Posts Tagged ‘Marble Granite’

Bathroom Tile Design – Material Types For Bathroom Tile Designs

December 30th, 2009

Good bathroom tile design should create a floor surface that is attractive, water resistant and safe to walk on. Bathroom tile designs using ceramic tile, rubber flooring or vinyl and linoleum floors are all examples of bathroom tile design material choices that should be available nearly anywhere.
These types of tiles are easy to clean, water resistant and safe to walk on. If you are going to use natural stone or terra-cotta ceramic tiles on your floors to create a more sophisticated effect, make sure you buy the kind with a non-slip finish.
As you consider which bathroom tile designs to select, each type of tile will have unique properties that may or may not provide characteristics that are good for your bathroom. Here are different material types for bathroom tile design along with advantages or disadvantages of each:
1. Laminate and Vinyl Bathroom Tile Design – these types of tile in bathroom tile designs can be found in a variety of colors, patterns and textures. Some tiles even imitate wood, stone and ceramic. It is not very expensive, is water resistant, easy to install and clean and it is durable.
2. Ceramic Bathroom Tile Design – ceramic tile can range from fairly cheap to expensive and it is the classic choice. Tile is made of clay, shale or porcelain and is formed and fired at very high temperatures until it hardens. The higher the temperature and the more times the tile is fired, the harder and less porous the tile. If you are using a white or cream ceramic tile for your bathroom, using a different color grout like “blue” will give your bathroom a dramatic look. Grout is the material used to fill the spaces between the tiles. Make sure you apply sealers to grout lines in areas of heavy wear like countertops. Sealers will also preserve grout colors.
3. Stone Bathroom Tile Designs (marble, granite, brick, slate, onyx, travertine and limestone) – this tile can be beautiful, very strong, durable in high-traffic areas, it will last a long time, is low maintainance and easy to clean. However, it is expensive, it’s a cold material, can be slippery and absorbs stains easily.
4. Linoleum Bathroom Tile Design – this tile is made of renewable and natural materials like linseed oil, ground cork, limestone, jute and wood flour. This type of bathroom floor is making a comeback with new marbled and graphic designs, and it is more durable and easier to clean than vinyl tile.
5. Mosaic Bathroom Tile – this wonderful tile was an ancient craft that today can be made of tile, stone, porcelain and colored glass, creating stunning floor patterns. These tiles are small (1 or 2 inches square) and often expensive. What you can do is to add a small section of this type of tile for visual interest to your floor or countertop.
6. Concrete Bathroom Tile Designs – durable, low maintenance, perfect for wet areas and stunning. You can find this type of tile in beautiful textures such as shiny, rough, slick and sandpaper and in various colors and sizes.
7. Hardwood – you can build your bathroom floor using solid wood, parquet flooring or engineered woods (several layers of wood laminated and high-tech materials that are similar to plywood). Hardwoods are wear-resistant, attractive, comfortable to walk on, easy to clean and refinish, not very cold in winter, but they are more vulnerable to moisture when used in a bathroom.
If you want to use a bathroom tile design that includes rugs in your bathroom, make sure you buy the kind that has rubber backing, or add rubber backing strips to the rugs. Be careful with rugs that can slip and slide on a tiled floor or natural stone floor which creates a safety hazard. Rugs can also harbor dust mites and allergens which is a problem for people with allergies.
Whether you’ll be remodeling an old bathroom or creating a brand new one, being active in the design stage helps ensure that your bathroom turns out just like you want. The bathroom tile designs and styles, colors, patterns and sizes you choose can help you have a bathroom that is comfortable, attractive and functional and a room that you will enjoy every day.
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Furniture Style Bathroom Vanities: Ultimate Combination of Value and Selection

December 22nd, 2009

 Your bathroom design project needs fixtures that are above the ordinary, yet easy to use and durable. Remodel and design your bathroom with innovative furniture style bathroom vanities, a collective term for bath furniture, bathroom faucets, basins, grab rails, or mirrors. The Internet is a treasure house of several design styles, color schemes and combinations. Your taste would determine whether you want a stylized stone bathroom vanity, charming old style vanity made of wood, or the very contemporary hi-tech stainless steel and glass vanity.
 
Here’s an insight into these bathroom sinks and vanities :
Stone Bathroom Vanities: Stones such as marble and granite offer the perfect combination of beauty and endurance. They always remain as good as new, are easy to clean, and never go out of fashion. Natural stone, Travertine and Onyx are also used. You may have an experienced stonemason help you select the best material from the extensive range of quality stoneware and create the bathroom vanity that reflects your style and suits the needs of your family. To make things easier and also more cost-effective, you could simply order online from a reliable specialty retailer.
 
Wood bathroom Vanities: Wood is the most versatile and ideal material to create a look that is antique, contemporary or modern. You can capture the look that you want with different types of wood, such as mahogany, cherry, and oak. Of these, Mahogany is light pink to a dark reddish brown color, and the most inexpensive and easiest to obtain. Cherry wood is perhaps the most commonly used, as it is ideal for carving and cabinet making. This type of wood is a light to dark reddish brown color and is fairly heavy.
 
Vanities made of wood, when sealed properly against mites and water damage, can last for quite a long time. Wood for unique bathroom vanities can also be finished so as to give it a rustic appeal or crafted to achieve the much-favored Victorian look, with inset doors, wood knobs and wood latches. . Also, it can be hand painted or further sanded for a smooth finish. Wood vanities go great with countertops and sinks of a variety of materials, such as, Porcelain, ceramic, glass, metal, stainless steel, copper, and aluminum.
 
Steel and Glass Vanities: Stunning designs are available in stainless steel and glass vanities, with choices between glass top wall mounted vanity, clear glass double bowl vanity, one-piece bathroom vanity with frosted glass, and several more. Designed steel stands cradle and showcase your glass sink while adding an element of artful interest.
 
Glass vanities are of course more fragile and delicate than other traditional vanities, and it takes an extra effort to maintain them. While good quality glass vanities can withstand high temperatures, thermal shock may yet shatter the glass. Also, any heavy objects dropped on the glass will break it.

Here are some valuable bathroom sinks and vanities shopping tips:
 
If your bathroom is small, consider going in for an open-concept vanity with a glass top that will create the illusion of more space, yet be practical and functional.
 
 
Style of countertop can vary according to your personal style. While ceramic is traditional and granite beautiful and durable, there is none more impervious to water than quartz or tempered glass.
 
 
More than looks, your bathroom vanity must fit in the layout, and make for storage.
 
 
For a fresh urban feel , get a stone vessel in the form of a sculptured bowl or a mint green tempered glass sink.
 
 
When shopping for faucets, look for something that complements the tone of your bathroom vanity. Brushed nickel or stainless steel are popular finishes.
 
 
Strive to achieve a look that combines a natural serenity and a sense of cool sophistication.
 
 
Bathroom sinks and vanities change the overall feel of your bathroom to make it soothing yet cheery. Mix and match with bath decor, such as sinks, curtain rods, showers, side cabinets, basin, mirror, countertop and faucets. Be sure to have fun with it!
 
On the Internet, you can definitely find the perfect vanity to match with your bathroom interiors. There is a wide selection in all price ranges, and you’re sure to come across the perfect one that fits your budget. There are a few good sites, for instance, www. homelivingstyle. com that help you discover the beauty and potential of bathroom space. Eventually, making furniture style bathroom a part of your bathroom decor must mean the ultimate combination of value and selection!