56 THE QUEENS COURIER • AT HOME • JULY 12, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
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Ideas for an on-trend bathroom
Bringing an outdated bathroom into
the now is a sure way to infuse value and
personal enjoyment into your home.
Whether you’re tearing down and starting
fresh or simply looking to infuse
some new life with a few key elements,
these ideas, paired with an option such
as Wellborn cabinetry, can give you the
inspiration you need to transform a tired
toilet into a modern marvel.
Make a singular statement
For a bolder look, the best approach
may actually be quite simple. Use a single
material throughout the room for
big impact. For example, run the same
tile you select for the fl oor up the walls,
across the vanity, around the shower and
up to the ceiling. It’s a dramatic approach,
but with the right color and pattern, it
can work, especially with a pale or neutral
tone. Th e same concept applies to
other materials, such as plaster or concrete,
which can create a uniform look
that makes a statement.
Try a timeless tub
Freestanding tubs were once associated
with older, outdated homes, but like
many things in design, these stand-alone
vessels are once more back in vogue.
Today’s freestanding tubs off er tons of
style to fi t nearly any design motif. If the
claw-foot style of yesteryear is your thing,
there are plenty of contemporary takes on
the look for an updated, traditional bathroom.
Th ere are also a wide range of sleek
styles that look nothing like the classic
version for a completely fresh, sophisticated
bath. Give your tub extra star power
by setting it against a backdrop of tile or
reclaimed wood, and punch up the style
with standout fi xtures to make your tub
a truly unique feature of the bathroom.
Float your vanity
Take a look at today’s trending bathroom
designs and you’ll see fl oating vanities
cover the pages of most design magazines
and articles. Floating vanities, also
known as wall-mounted vanities, mount
directly to the wall, providing more fl oor
space and creating a streamlined look.
By mounting the vanity to a wall,
the space is broadened, naturally making
the bathroom look and feel larger.
Additionally, the wall mount allows
homeowners to customize the space in
terms of countertop height and comfort.
Although the aesthetic benefi ts oft en
come at the cost of limited under-sink
storage space, this potential pitfall can be
overcome with a customizable U-shaped
drawer option, such as those off ered
by Wellborn Cabinet, that allows functional
drawers to be placed within the
wall-mounted cabinetry. Th e storage-enhancing
drawer option complements the
Wall Mounted Vanity program available
in the Aspire Cabinetry line, which off ers
mounted vanities in more than 40 door
profi les, featuring door style selections
of wood, decorative laminate veneer, textured
melamine, smooth melamine, solid
high gloss, matte and designer colors. For
more information, visit wellborn.com.
Infuse unexpected color
If you think of bathroom fi xtures as
purely functional, think again. Not only
can they add a stylish focal point to your
tub (and shower and sink, for that matter),
the ultra-practical fi xtures can actually
be a source of color. Bold brass and
gold tones are in style, or for something
completely diff erent, explore a new look
like solid black fi xtures that pop against
several diff erent textures and surfaces.
Introduce ample lighting
Sub-optimal lighting can hamper the
ambiance of smaller spaces like bathrooms.
If the space has a window, ditch
any coverings that restrict the natural
light and instead rely on textured glass
windows that provide privacy while
allowing light to shine freely. Another
option is a skylight, which is surprisingly
easy to add. If access to the roofl ine is
an issue, consider one (or even a couple)
tunnel skylights. Also give care to selecting
the right fi xtures for the space. Not
only should they coordinate well with the
overall decor, they should provide plenty
of task and ambient lighting to make the
room both useful and inviting.
Trick Your Way to a
Bigger Bathroom
When knocking down walls to create
more space isn’t an option, there are still
plenty of ways you can maximize a small
bathroom space to make it look and feel
larger than it really is.
Opt for monochromatic cabinetry.
Whether you buy new or paint existing
cabinets, make them blend in monochromatically
in the lightest shade possible.
White and light colors refl ect light, making
the room seem brighter and more spacious.
To maximize the illusion, extend
the monochromatic scheme throughout
the space, including fl oor tiles, wall paint,
ceilings and even the decorations.
Place cabinets strategically. Th ink of the
spaces in your bathroom that you don’t
usually use, such as the area above the
doorway. Especially if you have high ceilings,
you can install decorative storage
shelves to house items you don’t need in
everyday reach like bathtub salts, scrubs
and more. You can also use the shelves
for storing extra toilet paper and cleaners
to free up valuable storage space below
the sink.
Maximize vertical space. Consider
extending cabinetry up to the ceiling.
Adding color at a vertical height can
cause the eye to go up and therefore
enlarge the bathroom space and feel. It
is also a wise use of unused space rather
than borrowing from limited fl oor space,
which can make the space feel cramped.
Consider open storage. Open storage
shelves trick the mind because the
airy openness can give the illusion of
taking less space than enclosed storage.
However, be mindful of over-fi lling
shelves, which can create a cluttered look.
Instead use the open space as an opportunity
to feature artwork or other accents
that add life to the room.
Courtesy Family Features