Arabic Bathroom Design

Posted on by iwano@_84

The Moroccan approach to bathing takes the idea of bathroom design to another level. Communal bathing in neighbourhood hammams turned the concept of the bathroom into something much more than a utility space, but into an important social arena where business, gossip and relationships were formed and sustained. Hammams remain an important part of life even today and traditional Arabic bathroom design incorporates rich references to both cultural and social influences from the Arabic and Islamic worlds.

Tadelakt

A traditional take on plastering – Tadelakt is a lime based mortar/plaster, coloured with natural powder dyes, finished with a coat of black Marseilles soap and stone polished, rendering it waterproof. In Morocco this finish is the norm for bathing and bathroom areas, the material is easily malleable and can be sculpted to create soft, tactile curves that incorporate solid baths or shower areas.

Tiles

Famous for intricate tiles, the Islamic geometric designs incorporated in Moroccan architecture offer much more than simple decoration, but more a representation of both religious and cultural references to the interconnectivity of life. The patterns are so complex that mathematicians throughout the ages have battled to decipher the codes. Mosaic or hand painted bathroom tiles are a perfect complement for Tadelakt bathrooms, infusing traditional Arabic design into the heart of the space.

Basins

Rather than porcelain units, palatial Moroccan bathrooms cater for a more refined taste, where a hand hammered copper bathroom sink and bath are polished and sunken into mosaic tiled stands. 

Bathing

Water takes a unique place at the heart of Islamic culture, religion and design – as life-giving, sustaining and purifying it is recognised as the origin of all life on earth and as such is ascribed status within the culture. At famous Moorish settlements in Southern Spain, such as the Alhambra, the presence of water runs through the entire heart of the structure. In respect to the humble bathroom the same prevalence is given in creating a space in which to contemplate, purify and rejuvenate.

Mirrors

Morocco is renowned for its traditional crafts, including blacksmithing and metal work that create beautiful, intricate patterns in everything from window shutters, lamps, jewellery and frame work. Incorporating either beaten metal or patterned framed mirrors into the bathroom is a great way to infuse interior design with a signature look.

Creating an arabic bathroom is an easy method to have that unique wow factor in your home.…

The Pros and Cons of Using Quartz Bathroom Vanities

Posted on by iwano@_84

One of the hottest trends in countertops today is the usage of quartz. It is popular for both kitchen counters and as well as for bathroom vanities and can be used to work with virtually any decorating style. But exactly what are the benefits of quarts bathroom vanities over another choice? Is the difference worth the investment? If you have wondered about either of these questions then take a few minutes to consider the pros and cons of choosing quartz bathroom vanity.

The Pros of Quartz for a Bathroom Vanity

· Quartz is a manufactured product that can be a beautiful addition to your space. Because it is a manufactured product, you can purchase it in virtually any color you desire, as well as being designed to mimic the look of natural stones. In fact, it is available in more colors than natural stones such as granite or marble.

· Quartz is just as durable as concrete or granite countertops, but can take more usage. For example, a quartz bathroom vanity can stand up to drop items, so you don’t have to be concerned about chips or cracks.

· Quartz is extremely non-porous so stains like juice, wine, oil, tomato, coffee, makeup or other products will not stain the surface.

· Not only are stains uncommon, but quartz is also bacteria and virus resistant.

· Unlike granite countertops, it is not necessary to seal and then reseal quartz countertops.

· Quartz is available in pre-made vanity top configurations.

The Cons of Quartz Bathroom Vanities

· Quartz countertops are not something for the average DIYer to tackle. The installation process requires specific tools and knowledge so it will be necessary bring in a professional.

· Though resistant to stains and bacteria, quartz is not as resistant to heat as other countertop choices, so if you use heat-based hair styling items, you will want to have a cooling pad on which to place these items upon completing your look.

· Quartz can be damaged by highly alkaline or acidic chemicals such as drain cleaner, as well as solvents such as bleach and abrasive cleaners. Also, you will not want to use abrasive cleaners on your quartz bathroom vanity top as that can result in dulling its beautiful, shiny finish.

· Quartz is more expensive than any other choice in kitchen or bathroom vanity tops. In fact, it can run anywhere from $115 to $200 per square foot.

· While not necessarily a weakness, quartz is considered by many to be a contemporary countertop covering.

Quartz bathroom vanities are a wonderful option if you are looking for a countertop to make you feel as though you have stepped into your own personal spa. They will add elegance and beauty to nearly any décor and can be installed by a professional with relative ease. If you are looking for a quartz countertop vendor in the Twin Cities area, the pros at Universal Stone can answer your questions-whether about quartz, granite or other stone countertops. …

7 Tips To Avoid Costly Kitchen Remodeling Mistakes

Posted on by iwano@_84

Are you looking for some expert tips on remodeling your kitchen? If so, we suggest that you follow the tips given below. The tips can also help you avoid costly mistakes while renovating your kitchen.

1. Don’t Overspend

While planning, you should take into account the market in order to determine the type of remodeling you want for your kitchen. The cost of a low-end remodel can be as high as $2,000. On the other hand, for high-end upgrades, you should be ready to spend up to $50,000. This will include expensive luxury appliances and countertops. You should look at your neighborhood before deciding on your budget. This will help you avoid spending too much.

2. The Identity Crisis

You can’t remodel a 100-year-old kitchen into a modern kitchen. As a matter of fact, every home is built based on a specific style of architecture. So, you have to follow this style. Don’t spend too much on an age old kitchen or it will look like something else.

3. Trends Matter

As far as kitchen remodeling goes, you can always find something new. If you stay on top of the technology trends, you can find inexpensive versions of the things you want in your kitchen.

4. Don’t Touch the Gas or Water lines

Gas and water lines can cost a great deal of money if you want to move them to a different location in your kitchen. So, we suggest that you don’t move the pipelines from their original location.

5. Don’t Ignore The Floor Plan

If you have set a budget for the rearrangement of appliances, you should make sure that there is a good floor plan in place. Each appliance should be in the right place or you will end up with a lot of problems down the road.

6. Don’t Save Money on New Hardware

In the home innovation stores, you can find a great collection of quality door hardware. Based on your architectural taste, you may want to go for the right knobs and pulls. You shouldn’t save money on the door hardware. Aside from this, you should remove and replace old hinges with modern hinges. Although it can take plenty of time, it won’t cost a lot. But it will make a great difference.

7. Don’t Ignore the Free Advice

You should also check out some home innovation centers that offer free advice. You can benefit from computer-generated designs to lay out your kitchen. The home innovation experts can help you design state-of-the-art designs for your kitchen remodeling. They can give you suggestions about project management and installation services as well.

The takeaway

So, if you have been looking for free advice in order renovate your kitchen, we suggest that you follow the tips given in this article. Aside from this, you can also get in touch with a good home remodeling expert. They can provide their services for a small fee. Or you can also follow DIY methods in order to renovate your kitchen …

10 Bathroom Waterproofing Mistakes To Avoid

Posted on by iwano@_84

I have seen countless cases of bad bathroom waterproofing, causing very costly waterproofing repairs and disruption to home owners. This problem is more common than people think, even in relatively new buildings as well as in existing homes when bathroom remodeling is being carried out. Bathroom waterproofing repair can mean major work because tiles, fixtures, floor tile bedding and so on need to come out for the waterproofing to be redone, not to mention restoring everything to its original state. Based on my personal experience, I’ve compiled a list of 10 important mistakes and reasons why bathroom waterproofing fails that you should take seriously.

The following general and specific mistakes come to mind, when looking back at so many of my bathroom waterproofing jobs, carried out over the years. Many home owners give little importance to bathroom waterproofing, especially shower cubicles during a bathroom remodeling process.

1. Attempting to do the waterproofing job yourself, yet having no experience and not following the waterproofing material data sheet and application instructions.

2. Giving the job to an unlicensed and unqualified person and not requesting warranties for the job in writing.

3. Floor and wall surfaces which can be concrete, wood chipboard paneling or cement fibre boards, not prepared and primed adequately before applying the waterproofing membrane material.

4. Not leaving the waterproofing membrane material enough time to dry before applying cement and sand bedding or gluing tiles to it.

5. Inadequate sealing of floor to wall and wall to wall corner details, where there is a lot of movement due to temperature changes which is particularly a problem with cement fibre sheeted walls on timber framing.

6. Not having the membrane turned up under the bathroom door area with an aluminum or brass angle fixed into the floor first.. This is a very common mistake and easily avoidable.

7. Inadequate sealing around pipe and tap wall penetrations in shower cubicles and bathtubs, usually because the plumber had no attention to detail or used the wrong sealant, resulting in water leaking into the wall.. In some instances the repair is not so extensive or difficult, but will still cost money.

8. Although not directly related to waterproofing, the tiler using the wrong type of glue for wall tiles, because the walls were waterproofed with a polyurethane based waterproof membrane for example while the glue used is acrylic based.

9. The plumber should conduct a water pressure test on the water pipes, by leaving the pipes under water pressure for 24 hours and do a visual inspection for any water leaks before the walls are sheeted to ensure that that are no pinholes in the system where water can slowly drip and find its way under the bathroom floor and surrounding areas. In some of the waterproofing rectification jobs I had a contract to do, the culprit for the water leaks from under the bathroom floor turned out to be a small leak in the water pipe in the wall which kept dripping ever …

Kitchen Cabinet Costs

Posted on by iwano@_84

In planning your kitchen remodeling, the kitchen cabinets will give immediate eye appeal, provide functionality but can also be the biggest cost. Regardless of what your remodel budget is, the cabinet could easily be one half of that expense.

As we wander through the cabinet section of the store, it does seem these are just big boxes with doors. Nevertheless we are amazed at the cost. Making cabinets does require skill to have tightly fitted corners and joins. If one part is off, some other part won’t fit properly. The type of wood used and the finish on the wood all have a price tag.

Nevertheless, you need to get the best cabinets possible for your budget. Here are some ideas on what you can find.

The Basics

Before you shop for cabinets, it is a good idea to determine what type of cabinet you need and get familiar with the terminology used by the salesman.

MDF is a medium density fiber board cabinet.

Base Cabinets are the bottom part of the cabinets that sit on the floor. These project your overall kitchen layout.

Wall Cabinets hang on the wall just above the Base Cabinets. But your design will likely have some Base Cabinets with nothing to hang above. An example would be the sink area.

Framed Cabinets provide a traditional look as the cabinet does have a frame around the outside of the box and around each door.

Frameless Cabinets will have the doors meeting the other door and will have drawers against other drawers. Looking at the front of the cabinet, you will see only the door or the drawer not the cabinet box itself.

10′ x 10′ Standard is just that a standard measure meaning 10 foot of base cabinets and 10 foot of wall cabinets. Manufacturers have used this calculation for their standard kitchen cabinets. You can still change this to meet your footage requirements but they will be a special order instead of than the standard measurements.

Purchasing Cabinets

There are different tiers on purchasing cabinets too. You save money by assembling pre-cut parts from the manufacturer. Since cabinets will be the focal point of your kitchen, you may prefer to have assembled cabinets that are installed by the dealer. The following descriptions will help you make this decision.

RTA or Ready-to-Assemble is provided by the cabinet manufacturer. If the manufacturer doesn’t incur the labor expense to assemble the cabinet, he will pass this savings on to you.

If you are going to use RTA cabinets to cut down on the expenses, you need to find your cabinets at the beginning of your project. You need time to assemble them and ready to install after installing the flooring, painting, papering are complete.

Find a room in your house or the basement to assemble them. Make sure that once these cabinets are assembled that you can still get them through the door and back into the kitchen. When they are assembled, they are going to be …

How to Choose the Best Bathroom Mirror Cabinet

Posted on by iwano@_84

There are different elements which make up part of a well designed and well organised bathroom, and a bathroom mirror cabinet is one of these essentials. Not only do these fulfil several practical roles at once, but they can also add more light and an element of style to any space that they are placed in.

One of the key reasons to invest in a bathroom mirror cabinet is that these items combine a mirror at a convenient height with a storage facility, which is very useful for storing various products such as toothpaste, face creams, cotton buds and anything else that will fit in there. However, there are some important things that you should consider when shopping for one of these items.

The first thing that you should think about is how much room you need inside the cabinet, depending on what you plan to store in there. Some people use these cabinets to store smaller items or their essential skin care items, of which there may only be a few or there may be many. The important thing is that you should make sure that you have enough space for your products.

You should also take into account how much space you have in the rest of your bathroom for storing items, including in cabinets beneath your basin or elsewhere in the room. If you have limited options when it comes to other storage – which is often the case when the bathroom is quite small – consider investing in larger bathroom mirror cabinets to meet your needs.

Another thing to consider is how large the mirror is, as this will affect how much use you get out of it. Some people only need small mirrors to fulfil a minimum of basic tasks, but others prefer a large mirror in order for them to carry out their cleansing and skin care routines effectively.

If possible, view mirrors in an offline store to work out what you think is too big or too small for you, and then do in taking measurements. You can buy your cabinets either at the store that you are looking in, or can instead go elsewhere, such as to an online store. You will then be able to buy something that you are sure is the right size for you.

The next thing to think about is what you are going to do for lighting your bathroom cabinet. The reason for this is that if you have a mirror on your cabinet – or indeed a mirror anywhere else in the room, you are going to need to light it appropriately so that you can see what you are doing. In many cases an overhead ceiling light is not enough, casting a shadow on your mirror.

There are many great bathroom mirror cabinets on the market now that have integrated lighting, which is great for a number of reasons, the first one being that this economise on space, as you will not need to …

Design Ideas for Kitchen Islands

Posted on by iwano@_84

Most timber frame homes are custom built to suit the homeowner’s preference as to how many bedrooms they need, how the kitchen should be designed, and more. If you are in the planning stage of building your own timber frame house here are some kitchen island designs to help you plan your perfect kitchen. Kitchen islands can expand your workspace, give your kitchen its own personality, and come in a variety of design options.

Big island

Today more people are entertaining and eating at home so a large kitchen island would be very helpful to have around. It can be built so that it can be a workspace and a place for the children to do their homework and eat breakfast. Some can even be built long and lean so there can be as many as eight seats or more and more space around the perimeter. How long would depend on the space available.

Peaks and valleys

Today, many people have multi-level kitchen islands. This design is great at hiding the meal prep mess. The art of disguise is not the only reason to choose this design for your timber frame homes. You can also incorporate a variety of surface materials like a butcher-block area for chopping the vegetables, granite top for putting hot pans on, or marble that is good for rolling out pie dough. The various surfaces and heights add dimension and function to the design of your kitchen,

Island hopping

If you are a homeowner that finds one kitchen island not enough you can always have two islands built if you have the room to do so. With island hopping, or dual islands, can have specialized storage areas and designated work zones.

Away from it all

This is another increasingly popular style of kitchen islands for your new timber frame home. Designers are calling it “the unfitted look.” Basically, it looks like a piece of furniture, not a component that belongs in the kitchen. You can give this kitchen-cabinet component different counter surface, turned leg, along with other detailing for furniture-style components. It is often accentuated by putting it on a colorful area rug.

Jagged coastline

This kitchen counter design offers you a variety of designs such as indefinable, crescent shaped, or wavy. If it suits your kitchen, budget, and taste, builds the kitchen counter that want. With a unique design, it will be the toast of internet.

Above and beyond

In a timber frame home, you do not have to stop the height of your creation level at your waist. With the right home design and proper planning, you could even build a set of cabinets above with glass doors so everyone can see your variable collections.…

Concrete Designs and Its Lovely Additional Touch in Your House

Posted on by iwano@_84

The patterns, which are explicit, have come a long way in the short span of time. Over the years, the ultimate choices for your house were limited to tiles, carpet, and wood as well. But now the time is to say good bye to boring and dull things.

Having ample of colorful choices to décor your house you can easily change the interface and the entire look positively. The endless choices are there waiting for you. So, try selecting the best one for your home and make it amazing. Amongst all of the materials choosing the best is quite important and Concrete Designs can help you put from your dill and monotonous house’s look.

Increase the Face Value of your Property

No doubt, placing these particular patterned tiles in your house will increase the face value of your house. Either it is exterior or interior; it looks absolutely amazing for its uniqueness and exclusiveness. Not only has it provided an aesthetic look to your properly as well as it enhances the ultimate sense of equality. As you stand with your aura, your house also requires a makeover to stand boldly amongst other properties. So, giving it a delicate and beautiful touch of the explicit material you will able to make it look absolutely extraordinary.

Choosing the design is important

Are you finding something majestic for your house? Do you want to make your house look absolutely amazing? Then only apart from changing the house’s stuff like appliances, furniture’s you should keep your eye on the floorings and walls as well. Choosing some suitable Concrete Designs, you will be easily able to make your house look majestic.

The layouts come in various forms such as traditional and contemporary. If your house looks traditional styled, then you must select the vintage material for the floorings. But if you love some contemporary stuff then ensure that the floorings also come in contemporary or modern form.

Color combination should be great

When you are actually thinking to select proper flooring for your house, try to choose only the best one. Deciding the color factor is always important. A huge section of people out there always prefer to install colorful, rich and vibrant type of coatings on the surface but some are available out there prefer to install the light colored floor panels.

If you have youngsters or kids in your house always go for the vibrant colors such as blue, cream yellow, pink or sea green. You can also add some mix and match colors over there. But for the aged people or those who actually love to be in the peaceful environment must select the light colored panels such as black, white, light blue and more.

Discuss with the professionals

When you are thinking to install some beautiful flooring panels in your house, the first and foremost thing that you should do is taking the help from any professional. People who are in this field for a prolonged time and experienced a lot …

Tips to Make Bathroom Cabinets Last Longer

Posted on by iwano@_84

Waterproof

Selecting a material that is able to handle the humidity in this room is vital to make sure that they last for a long time. If a material is chosen that is not made to withstand humidity, it can expand and warp, resulting in a room that looks less than new. Bamboo is one of the few materials that can handle a little bit of humidity over a long period without changing size.

Durability

Making sure that cabinets are made of durable material is also a key to lasting good looks, particularly in households with smaller children. Softer woods, such as pine, make a beautiful cabinet, but they also tend to dent and scratch easily. Smaller children tend to be a bit rougher on everything, and can leave a brand new bathroom cabinet looking less than new in a matter of weeks.

Harder woods, such as oak are less likely to dent as easily, and more likely to leave a lasting impression on guests. Bamboo is another great option for cabinets in homes that have small children.

Cleaning

Making sure that bamboo cabinets, as well as those made of other materials, stay clean will help them be long lasting. The cleaning process will often vary depending on the type of material used. For example, a bamboo cabinet can be wiped clean with just a cloth and water. Harsher chemicals can sometimes be used on other materials. It’s important to know which cleaning solutions to use, and to clean bamboo cabinets as often as needed for long lasting good looks.

Preventative checking

Every so often, home owners are advised to simply look over the bamboo cabinets to guarantee that all the hinges are still in working order, all the screws are nice and snug and so on. This can easily make them long lasting. For example, if the screws on a hinge are loose and homeowners do not know, they will never be tightened. Then, the hinge may fall out, sending the door crashing to the ground and damaging the wood. A quick glance over the screws and hinges can easily prevent this problem.

Clean spills immediately

Kitchens and bathrooms are the most common places for spills. Allowing anything liquid to sit in a pool on a cabinet can, and will, eventually damage the wood. If this happens more than once, it will result in several spots on the wood being worn and damaged, and the cabinetry looking horrible. They will be long lasting if homeowners clean up spills as soon as they happen instead of leaving to sit until the room gets cleaned later in the day.

Check the weight

Often, drawers and shelves have a weight limit. Home owners should always double check the weight limit and make sure that they do not put too many things on the shelves or in the drawers. This will cause the shelves to break, or the bottom of the drawer to fall out.

Cabinetry has the power to make a home …

Adding Color to Your Kitchen

Posted on by iwano@_84

The past few decades were dedicated to very neutral colors in the kitchen. It seems every kitchen had neutral appliances, cabinets and wall coverings. Today, people are being more expressive in the kitchen and that’s great news! The kitchen is where a lot of the daily activity takes place in the home, so make the most of this space.

Here are some places to use color in your kitchen:

* Paint & Wall Coverings: There are a variety of paint colors to choose from, so take your time making a decision. It will be the basis of making other choices for your kitchen. Wallpapers and borders are being use more frequently these days as well.

* Faucets: They’re not just chrome anymore. They come in a wide variety of solid colors and metallic options. It’s amazing what style just a faucet can add to your décor.

* Appliances: Thank goodness, the avocado green appliances of the 70s are gone, but then we moved onto the blah whites. Today, you have more choice, but before you go totally bold, realize that an investment into an appliance is something you’ll need to be happy with for many years to come.

* Cabinets: You can paint over old cabinet colors or install completely new ones. If you install new ones, really take some time with your decision. The expense of totally new cabinetry is not something to be taken lightly.

* Tiling: Look for unique expressions for your floor, backsplash and even your countertops. Tile is fairly easy to install and even easier to maintain.

If you’re not up for a big remodeling, you can still add color easily and little expense. In fact, if you’re working in a generally neutral color-scheme elsewhere in the kitchen, you can change your colors to suit your mood year-round!:

* Table cloths or place mats: Create a whole new color scheme for your kitchen with highly-decorative table cloths or mats.

* Window coverings: Forget bland Venetian blinds. Add some color with colorful fabrics.

* Use flowers, candles and other decorative elements to add color.

* Small appliances: Even the coffee maker and mixer can come in some great color choices. Pick the right one for you.

* Tableware: Dishes come in all kinds of colors and patterns. Choose some that suit your style. If you have neutral colored plates, place colorful charger plates beneath them to add some excitement.

Adding color to your kitchen can be as simple or as complicated as you’d like to make it. For your more involved projects, be sure to plan everything out, so it becomes the dream kitchen you hoped for.…