Bathroom renovation

I hope that you tell us about your bathroom renovation as it proceeds (and hope that it proceeds quickly and smoothly). I asked a similiar question a few months ago and got some helpful responses.

http://streeteasy.com/nyc/talk/discussion/15295-bathroom-renovation-pricing-contractors-and-styles

Also here is another discussion begun by Kyle which discusses many aspects of the renovation process and has much good advice:

http://streeteasy.com/nyc/talk/discussion/8985-tips-on-successfully-renovating-an-nyc-apartment

aboutready, they are discussing toilets here, where are you?

Thanks lobster. I forgot that thread :). Like visiting an old friend. Ok. Bathrooms. What can I offer? I'll limit it to 10 things (a nice number for a list).

1. DON'T COMPROMISE. It's a space where quality really matters because you don't accessorize a bathroom much. It rises or falls on the materials, workmanship and design. No throw pillow to distract. Do not cheap out in a bathroom. You use it lots everyday and will appreciate the thought and money you put into it.

2. SPEND. More expensive faucets are, in fact, nicer in most cases. Quality tile costs more. Good design costs more. Don't cheap out.

3. ROBERN makes wonderful clean-lined medicine cabinets that fit into prewar and postwar alike. Worth it.

4. SPECIFY FINISHES EARLY. Make all selections BEFORE you start. Bite the bullet. Go look at MCKB, Cancos Tile, Artistic Tile, Simon's Hardware. Stuff takes time to get in stock. Some things are unavailable. Some stuff your designer/architect/contractor may tell you won't work and you have to choose something else. Getting this worked out early has the advantage of not running into lead times to order things and also will result in fewer, if any, change orders that drive up the cost of your job.

5. MEASURE AND THINK!! Should the shower door slide, open in, open out, or swing both ways? Will you be able to comfortably turn on the water without getting soaked with cold water? Will you be able to comfortable reach your towel after showering? Is there a place to hang it where is will dry well each day? Will the door to the bathroom clear the toilet with enough space? When you go to shut the bathroom door from the inside will you have to step into the shower to do it or does it work? Is there really enough room for the glass shelf or should you forego that? Where will the shampoo and soap go in the shower...do you need little corner nickel plated baskets...do you really want stuff piled up along the edges of sills or tub? Really think about how you will use this small space to make the most of it and not build things that will annoy you each day forever.

6. LIGHTING. If you misjudge how much you need, there is nothing you can do. So really think about this. A light in the shower/tub area and a multi-bulbed light in the sink area are minimums. Hudson Valley Lighting has some wonderful pre-war styles for over the sink. For the shower, a simple Contrast Lighting recessed shower small light works well.

7. DRAWINGS. Tile layout should be predetermined to the extent possible. And materials. Without knowing this, the contractor cannot accurately bid the job. And you'll end up paying more than you wanted. Do you want subway style tiles? If so, 2x4"? 3x6"? 2x6"? Large panels? Will all fixtures you like fit? You need a very specific set of drawings to insure a reduced-conflict job. Many people proceed without this, and it is possible, but there will be arguments with the GC later and you'll just have to anticipate that.

8. KEEP IT SIMPLE. Meaning, it is usually a smallish space. Don't overly complicate it. If you have a shower stall, for example, consider continuing the floor tile from the main area into the shower stall creating a unified whole and making the space appear larger. Question if you really need a border of yet another tile running around the room. A beautiful cap and baseboard made of the same marble as the wall tiles can be very elegant and add enough interest while not making the space look overdone.

9. TEMPERED GLASS. Regardless of whether you will have a tub or just a shower stall, consider a tempered glass frameless door or partition between the shower/tub and rest of bathroom. It opens up the space by not dividing it with a shower curtain and just makes the space sparkle. It is a real crowd pleaser and keeps the room lighter too--especially if the shower has a window. And no curtain to get mildew or chance that you will sadly find yourself buying a novelty shower curtain (ugh).

10. POWER FLUSH. Get the toilet that has the most suction and power when flushing that still meets your aesthetic requirements. I don't care what it costs. Get it. I won't discuss this further.

When redoing a bathroom, don't forget the little details. Where will the trash can go? Towel rack/hooks? Toilet paper/ feminine product storage? Outlets. I've seen some absolutely beautiful bathrooms that forgot to be functional.

Thatwoman, very, very good point. Too often no thought is given to fact that every bathroom, like it or not, requires a trash can for dental floss, Q-tips, hygiene products, contact lens packages, wrappers...a lot more stuff than you realize until you think about it. And many require a toilet brush--it isn't nice to leave you guests horrified if they need that brush and can't find one. Where will the plug be and will it allow you to rest the appliance where you want to?

Couple other little things: any window sill or flat surfaces that get wet should be tilted slightly to keep water from standing. Doors should be thick and solid and sound proof. If using pedestal sink or toilet with exposed supply valve, consider spending for fittings of higher quality that match the faucet etc. Those nasty aluminum oval supply valve knobs and flexible metal tubing that is exposed are NASTY and bring the whole look down. Get nice cross-bar knobs and nickel-plated supply tubes to match your faucet set, for example. Get a nice threshold for the floor under the door. A nice marble that matches the bathroom tiles. Make sure there is somewhere for a guest hand towel that won't catch pee-splash/mist (I don't know how else to say that). Magazines next to a toilet are also NASTY NASTY and do not plan on that. Reading on the toilet is kind of foul, thinking about someone else doing it is more foul, and the fact that many men don't pee so neatly and get it on the magazine is foulest.

Kyle, when I finally buy an apartment and begin the renovation process, can I clone you and have your clone supervise the apartment renovations? I know that it will turn out perfectly if you are in charge.

I have no idea why people laugh when I say I am a very laid back, roll-with-it kind of person. But apparently you have tapped into whatever it is.

Kyle, you seem like an even-tempered and easygoing guy who just has a great eye for detail. I'm thinking of my apartment search, future renovation and interior decoration project as one long exciting adventure or so I tell myself all the time.

It was a journey that brought me and my partner closer together. And if you can just take the time to really think things through, it can be a mostly enjoyable process. The nightmare stories are largely the result of poor planning, naivete, wishful thinking, bad budgeting.

Having some sort of small bench/seat in shower is really nice - women like that for shaving their legs-
set in shelf in wall for shampoos, soaps, etc.
Having toilet sort of separate (behind some sort of partition) is really good.

Putting in support in shower/tub area behind tiles for future installation of grab bars is also not a bad idea for future use.

This is all very helpful - many thanks to all and especially Kyle ... you may not be an expert in everything but I would challenge anyone to best you in renovation or Lower Fifth knowledge!

One last question - I saw on Lobster's previous thread that 30 Years weighed in on GC's not wanting small jobs like just a bathroom. As this comment was 4 months ago and 30 Years is the smartest poster here, I am worried. Does anyone know/like a contractor who would be professional even on a small job? Thanks!

Kylewest, you are totally correct about detail. We changed a toilet and had not time to go to the store so just told a contractor to pick something standard that flushes well. Well.. he picked the toilet which is really really high. Now we are climbing on it and wondering why we did not go to the store to pick one ourselves. But I think it takes a ton of time and thinking to go over all the details. Where do you get your ideas? Magazines? Books? How can someone with little time to devote to renovation get it done in the most efficient way?

Too late to answer bela--tomorrow. I promise.

RE: toilets. Most difficult and embarrassing part of selection is sitting on it in the showroom. My partner and I would go. Then one would distract sales person as other one sat on toilet. Then we'd switch. Just too weird to sit on toilet in front of stranger. Didn't have nerve to pull pants down when sitting on them though. Very odd the whole toilet selection thing. Stove was much easier.

Bela: THE recipe for disaster in renovation is someone with "little time" to devote to it coupled with little money. Something has to give. If you can't devote the time, you have to hire someone who can--architect for construction oversight, designer who knows resources and who can gather things and give you 2-3 choices on everything and you pick from this pre-selected few options. But even hiring someone doesn't solve everything because they can make mistakes, overlook things, and aren't motivated by the fact that they'll have to live with the choices.

Honestly, I don't really know the answer to what do if you aren't prepared to really get involved. Care less? Accept you'll just have to live with the mistakes? I was so concerned about cost containment, avoiding costly errors, and having a near perfect high end result that I had no choice but to be involved. I wanted high end finishes and screw-ups accordingly could really be expensive.

Learning what design you like and what materials and finishes are out there takes a lot of outings, but it is also fun. You visit the D&D building once or twice and browse everything for inspiration and to learn of some sources. You read magazines and order tons of catalogues. Visit websites and ask for material samples. You ask for recommendations and opinions of sales people for problem issues you are running into. Attend any design shows at Javitz etc that you come across. Wander into tile stores the year before you know a reno is coming up and begin getting a feel for what you like, cost, availability. When you go to Home Depot for a mop, take 10 minutes and walk around the kitchen mock ups just to see. Go to open houses and see what works and what doesn't at other people's apartments.

There is a ramp-up period prior to a reno. That is when a lot of the work gets done. Very few people find they have to do a reno on no notice. You usually know it is coming in some form or very likely to be needed (say, you are apartment hunting and looking at places that may need fixing up). So knowing a reno is around the corner, start doing your homework early.

thank you kylewest

Thanks Kyle -- about to start a kitchen/bath reno -- will keep you informed -- plans are drawn up - finishes are (mostly) picked -- applicances/cabinets order -- need to pick a GC and get board approval to start

No toilet stories from aboutready?

I am in the midst of the mind-bending process of selecting shower and vanity faucets for multiple bathrooms in a weekend house. Anyone want to offer mid- to upper-middle brands to consider or stay away from? Do you put thermostatic shower valves in all showers? Frankly, I find those sorta of annoying, but it is probably due to 45 years of using traditional valves. What about handheld + separate showerhead for all showers?

heated floors
costs only a few hundred bucks and very worth it

I don't know brands to stay away from. Frankly, you'll get lots of opinions sometimes telling you one brand is awful and has plastic inner parts, etc, but if they were that bad they'd be out of business. Personally, I found California Faucet to have a terrific range of products that were proportioned in a way that spoke to me and my hands. Jado has some very nice items, too. Many are on display at Gracious Home (DO NOT buy there unless you couldn't care less about money--their prices are utterly detached from reality), MCKB, and Simon's Hardware. Ginger makes some nice accessories.

Thermostatic valves are required by code in NYC for a reason--they save people (especially children) from horrible burn accidents. They are also seen by many as a huge convenience because you needn't adjust the temperature each time you turn the shower on and you don't have to jump out of the water if someone in the house or apartment flushes a toilet while you are in the shower. I would put a thermostatic valve in each shower/tub.

Rain showers are very popular, but many make it hard to step out of the water stream which is a problem especially for women trying not to get their hair wet. Others don't have strong water pressure. A terrific rain-like shower head that has great pressure and a relatively narrower stream that is a great compromise of sorts is made by Jado.

If installing a ceiling mounted shower head, I would definitely install hand held also. That way someone not wanting to get their hair wet can use the hand held on the wall mount. It is also very convenient for washing dogs, cleaning, etc.

A wonderful addition to showers are nickel corner baskets (or whatever finish you are using) by Samuel Heath. Two larger ones on the bottom and two smaller ones above provide tons of storage in a stylish way. I like Heath's because they made a model that is detachable (not permanently affixed) so you can pop them off once in a while to clean behind the basket wires where it can get funky.

Oh! If doing a tiled shower stall, do not forget the drain cover! It adds wonderful elegance and highend appeal to have a nicely designed drain cover in the floor--one that is a bit decorative and not just a chrome hair trap.

I want to add a built-in shelf for shampoo etc in the shower - has anyone seen one with the ablity to drain so water doesn't sit there? I am envisioing something like the way people build ridges into counter tops so that drying pots drip down to the sink rather than pooling on the counter. But i am not sure how one would build a slope into tile?

When we renovated our last place, we bought a medicine cabinet at Gracious Home (oops). It was expensive but so worth it for everyday usablity. It probably cost $300 more than the average one but when I opened it everyday, the inside was clean mirrors. It had such a clean high end feel. Then we moved and our current bath has a medicine cabinet that feels so cheap inside. It is like plywood with crappy shelves. I can't wait to replace it.

Scoots--I think that including a sufficient angle so the shelf would drain would make bottle tip over too easily and it would get gunky in there and be prone to leaks in the long run. I'd think about those highend baskets if you have room.

As for Gracious Home, I am not aware of a single item they carry that can't be ordered elsewhere--especially from Simon's Hardware or Lighting By Gregory when it comes to bathroom fixtures and accessories. Robern medicine chests for instance, a cabinet of choice for many highend jobs, is available from Simon's and many other dealers. I stand by my position that Gracious Home is good for looking but not buying of major items.

I will definitely check out other vendors this time around. Though I don't regret that medicine cabinet for a minute - I didn't know how much I valued its quality until my current one! And I will check out the baskets. I love that hidden look but not enough to deal with the gunky pools of soapy water inside.

Thanks KW. We are putting a California Faucet floor mount tub faucet and exposed shower system in the master. Glad to hear you like them.

We will not have any pressure drop issues in the showers. Every faucet is plumbed separately to pressure balanced manifold in the basement. I hear you on the scalding issue, though even the most basic lever shower won't deliver straight hot water, and houses (unlike NYC apartments) typically kep the hot water at far lower temperatures. We will stew on this one a while longer.

The hand held for cleaning is a very good point. Thanks.

Absolutely - this is why I posted! Kyle thinks of so many details. When we had a dog (now sadly deceased), I wanted a handheld shower head all the time. Now that we don't have a dog (but plan to adopt again someday) that completely fell off my must-have list!

I'm curious if people use any particular source as a model for what they would like their bathroom(s) to look like when it's completed. Do you look at an online decorating source such as apartmenttherapy.com or a decorating magazine or book? Any recommendations for sources?
Can you create a spa-like bathroom look in a typical size Manhattan bathroom or are they just too small?
Also is it a very difficult project to create a shower in one bathroom if an apartment has only bathtubs? I know that most people prefer at least one bathtub in an apartment, but if there are two full bathrooms both with bathtubs and no shower. How much of a step up would you need to create for a shower in terms of inches from the bathroom floor?
Kyle, you're excused from answering my questions if you wish since you've already given much good advice. LOL! But as always, your advice is most welcome.

We are midway through re-doing 2 baths in a total pre-war reno. For the master we gutted and started from scratch and for the 2nd bath we're doing some elements but not the whole thing (changing toilet and sink/vanity but not tub or tile). This is our 3rd complete renovation so I like to think we've learned a little from our mistakes. While I always pay attention to and learn from Kyle's excellent counsel on all things renovation, for what it's worth, here's my added 2 cents on bathrooms:

Brands we're using are Kohler (under-mounted sinks), Toto (toilets), and for faucets -- Rohl in the master and Jado in the 2nd bath. We bought everything at Simon's after shopping and looking elsewhere. Their selection, prices and customer service are excellent. We also bought all our hardware and doorknobs from them. We bought some lights and a mirror at Restoration Hardware -- our first purchase from their bath line so we have no experience with them but the quality seemed excellent as did the prices. We also bought some bath lighting from LampsPlus.com.

For the shower -- I am not a fan of rainshowers and think they're a gimmick. They're hard to get in and out of and if you use any product in your hair other than shampoo, you'll be rinsing forever. But handshowers? Essential. You can't really clean the shower without one. Also think about adding a grab bar.

I agree with Kyle's suggestion for those metal shelf baskets (didn't know about Heath's -- thanks for the tip!). But if you want to also build in a small, tiled alcove for shampoo, etc., the way to avoid the puddling is to have the shelf built on the slightest angle -- not enough to tip the bottles but enough to drain off the water. 3 degrees? Slight enough so that it shows on a level but you otherwise can't see it. It's the same method that's used to avoid puddling on the floor of the shower. Also, measure your tallest bottle of shampoo before you finalize the alcove so that you can be sure it holds the stuff you use. If you have room for a really tall alcove, add a glass shelf, even if it's only enough room for things like a razor, soap dish, other "slim" items.

Other essentials for me include a lighted magnifying mirror that's hard wired. We bought ours from MoreMirrors.com. While you can't have enough light in any bathroom, remember to include both down light and direct-to-the-face light. And put them all, except maybe the shower light, on dimmers. I can't speak to heated floors because in NYC apartments they're usually not necessary for all the over-heating. But if you're redoing the floors make sure they're either honed or textured or made of tiles that are small enough to give you traction so that you don't break your neck on a water slip.

A tip from a salesperson -- you can mix and match polished chrome from any brand but if you're using polished nickel or any other finish, it's risky to mix things from different lines because the finish is unlikely to match. But polished chrome is universal.

Leave room for a trash can, think through all your little bathroom stuff before you finalize the vanities (drawers versus cabinets versus shelves), and remember hooks for hand towels and bathrobes.

Hope some of this is helpful.

lobster - my husband did not want a bathtub in "his" bathroom, so we took it out and replaced it with a large walk in shower. You do not need any "step up" - you just get rid of the bathtub, and you're probably ripping out the existing flooring at the same time.

And the Heath's baskets are really nice - bought them from Frontgate years ago.

Does anyone know where one can buy odd-shaped medicine cabinets? We want to replace one but it has odd-dimensions, something like 48x21 (I have to measure again). I've had no luck anywhere...any ideas?

Thanks once again ph41. I like the idea of his and her bathrooms. I always thought in terms of the master bathroom and the guest bathroom, but your way is better.

I think this is the fun part of the apartment search and renovation process- figuring out what you want your apartment to look like:

http://www.hgtv.com/bathrooms/tips-for-incredible-bathroom-renovations/pictures/page-2.html

My favorite is the first photo of the four.

Lobster and ph41 -- sometimes when you remove a tub you do have to put in a step-up and you may not know what's needed until the tub is completely pulled out. The age of the building and underlying plumbing are big factors.

In our current reno we pulled out the tub to replace with a shower and found that we need an 8-inch step-up and then a 4-inch step-down. It has to do with the location of the drain which even though we're replacing the 100+ year-old drain and pipes in the floor (chiseled out, inch-by-inch, by hand), the step-up was still needed. Plus there are code requirements for how the shower pan is constructed.

Correction: Above I mentioned a rainshower head by Jado. The manufacturer is actually Jacklo. It looks a silver disc about the size of a coffee can lid.

We have done 2 bathroom renovations (one ourselves!) and will add some thoughts. I can't compete with Kyle, and if you have the stamina and cash to follow his advice, you will end up with a FANTASTIC product. For those of us with less time, these are some things that worked for us:

1. Daltile subway tile, standard 3 X 6 is timeless, affordable, easy to work with for contractors (no learning curve - if they have laid tile in the past, it was probably Daltile subway), and ALWAYS available. Make sure your contractor remembers to measure for the edged pieces, as these can be harder to procure on short notice (but still always available within 48 hours).

2. There are a lot of good tile stores in LIC that have better prices and similar selection to Manhattan locations. We were able to get a carrera marble basket weave floor tile in 12 X 12 for under $20 per foot (!!!)

3. Don't use Restoration Hardware or other non-specialty suppliers for anything that has sensitive inner workings. We purchased an expensive shower set and realized when the plumber went to install that they require walls to be 4 3/4 inches thick, vs. the 3 inch standard - WTF?! We quickly purchased a Kohler replacement and are perfectly happy.

4. If you are purchasing Kohler, don't buy from Home Depot. Not sure how or why, but they get an inferior grade product for the same stuff. This was noticed by us, and confirmed by 2 separate contractors. That said, for the price and the breadth of options, plus quick availability and EXCELLENT customer service (they answer the phone, send replacements no question's asked, etc.), you could do much worse than Kohler. Yes, Jado, California, and countless others offer better product, but at large multiples in cost.

5. If you are installing a tub, please get cast iron - don't cheap out with stainless steel. It is VERY LOUD when water hits it... Of course, if you can afford a nice teak soaking tub, more power to you.

6. We found Pottery Barn fixtures to be quite good. We purchased lighting, rods, hooks, and other hardware from them, found it to be easy to shop, flexible with returns, and of excellent quality.

7. Wire corner baskets are awesome - we got some from Restoration Hardware and they are not great. Heath's look AWESOME, but they are about triple the price.

8. Get more lighting than you think you need, and put them on dimmers. Minimum 1 overhead in the bath, 1 overhead in the main area, and good vanity lights.

9. Consider installing a washer/dryer in place of a second sink - we did (LG high end unit) and are THRILLED with this decision.

10. Hire a GREAT contractor who knows what they are doing - call at least 8 references. We loved ours. Email me at otnyc1_at_gmail_dotcom if you want contact info.

Good luck!!!

All great comments - my list of things to keep track of in my reno is very long now! Anyone have recommendations for brands / types of bathtubs, bathroom sinks, vanitys, toilets? Ones that would go in an apartment outfitted with subzero, viking, etc. in the kitchen. Standard 5' tubs that fit in a small NYC bathroom - nothing extensive that one would put in a bathroom the size of my whole 1br apartment :).

Also - in all my reading of this forum I read that (I think Kyle?) doesn't like glass subway tiles. What don't you like about them? And other people - do you like them? I was thinking of getting a gray glass subway tile to have a modern (material) but classic (shape) look?

Thanks!

Bathtub - can't go wrong with Kohler cast iron tubs. I did acrylic twice, and found them hard to clean - I felt there was always a soapy film. Bathroom sinks - whatever goes with your toilet choice. Right now, I have Duravit sinks & toilets (dual flush). I've been happy with both, though Toto makes great products as well. In terms of vanities, I've never found any off-the-shelf ones I've been completely happy with. I got my current ones custom-built for less than Porcher vanities and I've been very happy. If you have plenty of storage place elsewhere, pedestal sinks are very classic in look.

Being non-adventurous, I think my choices in tile would be either the white subway tile look with a mesh-mosaic stone floor and use paint color to individualize or do the entire bathroom in white marble (cliched, but clean looking).

OTNYC,
Wher is LIC for tiles?
thanks

I have heated floors in 2 baths. Completely unnecessary, IMO, if you don't live in big drafty apt. I have never turned them on. Another look I like is clean modern ceramic tiles, but you have to be careful with color & sizes/shapes.

I always wonder why my tub is so hard to clean in my rental - Cast iron it is. I hate that gross soapy film!

I don't think there is such a thing in a NY apartment as too much storage, but if there was... I definitely don't have it, so my plan was to get some storage underneath the sink.

I have a white marble bathroom in my rental... I don't like it because I feel like it gets scratched very easily and it SHOWS. I was thinking maybe something darker like a slate texture / color but something more durable... if that exists.

Maybe I'll just go look at non-glass subway tiles. I really love the look of them but I feel ridiculous taking out white square ceramic tiles in the bathroom to put in subway tiles... although if I'm replacing the tub I will need to retile anyway...

Thanks for the suggestions!

Re glass tiles: they can be beautiful when you get quality tiles AND have them installed FLAWLESSLY. They are hard to install so they don't look sloppy. They scratch easily during installation. They are hard to cut well.

However, they are also very trendy and scream "turn of 21st century." As an accent they can be cool. As a backsplash they can be fun. But as the predominant design element I would steer clear. You'll tire of strong colors in less time than you think, they can overwhelm the space, you have to treat them with a bit more care.

Think about a border of the glass tiles or perhaps mixing some judiciously into a mosaic of marbles or other stone. My floor is a mosaic of small rectangles and squares of calcatta gold marble with maybe 5% copper colored glass 1" squares mixed in. I also used the glass tiles as a kitchen backsplash in 2"x1" subway tile pattern (called a running bond) using a custom mix of white, light gray, and medium grey. It looks fantastic with creamy white millwork, stainless range, Ceasarstone misty carrera counters and hardwood floor.

Pure white marble may present maintenance or aesthetic issues you don't care for in the bathroom, but there are many, many options. Calcatta gold or calcatta grey marble, for example, is very veined with varying hues that makes selecting towels easy since lots of colors match. It also doesn't show every bit of dirt and will hide scratches better. If mine is getting scratched, I can't even tell. But truth is there are so many options that look great you should just have fun selecting one. Visit Cancos tile and Artistic tile to get started looking. Chelsea has 4-5 tile places so you can bang them out in one day.

Some require 12 weeks to order them, so get on this sooner than later. And remember you need a certain percentage extra beyond the strict sq/ft measurements. So exciting! Kinda wish I was designing a bathroom and kitchen again. I liked that part a lot. Youg et to enjoy all the tiny decisions you make along the way every time you use the space.

"3. ROBERN makes wonderful clean-lined medicine cabinets that fit into prewar and postwar alike. Worth it."

Not to disagree with this point, but OTOH, I can not understand why everyone understands the concept of custom kitchen cabinetry but not bathroom cabinetry. It's so easy to have custom made 'kitchen' cabinets made to a shallower depth (but deeper than anyone would make a "medine" cabinet) and they are still cheaper and far superior to anything I've seen pre-made from medicine cabinet manufacturers. Think of all those neat items available in you kitchen cabinets in your bathroom as well!!!! (Just have the doors be made as if they were glass cabinet doors and install beveled mirrors instead of the flat glass (just make sure to use more and heavier duty hinges). Plus, it's so much easier to have them be the exact right height, width, depth, color, material, etc than anything "off the rack".

And don't under estimate how great having deeper cabinets that can fit anything you want in them - like all your rechargeable bathroom stuff - along with GFCI outlets so they are still charging while being out of site. I have over 30 linear feet of shelf space in my bathroom medicine cabinets (in ONE bath) and it would be more if I didn't want so much clearance between shelves (about twice the space I see in most prebuilt). Also, you can have them notch the backs to fit deeper around things like risers and "box them in".

Interesting - I was thinking glass might be easier to take care of than standard tile - but good to know. I like your idea of mixing them. Maybe white subway tile mixed with a few gray glass subway tiles? My thought in the kitchen was to use it as the backsplash there as well... and then the bathroom walls to tie everything together. I wasn't going to use any bright colors - just gray. In the kitchen I was thinking of black painted oak cabinets... but painted so you can still see that it's wood underneath... I have oak parquet floors in the rest of the apartment so I had trouble thinking of cabinets that wouldn't clash... and kitchen/bath floors I just don't know yet. TBD I guess. I have about 4 months until I have to move into the new place so... I guess I should get going...

If you miss designing the kitchen and bath - I would love some expertise and you're welcome to help me with mine :).

Hello. I'm looking for some contractor because we want to renovate our bathroom. What do you think of https://www.thehomeexpert.uk/ ? They have really impressive designs and to be honest there are quite a lot that we really liked and we have no idea which one to choose :)

Very nice if you live in UK.