Bathroom Remodel Archives - Page 17 of 30

Bathroom Contractor Talks Tile

By Inspired Remodels / Bathroom Remodel / Comments Off

Tile is the perfect surface for bathrooms. It is durable, water resistant and available in many colors, shapes, and sizes. The variety is almost overwhelming. Learn about the differences in tile options from the bathroom contractor that’s making Orange County more beautiful, one bathroom remodel at a time.

Marble and Granite

People used marble as a building material since ancient times. Thousands of years ago, marble adorned public and government buildings. Marble meant wealth in Roman homes. That’s because marble was expensive. Costs to quarry and move marble were almost as much as the stone.

Today Carrara and Calacatta marble are popular in the bathroom. And, you don’t need to be a wealthy Roman merchant or senator. Today’s marble is very approachable and affordable.

Because marble tile is worked from stone, no two slabs or tiles are the same. Even marble from the same quarry has slight variations. Both Carrara and Calacatta tiles are from Italy. You’ll find shades from white to light gray. Use this tile on floors, walls, and showers.

Granite is another popular stone tile for the bathroom. You often see granite as a slab for countertops, but granite is versatile.

See how granite was used to contrast with the ceramic tile on the shower floor? It’s the one tile that brings together the tile on the floor and the tile on the shower floor.

Porcelain and Ceramic Tiles

Unleash your inner artist with porcelain and ceramic tiles. Or just hire a very creative bathroom contractor. Porcelain and ceramic tiles come in just about every shape and color you can imagine. So what’s the difference?

Both tiles are made from clay. But, porcelain tile is made with a highly refined clay. That means fewer impurities. Once the tiles are formed, they are fired in a kiln at a higher temperature than ceramic tile. The result is a tile that’s denser and more durable. It’s also a bit more expensive.

Ceramic is fine for walls, but for floors ceramic is the better choice. A special type of thin, glazed ceramic tile is called subway tile. Technically, the tiles used in the Manhattan subways in 1904 were glass. The designers found a surface that was easy to clean and would make New Yorkers feel comfortable in this new underground space. The classic size is 3 x 6.

You’ll find today’s subway tiles in many different sizes and colors. The classic color is white, based on the Victorian-era obsession with cleanliness and hygiene.

Mosaic Tiles

Technically, a mosaic tile is an inlay design created with tiles that are no more than 2″. But in general, mosaic tiles are pieces of art that are made up of small pieces of tile, stone, or glass. They are versatile. You can use mosaics as an accent on the floor or shower walls or create an entire floor from mosaics. Talk to your bathroom contractor about how to use mosaics in your bathroom remodel to embody your own sense of style.

This stone mosaic covers the entire floor of the shower. The stones are smooth enough to make the surface easy to clean but not so slick as to make the shower unsafe when wet.

These mosaic tiles create a decorative backsplash around the bathroom sink. The same mosaic is perfect for shower walls or roome walls. Mosaics are incredibly versatile.

Mosaics were once painstakingly put together, one tile at a time. Now mosaics come pre-designed. A webbed square holds the tiles in the design together. Just apply the adhesive, grout, and clean.

This makes mosaics much more affordable than in the past. That’s one reason they are popping up in bathrooms and powder rooms all over Orange County.

Orange County Bathroom Contractor for Tile and More

Hire the bathroom contractor that knows tile. Hire Inspired Remodels. Call (949) 716-1938 and schedule a consultation today.

Remodeling Contractor Uses Lighting for Ambiance and Function

You spend a considerable amount of time in the kitchen and bathroom. When the lighting is poor, it totally spoils the visual appeal of the room. Even worse, it makes using the room for its intended function a nightmare. Who wants to shave or cut up vegetables when you can’t see what you are doing? You must choose lighting options carefully. One sign of a competent remodeling contractor is their ability to incorporate creative lighting. How does your contractor stand up?

Creative Bathroom Lighting Ideas

Bathroom lighting sets the mood for the room. It should also provide enough light to perform personal hygiene routines safely. You need several types of lighting in the bathroom. Try these creative ideas.

Use dimmers

You want bright light for shaving, showering, or applying makeup. But that’s not the light you want soaking in the tub. Dimmer switches allow you to adjust the intensity of the light to suit your moods and needs.

Task lighting

For task lighting, you divide the bathroom into zones. This allows you to focus illumination where you need it. For example, the vanity zone is equipped with a brighter task light than the water closet or toilet zone. The bathing zone utilizes separate task lighting. This approach allows to illuminate each zone with the appropriate amount of lighting, or the tasks performed in the zone.

Focused lighting

Recessed lights are another great idea. The lighting cans are installed flush with the ceiling and flood light downwards. They are excellent for lighting up the entire space. Install this style of lighting by mirrors to enhance the effect.

Layer lighting for a dramatic effect

Layered lighting is a lighting system that incorporates three different kinds of lights: overall, task and accent. Overall lights are generally recessed lights that illuminate the room, while task lights illuminate zones based on function. Accent lights in the bathroom might be pendant lights, profile lights, or backlit mirrors.

Kitchen Lighting Ideas

The kitchen is a room for gathering and working. Whether you are prepping a meal, enjoying a bite with family or friends, or cleaning up, it’s important to see what you are doing. Talk to your kitchen remodeling contractor about using some of these “bright” ideas.

Brighten up the kitchen island

If the kitchen island is your pride and joy, show it off with ceiling lights. Use hanging lights to provide task lighting and give the space an industrial vibe at the same time – perfect for modern kitchens.

Create a vintage vibe

All pendant lighting doesn’t need to look industrial. Milk glass and tulip style shades provide a very subtle vintage vibe. Even if you are going for a farmhouse look, the vintage aura makes the kitchen warm and welcoming. Rubbed bonze is a great metal for creating that vintage vibe.

Pendant lights for all kitchens

No matter if your kitchen is modern, traditional, rustic, vintage, or farmhouse, pendant lights suit all styles. Space them evenly and either hang them at the same height or varying heights depending on the look you want.

Inspired Remodels – The Inspired Remodeling Contractor

Ready for an inspirational kitchen or bathroom? Want a spa in the master bath or a space to craft culinary creations? Turn to Inspired Remodels to taking your inspiration and turn it into a design that looks beautiful and functions flawlessly. Call

Shower Remodeling Ideas for Walk-in Showers

By Inspired Remodels / Bathroom Remodel / Comments Off

Shower remodeling is tricky. The shower sets the tone for the entire bathroom. Get the shower wrong and the entire bathroom looks like a disaster. Here’s a little practical advice and some ideas to get you thinking about your next shower remodeling project.

Space Determines Shape in Shower Remodeling

Your walk-in shower size is determined by the space available. Think outside the box to make the most of the space you have. Showers can be curved, rectangular, square, and can tuck into many unlikely places. In the photo above, the shower was placed in the area between the door to the room and the vanity. Not the traditional space but it works perfectly to create the traditional rectangular shower space.

On the other hand, this space saving walk-in shower makes use of a corner. With a walk-in shower, you aren’t constrained by the size of a traditional tub. This corner shower is spacious and makes most of the room available. Using clear glass for the enclosure make the space look larger too. When you install light tile on the shower walls you visually make the room appear larger as well. The contrasting accent tile on the wall and shower floor provide texture and visual appeal.

Corner showers and curved showers make the most of a small space. So think outside the box when looking at the shape and size of the room.

Splurge on Shower Heads

Take your time selecting your shower head. First think about the finish. Brushed nickel, chrome, and rubbed bronze are all popular finishes. Select a finish that complements the tile color or provides a dash of contrast. Structurally, shower heads designs are categorized as vintage, modern, or industrial. Consider the finish and style of other bathroom fixtures when selecting the shower head. One walk-in shower doesn’t mean one shower head. Splurge on a rainfall shower head for those spa-like showers and a removable shower head for when you need to get down to business. The walk-in shower to the left may be small in size but it packs a punch with multiple shower heads. Use one at a time or all at once.

If you plan to use multiple shower heads, talk to the shower remodeling contractor before work begins. You may need to increase the size of the pipes coming into the shower to provide enough water flow.

Extras to Elevate Your Shower Remodeling Project

Elevate your shower with windows, benches, and niches. Incorporate any of these in almost any shower design. Niches provide storage for in-shower grooming products and benches provide a space to sit and enjoy them.

Niches and windows also provide an avenue to customize your shower as well. Frosted glass contrasts with clear. Contrasting tile shapes and colors adorn niches. As you enjoy the rainfall spray or sit and give yourself a good scrub you’ll be glad you took the time to add those little extras to your project.

Rely on the Shower Remodeling Experts

Rely on the shower remodeling experts at Inspired Remodels to craft the walk-in shower of your dreams. From the largest ensuite master bathroom to the smallest guest bath, Inspired Remodels designs and builds custom walk-in showers, bathrooms, kitchens and more. Call (949) 716-1938 and schedule your shower remodeling consultation today.