Enjoy, Lather, Soak, Unwind

 Getting a new bathroom should be an exciting journey not a nightmare.

Did you know that the average person spends more than a year and a half in the bathroom in their lifetime? Given that, it's not surprising that so many people want their bathrooms to be pleasing to the eye, as it is a chance to get away from the daily grind. For a homeowner, a remodeled bathroom is more than a selling point, it is a necessity.

Whether your goal is a luxury bathroom design or a small bathroom remodeling, we believe that your bathroom should not just serve its functional purpose, but also serve as a beautiful and relaxing retreat.

Richard Reed once said: "The normal continuum for bathrooms is first to resolve the layout, then decide how you want it to look, which usually reflects what you are doing with the rest of the house, choose your wall and floor coverings, usually tiles or marble and granite, and then select the fittings; the bathroom theme will tell you the style."

Our bathroom renovations create spaces that are more comfortable and functional, reflect your taste, set the right tone and fit your budget. Our team has extensive knowledge of sanitary ware, taps and tile designs gained though years in the bathroom remodeling field. Whatever the scope of your bathroom remodel, Dekofino performs all aspects of the renovation including plumbing, electrical and lighting.

From contemporary to traditional style, there are many choices among elegant granite or marble countertops, beautiful vanities and cabinets, single or double bathroom sinks, showers, ceramic wall tiling and flooring, Whirlpool tubs or soft bathtubs. The second important aspect of a successful bathroom remodeling project is energy saving. By specifying energy saving faucets, toilets, and showerheads, you will cut gallons of water use right out of your utility bill (as much as 50 - 75% of the water used in any home is used in your bathroom).

When you consider a bathroom remodeling, it pays to know some fundamentals as well as a few tips:

• Sinks
• Vanities
• Bathroom Countertops
• Backsplash
• Stand up Showers
• Soaker Tubs
• Jacuzzi Tubs
• Toilets
• Bathroom Flooring and Walls
• Lighting
• Heated floors

Sinks - Bathroom sinks come in various shapes and sizes. Popular models are one piece and inset. There is also a trend for top mounted sinks on vanities and counters.

Vanities - Vanities are an integral part of any bathroom design or remodel. There are several options to consider--space, storage needs and budget. Our team can either custom design yours or suggest some models from our suppliers.

Restoration Hardware has recently come out with a number of different designs for vanities--including a stone countertop and under mounted sink--at very reasonable prices.

Bathroom Countertops - Countertops are a big decision and can affect your bottom line.

Backsplash - Choose from gloss, matt, glass and metal finishes, available in almost every color imaginable! Mosaic tiles add a stylistic element in a bathroom.

Stand up Showers - These are growing in popularity as space in homes becomes more compact. Most bathrooms will have a tub and shower combo, but when limited for space or a shower is wanted in a converted powder room, a stand up shower is best. They can be as simple as a single shower head or as elaborate as dual or multi head shower stalls with benches and built in shelving. This can be the wow factor you have been looking for.

Soaker Tubs- Soaker tubs come in many different styles, designs and materials. The most common materials for soakers include: acrylic, porcelain, fiberglass/gel coat, cast iron, ceramic tile, solid surface and marble bathtubs.There are a few things to consider when installing a new tub or shower. As with any installation, plumbing will be a major consideration. Proper water proofing and moisture barriers are crucial on the floor and up the wall (in wet areas) before fitting finishes; we use the Schluter Systems to prevent water damage.

Jacuzzi Tubs- These tubs are great if you are looking for a spa-like experience in your bathroom. There are a multitude of options available but the most common are air jet tubs that create a jet stream of water forced by air into the tub.

Toilets - Two-button dual-flush toilet: these dual flush designs are a smart choice because they only use a fraction of the water regular toilets. The available designs come in a variety of styles and colors: the tank and toilet seat arrangement may be all one piece, or disconnected from each other and the seat comes in two basic shapes, rounded and elongated. Toto has become a very popular option for toilets. As well as Kohler, which has some good looking and more traditional ones.

 Bathroom Flooring and Walls- Beautiful floor and wall finishes will set your bathroom apart but it is vital to include appropriate flooring materials that keep durability, style and re-sale in mind. Look for the ones specially designed for when there's water about: you may actually think that the most used component of the bathroom would be the plumbing, however in fact it is your bathroom floor! It needs to be safe, slip-resistant, hygienic, and easy to clean. These meet all the requirements: natural stone, ceramic tiles specially treated wood or ceramic hardwood.

Lighting - More than any other room in the house, it's important to get the lighting right in the bathroom. When planning your design, it is important to consider the trends in lighting available today. Track lighting from the 80s and 90s is no longer the way to go. With color palettes changing, lighting has become extremely important: "Appropriate facial lighting is key. Ideally, mirrors should have a light source at face height or above that provides both reflected and direct light to the face minimizes shadows and provides even light distribution. These can be wall lights on either side of the mirror or on/above the mirror." Spot lights, sconces and recessed lighting can create great lighting for your bathroom and combined with dimmers will provide adequate lighting and fantastic ambiance and a spa-like feeling.

Heated floors - Warm up cold bathroom floors with electric in-floor heating mats installed beneath the tile. Use it as supplemental heat for comfort or as space heat to warm the entire bathroom. An easy to operate thermostat will let you easily control the temperature and timer.

From updating an existing bathroom to a total bathroom remodeling renovation, DekoFino will listen and work closely with you to create the bathroom of your dreams.