SPECIAL SECTION: Spring Home Renovation Guide
Bathroom Upgrades
for Style
Makeover ideas to spruce up a small
bathroom or plan a full renovation.
Home upgrades are all about adding comfort, convenience and
beauty, and the bathroom is no exception. It may be the smallest room
in the house, but these ideas for enhancing the most functional features
of your bathroom are sure to make a big impact.
Whether your goal is a spa-like oasis or simply bringing a new level
of sophistication to this all-important room in your house, there are a
few key areas to focus your attention.
Sink: More than just a bowl for capturing water when you wash or
brush, the sink can actually be a statement piece within your bathroom.
More traditional options range from decorative self-rimming to sleek
undermount styles, while vessels in all shapes, sizes and materials lend
an artistic flair. Wall-mounted sinks reflect a trend toward floating
vanities and today’s pedestals are anything but boring.
Toilet: Keeping a sparkling clean bathroom is now easier with
the new American Standard ActiClean self-cleaning toilet, which
also offers stylish design and affordability. The ActiClean combines
the power of revolutionary VorMax flushing technology with a fully
integrated self-cleaning system, eliminating the need for in-bowl or
in-tank cleaning solutions. A convenient flip-up door on the tank’s top
houses the control panel for the cleaning system, which is activated
at the user’s touch for a one-minute Quick Clean or 10-minute Deep
Clean cycle. The toilet tank and bowl feature EverClean, a permanent
finish that inhibits the growth of stain and odor-causing bacteria,
mold, and mildew on the surface to help the toilet stay cleaner longer.
The system, which operates on four AA alkaline batteries, runs
independently from the normal toilet-flushing operation, meaning
the toilet will always flush, even if the cleaning cartridge or batteries
have run out. Additional features include a slow-close lid and anti-slip
bumpers that lock the seat in place.
Tub: Few people will argue that nothing beats a long soak in a
warm tub. Now, the bathtub’s appearance and special features can be
specially tailored to satisfy your personal preferences. Extra-deep,
extra-wide, with and without jets, freestanding or integrated into the
architecture—the possibilities are nearly endless. Keep access in mind
when you choose your style; don’t select a tub so deep it’s difficult to
climb in and out, and remember practical considerations like bathing
children.
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Floor: Because it offers broad aesthetic appeal and it’s relatively
easy to keep clean, tile flooring is a top choice for bathrooms. Not only
can you add style with the color and texture of the tile, you can take
your flooring to even greater levels with special patterns and designs.
Another flooring enhancement—heated coils that run below the
surface to keep cool tile warm and cozy when it’s cold outside.
Storage: While aesthetic appeal is important, a bathroom without
sufficient storage space is truly lacking in function. Be sure your design
includes a place to keep essentials like towels and personal grooming
items. Whether your storage space blends in or stands out is entirely
up to you; some vanities actually look more like stylish furniture, and
open shelving is a popular choice for a modern space.
With the wide range of options available, it’s easy to create a
bathroom that delivers the perfect combination of style and function.
Smart, Stylish Designs for Outdoor
Kitchens
Kitchens are moving outside and are
expected to be a top design trend in
2017.
An outdoor kitchen can greatly improve the value of a home, and it
brings family and friends together. Whether it’s having your neighbors
for a weekend barbecue or a big family gathering, everyone loves being
outside.
Big or small, the basic principles of outdoor kitchen design remain
the same. Get started by understanding these basics:
Get the right heat—It all starts with the grill, which is the
centerpiece of the outdoor kitchen. Russ Faulk, chief designer and
head of product for Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet, suggests basing
your selection on the cook you aspire to be, not the kind you are now.
Remember that there are no uniform depths, heights or widths when it
comes to grills, so future upgrades can be a challenge.
More homeowners are also expanding their cooking capabilities
with specialized products offering different types of heat. Smokers,
pizza ovens and charcoal or wood-fired grills are options to keep in
mind as they can enhance the outdoor cooking experience.
Assess the space—Think about how you envision the relationship
between your indoor and outdoor kitchens. If they are relatively
close together, an outdoor kitchen can utilize the indoor kitchen’s
capabilities, such as prep space and storage. Conversely, a fully
independent outdoor kitchen with refrigeration, warming cabinets