Bathroom Ideas
Primary Goal: Redesign two bathrooms (one small master & one larger main).
Secondary Goal: Redesign kitchen (knock down center wall, turn into open-concept with island in the middle. Possibly redo cabinets, lighting, etc.
Tertiary Goal: Supply design advice, direction, possibly full interior design services for living room, dining room, and 1 bed room.
Based on how economical the project is, I'd like to tack on these extra goals if possible. The minimum is a full redesign of the two bathrooms. It would be great if we can afford the secondary & tertiary goals as well, however I have no idea if my limited funds will be enough to accomplish these tasks and maintain the level of quality I expect for the primary goal.
My Answers to Common Questions from Designers
*At what level do you want to be involved in the creative process? Do you want to be consulted on the nitty-gritty, day-to-day details, or are you more interested in big picture issues?
Likely day-to-day. Nitty-gritty? Mmmm... maybe. Big-picture issues DEFINITELY!
*Similarly, at what level do you want to be involved in the product research?
At least 50% of the time. I'm big on research before-hand, but I put a lot of faith in the designer to bring me the most important stuff.
*Are you looking for comprehensive, "soup to nuts" guidance, or do you consider yourself design-savvy and only in need of assistance with color, space planning and resources?
While I consider myself design-savvy, I know enough about design to know I know very little about "interior" design. I am fluent in universal design concepts, and know what I like and what I don't – but I am very willing to trust the vast experience of a good interior designer over my own design skills. I prefer more guidance over less.
*Are you a visual person or a tactile person? Will you be satisfied with a designer showing you photos of products, or do you prefer to see and feel everything before deciding whether it is right for you?
Very much a visual & tactile person. Photos are a good start, but I prefer more. In my line of design photos are all I need, because I work in a 2-D medium - sight is the primary method of consuming my type of design. I need more when making decisions on materials and spaces that I will live in, touch, and experience with all my senses every day.
*Do you prefer to be shown many options or fewer?
I prefer fewer options. I trust the designer to whittle away all of the chaff and leave me with a few gems to select from. As a designer myself, I realize that giving the client too many options leads to poorer and tougher decisions. Give me the ones you know are the best of the variety of options you came up with and I'll make the final decisions with you.
*Are you open to the input of others?
Most definitely! Particularly when it involves the input from a seasoned professional who has been doing this for many years. This is why I hired a designer to begin with, after all.
*Are you able to make choices with confidence, or do you tend to vacillate?
I can be both types. Once I make a decision, I tend to stick with it. Sometimes, however, getting to that decision is difficult and I tend to second-guess myself. This is part of the reason why I am seeking professional help – in hopes of getting a good direction, particularly when I'm unsure.
*What are your expectations in terms of a timeline?
No expectations. Everyone hopes for sooner. I would MUCH rather the job take longer if it means getting it done right and with a high level of quality. I care DEEPLY for quality, and prefer it vastly to speed. If we can get the job done quickly with a high level of quality, great! ...but take your time if you need to.
My Tastes & The Things I'm Looking For
*Lighting
It's very important to me to have good lighting throughout the home. Preferably natural lighting wherever possible, but lighting is of great importance to me. I feel far too many people forget the importance of good lighting, and I want to be certain that is an issue that is at the top of the list of things addressed in my home. I'm looking for creative and "oh wow!" kinds of lighting solutions. Ideas that serve the space well, and almost paint the room as much as the paint on the walls do.
*Style
This is where I am most indecisive. I love and appreciate so many elements of various styles. It's VERY difficult for me to settle on just one thing. Does that mean I prefer an eclectic style? I'm not sure. I find great value in a cohesive vision, with unusual items here & there to bring attention and highlight the space. If I were to sum up my style in one sentence, though, I would say it's this: "I prefer a modern take on classical ideas and style." I like my spaces new & modern, but still warm and with feeling and I enjoy the concept of hearkening back to a past era - so long as the design doesn't "dwell" on it. I dislike cold and unfeeling spaces. I don't want to live in an office space so my home should not feel like one. I enjoy the intersection between meticulously created and naturally occurring. My job requires me to work within the intersection of artful design and cold hard tech – I suppose I get my design sensibilities from this confluence of art & technology. I expect to elaborate more on this. My best suggestion is to look below at what I like and why I like it.
Needs
*Higher-than-normal counters.
I am a tall guy (6'3") and am always bending over for everything a lot. I would like to do that less in my home. My girlfriend, however, is only 5' tall, so things should be at a height where she can still reach them. She has insisted that things be built to accommodate me as she is very flexible in accessing things.
*Full-sized toilet
We currently have a very small toilet that is extremely uncomfortable to sit on. It's imperative that we replace this with a full-sized (elongated & 16 1/2" high) toilet.
*Improve Ventilation / Fan
The ventilation in our bathrooms is very poor. Moisture builds up quickly, there are no windows. This needs to be addressed, either through improved fans or some other creative solution.
I don't know if this was the intent. But from the look of this sink it appears long and with two people on either side, I think it was meant to be shared. I like this type of creativity. Good use of a very small space. However, while I appreciate dark bathrooms and find them striking and enjoyable, to use one daily is one thing I would not want for my own bathroom in my home.
I really enjoy the lighting in this space. Not only from the skylight (which unfortunately we wouldn't be able to take advantage of in our 1st story condo), but the lighting under the sink – this is a nice touch that adds a lot to the space.
I like the striking contrast here.
I like the clean lines and the way the light has this beautiful gradient from cool blue hues to warm and friendly yellow & browns as you move from the top to bottom of this shower. I also like that it has both a rain & standard show head.
Not a style I would personally choose for our little condo, but I love the uniqueness of this - and that sink is killer!
I love how the tub is included in the shower area. This is great!
Love the inclusion of the wooden bench here – both functionally AND visually. Lovely materials used. The contrast in colors is also gorgeous.
I like the airy & light feeling here. My girlfriend would enjoy these light colors.
I like the contrast and colors here. Also like the clean and simple look. It's right on the edge of "too empty and sparse" and "just right". Maybe a bit too far towards sparse, but it's close.
Really like the faucet here.
Not exactly my style, but the bold look and uniqueness of this I absolutely LOVE and can appreciate.
That stonework on the wall is awesome!
This almost has a "sinister" feel to it – but I LOVE the uniqueness of this space. It's creative...I love creative!
Love the faucet for the tub, the whole room has a great feel to it.
I like the use of warm greys here. The "roten-buro" inspiration is also great and something that would be nice to mimic in ours if possible.
Love the lighting in here. If only our bathroom had such great natural light. Perhaps there are ways to mimic similar lighting? Really enjoy the contrasting materials used here.
Will probably need to make use of these tricks in our small bathroom.
Enjoying the contrast in this shot. The back wall of the shower with the stonework is gorgeous and goes well with the darker grey/blue color.
Really like the stonework, the nooks to place soap and various cleaning artifacts, and also the place sitting space. Not to mention the dual shower heads.
The "walkway" like feature the pebbles create is an awesome idea, and the use of that space for storage above is great. Love the enclosed shower and the way the travertine wraps it, but still has large glass sections. The sink and stonework behind it are also gorgeous as is the door. Really like the hangers built into the wall for the robes too.
Really like the sinks here.
The drainage is gorgeous. The stonework is beautiful. Love the rainfall shower.
I love the concept of a tiny sink in the shower!
Q