UK Bathrooms

According to the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), the average cost of remodeling a bathroom is £8700, which includes the design, appliances, fixtures, materials, and installation. So before you plunk down the big bucks, spend some time planning its design. Start a list of your likes and dislikes to create a wish list for your new bathroom so you'll know the must-have features to include and those to omit. Notice what works and what doesn't in your current bathroom. Pay attention to features in bathrooms you use at work and at play and even those you use when traveling.

Whether your new bathroom is strictly for taking care of business or for pampering yourself after a long, hard day at the office, focus on the elements in a bathroom that's right for you. This process may be time consuming, but you'll find that it pays off in the end by giving you the bathroom that you've always dreamed of.

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Get a notebook, preferably one with pockets, and designate it as the "bathroom notebook." That's where you'll record facts, figures, measurements, and phone numbers. In the pockets, tuck samples of wallpaper, paint color cards, fabrics, and other small items you come across and like; magazine clippings; and other reference materials. Create columns labeled "never again" and "must have." If your current bathroom has tile grout and you're tired of cleaning it, add ceramic tile to the "never again" side of the list. If you stay at a fancy-schmancy hotel and savor the luxury of soaking in the whirlpool tub or the convenience of having a telephone in the bathroom, add those features to the "must-have" side. Use all your bathroom encounters to hone the list and help you define desired features.

Do your homework by browsing the pages of home decorating and remodeling magazines for ideas. Tear out articles and ads with ideas and products you like and put them in your notebook. Use decorating books as references. When you see a bathroom design you like, make a copy of it — don't tear out the pages.

After you read this chapter, you'll have a good idea of the different types of bathrooms and what goes into each of them. With this basic knowledge, visit a design center that specializes in bathrooms, like those found at kitchen and bathroom showrooms or large home improvement stores. Here, you can get a close-up look at a dizzying array of bathroom settings and touch a large assortment of bathroom fixtures, materials, and furnishings to see whether you like how they feel against your skin.

Bathrooms for All Seasons and Reasons

Bathrooms can be categorized into several different types based on their size and function, who uses them, and their location in the house. The smallest footprint for a bathroom is usually the powder room and the half bath. Bedrooms with nearby or attached bathrooms include the guest bathroom, a kids' bathroom, and the master bathroom. Variations of them include a bathroom with laundry facilities, a basement bathroom, a bathroom with bathroom fixtures and features that are accessible to the physically challenged, and a luxury master bathroom suite with whirlpool or sauna, workout equipment, and dressing room.

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