Designing your new kitchen or bathroom can be frightening and exciting at the same time. The entire process can seem extremely overwhelming before you even know where to start. It is natural to want to jump in and start picking out fixtures, pour over cabinet designs and compare color swatches that will eventually fulfill your design vision – but try to resist that temptation. There are several key necessary steps you should always do for any big design project first that will shape the overall outcome.
1. Budget Planning
Decide on how much you can spend on the design project total. Make a list of everything you want to include in the design in order from most important to least. Make sure you include all plumping (new or rerouting), as well as any lighting and ventilation regulations as a top priority.
2. Measure All Available Space
You don’t need architect blueprinting skills in order to have a properly measured design on paper. Use graph paper and measuring tape as your measuring tools and plan out your design before you ever step foot into a hardware store. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is buying kits or hardware on sale, design around it and then find out it doesn’t fit.
3. Heating and Ventilation
Water heating in kitchen and bathrooms should never be overlooked. Make sure you know your options and plan the plumbing to accommodate the design needs. Some people have one water heater for the entire home, while others might use two or three. You should also consider heat recovery and solar thermal systems as viable options when planning.
Ventilation can be regulated by the city, so be sure should you know what the code is before you start. Ventilators and fans can be installed and fitted through walls or attics. Make sure you have a plan of installation action for the right set up that will work with your design.
4. Fixtures
So many fixtures and so little time! Towel racks, sinks, faucets, shower stalls, cabinets and mirrors and overcrowd a bathroom before you know it. Make sure you know what you have to have and measure out the space for each item. Once you know what you can afford space wise, it will narrow down your choices into something that is easier to manage.
5. Lighting
Check with the city for lighting regulations before making any decisions about placement and size. Once you know where your lighting zones are in the bathroom and kitchen (there are usually 3 zones), you can choose the correct fittings and find the best design that works with the overall look you are trying to achieve.
You can also always call Plumbtile at 1-866-369-8180 or visit us online at www.plumbtile.com to help you with your kitchen and bathroom remodeling plans!