______________________________________________________
Click to see the latest on Kathy's Remodeling Blog
______________________________________________________
 I want to let you know about the Pardon Our Dust feature coming up Sunday in the Real Estate section. It's about two bathrooms that were gutted and redone in 14 days. But I also want to share with you something that did not fit in my article but that touched me personally as I reported and wrote the story.
As you'll read on Sunday, Meg Moreta, a mother of two small daughters, was diagnosed with Stage 3 cervical cancer, and then breast cancer, while still in her 30s. I don't want to give away too much of the story, but after what she had gone through, she really needed a fresh start with her bathrooms, which were reminding her of bad times.
While I sat and talked with Meg at her pretty and peaceful Los Angeles home (her two daughters were on a play date), I was astonished at what she had gone through. And what she continues to go through. Late-stage cancer, chemotherapy and radiation really take a toll on a body.
Talking to Meg reminded me of how important it is that we all stay on top of our healthcare. Meg's advice to readers: Request your medical reports. Read them and ask questions. And keep your records in a binder. In other words, take charge of your own health.
(Photos: Rod Foster)
______________________________________________________
Click to see the latest on Kathy's Remodeling Blog
______________________________________________________
 In a previous post, Andrew C. wondered how to best use the extra space on the ground floor of his Crofton, Md., townhouse. He wanted both a larger laundry area and a bathroom.
Several readers gave good suggestions. Helen thought up a different configuration for the space with room for a big bath and a bigger laundry room.
Readers Jose and modernemama each suggested a stackable washer and dryer to free up space for, perhaps, shelving.
But it was lil_gaucha who has my vote for this idea: Use all the space for a combination laundry room and full bath. Then, Andrew gets a nice big space to do his laundry, and when he sells the townhouse in five years, the appraisal will reflect that extra full bath.
After doing some Internet searching, I see this is not an uncommon use of space. At first it seemed a little odd, having a toilet in the laundry area. But after seeing a few photos, especially with the washer and dryer behind folding doors, I warmed up to the plan.
I was also reminded of Bethany Orlemann's brilliance when she incorporated the space of her service porch into the kitchen and then added front loaders under a counter. It made her Eagle Rock kitchen much larger and her laundry area is stylish.
You like the idea of a combo bathroom/laundry room?
(Photos: Bethany Orlemann)
______________________________________________________
Click to see the latest on Kathy's Remodeling Blog
______________________________________________________
Andrew C., a reader from Crofton, Md., needs our advice on whether to add a bathroom to some extra space on his ground floor, or to enlarge his cramped laundry room. (See the miserable laundry room here and here.)
A little background: Andrew bought his three-story townhouse a year ago and plans to live there another five years. The second story has an eat-in kitchen, living room, dining room and half bath. The top floor has the master bedroom, two more bedrooms and two full baths. So far, so good.
But Andrew feels the space on the ground floor could be better used. There are two rooms down there that Andrew uses as a media room and an office. There is also a utility room with the washer and dryer and all the home’s mechanicals, and an adjacent storage room. Both spaces together are 6 feet by 12 feet.
Andrew wants a larger laundry room, but he also would like a bathroom on that floor. He considered a half bath, but it would require a walk through the laundry room to get to it. And he wonders: Is that too weird? A real estate agent told him that a full bath would bring most resale value in case the two existing rooms are used as bedrooms.
But it makes me sick to think of Andrew doing his laundry in that pitiful space for the next five years. That can't be right. I wonder if there is some compromise or another idea we're not considering.
______________________________________________________
Click to see the latest on Kathy's Remodeling Blog
______________________________________________________
 I was so excited about this new shower curtain, which was a gift for my husband.
It was at about 35,000 feet, breathing airliner air, when I saw in a magazine this really neat shower curtain. The clear vinyl on the top would allow our dark and narrow shower stall some needed daylight. And the curtain is treated with "the world's strongest industrial antimicrobial and germicidal inhibitor."
And maybe that's why, when it arrived in my mailbox, it had such a chemically odor that I had to leave it outside overnight.
Then I read today that a report released by the Virginia-based Center for Health, Environment & Justice found that vinyl shower curtains "sold at Bed Bath & Beyond, Kmart, Sears, Target and Wal-Mart, among other major retailers, contained high concentrations of chemicals that are linked to liver damage as well as damage to the central nervous, respiratory and reproductive systems." Yikes! And I'm so fond of my central nervous system. Heck, I like all my systems. (Read about the study in the L.A. Times.)
So what do I now? I want to be an eco-consumer and I want to retain my good health. And I'm not even sure if this item is an offender. And our bathroom window is open all the time for natural ventilation. But If I suspected this item was not healthy, how would tossing it, and all its embodied carbon load, into the trash square with my green goals?
In other words, if you discovered you'd made a bad, unhealthy purchase, which do you think would be the greener action: keep it and make use of it, or get it out of your house, dump it in the landfill for future generations to deal with and try again?
Perhaps I shouldn't have bought it. That might be the answer. But what do I do now? What would you do?
(Photo: Sky Mall)
______________________________________________________
Click to see the latest on Kathy's Remodeling Blog
______________________________________________________
 Do you ever feel "terminally unique?" I do. And that's why blending my own glass tile backsplash is so appealing. Oceanside Glasstile of Carlsbad offers an online tool for mixing up the colors you like best. Here's my favorite blend! It feels exciting to my bones. Granted, it's not relaxing. It's not classic. But, it's me.
And oh what a difference grout color makes. Here I show the same blend with (clockwise from top left) gray, green, white and red grout.
And if you're leaning toward green, this would be considered a green choice in terms of proximity to SoCal. These tiles are manufacturered just outside Tijuana. And in most green building philosophies, if stuff is made within 500 miles of your home, that's a good thing.
______________________________________________________
Click to see the latest on Kathy's Remodeling Blog
______________________________________________________
 I'm not big on showers. Baths are my daily therapy. (However, according to my poll, only 22% of you agree with me.)
But I'll admit that my husband's rainfall-type showerhead makes for an extremely satisfying experience.
And it occurred to me while reading an article about rainfall showerheads in the Chicago Tribune that standing under one of these is one of the great luxuries of an otherwise modest life.
They range from 6 to 24 inches in diameter, while a typical showerhead is from 2 to 4 inches. And you don't need to hang them from the center of the shower ceiling during a remodel or new construction. Retrofit models, like ours, could not be easier to install. Just screw it on like a typical showerhead.
Here are some affordable models:
Top: Waterpik AquaScape Spa Shower Head, 8-inch diameter, nickel, choose between five spray settings — pulsating rain, drenching rain, water saver, center spray, pulsating massage, Bed Bath and Beyond, clearance sale, $69
Middle: Conair large Rainshower dual showerhead, hand-held and wall-mounted, chrome and white, Target.com, $69
Bottom: 100 Sprays square showerhead, 100 small anti-clog nozzles, 10-inch arm, Overstock.com, $30
______________________________________________________
Click to see the latest on Kathy's Remodeling Blog
______________________________________________________
 Perhaps you've heard this ditty about the choices we make in life: We choose based on emotion, and then rationalize our choices with logic.
It's like that with me and claw-foot-style tubs and pedestal sinks. The logic says: bad choice. And a previous posting on this blog brought many well-thought-out comments from readers on why pedestal sinks stink.
Still, I love that jolt to my pulse when I behold a pedestal sink and claw-foot-type tub and frankly I want that jolt on a daily basis.
And so I was happy to read the thoughts of Utah interior designer Anne-Marie Barton in the Salt Lake Tribune, who expressed this opinion:
Vessel sinks and free-standing bathtubs are visually classic choices and actually cost less money in a remodel because tile and countertops do not need to be installed.
For instance, in the Los Angeles bathroom pictured here, the wooden bead board wainscoting is perfectly suitable, whereas a material less susceptible to water damage (tile, fiberglass, stone) would have been needed for a built-in tub installed snug to the wall. (You can still spend a bundle on wall treatments with a free-standing tub. Check out this travertine bonanza I saw not too long ago.)
Likewise, the wood counter under the pedestal sinks works here. However, if those sinks were flush to the counter, a more durable countertop, and backsplash, would be necessary. The same could be said for a pedestal sink, which needs no countertop at all.
So for me, this a nice melding of emotion (I like the feeling!) and logic (it saves money!).
Does this money-saving argument hold water?
(Photo: Los Angeles Times)
______________________________________________________
Click to see the latest on Kathy's Remodeling Blog
______________________________________________________
 If you're going green, you know that transportation of your green goods must be factored in. Even if a product is made of recycled materials, for instance, when you have to ship it halfway around the world, that creates a lot of greenhouse gases and negates your green efforts.
All this is especially so with stone products, which are, you know, as heavy as rocks.
So when I came across a well-thought-out Q&A on finding locally quarried stone, I wanted to share it with you. The question is answered by Tracy A. Stone, who opened her architectural practice in Los Angeles in 1991. She is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and a LEED Accredited Professional, and has a working knowledge of sustainable strategies, technologies and materials.
This Q&A comes from the GreenHomeGuide: Question: I am remodeling my bathroom with an eye on eco-friendly. I hate the idea of shipping granite around the world, but I'd like to use some type of stone on the floor and in the shower. Is there any locally quarried stone in the Southern California area? — Caroline Kaplan, Mission Viejo, CA
Answer: Natural stone has an appealing color, texture, and mass that make it pleasing to interact with in an interior environment. However, if it is not quarried locally, it does take an enormous amount of energy to transport.
Much of the stone that we find on the market in Southern California comes from as far away as China. Slate is domestic, but it comes from Maine, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. Historically, Northern California had a number of granite quarries, but most of them are no longer active. Two that remain active are Cold Spring's Academy Black and Sierra White quarries in Raymond, California. I welcome comments from green professionals who know of other quarries in the region with sustainable environmental practices. Meanwhile, I encourage you to consider a few of the locally available green alternatives to stone:
Read on »
______________________________________________________
Click to see the latest on Kathy's Remodeling Blog
______________________________________________________
 A reader sent in this question and I'm glad because I'm having the same quandary. The question:
I'll be purchasing lighting for above a bathroom mirror. Which is better? Mounting the fixture so the lights point down or point up? Currently there is a bar fixture so I have no experience with this lighting issue. Thank you!
In my case, it's a classic debate about form vs. function.
As you can see by the photo, I recently replaced a chrome and glass cabinet/light combination with a new $100 light fixture from Home Depot. (Still to come: New mirror, sink, counter, fixture, vanity, backsplash, floor, tub and window. But hey, the light is a start!)
I pointed the three bulbs up to highlight the pitched wood ceiling, the small room's best feature. But I've noticed that the light for applying makeup or shaving is not so good. I've toyed with the idea of turning it around to point down, or to somehow add sconces on either side of the mirror for more light.
What's your opinion? Should the bulbs point down to shine on the sink and the person, or shoot up to reflect light on the ceiling and make the room seem more spacious?
______________________________________________________
Click to see the latest on Kathy's Remodeling Blog
______________________________________________________
 This gorgeous (and expensive-looking) powder room in an Encinitas home won a design award from the National Kitchen and Bath Assn. Here's the design statement for what the judges call a "New Mexican masterpiece":
"The home was totally gutted and remodeled in a New Mexican design style. All materials were reclaimed where possible and the color theme throughout is earthy and natural. The powder room is located off the hall opposite the kitchen, in close proximity to the living and dining areas.
"The door to the powder room incorporates hand-carved Guatemalan panels. The sink furniture was designed with carved motifs introducing a bowed front and suspended off the floor. The semi-submerged vessel sink is made of onyx and illuminated from underneath. To highlight this beauty, a wooden top was selected to match the carved fascia. The toilet sits opposite the sink and features a wooden stained seat to compliment the other wood in the space. The flooring is reclaimed European terra cotta pavers set in a herringbone pattern.
"The room towers up to a 16-foot skylight. To bring a more human quality into the space, vigas were installed at eight feet."
Designer
Cheryl Hamilton-Gray, CKD, Hamilton-Gray Design, Encinitas
Products
Cabinets: La Puerta Originals
Countertops: La Puerta Originals
Flooring: Walker Zanger
Fixtures/Fitting: Doralfe
Sink: Stone Forest
Toilet: Kohler
Other: Custom door and vigas by La Puerta Originals
(Photo: Scott McKay)
You like?
|
|
I want to let you know about the Pardon Our Dust feature coming up Sunday in the Real Estate section. It's about two bathrooms that were gutted and redone in 14 days. But I also want to share with you something that did not fit in my article but that touched me personally as I reported and wrote the story. 
