5 Ways to Make Your Bathroom Look Bigger

The Northwest Herald of McHenry County, Illinois published an article yesterday titled "5 Ways to Make Your Bathroom Look Bigger." Read a few excerpts here: 

1. Set the Scene 

Jason Urrutia of Urrutia Design says if it’s a bathroom you are going into every day, you might get tired of it. In that case, you’ll want a classic, timeless design or elements that can be easily swapped out. But if it’s a space for guests, he says it’s acceptable as a place for fun. Stephan Sardone of Sardone Construction agrees. “Some of my clients say that it just needs to look great,” he said. “They don’t need space for towels and soap because it’s a guest bathroom where people go in during a party for a minute or two and then leave.”

2. Save Space

Once you know how your bathroom will be used, designers agree that you should prioritize storage. It may seem counterintuitive to think about storage when you’re trying to maximize space, but without planning ahead, your room could end up feeling smaller if it’s cluttered and disorganized. What makes storage successful is if it fits your individual needs, Sardone explains. “For guys, a medicine cabinet is all you need. But for women, more cabinet and counter space is often required,” he said.

3. Lighting

Another way to make a small bathroom feel bigger and bolder is by bringing in light. “With the right kind of accent lighting, you can make a space very playful,” Bethke said. “I use more shiny surfaces — a lot of mirrors and patterns. As a result, you notice the scale of the items. You don’t notice it’s a small powder room.” A lighter color palette can also make a space look larger by keeping the space bright and airy.

4. Accent Walls

Once you’ve set the scene and maximized storage and lighting in your bathroom, it’s time to think about aesthetics. “You can go minimalistically, or you can focus on one particular area,” Bethke said. “I highly encourage people to go a little bit hog wild. It’s a small space, so do that fixture you are scared to do in the living room. Amp it up and be fearless.”

5. Spend Money Where it Counts

Despite the tendency to be frugal in order to save remodeling dollars for larger spaces in the home, designers agree that it’s precisely because of a bathroom’s small size that you can spend more.

“You can be playful without spending the farm,” McLaughlin said. “You don’t need to cover 150 square feet of floor with tile. Instead, you can cover just 20 to 30 square feet of wall.”

Read the full article here.

Bathroom Spring Cleaning Tips

Now's the time to get your spring cleaning done in the bathroom! Read these spring cleaning tips to make sure that your bathroom is in tip-top shape for summer:

• Grab all necessary supplies (basket, mop, hamper, trash container, disinfectant wipes, glass cleaner).
• Dust the ceiling and corners of the room.
• Dust all vents and fans.
• Take down draperies, curtains, or blinds to wash or have cleaned according to the directions.
• Scrub your shower and tub.
• Scrub down the toilet.
• Wash the inside and outside of the medicine cabinet and linen closets.
• Wash the sink and other bathroom fixtures.
• Shake out bathroom rugs.
• Sweep and mop the floor.
• Empty and wash out the trashcan.

These tips will prepare you for summer and leave your home looking and feeling cleaner. 

Tips provided by About.com.

ABOUT BATH PLANET®

Based in Palatine, IL, Bath Planet® was created by BCI® Acrylic Bath Systems founders Tom Barzantny and Scott Rosenbach. BCI® recognized a need for greater consistency between manufacturers and dealers in the tub and shower liner industry, and established their one-stop-shop company in 1999. Bath Planet® is backed by BCI®, a privately held, manufacturer of tub and shower-liner systems with a network of more than 550 independent dealers throughout the United States and Canada. Bath Planet® has earned the coveted Good Housekeeping Seal, recognizing the exceptional quality of its liner systems. For more information about Bath Planet®, visit our website at www.bathplanet.com.

Bath Planet in the Altoona Mirror

Bath Planet was recently featured in the Altoona Mirror.  The article includes several home improvement specialists in the area and talks about the rebound of the home remodeling industry. Bath Planet Dealer Melvin Dixon mentions that his business is up 15 to 20% in 2012. The article mentions that Dixon recently became a Bath Planet dealer and it has helped his business since the aging population wants to live in a safer home.

Click HERE for the full article, or begin reading below:

Remodeling firms expect robust year
By: Walt Frank

David McCloskey is not planning a vacation this summer, after going away last summer for the first time in 15 years.

"Last year was dead. I went to Maine. I always wanted to see the coastline," said McCloskey, owner of David E. McCloskey Remodeling and Building, Altoona.

This summer should be more back to normal for him, as all signs point to a strong rebound for home improvement activity, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity released by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.

Bath Planet featured in the Hot Springs Village Voice

The article discusses the introduction of Bath Planet into the Hot Springs Village. Highlighted in the article are the extensive safety features Bath Planet can offer to improve one’s bathroom as well as the cost and time effectiveness of going with Bath Planet.

Bath Planet offers free recommendations for safer bathrooms
Featured in Hot Springs Village Voice


Hot Springs Village property owners Darin and Cindy Wiggs own Bath Planet, which offers a one-day bath remodel service.

“Instead of tying up your bathroom for two weeks and costing thousands of dollars, we can usually be finished in one day,” he said.

Darin Wiggs says his staff is not a hard-core sales group. Bath Planet can make a free in-home visit and make recommendations.

Modifications can help make homes safe for aging people, he said.

“ The most- dangerous place in the house is the bathroom,” he said. Adding grab bars and a walk-in bathtub are among changes that can help allow seniors to live at home rather than moving, he said.


Read the entire article here.

Bath Planet featured in the Daily Herald

Bath Planet was recently featured in The Daily Herald in a brief titled “Set up shop in Streamwood." The brief announces the opening of the Bath Planet in Streamwood. Dimitris Nacopoulos has had his own bathroom remodeling service since 1994, but recently joined Bath Planet. Click here to read the brief on dailyherald.com or read the full text below.

Set up shop in Streamwood.

Dimitris Nacopoulos has owned his own bathroom remodeling business since 1994 and now has opened Bath Planet in Streamwood. Palatine-based Bath Planet was created in 1999 by BCI Acrylic Bath Systems founders Tom Barzantny and Scott Rosenbach. Bath Planet is backed by BCI, a privately held manufacturer of tub and shower-liner systems with a network of more than 550 independent dealers throughout the United States and Canada.

How to clean your bathroom

The bathroom is a very significant place in any household, no matter who you are you will be spending your fair share of time in the bathroom. I think we can all agree that there is nothing worse than a dirty bathroom and everyone can appreciate how important a clean bathroom is. TLC recently posted an article detailing how you should clean your bathroom, and it gives some great tips on how to get execute more than a surface cleaning, to give your bathroom that deep clean that will really last and put your mind at ease. Click here to read the entire article.

How to Clean Your Bathroom

by Editors of Consumer Guide

The average person can tolerate a growing collection of dust balls under the bed or a drawer full of tarnished flatware in the sideboard. But a grimy bathroom is another story. The bathroom should be cleaned once a week, and even more frequently if it gets heavy use from a large family.

Fortunately, most bathrooms are made of materials that are easy to keep clean. Tile and porcelain surfaces are stain-resistant if dirt and scum are not allowed to build up on them. Make it a firm rule in your home to rinse out the tub or shower stall immediately after you use it. Spray water from the shower head on all interior surfaces, then lather soap onto a damp sponge, swish it around the tub or stall, and rinse.

These are but a few of the bathroom-cleaning guidelines we'll present in the following article. Cleaning the bathroom isn't a chore most people look forward to doing, but if you follow our instructions, this all-important room will sparkle...for a while, anyway.

Click here to read the entire article.

Bathroom Remodeling Ideas That Won't Break The Bank

If you enjoy spending time soaking in your tub, or you simply like spending time in your bathroom, updating your bathroom is important. If you have been putting it off because of money, there are some inexpensive bathroom updates that can make a major difference.

Here are some easy, inexpensive ideas that pack a lot of punch.

• Fresh coat of Paint. Cover your painted walls with a fresh coat of paint to change the look of your bathroom. Select a paint color that is totally different from your current color to ensure that your change is an obvious one.
• Rack Replacement. Replace your existing towel racks and toilet paper roll holder to revamp the look of your space.
• New Mirror. Replacing a mirror is one of the easiest of the inexpensive bathroom updates you can tackle.
• Updating Lighting. If you shop smart you can get a new lighting fixture for a prominent space in your bathroom at a reasonable price.
• Shower Curtain. If your shower curtain is old, replacing it with a new one can make a huge difference without costing you much money.
• These are five easy and inexpensive ways to transform your bathroom into a beautiful sanctuary without overspending!

A Bathroom Remodel Is The #1 Home Improvement Project You Can Do

Did you know that a bathroom remodel is the #1 rated home improvement project you can do for overall return on investment according to the Wall Street Journal? So everyone wonders, “Is it worth the money to remodel my bathroom?” Local realtors say, yes. However if you really don’t want to spend that kind of time or money, you need to fake it. Realtors say, nowadays, you can get rid of that yucky, moldy old tub with a new, beautiful walk in tub, or a wall surround. Just basically change whatever is ugly.

Paint a pretty color and get new accessories, and your bathroom can look transformed. All in about a day, for a fraction of the cost. On the other hand if you are committed to a total renovation it’s good to know that economists say remodeling a kitchen or a bathroom is always a smart investment. They even go as far as saying that all renovations should be done “where the water is.” Meaning kitchens and bathrooms.

So what kind of return will you get on your investment? You should not expect to fully recover the amount of the remodeling investment right away. Typically, you can expect between 80% and 90% back on your home improvement investment dollar, sometimes more, within the first year or two. With the proper remodel, you can increase and even make money on the improvement the longer you stay in the home. By being in the home a longer period of time, you give the real estate market time to increase and you leverage the remodeling investment as property values grow.

Investing in home improvement makes sense in most cases and under most economic climates. The homeowner should do their homework; use the resources available to them to help plan a budget and determine what type of changes they want to make.

Keep in mind the most important reason to renovate your bathroom is if the structural integrity of your home is being affected or damaged by excessive water, mold or moisture. The long term loss or depletion in the value of your home could be serious in this case. So if you have an old, moldy bathroom, remodeling or replacing the ugly, is always a good idea!

Bath Planet featured in Kitchen and Bath Business Magazine

Bath Planet was featured in an article in Kitchen and Bath Business Magazine titled, “Bath Planet Launched by BCI.” The article states that Bath Planet provides a cost-effective and low-maintenance solution for people who are seeking bathroom renovations and an aging-in-place solution. BCI launched Bath Planet to bring consistency and customer service to an industry that has a reputation for being largely unreliable and by offering an outstanding experience and lifetime product warranty their dealers will stand apart from other bathroom remodeling and bathroom in a day concepts. Click here to view the article or begin reading below.

Bath Planet Launched by BCI

BCI Acrylic Bath Systems is launching a new consumer brand, Bath Planet. The brand is designed to offer homeowners cost-effective and low-maintenance bath improvements for those seeking aging-in-place solutions.

Bath Planet’s tub, shower and wall systems can be installed over an existing tub and walls, and installation can be completed quickly. Bath Planet is the first consumer brand for BCI Acrylic Bath Systems and has earned the Good Housekeeping Seal.

(Read More)

Bath Planet featured in Arkansas Business Journal

Bath Planet was featured in an article in the Arkansas Business Journal titled, “Bath Planet Joins Pro Builder Supply,” where the reporter interviewed John Via and Darin Wiggs. They discussed the new entrance of Bath Planet into the Little Rock area, which provides full-service bathroom remodels. With John’s experience of the industry and Pro Builder Supply specializing in remodeling, they can now provide full service remodeling from the bathroom wet space to fixtures, hardware and lighting solutions. Click here to view the full article, or begin reading below.

Bath Planet Joins Pro Builder Supply
By Luke Jones

Bath Planet of Palatine, Ill., a full-service bathroom remodeler, has set up shop at Little Rock's Pro Builder Supply LLC.
 
John Via grew up in North Little Rock and spent eight years in Maryland remodeling bathrooms. He recently decided to join his lifelong friend and Pro Builder owner Darin Wiggs in Little Rock as sales and marketing manager for Bath Planet. The new service began Aug. 1.

(Read More)

Return on Investment and Remodeling your Bathroom

Over the years of being in the remodeling business, I’ve heard one question more than any other: “Will I get a return on my remodeling investment?”

It is an interesting question with answers that are as varied as the type of remodeling projects available to a homeowner.

The obvious analysis on a question about “return on investment” is to ask about the numbers. “If I invest $10,000 in a remodel, will my home be worth $10,000 more than it is today as a result of the completed work?”

Let’s say it is April 2007. The economy is booming and the house you bought in 2005 for $250,000 is worth $300,000. You take out a home equity loan for $25,000 and get a new bathroom and some landscaping in the front and back yard. August rolls around, and it is time to sell the home. Depending on market conditions and your location, you can probably get the $25,000 back.

Fast forward to 2010. The $250,000 house is probably worth $250,000 again, or maybe $225,000 or $200,000. So, did the remodel pay for itself? This is a much tougher question, right? If you want to, or HAVE to sell now, you probably will not get your money back on the remodel, even though your house is more likely to sell than the neighbors house, where perhaps they didn’t make those investments. Obviously, buyers would rather buy a “home” and not a “project” with their hard earned money.

But the reality is that remodeling actually has less to do with a financial return on investment than with the way we live our lives. For most people, their home is their largest investment. But it is how we use our home that impacts our life and the lives of our family members. New landscaping can make family barbecues more fun, can make a garden possible, or can provide shade on a hot summer day or even a fire on a cool fall evening. A new bathroom can be clean, comfortable, refreshing, safe and beautiful. Perhaps your bathroom remodel even makes the room more accessible for a family member with a physical impairment.

In our business, we remodel bathrooms in order for our customers to live better. Certainly, we have customers who look for a financial return on their bathroom remodel, and they find it. Remodeling Magazine says that the financial return on a bathroom remodel is about 102%. But the other return on investment, the one that is about enjoying life, is the real value in remodeling.

Our bathrooms are:

• Easy to clean
• Accessible
• Installed in 1 day
• Custom designed to meet every person’s needs
• Warranted for life
• Affordable
• Always look brand new, even after years of use

So, when you look for a return on your investment, consider more than money. Money matters…but it certainly isn’t everything!