With the Grain » bathroom

Maintaining Your Septic System

Jenn Greenleaf — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 14:29:07 +0000

For those who have lived all of their lives with properties containing a septic system, maintaining them is part of their regular routine. However, for those who have lived in areas where the town supplies lines to residents, this is not common knowledge. Here are some links to explore covering information regarding septic tank maintenance:

No one really likes thinking about this issue, but is important to do so. Otherwise, if maintaining your septic system is not part of your regular routine, then you may face some very expensive service calls (and smelly ones, at that) in the future. Prevent this from happening with proper maintenance.

Budget Bathroom Decorating Tips

Jenn Greenleaf — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 18:07:03 +0000

It is no mystery the economy is not going to improve anytime soon, however that does not mean consumers have to keep their wallets closed for good. There are ways to stretch the decorating dollars without skimping on design. Here are some tips:

Multi-purpose fabrics: if you know how to sew, buy enough discount fabric you like to create curtains, valances, and shower curtains.
Garage sale finds: rather than buying several expensive containers to store goods and supplies in, use a hodgepodge of baskets and other containers found at yard sales, tag sales, and flea markets. This shabby chic look is not just for the living room!
Re-purpose items: rather than throwing away a shudder, turn it into a magazine rack. Use ceramic flowerpots to hold toothbrushes, and short clear glass vases for cotton swabs or cotton balls.

The only real limit to how far the decorating dollar is stretched is your imagination. There are so many other ways to keep costs low including using old calendar pictures for inexpensive framed wall art and old gardening supplies as knickknacks. Be creative and have fun!

Doing a Bathroom Re-do?

Jenn Greenleaf — Mon, 11 May 2009 17:52:23 +0000

When I say bathroom re-do, in this case I’m not talking about renovations or remodeling. But rather, I’m talking about decorating. This is the fun part that comes after all the plumbing, tiling, electrical, and fixtures have been tended to successfully. There’s typically so much involved with bathroom renovations and remodels that the decorating often gets shouldered for awhile. If you are in the market for some ideas, consider the following:

Depending on the size of your bathroom, as well as its location in your home (half bath, full shared bath, master bath, etc.), that will dictate a lot of what you can and cannot do in terms of decorating. For example, if the bathroom is shared with a lot of children, you are not going to want to fill it with luxury bath essentials, or lacy curtains!

Water Conservation in the Bath

Jenn Greenleaf — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 17:50:09 +0000

Earlier, I was watching one of those shows on channels like HGTV and DIYNetwork where they show all these different gadgets and gizmos meant to improve your home, as well as add a little bling. Well, I saw some pretty weird things for the bathroom. The one that stood out to me the most was . . .

A sink built into a toilet tank lid.

The point behind this bathroom gadget is water conservation. Water from the toilet tank runs the sink, and all the water that goes down the drain goes into the toilet boil. I understand the concept, I understand the conservation, but I still don’t think I could bring myself to use toilet water (be it from the tank or whatever) to wash my hands.

What do you think?

Small, Spacious Bathrooms?

Jenn Greenleaf — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:08:31 +0000

How do you achieve space where there appears to be none? In a bathroom design where the floor plan is seemingly non-existent, this poses a bit of a challenge. It isn’t impossible, though, particularly if you’re able to do a renovation in a home with a basement or crawlspace.

Drop your bathtub into the floor: by making the bathtub flush with the floor, it gives the illusion of a more spacious bathroom.
Built-in shelving: rather than hanging a shelving unit to store linens, build one right into the studs so it is flush.
No vanity: install a hanging or pedestal sink, rather than installing a vanity unit.
Add more mirrors: this doesn’t mean hanging all kinds of large mirrors throughout the space. Instead, use mirrored tiles and place a larger mirror above the sink.
Creative lighting: avoid having just one over-head light. Place accent lighting wherever appropriate or possible.
Make it monochromatic: a monochromatic color scheme will prevent the bathroom from seeming too cluttered and busy, which lends itself to feeling small and cramped.

These home improvements are great for a half-bath or for homes where space is limited. If you’re renovating to resell, then this is a great opportunity to increase equity and get more bang for your buck!

Bathroom Storage: Look UP!

Jenn Greenleaf — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:30:00 +0000

Does your bathroom lack the amount of storage necessary to accommodate your household’s needs? Depending on the size of your bathroom, this problem could be solved in a number of ways. First, look up. Do you have a lot of wall space above:

your toilet?
along side the doorway?
above a tub that is not a shower enclosure?
next to a tub?

If you have a lot of wall space, the solution could be to hang either shelving or additional cabinets. For example, in one of my bathrooms I could surround my toilet with one of those standing cabinet units that come with shelves. In my other bathroom, I could hang a cabinet over my toilet and I could add a miniature linen closet next to my tub.

Look for opportunities where they may not be obvious. Whenever you’re in need of extra space, don’t forget to look up. This home improvement project is relatively simple.

Low-Flow Shower Heads

Jenn Greenleaf — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 19:57:00 +0000

Installation of low-flow shower heads is beneficial for a variety of reasons. Here are some sites that will help guide you in the right direction:

Installing low-flow shower heads

Water conservation: installing a low-flow shower head

How to Install a Low-Flow Shower Head

Why Should You Install a Low-Flow Shower Head?

Install a Low-Flow Shower Head

As you can see, not only are low-flow shower heads good for the environment they are also good for your wallet. This is a very easy home improvement project for inexperienced do-it-yourselfers can attempt on their own. If at any time there is concern about the installation process, enlist the help of someone who is more experience.