Eco Bathroom Renovation Project

Before jumping into a renovation project and updating those bathroom suites, it could prove beneficial to consider a number of points to make the job go much more smoothly.

Writing for the Toronto Star, Marc Atiyolil – editor-in-chief of Canadian Home Trends magazine – suggested opting for pedestal sinks rather than vanities if the washroom is small as these will make the room seem larger while taking up less physical space.

And for people with no young children, he recommended installing a shower rather than a bath in one of the suites. “Designing a bathroom is an exciting project. Once you are done, you will be like a proud mother wanting to show off her new baby,” he remarked.

Green renovations have been predicted to be big in the next 12 months when it comes to bathroom suite design or the remodelling of any other part of the house.

Speaking to Eco Home Magazine, Kara Saul Rinaldi, the executive director of the National Home Performance Council in the US, explained that people are now holding onto their residences for longer and are keen to make them as comfortable as possible.

To this end, Brent Ehrlich of Building Green noted that solar water heaters are likely to be of interest in 2011, which could be used in bathroom suites and elsewhere in a house, while heat-pump water heaters will also offer more bang for a renovator’s buck.

“From net-zero-energy houses to deep energy retrofits to energy-conserving products, ideas that cater to consumers’ drive for ever-lower utility bills will take centre stage,” the news source observed.

Other tips included coordinating colours well – if looking to sell the property, neutral shades work best, but if intending to stay in the home, it is possible to have fun with schemes by going for one neutral and up to two accent hues, which can be used in wall art, bathroom accessories, a single wall or hand towels.

With regards to actual interior design, Jane Rutherford of department store Rutherfords recently told Journal Live browns, smudgy greys, cobalt blues and lavenders will all be colours of note in 2011.

Debbie Travis of the Calgary Herald recently noted that caramel, bright blue, poppy red and sulphur green will all be big this year.