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Rudbekia
Citizen
Username: Rudbekia
Post Number: 188
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Monday, August 21, 2006 - 10:27 pm: | 
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Unlike most folks I know, I have not obsessed over how I would like to do a new bathroom, and now faced with having to do one very quickly and as inexpensively as I possibly can, I need "expert" advice fast and my friends all seem to be away or too busy. The only thing I DO know is that I like Toto toilets, so I'll go to Bath Connection and order one. So if anyone out there is bored and feels like advising me, feel free to respond or PL. For starters, I posted a thread already about shower stalls.....I feel so helpless. |
Shanabana
Citizen
Username: Shanabana
Post Number: 969
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, August 21, 2006 - 11:52 pm: |
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We refurbished our old vanity (w/new doors, lots of sanding and paint) and put a new corian counter and sink on top. Looks very modern now. We also ordered a big tall mirror from a mirror /glass guy for above, instead of a smaller medicine cabinet. The big mirror adds sense of spaciousness to the room. Choose your light fixtures before your hardware and accessories, so the metal finishes match. Try to think if you want a more modern, or period looking room.
I really like this source for lights: http://www.lightingdirect.com/index.cfm?tab=shoproom |
Rudbekia
Citizen
Username: Rudbekia
Post Number: 189
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 8:55 am: |
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Thanks. I'll definitely take a look at those lights. We're making a bathroom where none existed before so I have to buy everything new, including tile. What kind of tile do people get these days? The big 12"x12" ones, the in-between ones, tiny ones or what? Also, is it okay to not put tile on the walls? I can't believe how many choices there are. I went to Home Depot late last night because they're the only store open when my kids are not and even though I didn't see much the experience is just so overwhelming. For instance, how do you choose a faucet? Are there brands that are more reliable than others? Is the Home Depot brand ok? |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 2284
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 11:06 am: |
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We put a new bathroom in recently. We didn't put tile anywhere but in the shower (on walls and ceiling) and just did 4x4 plain white. We put baseboard molding around the bottom and that was it - no tile on the walls.
For the sink - we chose a pedestal sink instead of a vanity to save space, and chose one that had enough space around the top of the basin so that we could place things like hand soap and electric toothbrush on it.
For fixtures - I think we just went to HD/Expo and just looked at what they had and narrowed it down to the type of finish/style we liked. We started with picking the sink fixtures and just went with the matching shower fixtures and lights. We went with Kohler for the pedestal sink and all fixtures, and we're happy with them, but there are other brands equally as good if not better. I've heard Moen is good too.
For floor tile we did just plain white tile - I think it's 6x6. It has a duller finish than the tile that's in the shower.
Generally, we kept everything very simple by doing everything in white - tiles, toilet, sink, so that we could just paint the walls/trim/ceiling to whatever color we wanted and from time to time, could even change the look completely by changing the wall color without worrying about matching any color in the tile.
Good luck! |
jeb
Citizen
Username: Jeb
Post Number: 128
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 12:12 pm: |
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Rudbekia,
Email me and perhaps i can help. i've installed 6 shower stalls in the past few years using new technologies ( not so new, but no one seems to know about them ). |
Rudbekia
Citizen
Username: Rudbekia
Post Number: 190
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 9:26 pm: |
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Thanks, LilB. All white is definitely a good idea. I went to Bath Connection today to look at the Toto toilets. I'll def. get one of those just because I know they work well. We just got back from Lowe's after the obligatory dinner at Applebee's and I have some new questions and observations. First, I really disliked how it felt being in the shower stalls. I don't know if I could stand that closeness. We measure the space today and I realized I can have a 6-foot tub. I saw a Jacuzzi tub that looked nice. Do people ever use those as the bathtub part of their shower, because that's what I'd like to do if there's no reason not to. Then we'd tile the three walls around the tub and use a shower curtain or get sliding doors? Any thoughts on that choice? Then we'd just tile the floor I think. I saw a Kohler pedestal sink at Lowe's that I liked that wasn't too expensive. Someone there warned me not to get the cheapo cabinets because they're more like particle board inside which wouldn't hold up to the moisture from a bathroom? Thoughts? |
Shanabana
Citizen
Username: Shanabana
Post Number: 975
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 10:25 pm: |
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Just remember that big tile are more prone to cracking than little ones. If the subfloor shifts a little, and you use little tile, the the grout will take the cracks, and you can always fix grout.
We didn't tile our walls here (except in tub) in our latest bath reno either. We got a very deep tub, and use it as a shower. Don't see why not with a jakuzzi (sp?)too. I thought slikding doors over the tub was overkill. Got a transparent curtain so the tile could be shown off instead.
I wouldn't want particle board in my bath vanity. |
papayagirl
Citizen
Username: Papayagirl
Post Number: 647
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 22, 2006 - 10:39 pm: |
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Depending on which Toto toilet you want, try New Jersey Plumbing Supply on Newark Ave. They're great there, and when i bought ours, i walked up to the counter, told them the model, and they loaded it in the back of my car. No pre-ordering necessary. |
Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 1234
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - 12:16 am: |
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Palmer Plumbing on Valley also carries Toto toilets in stock (in white). (908) 964-7774
I also recommend Danze faucets for a higher end look, or Gerber (made by same company) for a much less expensive but well made faucet. Don't go to Home Depot or Lowes for faucets - the insides are often plastic instead of ceramic.
Oh, and avoid efaucets.com - Horrible customer service!!!
And, instead of a typical Jacuzzi tub, consider a hot air jet tub. I think it is very sanitary that the tub turns itself on after it senses the water has drained, and it blows the plumbing dry so you don't get the maintenance issues (mold etc.) that you can get w/water jet tub. There is one set up in the display showroom of Central Bath & Kitchen in Orange (973) 266-1166. Their Toto toilets are more than at the plumber, but they only charge 3% tax (or it may be 3.5% now that NJ sales tax has gone up 1%) Call and make an appt - it gets a little crazy in there and they are understaffed. |
JC
Citizen
Username: Demolitionman
Post Number: 52
Registered: 6-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - 6:46 am: |
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www.thekitchenguy.net
Vanities, Tops
+
www.claytondemo.biz |
Rudbekia
Citizen
Username: Rudbekia
Post Number: 195
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 - 4:07 pm: |
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Shanabana, by little tile do you mean the little 1"x1" kind or is little still 6"x6"? I just went over to Lowe's again and looked at their tile. Again I was totally overwhelmed. How does anyone ever decide? Some of it is so beautiful. Part of me says "Just do all white and get it over with" but then part of me looks at that tile and...sigh....
Thanks, Pdg. Where can I buy the Danze or Gerber faucets? |
Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 1238
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, August 24, 2006 - 10:59 am: |
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You can get them at Central Bath & Kitchen, from Palmer Plumbing (may have to order Danze) or somewhere online.
I actually bought a beautiful Danze faucet for our bathroom from Costco.com for much less than I could find anywhere else -
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11107207&whse=&topnav=&browse=& s=1
I was a bit concerned that it might not be highest quality since I bought it at a big-box store (I've heard that some manufacturers make different quality items with cheaper "guts" for sale at Home Depot, etc.), but my plumber checked it out and said it was first quality with ceramic disks and whatever else makes a faucet's insides good.
I bought a much less expensive Gerber 4" all-in-one faucet for a tiny powder room sink from Palmer - they had it in stock. (Bought the tiny sink there too, as well as a Toto toilet - the same toilet I bought from Central, but it was less expensive and was in stock. Last minute decision to change the old toilet and sink in a powder room from blue to white while the plumber was here replacing fixtures in our 2nd floor bath.)
I'm sure Palmer could order whatever you wanted that they didnt' have in stock. I'd definitely use them to check vs other local showrooms' prices. No-one can beat on-line prices, however, now that I know about Palmer, I'd use them over on-line ordering, just to support a quality local store. |
Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 1239
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, August 24, 2006 - 11:02 am: |
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BTW, something to consider if you will have little kids using your bathroom. Consider buying faucets with the longer lever handle (like in my Danze link above) instead of a more rounded one with bumpy ridges or something else that might slip through their wet hands. It is much easier for shorter kids to reach a handle with a lever as well as turn it on and off. Those center-mount, pull on/push off faucets are really tough for kids and they risk burns since it is not so clear which way is hot and cold.
Good luck! |
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