INSIGHT

Bathroom Shower Enclosures

Although most of us consider the bathroom to be just a functional unit of the house put there for our daily ablutions, it can offer a lot more to the value of the house if we just put in a little effort and thought into it. You generally are faced with a severe space constraint when designing the bathroom – there never seems to be enough walls, and enough space to accommodate the sink, the bath, and the toilet. In such a situation, we are more often than not, at a loss as to what to do.

In this respect, bathroom shower enclosures are a boon for those who have to optimize on space in designing their bathrooms. Bathroom shower enclosures are (in a loose sort of definition) cubicles that exclusively contain showering facilities and function as the primary area for bathing in the bathroom. These enclosures are generally very compact, sized just right for one average sized person to bath comfortably (although there are exceptions to this), and they let you have a nice, steamy bath without spilling water on to the other areas of the bathroom.

Along with the primary advantage of space, bathroom shower enclosures also offer several other gains. One primary gain, even if you might not agree with it as being of much value, is that bathroom shower enclosures add a touch of class to your entire design. Starting sometime in the eighties, with the design and fashion boom, bathroom shower enclosures were somewhat re-invented to meet with modern aesthetic sense. They now come in a wide range of designs and finishes for that extra touch of finesse to your bathroom.

Also, it is always a pleasure to bathe in a well-designed shower enclosure – as they give you a whole range options in terms of type and layout of the showers. Some of the high-end enclosures have showers fitted at different heights and at different angles so that you get a full body massage while bathing. Also, there are vapor proof enclosures that can turn your bath into a sauna if you want. These are just a few of the options available – there are numerous more that you can find about once you start browsing through stores and on the net for bathroom shower enclosures.

However, there are a few pointers that you might want to keep in mind while shopping for bathroom shower enclosures. First, as always, is that you should do your homework – get information of the types and varieties of all the different enclosures available and try to decide on the one that will be most suitable for your bathroom layout. Keep in mind the crucial factors of space, design, and budget while taking this decision. Second, go to different stores and retailers, not only in person, but also on the internet, and compare the price lists that they have to offer. Check the difference in prices according to different features of the enclosures and figure out the best one that will fit your needs.

Third, and last, make note of the minor details such as the door handles, the weather strips (that runs along the borders of the doors), and other such things, as these things influence the lasting period and looks of your enclosure greatly.…

Ways To Help A New Mom

If one of your friends is a new mother, you may find yourself at odds. Sure, you’ve purchased a gift and card, maybe even hosted the baby shower. But you want to do more for her – what can you do that would really make a difference?

There are actually lots of practical things you can do.

Have a frank conversation with her. Make sure she knows that now is not the time to be prideful; you’re her friend and there to help. This is all about doing what she needs, not standing on decorum.

Find out if the baby has a sleep pattern. When the baby is awake, show up armed with your cleaning supplies and tackle as much of the house as you can. When baby gets tired, usher mom to bed so she can rest, too. It may not be practical to continue with your cleaning – it may depend on how loud you are and how big the house is – but you should be able to do some light meal prep to start dinner along. When baby and mom wake up again, continue cleaning with fervor. New moms long for clean laundry and empty diaper pans, but just don’t have the time or energy.

While you’re in the kitchen, find out if there are adjustments you can make there to improve mom’s efficiency later on. If you can introduce some new kitchen storage tools to help ease some of her organization pain, you really are a great friend.

Look into simple kitchen storage tools like a lid holder for pots and pans or a spice rack to help make cooking more convenient. Check to see if a cutlery tray would make it easier to load and unload the dishwasher. There are lots of inexpensive kitchen storage tools you can buy to help out your friend, the new mother.…

A Complete Guide For Buying A Quality Bathroom Cabinet

Most of the people think that a bathroom cabinet is not very necessary, but sooner or later they add it to their bathroom. Choosing a quality bathroom cabinet can be very confusing if you do not what to look for and enjoyable as well if you aware of your budget and needs. You can look for different materials, sizes and shapes while choosing a quality bathroom cabinet. If you are still confused on how to make your choice then keep on reading.

Varieties

Generally, there are three different types of bathroom cabinets. First category includes stock cabinets which are sold to customers either ready to assemble or fully assembled. Then comes the semi custom type, these are basically made to order but have limited specifications. Still you get different choices in terms of hardware and designs. Custom made conclude the last type of this category. These cabinets are highly expensive in compared to other two types as they are specifically made as per the needs of the customers. Therefore, they offer greater flexibility.

Deciding Frames

A quality bathroom cabinet can be built with frame or without a frame as well. All the framed cabinets represent the traditional style as all the edges are clearly visible around drawers and the door. For easy access you can get the frameless ones which are considered best for adjustable shelving.

Materials Of Subsurface

Another important thing that you need to check in a quality bathroom cabinet is it’s subsurface. It is mostly made with either particle board, engineered plywood or with fiberboard of medium density. Although, particle boards are also available in superior quality but there are still chances of experiencing problems of weakness with wood of poor grade. With fiber board of medium density you get smoother surface and all the edges can be easily painted. It also has an extra ability to hold all the screws firmly in comparison to particle board. Whereas in engineered plywood, each wood later runs at a degree of right angle in order to equally distribute the strength in every direction.

Wood Options

If you are looking for a quality bathroom cabinet which is made of wood then there are numerous species to choose from. You can choose a hard maple one which offers a great durability of in order to make an effective custom cabinet. Another option you have is of cherry cabinets which can withstand heavy use and are simply perfect for both contemporary and traditional bathrooms. Then comes white oak type, they are considered stronger and durable than the red oak one which makes it a popular and reliable choice for those expensive custom cabinets.

Door Styles

Choosing style for the doors of your bathroom cabinet is another important factor to consider. You can choose doors with panel and frame or you can choose slab doors. For a contemporary bathroom, people prefer slab doors. You can also choose the frame and panel ones with raised doors along with metal or glass inserts as well.

Storage Options

A quality bathroom cabinet should fulfill its main purpose that is of storage. You can decide storage options depending on the style and price of the cabinet that you are planning to purchase.…

Kitchen Design Ideas – Decorate Your Kitchen on a Small Budget

Are you bored of your kitchen looking the same every day, year after year? Is your kitchen not able to accommodate all the appliances that you possess? You probably know that you need to renovate your kitchen, but the thought of a big expense is holding you back. You need a few easy and inexpensive kitchen design ideas so that you can update your kitchen without too much trouble.

The first of my kitchen design ideas is to work on the color scheme of your kitchen. If you are fortunate enough to have real wood cabinets, strip the finish off them and redo it with a lightly tinted stain. If your cabinets are not wood, you can go ahead and paint them in any color you wish. Paint the walls as well, in a color that best highlights the cabinets.

Add color and warmth to your kitchen by using interesting fabrics as curtains, valances or table cloths. You could even use them as appliance covers. You could find fabric at excellent prices at discount sales or garage sales.

Another of my budget kitchen design ideas is to grow a window box of fresh herbs. You could also go for an arrangement of dried flowers in a corner. If you cannot do that, fill a small wicker basket with fresh fruit and place it on a counter to brighten up your kitchen.

If you find it too expensive to remodel your kitchen, just organize it better so that you have enough space for all your appliances. Make space by simply fixing a beautiful wrought iron curtain rod on the wall above your counter. Hang attractive towels from it, and use s-hooks to hang ladles and frequently used pans from it. You will free up shelf space to store utensils that you use only infrequently, such as when you entertain.

Free up space on your counter by fixing wall mounted racks. A triangular corner rack is a good idea to use up space in corners that normally get wasted or are inaccessible. This also enables you to keep your counter clean.

If your kitchen has a blank wall, put up a shelf on which you can place your cookbooks. You could also brighten up your walls with family pictures.

These kitchen design ideas will cost you next to nothing to implement. Follow these kitchen design ideas and you will feel happier to spend more time there.…