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.

Hidden Savings in Your Bathroom

Toilets consume about 27 percent of the water used inside the home. You can save water and money by checking your toilets for leaks, replacing your flapper and installing a fill cycle diverter or upgrading to a high- efficiency toilet.

Installing an early-closure flapper can save as much as 1.5 gallons per flush.

Investing in a high-efficiency toilet can save more than 4,000 gallons of water per person each year.

Up to a gallon of water per flush can be saved by installing a fill cycle diverter in your toilet tank. The diverter redirects water to the tank and less to the toilet bowl.

To install a toilet cycle diverter on a typical gravity-flush toilet, follow the instructions below:

1. Pull hose out from overflow tube.
2. Remove clip or holder, if any.
3. Insert diverter into hose end.
4. Push diverter onto overflow tube with one of its arms inside and one arm outside the overflow tube.
5. In some cases, the hose may need to be cut shorter to reduce buckling or tipping.
6. Follow these directions and soon you’ll be saving a substantial amount of water.

How To Easily Make Your Old Toilet More Water Efficient

If you really want to save water, experts say you need to stop using the toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket. Some people flush away tissues and other bits of trash in the toilet. Using a wastebasket will save all those gallons of water that otherwise go wastefully down the drain. Most toilets installed before 1980 use 5-7 gallons of water per flush. Toilets installed between 1980 and 1993 use 3.5 gallons per flush. Toilets installed since 1994 use 1.6 gallons. If you think about it, 1.6 gallons is still a big improvement, but that’s a lot of water for one flush.

Does your toilet ever make noises when it is not in use? A toilet with even a small leak can greatly increase your water bill. To check your toilet for leaks, put a few drops of food coloring in your toilet tank, and wait ten minutes. If, without flushing, the color begins to appear in the bowl, you have a leak, which should be repaired immediately.

Plumbers say there is no definite answer on how long the parts in your toilet tank should last? Replaceable parts such as flappers and washers or seals inside the refill valve may last several years. However, factors such as water treatment processes, toilet bowl cleaners, and high water pressure can cause parts to disintegrate much sooner.

Dealer Profile: Tami Muller of Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Q: Where are you from?
A: Our family is originally from Israel – Decon Environmental was started by our father, and we took over the business after he passed away.

Q: What was your career before becoming a Bath Planet dealer?
A: For more than 25 years, we were involved in the family business.

Q: How did you learn about the brand?
A: We were looking for new business opportunities and we came across Bath Planet. We saw it as a good “ground floor” opportunity. The business is growing and it’s something we are knowledgeable about. It will also help us branch out to more residential projects. We went to Chicago to learn more about the opportunity and were very impressed.

Q: Why did you decide to open your own business?
A: We wanted to get more into the residential market, as our current business involves more emergency response and commercial projects. We want to be able to provide better customer service to homeowners – there is a huge need for this in bathroom remodeling, and we see Bath Planet as the future of this type of remodel that complements our line of products.

Q: When choosing a dealership, what were the criteria you used to make your decision?
A: The quality of the product was definitely important to us, and we wanted to be comfortable with the product, which we feel we are with Bath Planet. BCI is famous for their product and support they provide.

Q: With regard to your previous experience, what skills do you feel helped you in your business?
A: We believe being a family owned and managed business has helped us – we are small enough so customer service is fantastic and we provide feedback immediately, but we are also large enough to handle big jobs. We offer 24/7 emergency response and our customers always see us, the owners, on the job. They love that personal touch and our customer service orientation.

Q: Why did you choose to enter this industry?
A: The market share provides a huge opportunity along with the future of remodeling. It’s growing.

Q: How did you finance your business?
A: We are self-financed.

Q: What obstacles have you overcome to get where you are today with your business?
A: The changing market and economy are always a challenge. You have to be flexible.

Q: What makes your business different?
A: We provide a personal touch to every job and we have an excellent customer service reputation.

Q: How does your business connect with the community?
A: We are very active in our community, including involvement in BOMA, and SEFAA (we are board members). We also do a lot of charity work within the community.

Q: Are there any prominent industry trends that you are experiencing right now?
A: People are starting to invest more money into their houses, more than before. This is because of the real estate crisis – people aren’t moving, so they’re fixing their homes and remodeling. The kitchen is complete and the bathroom is next – hence Bath Planet. For the elderly, this includes safety features, making it accessible. This gives our elderly customers comfort and independence. It changes their lives completely.

Bath Planet® Enters South Florida Market

Introduces affordable bath remodeling solutions with revolutionary customer experience

After extensive market research demonstrating new housing trends, Bath Planet® of South Florida (a division of Decon Environmental) has recognized a trend of people staying in their homes and renovating them, which has led to its newest decision to become an exclusive authorized dealer of Bath Planet® in South Florida. Bath Planet’s® authorized dealers will showcase the newest bath remodeling products in the industry with exclusive colors and designs, offering stylish, affordable, low-maintenance solutions that satisfy customers by combining high-quality service with superior product offerings.

Tami Muller has been a part of the family owned and operated Decon Environmental for more than 25 years. The company has been a pioneer in environmental contracting, with extensive experience and an unmatched reputation in its market. Looking to diversify service offerings, Muller sees the addition of becoming a Bath Planet dealer as a way to reach new customers and provide existing clients even more options when it comes to home construction.

“Bath Planet® will provide us with a new business opportunity to capture an even wider segment of business in South Florida. The brand has a strong industry reputation of outstanding customer service and superior product design,” said Muller, owner of Bath Planet® South Florida. “We were looking for an industry with strong growth numbers, and after noticing remodeling trends in South Florida, we knew that we could bring a new and exciting business to the market.”

Strategically, Muller wanted to make the right addition to the South Florida area and enhance her existing business by adding a cost-effective bathroom component to complement it. What she recognized is that more homeowners are making conscious decisions to make smaller, more affordable updates to their homes as they are living in them longer. Florida’s senior citizens can also benefit from a bath remodel that provides them comfort and independence.

“We are excited to have Decon Environmental on board as an authorized retailer in South Florida. They can provide the expertise and exceptional service that our company prides itself on,” said Rick Hirschhaut, senior vice president of Bath Planet®. “We have found a great partner in Decon Environmental, as they have consistently been a leader in the construction market, providing superior products and delivering the best customer satisfaction.”

Bath Planet® has earned the Good Housekeeping Seal, which is given only after lengthy and meticulous evaluation. The credential is recognized widely as a symbol of consumer assurance and protection in the marketplace and demonstrates unparalleled level of commitment to the best products and customer service.

Together, the best minds in the industry have been brought together to research all elements of bathroom remodeling, including top tier manufacturing, installation, design and customer service. This foundation led to the development of the world’s best product value in bathroom remodeling.

Advantages of Bathtub Liners

Got an old, moldy bathtub wall? Nothing is more of a turnoff, especially to guests. Years ago, you had to do a complete bathroom demo to get rid of it. Nowadays, you can cover up the ugly, in one day! Hard to believe, but it’s true!

Surrounding the walls of your bathtub with waterproof material is essential when building or remodeling your bathroom. While tile is still an attractive option, it can be expensive and difficult to install. Instead, many homeowners choose bathtub liners or wall surrounds, which adhere to the walls and protect them from moisture, mold and mildew.

One of the greatest advantages of bathtub liners and wall surrounds is cost. Installing a surround over existing walls is a cost-effective way to remodel or update a bathroom. Fast and easy! Wall surrounds are a great way to make your bathroom beautiful again, without breaking the bank! Installing a bathtub liner or surround is easier than installing tile.

Even the most high-quality wall surround, however, can look bad if it is not installed properly. So if you are not confident in your installation skills, hire a professional. This is so important, because saving a little money is so not worth it, if your bathroom looks like an amateur did it. Spend a few extra dollars and hire a company that has years of experience and know how. They will transform your bathroom into the spa like retreat you’ve always wanted!

Another benefit is that bathtub liners and surrounds are generally simple to care for, especially compared to tiled walls. Installing a bathtub surround or liner is an inexpensive and simple way to update a bathroom, especially when staging a home for sale. If you spend the extra money to install a tile surround for a shower or bath, along with other bathroom updates, you can expect to recoup about 75 to 80 percent of the cost when you sell the home, according to the National Association of Realtors. If a complete remodel is not in the budget, though, adding a new tub surround can still improve a bathroom that is in rough shape, and you can expect to get most of your investment back. You’ll not only love your new bathroom, you’ll feel good that you made a wise home investment!

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 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)

Bath Planet: Your Aging in Place Solution

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that by 2050, the population of Americans aged 65 and older will more than double to 89 million, up from 39 million. This translates to a tremendous increase in potential clients for bathroom renovation companies as these individuals are getting to the age where they can no longer perform home repairs or do not want to spend time doing so.

We refer to this growing market as aging in place. More and more seniors want to stay in their own homes rather than going to retirement homes or communities. In order to make their homes safer and more user-accessible, bathroom renovations like grab bars, walk-in tubs, user friendly faucets and accessible shower seats must be installed. As the demographic grows, the need for trustworthy contractors to do quality work also grows.

Bath Planet is here to provide all of the necessary renovation solutions like converting a tub into a shower with seat or walk-in tub. In addition, Bath Planet can change faucets to add extendable shower heads that make bathing safer and easier for seniors. Bath Planet’s products are also backed by the Good Housekeeping Seal, so seniors know they will be getting a durable, quality product.

Bath Planet is targeting this demographic as one of its fastest growing areas of business. Couple this demographic with busy dual income families and single professionals and you can soon realize the potential of owning a Bath Planet dealership.

For more information on Bath Planet, visit our website or find us on Facebook.

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!