops emits elevated levels of radon, an odorless gas linked to lung cancer, though the industry maintains their product is safe.

Soapstone
Soapstone is a non-porous material, which makes it resistant to bacterial growth, requires no sealing, and is durable enough for you to place hot hair tools directly on its surface. And rumor has it that Martha Stewart has soapstone counters in her own home.

Stainless-steel
This material is becoming popular in modern bathrooms as it is very easy to keep clean and will not be marred. It lends itself to a modern aesthetic and looks very sleek and industrial. However, the surface is easily dented.

Concrete
Concrete sounds harsh and industrial, but it won’t look like the sidewalks you tread on. It’s easy to customize in terms of color and doesn’t pose the radon threat that granite does while still being just as durable and heat resistant.

Green
Eco-friendly materials are gaining steam: recycled glass, end-grain bamboo and reclaimed woods like recycled old-growth lumber are trendy in eco-conscious and green remodels.

Using two different, but complimentary, paint colors (one lighter than the other) will create a texture and finish that not only disguises any surface variations, but also lends depth and character to a wall. For this simple application you will need two cans of matte latex paint in complimentary colors, a roller tray, a masonry roller, and a 2-inch paint brush, as well as some drop cloth and painter’s tape to protect your ceiling, crown molding and base molding.

1. Pour about 1 pint of each color of paint into opposite sides of the deep end of the roller tray. They will sit next to each other without mixing too much. When you put the roller into the paint, remember to always keep the handle pointed in the same direction so you won’t blend the colors together in the tray.

2. Roll the roller into the paint, then roll it backward and forward just once on the ridged part of the tray so the roller is thickly coated with the two shades of paint.

3. Work across the wall in sections of about 3-feet square (but a more roughly circular shape) to help prevent any hard lines. Roll the paint onto the wall in single, long strokes to transfer the majority of the paint onto the wall surface. Space each stroke of the roller a few inches apart from the other strokes. Then, without putting the roller back into the paint, roll it lightly across the thick strokes of paint on the wall, gently blending the colors together. Use the roller at different angles to develop a subtle, mottled finish. Keep in mind the more you roll over the wet paint, the more the colors will blend and the subtler the effect will be.

4. For corners and edges of the wall where the roller won’t reach, dip the end of the paint brush into both colors in the paint tray and dapple it onto those areas to maintain the two-tone effect.

5. Another variation of this technique is to give the wall a base coat of paint in a third complimentary color. Let the paint dry, then roller the other two colors loosely over the base coat and slightly blend them, keeping the effect dramatic and emphasizing the roller’s texture.

6. If a wall is mildly uneven, a subtle color contrast will work well. If a wall is very uneven, use more strongly contrasting colors that will give a bolder finish and will disguise bad patch-work more effectively. Remember, the more contrast between the two colors, the more dramatic and stronger the visual effect will be.

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