Dreamy Bathroom Renovation by TO Design Co
May 14th, 2009 | Published in bathroom, decor, lighting, remodeling, renovating, repair | 9 Comments
Most surveys show that renovating your bathroom is only 2nd to that of the kitchen in terms of return for your dollar and increasing the resale value of your home. I’d imagine that you’d only consider this if your bathroom is A. in need of serious repair or B. you don’t have one on the main floor yet. But what about renovating just for the luxury of it? Is that really necessary, or a good investment? Yes — if you believe that the key consideration for any renovation of one’s abode is personal enjoyment.
I was skeptical about how great a bathroom makeover can be and I’ve seen plenty of them. But I’d have to say that none have impressed me so far in terms of sheer atmosphere as this makeover. I’ve seen lots of pretty bathrooms, and even zen-like spas, but nothing that evokes a desire akin to that of spotting a beautiful dress in the window and not knowing how much you wanted it until the moment you lay eyes on it.
The Home in Question
Stats: Main floor: foyer, powder room, living and dining room, kitchen with dedicated eat-in and home-office areas. Second floor: Master Bedroom with new en suite bathroom, 2 other bedrooms and a newly renovated family bathroom. Attic: entertainment space with an adjacent outdoor patio. Basement: gym room, bathroom and laundry
Who: designed by: TO Design Co, contractor: Jason Burns
What: 82-yr-old Edwardian
When: Completed January to March 2009
Where: Toronto, Ontario
Why: Bathrooms did not provide enough comfort, functionality and or suit the style of the house’s original architecture.
The Master Bedroom is Transformed: Transitional Elegance with a Modern Touch
Before
Bu-bye builder’s standards — plain white walls and trims, and 12 X 12 standard marble tiled flooring, 2 piece standard toilet — insufficient lighting: incandescent bulbs in the ceiling only, obtrusive bulk head above the vanity must be addressed.
After
It took 3 months to finish the renovation — a complete gut and redo of the two main bathrooms in the house.
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After
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After
Main Bathroom becomes Contemporary Chic
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After
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After
For more details see the full story Chic and Elegant: The Bathroom Santuary.
Photographer: Mark Bradshaw
June 30th, 2009 at 7:11 pm (#)
Renovations are big projects that need a significant amount of time. A lot of planning goes into renovations, but can be very rewarding when completed. I love our new bath renovations that we just completed!
July 9th, 2009 at 8:35 am (#)
i’m gonna try these ideas. i’ve been seeking to change up my space and also lately thinking of taking “green” seriously with an eco-friendly bathroom cleaner
January 29th, 2010 at 7:08 pm (#)
Personally, I think that travertine is a great option for bathroom flooring! I just wrote an article about it on my blog and I found that Travertine is a great solution if Granite and Marble is too expensive!
http://www.blackpebbleinteriors.com/blog/what-is-travertine
July 22nd, 2010 at 5:08 am (#)
Nice renovations – Love the “After”-photos! Thank you for sharing.
July 30th, 2010 at 2:57 pm (#)
Follow my bathroom renovation.
August 24th, 2010 at 7:13 am (#)
6 Insider Secrets to Successful Bathroom Remodeling From One of the Original Consultants for “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”
Secret #1: Have a Plan!
Would you head off on a long expensive trip without a road map? Of course not! That’s unless you were looking forward to surprises along the way.
Well, in bathroom remodeling, the only surprises are disastrous ones. Figure out what you want BEFORE you start. Put it on paper with your Designer or Contractor. Figure out:
What is the layout?
What are the exact products you want?
What colors are you using?
Answer and document all of these answers BEFORE a single hammer hits your bathroom wall.
Secret #2: Don’t Start Your Bathroom Remodel Until You Have Everything You Need!
So your contractor demolishes the bathroom (the only one you have in the home by the way) and then he decides to tell you that the tile you picked that he thought was going to come in today is delayed 6 weeks.
This is NOT a good scenario but an all too often real one. Order the products. Get them delivered. Open the boxes. And make certain they are the right color, not broken and fit together properly before you allow anyone to tear up your bathroom.
Secret #3: Hire a Professional. All Contractors are NOT Created Equal
A remodeling project is one of the largest investments you can make in your life and home. For example, a properly constructed bathroom remodel can return over 132% of the invested value.
In contrast, a poorly constructed project can create damage that far exceeds the savings you thought you had enjoyed by hiring “the guy your friend used to paint his room.”
Protect your assets and your personal belongings by hiring a licensed and insured contractor to remodel your bathroom. Require a contract that lists EXACTLY what you are getting, a “guaranteed price” (a professional should be able to tell you exactly what it will cost) and a guaranteed time frame. Tell them to put their money where their mouth is and sign a penalty clause if they don’t finish on time. This way, you’ll find out who the real professionals are.
Secret #4: Hire Experience!
Jacks- of-All-Trades abound in the remodeling and construction industry. Everyone wants to be everything to all people. You wouldn’t hire a heart surgeon to do a nose job so why would you hire a kitchen specialist to remodel your bathroom. Hiring someone who specializes in bathroom remodeling projects will lead to a much higher quality, more efficient and timely project. Don’t let your general practitioner perform a chin implant.
Secret #5: Let Your Contractor Buy All the Materials
Yes, you can save a few bucks if you buy that tub yourself and cram it into the trunk of your BMW. The problem is that most homeowners don’t know what to buy, what fits with what or how much to buy. Do you really have time to go back and forth from the plumbing supply house to return the wrong thing and get the right one… five times!
Secret #6: Don’t Make Changes!
Changes are the single largest cause of remodeling nightmares. You’ve done everything right so far. You’ve followed the previous five secrets but you just can’t help yourself and you make changes during construction.
Well… all bets are off.
The schedule flies off track, your contractor can’t manage his or her time and new materials have to be bought. The key to not making changes is to LOVE your plan and be certain that your team knows exactly what you want.
Yes, back to secret #1: Have a Plan. But don’t just have one… LOVE IT! Don’t sign a contract until every product, color and layout is exactly what you want and then let the professionals go to work.
So, there you have it, six secrets to successfully remodeling your bathroom. I’m confident that if you follow these six secrets, you’ll increase your chances of remodeling success one hundred fold.
December 22nd, 2010 at 5:54 am (#)
What matters most still is the convenience and comfortability of the bathroom. Having to spend for renovation awaits for a worthy and effective transformation.
August 3rd, 2011 at 12:24 pm (#)
Really enjoyed the article. I’m starting a remodel job. Trying to save a little money. I just bought a beautiful vanity that I’m going to install myself. If anyones interested, I bought it at Discount bathroom vanities.com a href=”www.discountbathroomvanities.com”>bathroom vanity
September 21st, 2011 at 2:32 am (#)
Home remodeling is a current trend in the house improvement industry and the bathroom is one definite area that needs upgrading one time or another. A bathroom need not be basic and boring, it’s true. Your after renovation photos sure show what the right remodeling services can do to an old space.