The Citizen, 2008-10-16, Page 17(MS) -- Every year, people spend
millions of dollars remodeling their
bathrooms, replacing fixtures and
vanities and purchasing high-end
accessories.
But there’s a lot you can do to
transform the look of your bathroom
from the past owner’s pink or baby
blue or lilac colour palate into a
modern and clean style of your own
-- even when your budget is tight.
All you need is some paint and a
little imagination.
Here are a few ideas from some
experts:
Don’t replace. Refinish.
Replacing bathroom fixtures is
one of the most expensive projects
associated with a bathroom remodel
and replacing bathroom tiles often
requires the services of a contractor.
But now, thanks to advances in
paint technology, you can change the
colour of your bathtub, sink, toilet,
and tile or simply give them a “like
new” finish without busting your
budget.
Create a custom vanity.
You don’t have to replace your
vanity to give it a custom look.
Transforming your old vanity is easy
and fun thanks to specialty
countertop coatings. Want to soothe
your soul and create a relaxing
space? Cool colours, like blues and
greens, create a peaceful, relaxed
atmosphere. Or for a cozy and casual feel,
choose neutral colours. Then paint
the cabinet in a co-ordinating or
contrasting colour to create a
personalized vanity.
Don’t forget the walls.
A fresh coat of paint is one of the
simplest ways to update the look ofyour bathroom -- or add the style and
elegance it’s lacking. In bathrooms
and other high humidity areas try a
paint that offers protection against
the growth of mold and mildew for a
paint job that will stay looking
beautiful for years.
Accessorize, accessorize,accessorize. It’s easy to add a touch
of personal style to your bathroom
with a few accent pieces.
Or, create custom picture frames,
shelves and even plastic tissue
covers or trash cans by painting
them.
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2008. PAGE 17.
(MS) -- Demolition is a part of
many home remodeling projects.
First you must tear down before you
can put up the new and improved.
While do-it-yourself demo can
save homeowners a lot of money
and ready a space for incoming
contractors, that savings is realized
only if the demolition process goes
smoothly. Uninformed DIYers
inevitably make mistakes with
demolition that end up costing
themselves more in the long run.
Keep these pointers in mind
before beginning any demo:
Safety first: Always wear safety
gear, including eye protection,
gloves, reinforced-toe boots, dust
masks, and more when beginning
any demolition work.
Load-bearing walls: Certain walls
in the home need to be there for
structural reasons. They are called
load-bearing walls. Removal of
these walls can lead to trouble down
the line, and may cause areas of the
home to sink or shift.
Consult with an architect or
engineer prior to removing any
walls to ensure that it is structurally
safe to do so.
Hidden dangers: There are a
number of hazards hiding behind
walls. One may encounter faulty
wiring, leaky pipes, or even insect
Easy DIY projects give new look to bathrooms
How to demo the right way
Fresh look
Give you batrhroom a new look with some easy do-it-
yourself projects. (MS photo)Kitchen & Bath Design Centre
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See Lawrence for a free consultation.
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