Bath Shower Home Design

Follow Zillow on Facebook The doorbell rings. You haven’t had time to tidy up, so you’re hoping you can confine small talk to the foyer. Ten minutes later, your guest turns to leave but asks, “Can I use your bathroom?” It’s a familiar scenario, yet designing a powder bath can seem daunting. How do you combine style and function in such a small space? If you’re on a tight budget, should you pour resources into 30 square feet or focus on larger rooms? Designer Jaque Bethke of PURE Design Environments , Inc. says regardless of space or budget, the powder bath is a room that shouldn’t be ignored. “It’s the soul of your house,” she said. “It’s the room that everybody who is a stranger and those who intimately know you might see.” Here are five tips from Bethke and other leading Zillow Digs designers for tackling small bathrooms . Set the scene “The most critical thing is to consider how the bathroom will be used,” Bethke said. “Entertaining? Children? Will it be used every day or just by...

Several months ago I was in the Chicagolandarea to give a talk to an NKBA gathering. While there, I visited several wholesaler showrooms. One of them absolutely knocked my socks off! Over the years I have visited several-hundred showrooms across America and Canada. I’ve seen the good, the not so good and everything between. When I drove up to, walked into and walked through the Studio 41 showroom in the Chicago north suburb of Highland Park , Ill., I knew I was in one of the best showrooms I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting. My good friend, Bob Lando , who recently retired from Community Home Supply in Chicago, was my tour guide for the day. His daughter, Abbey Wagner , a sales consultant at Studio 41, was our very capable guide through the showroom. I certainly had heard of Studio 41and knew the same company was operating three of the new Kohler Signature showrooms , but I wasn’t aware of how well-done and well-marketed these showrooms were. Let’s start with a brief histo...

From a crowd- funded smart shovel to a why-didn’t-someone-do-this-sooner scheme for managing traffic in public restroom s, these ideas are noteworthy for creative problem -solving. Here are some of the most intriguing innovations the BD+C community has brought to our attention this year.   1. TRUSS SYSTEM UNDERGIRDS MONUMENTAL STAIR Structure becomes art at a Massachusetts college library To invite exploration of its new academic library, Salem (Mass.) State University selected a light-filled and airy design. The site and program called for deep floor plates , so the Building Team devised a dramatic open staircase as a central feature to help break up the density. The engineering solution consists of a truss that supports the whole stair, with each step created from a triangular box beam that hangs off the truss. Stairs are stringer-free and accented with eye- catching red paint . Glass panels protect users while showcasing the design. The prominent feature is also visible from...