Transform Your Bathroom into a Beautiful Retreat.
Provided by: ARA
(ARA) - It's that crowded little room you rush around in every day as you get ready for work, but have you considered that your bathroom could be so much more? A few updates can transform a plain space into a beautiful retreat that will soothe your nerves and become a haven for relaxation.
"Most people want a warm, fuzzy comfortable feeling in their bathrooms," says Steven Bates of Bates and Bates, a California-based company that creates handmade basins and pedestals. "You spend a lot of time there so you want it to be a place that you enjoy."
No matter the size of your space or the extent of your budget, there are a number of ways to give your bathroom a new mood. Changing a few key items can make a dramatic difference.
"It used to be that everyone invested in their kitchens," says interior designer Shirley Bolduc of Shirley Bolduc Interior Design in Minneapolis. "Now that same attention is being moved to the bathroom."
It could be as simple as coordinating your colors. Too many colors can produce a chaotic atmosphere so matching the dominant tones throughout the room will create a more streamlined, calming environment. For example, if your fixtures are yellow, echo that color with accents such as towels, curtains or even decorative tiles.
Consider updating the very nerve-center of your bathroom: the sink. "Whether you want to match a contemporary, traditional or antique interior, there is a sink that will fit your needs," says Bates, who adds that homeowners can even specify the kind of finish they want from highly polished to a more weathered, aged look.
"Bathroom trends come and go -- colors and finishes are always changing. When you're choosing fixtures, make sure you work with a company that has the flexibility to easily adapt to all kinds of looks," adds Bates.
Get rid of blocky cabinets and replace with a graceful fixture that will add an elegant decoration to your room. Something like a baroque basin pedestal made from a delicate hammered bronze or pewter turns a piece of furniture into bathroom sculpture. "You can also take an antique cabinet or marble-top buffet and turn it into an elegant, one-of-a-kind vanity," says Bates, who explains that his company can create a sink to fit any piece of furniture.
Bolduc says that the predominant trend for fixtures and decorations right now is relaxed sophistication: "People want to live with quality products, but they still want a casual feel." The popular "old world" or "European" look, achieved with weathered surfaces and antique accents, fits with lots of different settings.
According to Bolduc, pampering accessories such as double-head showers and handheld spray units are another way homeowners can add some luxury to their bathrooms. "You want it to be a place that feels good," she adds.
Your only problem, you might be late for work. Once you finish the bathroom redesign, you'll never want to leave.
Bates and Bates artisan sinks and pedestals are available for residential baths and kitchens as well as hotels, restaurants and offices. For more information or to locate a dealer near you, call (800) 726-7680 or visit www.batesandbates.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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