Bathroom Design Ideas

Preparing to Lay a Carpet

The first thing to do is ensure the floor area is clean, dry and relatively even. Assuming you have already disposed of the original carpet, remove any remaining tacks or carpet nails; if they are too firmly attached to pull out, use a hammer to flatten them flush with the floor. If your carpet is rubber-backed, you will need to secure it with a 50 mm wide double-sided tale around the room’s edge. Woven carpets require gripper strips, which are fixed 6mm from the walls or skirting boards, teeth angled towards the wall.

Carpet Underlay

Rubber-backed carpets do not require underlay. Otherwise lay the underlay so that there is a slight gap, about 50mm, around the perimeter.

Laying the Carpet

You should now roll the new carpet the length of the room. Try to start in the corner of two plain walls, lining up the machine-cut edge with one wall before fixing it using either tape or grippers. The edge can be tucked beneath the skirting board with a bolster. The carpet must then be stretched across the area until it is taut. A knee kicker is required for this, which can be hired or bought.

Ensure that the carpet is as flat as possible by working at the opposite wall, using the kicker to stretch it onto the gripper. Trim the edge to fit, leaving about 5mm to poke under the skirting board.  Next go across the room the other way, using the knee kicker to stretch the carpet onto the gripper strips. When there are alcoves or radiator pipes, carefully cut the carpet to shape.

There is no longer any excuse for anybody to have a cluttered bathroom.  The variety of bathroom furniture that is currently available is enormous and no matter what your requirements may be, there will be a piece of bathroom furniture that does the job and fits the space properly.

There was a time when the laundry basket dominated many bathrooms, and filthy garments were regularly strewn across the floor.  Today there is bathroom furniture available which features an integrated laundry basket, and some pieces even have separate compartments for light and dark clothes.

Sinks in modern bathrooms are regularly incorporated into vanity units which have drawers and feature a large amount of storage space, integrated lighting, and a marble surround. 

We no longer see exposed plumbing or pipe work in the modern bathroom, either.  Today, it is hidden behind the walls or contained in cleverly designed bathroom furniture.  Furniture that is water-resistant and wipes clean now fills our bathrooms, hiding our toiletries, pipes, and toilet rolls. 

How did we ever cope in the bathroom before?

Beautiful solid wood worktops are expensive and people worry that they will be difficult to maintain. Usually these fears are unfounded and should not put you off investing in an Oak, Beech, Walnut or Mahogany worktop. Keeping the wood looking good is very easy, and any serious marks can be sanded down. You can’t say that about Formica or granite!

The two main things that can damage the wood are heat and water. You will need to protect it from extreme heat by setting hot pans down on pan stands or trivets. Water spills are inevitable in the kitchen and won’t do any damage if they are quickly mopped up and dried. Just don’t leave water to stand for long periods.

If you use the manufacturer’s recommended oil regularly, your worktop will maintain its natural beauty and colour. You will need to apply more oil as soon as it starts losing its sheen. If it is badly marked or damaged, you can resurface the worktop by sanding it down and re-oiling, bringing it back to its original glory.

DIY enthusiasts often struggle to achieve a decent seal between the edges of a bath, shower tray or basin and the wall. If a seal is allowed to open up, the walls and the floor can suffer from moisture damage. This means that it is essential for a bath, shower tray or basin to be permanently sealed.

In the event that you need to seal small gaps of approximately three millimetres in width, silicone mastic is the material of choice to use. This is a flexible sealant that you squeeze evenly into the gap from a tube which is fitted into an application gun. Once the sealant has been squeezed into the gap, it is smoothed with a wet dowel. The mastic is available in colours to suit your bathroom’s decor.

Larger gaps can be sealed using quadrant tiles or else special strips of plastic bought for the purpose. Whichever you choose, they’ll need to be bedded on mastic so that a waterproof seal is assured.

Damp in bathrooms is an ongoing problem but as long as all edges are properly sealed there should be no danger of water getting into the cracks and causing damage.

Redecoration in kitchens or bathrooms will often involve replacing or removing tiles from the walls.  It is a fairly straightforward task, but can become monotonous after a while.  Also, depending on how the tiles have been stuck to the wall, you could be in for a lengthy job to get them off.  The older method was to use cement mortar instead of the more recent move to using tile adhesive, which isn’t as strong but more practical.  If you are unlucky enough to have cement mortar behind the tiles, you will probably have to remove that with just as much effort as removing the tiles.

Before starting, make sure you have a pair of safety goggles, as small chips of the tiles are likely to fly off unpredictably during the process.  The only tools you will need are the trusty combination of hammer and chisel.  Starting from the edge of the wall if possible, hammer the chisel into the side of the tile.  The first tiles will often be the hardest to remove as they are supported by others around them.

Once the tiles are removed, you are likely to be left with some adhesive or cement on the wall, which needs to be removed as well.  A paint scraper should suffice for any adhesive, while it’s best to continue with the hammer and chisel in the case of cement.  If you find that you are chipping cracks into the wall, don’t be too concerned as you will probably have to use filler anyway in preparing the wall for the redecoration.

Modern boilers used in central heating systems tend to give minimal trouble and this is especially true when they are regularly serviced. In the event that your boiler fails to work, there are a number of things you can do yourself to address problems prior to calling for the help of a heating engineer. This is certainly true of gas-fired boilers, although with oil-fired boilers you should clean the filters several times a year and ensure that an expert carries out regular servicing.

Boilers can fail to function efficiently for a number of reasons. In a solid-fuel boiler, problems can be caused by soot in the flueways or ash clogging up the grate. In this instance, light cleaning should prevent problems from occurring. A common problem with the gas-fired boiler is the lack of a pilot light. Thermostat and ignition system problems are also common.

In the event that you experience a faulty pilot light, try adjusting the height of the flame by turning the tiny screw on the gas valve and see if that fixes the problem. A blocked nozzle could also be to blame and you could use a cocktail stick to try and clear it. The nozzle may be tricky to reach and you may need to remove the main burner assembly. If your nozzle is blocked completely, you may need to find a professional willing to replace it. If the pilot light will not light, you may need to replace the thermocouple. This will involve the unscrewing of the fixing nuts.

A large bathroom can be turned into a wonderful place for relaxation and indulgence. Designer catalogues often depict spacious bathrooms with whirlpool baths, walk-in showers and large designer sinks so it is not surprising that many feel that without a large amount of space it is impossible to create a truly beautiful bathroom. These brochures are misleading as the average British bathroom often struggles to offer even three square metres of space and this only allows for a standard bath, small sink and toilet. However, with careful planning and wise choices the homeowner can still create a bathroom to be proud of.

When designing a small bathroom, planning is crucial to make the most use of the space. Time should be taken deciding how the bathroom suite and other items are to be fitted into the available space to ensure that the layout does not mean having to compromise on style.

One of the most important decisions is whether to install a bath or a shower. For relaxation a bath is a priority, but for those who prefer an invigorating shower dispensing with the bath in favour of a larger shower or a wet room may be more attractive. However, it is important to remember that whilst on the continent it is not uncommon to find bathrooms without a bath, in the UK many people still expect to see a bath in a bathroom and not having one could create problems if the homeowner intends to sell in the near future.

There’s little doubt that one does luxuriate in a larger bed, especially when there are two people, each with the space of a full twin bed. However, there may be disadvantages, particularly if space and help isn’t abundantly available.

The size of a king size mattress is not always standard; so when you do shop for one, check the size and the terminology used. Whereas one can rely on the size of standard twin beds being 99 x 190cms, double beds being 137cms x 190cms and Queen size 153cms x 203cms, king sizes can vary.

Furthermore, there are manufacturers who change their ‘standard’ size by a few inches; so, when buying bed linen—particularly fitted sheets—it’s important to know the exact size of your mattress, and not take it for granted that anything marked ‘king size’ will fit.

Practically, a king size bed takes up a lot of space in a bedroom. The luxury of the big bed may well be offset by the lack of space to move around in the room; especially if there’s a large bedroom suite as well.

Although one would seldom find king size bases in one piece, as in the style of bunk beds, the king size mattress is one unit and therefore very heavy and cumbersome to move around – or to turn. Normally the base would come as two twin bases, of the type used with divan beds. This makes them easier to move, and provides greater support strength, preventing eventual sagging in the middle.

If you’re thinking of buying king size, consider the practical pros and cons before committing to it.

Underfloor heating that uses water can be used in all types of properties and it is easy to link the system to any heat-source, including central heating systems, solar or geothermal.

Zones

If only part of the home is to be heated, such as the conservatory or kitchen, the building can be divided into zones.  This is achieved by using manifold valves, which direct the water to the required room.  Water underfloor heating kits are available and any competent DIY enthusiast should be capable of installing it.  However, if you are not experienced in DIY a plumber should be employed.

How Water Underfloor Heating Systems Work

The system works by circulating water through pipe loops that are laid under the floor.  The water is usually heated to around 50°C and the pipe loops for a room or zone run from the system manifold and back.  The manifold should sited in a location that is easily accessible.

Advantages of Underfloor Heating

Water underfloor systems are popular in Europe and they provide comfortable, cost effective and unobtrusive heating systems for millions of properties.

Underfloor heating warms the room from the floor up, rather than heating the ceiling space first.  The system is able to use a lower water temperature, because the larger heating surface means that less heat needs to be emitted per square metre than with radiators.  As a result, the boiler consumes less fuel, which means running costs are lower and it is a more environmentally friendly solution than many conventional heating systems.

Installing Water Underfloor Systems

Water underfloor heating systems can be used under almost all types of floors.  A plumber will be quite capable of carrying out the installation and a qualified electrician will be required to wire up the control system.

Designer mirrors are more than a functional piece of glass.  These mirrors create a unique ambiance and add character to almost any space.  The selection of a mirror needs to be made with care to ensure the overall look and design of the space delivers what you are setting out to create.  The good news is that there are some top designers out there offering beautiful mirrors that will fit any taste and design, including classic, modern and even futuristic styles.

Consider the shape and function of the mirror when making a selection.  You can choose from multi faceted and ornate mirrors for rooms that have a need for more glamour or art.  In these cases, the mirror can act as a piece of art on the wall.  Consider both wall mounted and free standing mirrors as well.  Both options can create a unique look in the space, while also adding substance to the room.  Another aspect to consider about the mirror is its frame.  For those who want to use a mirror as a decorative item, choose one framed in a material that works with the rest of the room.  On the other hand, a mirror without a true frame can help to open up the space and create more light, without taking away from other style elements in the room.

Choose designer mirrors around the look and function you want.  Focus on the contemporary look of today’s designer lines from companies such as Tonin, Antonello and Bontempi, for starters.