Bathroom Design: 5 Essentials!

This article is provided by Bea.

The design of your bathroom is one of the most important decisions that you will make in the overall design of your home. Your bathroom is both a sanctuary for personal peace and relaxation, while also serving as the place that you will spend the most time getting ready to embrace the world. When redesigning your bathroom, you want to do so with your personal needs and routines in mind. Here are 5 design essentials for every bathroom. 

Freestanding Bathtubs

Nothing exudes peace and tranquility like a freestanding bathtub. Whether you opt for a classic clawfoot bathtub or a modern showpiece, a freestanding bathtub enables you to unwind from a hard day at work, or bathe in luxury before a night out. In many cases, freestanding tubs are deeper than wall-mounted models and give you the ability to place the tub nearly anywhere that you can route your plumbing, leaving space for other bathroom fixtures along your wall. 

Modern Bathroom Vanity

The bathroom vanity is more than just a cabinet with a sink attached. Modern bathroom vanities are a mixture of sense and style. Whether you opt for an industrial design of glass and metal or a wall-mounted minimalist vanity, your bathroom vanity should incorporate your personal needs. If you require counter space, consider a long vanity or one with an oval sink. If storage is important, make sure that your vanity includes cabinet space or a place for you to store storage bins. 

Bathroom Faucets

Bathroom faucets come in all shapes, styles, and colors. From center-set to widespread, single hole or three holes, and in all manners of finishes. For a classic look, consider oil rubbed bronze faucets, or for modern flair, consider a touchless, single hole model. 

Ceramic Sinks

Unless you are going for an industrial look, metal sinks belong in the kitchen, and cultured marble is so last century. There is really no substitute for a classic ceramic sink in a bathroom. Not only is it a classic design, but it is durable, easy to clean, and easy to keep clean. 

Picking the Right Mirror

At the very least, your mirror should encompass the same approximate area as your bathroom vanity. For a modern touch, add ambient lighting to your bathroom with a backlit LED bathroom mirror. Do not forget to also add a full-length mirror behind your door or in your bathroom so that you can check out how you look before heading out for the evening. 

Book review- Out East: Houses and Gardens of the Hamptons!

Today, I am thrilled to share an exciting new publication from Vendome Press with you. Thanks to Meghan Phillips for sending me a beautiful design book, Out East: Houses and Gardens of the Hamptons. In this book authored by Jennifer Ash Rudick and photographed by Tria Giovan, you will find over 30 Hamptons' most distinctive houses and gardens.

Here is a sneak peek of this stunning book!

I absolutely love this gorgeous book and its abundance of awe-inspiring images. In this book, the author, a decade-long SouthHampton resident leads us inside a tour of over 30 remarkable residences and gardens from cottages, farmhouses, modernist oceanfront homes to surf shacks and more. A variety of interiors can be found in this beautiful book ranging from the traditionally layered to the updated eclectic. Among the world-class designers featured in the book are Jeffrey Bilhuber, Robert Couturier, David Netto and Tom Scheerer.

Illustrated with hundreds of photographs of breathtaking homes, charming interiors and enchanting gardens, this book is perfect for those who love being transported to extraordinary places. With 328 pages of visually delightful and engaging content, this inspiring book is ideal for any design or garden fans! Truly a gem and shouldn't be missed! Highly recommended! 

Get your copy here!

*I received  this book to review for free but the views and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

The different types of sparkling glitter wallpapers!

This post is provided by The Best Wallpaper Place.

Glitter wallpaper has been one of the most trending design products in the world of interiors over the last year. There are many different types of glitter wallpaper and wallcoverings available on today’s market with more and more shimmering designs becoming available in a range of different styles.

Originally founded by the best wallpaper place, glitter wallpaper was originally produced as a display material but the designers there have constantly developed the ever-growing range since the year 2000 to ensure its suitability and quality for designer home and commercial interiors.

There are many types of glitter wallpapers and knowing where to find them at the best quality can be quite a challenge. Luckily, we have listed the best glittering designer wallpaper styles and the differences between them all which are available at thebestwallpaperplace.com.

Glitter Sparkle Wallcovering

The ultimate for sparkling interiors is made possible with the use of the sparkle range. This unique glitter design is texturized with real glitter sequins on a fabric backed surface which allows for an incomparable finish which you would not get with any other type of wallpaper. The range is available in over 40 colors and is the most popular amongst the different types of glitter wallpaper and wallcoverings. This product is generally used in home and commercial interior designs to create a super stylish, luxury designer finish.

Glitter Holographic Wallpaper

Known for its superb shimmering quality with a smooth vinyl finish, it is a great option for those who do not want real glitter flakes but to match the effect. The Glitter holographic range is a great choice in salons where it can be easily washable or for home interiors to create a less “blingy” look. This product is also a great alternative at a cheaper price to the sparkle range.

Glitter Stripe Wallpaper

Matching the same finish and color designs as the glitter holographic wallpaper, the stripe acts as a great interior feature with the ability to run this vertically (to give the room a larger feel) or horizontally (to give your interior a wider feel). As a coordinating design you can use this with the glitter holographic range to really make your interiors dazzle and shine.

Glitter Animal Print Wallpaper

The glitter animal print wallpaper design is a premium quality product with a slightly higher price tag than those listed above. This metallic foil on non-woven wallpaper is also smooth to the touch which allows it to be washable. You will find 3 stunning colorways in this collection, silver, silver & black which give the product a luxury effect. For those who love glitter and love animal print designs without the insertion of real glitter texture, then this design is perfect for adding a touch of opulence to your interior setting.
To see the full range of designer glitter wallpapers, head over to thebestwallpaperplace.com.

Plumbing Pioneers: The Latest and Greatest Plumbing Innovations!

There was a time when plumbing fixtures were designed purely for the simple purpose of pumping water, but those days are over. As the world changes and learns more each day, various parts of our lives take huge strides forward- and plumbing is no exception. From faucets designed to make your life easier to water-saving fixtures which aim to conserve our dwindling water supply, plumbing truly has grown by leaps and bounds over the years. Let us take a look at some of the biggest innovations in plumbing in recent years.

Going Green

Water is a huge problem in the world today. According to the World Wildlife Foundation, only 3% of the water on Earth is fresh, two-thirds of which we can not access. About 1.1 billion people do not have access to water, and 2.4 billion people drink unsanitary water that can lead to diseases. By 2025, two-thirds of the world may find water to be a scarce commodity.

So what can we do to conserve water and prevent future shortages? The answer is green plumbing. In the past, the main goal of fixtures and appliances was functionality. Newer appliances and fixtures, however, are taking measures to conserve water. For example, many older toilets can use as many as five gallons per flush, but newer low-flow toilets can cut that number by as much 80%. Newer washing machines can also save tons of water in comparison to older models.

Water companies are finding easier ways to conserve water by providing customers with water conservation kits that include water saving devices which can be placed in faucets and showerheads to conserve water without sacrificing pressure.

Incredible Convenience

Conserving water is not the only goal of new plumbing fixtures and appliances. Many new plumbing innovations feature never-before-seen functions and amazingly convenient features.

One of the biggest innovations in the kitchen comes in the form of the hands-free faucet. Instead of fumbling to turn the faucet on with your forearm because your hands are dirty, all you have to do is wave a hand over the sensor and the faucet turns on- even when the water is turned off via the handle. Even holding a cup underneath the faucet will automatically turn it on.

Samsung’s Activewash washing machines feature a built-in sink for soaking your clothes to loosen stains before washing. Not only is it a super convenient way to pre-soak your clothes, it saves water because you do not have to fill up a separate sink or bathtub with water.

Point-of-use water heaters heat water right near the faucet, giving you on-demand access to hot water on a room-to-room basis.

Health Benefits

There are even some health benefits to newer plumbing innovations. Many germs are passed from person to person because they both touched the same object. For example, installing a hands-free faucet eliminates the need for touching the handle after you have finished washing your hands. Hands-free toilets can also help reduce the spread of germs by automatically flushing when you are finished using the bathroom.

Another huge step for plumbing hygiene is whole-house or under the sink water filters. There are many different types of water filters available, each with differing filtration methods that work well for different contaminants. However, you will have to hire a plumbing expert to install them unless you have the proper equipment.

With as many awesome plumbing innovations as we have seen over the past decade, there is surely more on the way. While you may not consider switching to high-efficiency toilets and appliances until yours need to be replaced, there are tons of other easy-to-install plumbing fixtures that will help save water and give your home a health and convenience boost. 

Choosing the right interior designer!

This article is provided by Zara.

If you are planning a major remodeling project in your home, then you might well decide to get some professional support in the design and planning stage. Using an interior designer can be a great idea, in order to have an end result that is worth every penny you have spent. 

There are plenty of designers out there, all keen to get your business, so how do you go about choosing the right one?

Work out the job spec.

It is all too easy to call up an interior designer without any real idea of what it is you want, beyond “interior design.” Take time to work out the kind of assistance you need. Do you already have a good idea of what you require in terms of the overall type of design, carpet or laminate flooring and so on, or do you need the designer to help out/ take the lead with those sorts of ideas? 

Scope out your project in as much detail as you are able before you start talking to designers, so that you know what sort of expertise you really need. 

Get recommendations.

Ask your friends, ask your family, and do not forget the power and majesty of social media! You need someone who will be reliable and has a good track record. 

If personal recommendations come up short, check out the professional body to find an accredited interior designer near you. 

Check out their portfolio.

Any good designer will be only too happy to show you a portfolio of their past work. While a picture might paint a thousand words, there is nothing like the real thing, so ideally, you might even be able to view some of their actual work in a show home or similar. 

This will give you an idea of the designer's overall style and experience, and whether they are a good fit for what you have in mind. Also look at their qualifications, professional credentials and accreditations. 

Do not forget the human factor.

Design is highly subjective, and beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You will be working collaboratively with the designer, and it is far more of a partnership than a simple provision of services. It is therefore of huge importance that you “click” personality wise, and feel that this is somebody with whom you will be able to communicate openly and comfortably. 

Sort out the numbers up front.

An interior design service is not going to be cheap, and at the end of the day, the designer is there to earn money. Make sure rates and billing patterns are completely agreed and transparent up front. For example, will the designer charge a flat fee, or will it be a daily or hourly rate? 

If you have a set budget in mind, do not be shy about sharing it so that everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet. When you are ready to proceed, have a contract drawn up and read through it carefully before any work commences, so that everything runs smoothly and there are no misunderstandings or disagreements later on.