Talk to any real estate agent and she/he will say the master bathroom is the second most important room in the house behind the kitchen (I happen to think they’re all important but that’s a story for another time). This is true not only when you live there, but when you’re ready to sell the house or apartment too, so take your time planning.

If you have never undertaken a renovation of your own, there are a lot of unknowns and costs that you may not be aware of. Very often our clients do not realize just how much detail and planning actually goes into the project before the construction even begins. This is nothing to be embarrassed about-you don’t know what you don’t know, right? That’s what we’re here for! This month we happen to be renovating three bathrooms in three separate projects, so I thought I’d share some of the crucial details of what to consider when remodeling your bathroom. 

KEY QUESTIONS

Before drawings and layouts even begin, it is important to ask yourself some key questions. These will help inform the design and ensure that the project is done right the first time. [#6 is key for those who plan on “aging in place” when details such as attractive grab bars and curb-less showers should be considered.]: 

1.    Do you want a bathtub or will a shower suffice?

2.    How many people will be using the bathtub at once?

3.    Do you have another bathtub in the home? (This is important for future re-sale.)

4.    How many people will be showering at once?

5.    Do you want a private space for the toilet? (And how strong do you need the ventilation?)

6.    How old are you and how long do you anticipate remaining in the house?

7.    Are there any key elements that you have seen in other bathrooms (e.g. hotels, restaurants) that you love and would make you really happy to have?

MAKE A WISHLIST

We encourage our clients to make a wish list of everything they can imagine in the bathroom, and then we scale it according to the budget and the “must haves.”

This is not just about updating the countertops and shower tile, this can include heated floors, towel warmers, intricate tile details, plumbing relocation and more. Because when you hire an interior designer to help you plan a renovation, we aren’t just picking out pretty finishes for you. We also ensure that the design will FIT into the space allotted. We create detailed floor and space plans down to the cm/inch. Not only to meet general design practices and guidelines, but also for proper scale and balance.

GET EDUCATED

I encourage my clients to really have a look around online and in showrooms to see what is out there in terms of style, trends, and finishes. For example, you might think that all shower sets are the same, but do you want wall mounted or in-wall? Rain shower or no? Two handles for hot and cold or one lever? Rounded or square? The list is endless. Of course, this is where a designer will help you narrow down the choices so that you don’t get overwhelmed.

Also part of this education for you is around price, as it’s important to get a good idea for what things cost before embarking on a project. There is nothing worse than getting excited to have a dream bathroom and then finding out that the details you want are out of budget. And before you think to purchase anything yourself, remember: designers get better prices than the person walking in off the street, so if you will end up saving money by purchasing through than designer rather than buying things on your own.

Finally (especially in these times of Covid) it’s imperative to wrap your mind around availability. That faucet that you love might be in stock in chrome, but the brushed copper model that you have your heart set on could have a minimum lead time of 3-4 months. Or the tiles that you want for the shower need to be shipped from Italy so you’re looking at another 6 months. So to avoid disappointment, make a note of not just what you like and how much it costs, but also any potential roadblocks that could halt construction due to timing. But never fear-a designer will also help you navigate these pitfalls!

So, if you are thinking about a small or large bathroom renovation in your home, don’t hesitate to give B Squared Design a call. Hiring a professional pays for itself in the bathroom details, regardless of whether you are going to dwell or sell.