In many cultures around the world and throughout history, bathing has been a ritualistic act. A bath cleanses impurities and calms the spirit. Immersing oneself in water can feel exhilarating beyond belief. In the twenty-first century, we have the technology to make our bathing experiences transcendent every time. Here is my recipe for a perfect bath that will make you feel rejuvenated, happy, and healthy.
Squeaky Clean Utilities
The art and ritual of bathing varies widely the world over. In Japan especially, water is considered to be spiritually as well as physically cleansing - a belief which led to the development of a very different attitude towards bathing, different bathing rituals, and even different bath fixtures. The Japanese bathroom is very different from those you'd find in the US, but many traditionally Japanese fixtures - especially the Japanese soaking tub (the furo or ofuro) - are beginning to become popular in the US as well.
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We're living in a device heavy world. It's not uncommon for any given person to have a laptop, a desktop computer, a smartphone, tablet, and e-reader and use them all on a daily basis both for work and play. It used to be that only professionals and business people carried this kind of hardware, but now it's practically uncommon for the average person not to have multiple devices. But while executives might have the room (and salary) to build a cushy home office, not everyone has the space to dedicate even to a full sized desk. If you find yourself working (or surfing the 'net) from the comfort of your sofa, i...
I've been talking a bit lately about trying to squeeze as much storage space as possible out of antique bathroom vanities. Generally speaking, traditional vanities aren't quite as efficient as more contemporary styles, so it can take a little extra effort to put two similarly sized vanities on the same footing. But once you get to really, really large bathroom vanities - like 70", 90", or even larger - the distinction sort of evaporates, and you're left with an entirely different consideration: not how to get more storage, but how to prioritize it to make the most of your space.
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A steam bath is not the same thing as a sauna. Each has their ups and downs, but both are therapeutic and medicinal. The steam room is the one where the heat is carried on thick clouds of mist emitted from steam heads, and although it might feel more intense than a sauna at first, it is actually a little bit cooler.
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Your steam shower at home must be sealed in by vapo...
A good bathroom should be, above all else, comfortable. So while I tend to favor a more modern, minimalist design in other rooms, the bathrooms I like best always have a quaint, country style. The combination of slightly rustic furnishings, light, welcoming colors, and vintage fixtures alway...
A good friend of mine lives in a gorgeous turn of the century house. Stunning woodwork, beautiful architecture, original wrought iron fixtures... and only one bathroom for all three bedrooms. Having too few bathrooms is a problem you can run into no matter how big or small your home, especially as your family grows up to fill (or overfill!) it. But adding an addition to your home or moving into a new one aren't always practical options. Even a reasonably sized master bath can feel crowded if two people need to use it at once. So what's a homeowner to do when the morning waiting line for the bathroom is getting out of hand? My friend's solution was to turn a plumbing-adjacent closet into a water closet. Perhaps not the world's most elegant solution, but effective and relatively inexpensive....
For a primary or master bathroom, type and amount of storage is often a main concern in terms of choosing a new bathroom vanity. Even (or especially) in small bathrooms, efficiency and functionality are extremely important. But the priorities and considerations for half bathrooms and guest bathrooms is a little different. There's less that needs to be stored, and space is often at a premium. For a guest bathroom or powder room in particular, you want a vanity that's attractive and versatile enough for company, but that takes up as little space as possible.
[caption id="attachment_7199" align="aligncenter" width="402"]Ariel Bath does this by combining luxury elements with a simplified modern design.
Shower Panels
[caption id="attachment_12087" align="aligncenter" width="480"]vanity that's either 24", 30", or 36" wide. But in truly small spaces, width isn't the only concern. You also have to worry about how far your vanity extends away from the wall. Most conventional "small" bathroom vanities are big enough to disrupt movement in these teeny tiny bathrooms. That means you need a more elegant solution. Modern space saving vanities are both narrow and sit close to the wall, making them an ideal option for extremely small spaces.
In the name of self-care, luxury bathroom products can be found in every mall, craft show, and pop-up shop that sparkle, shine, and make us feel like royalty in the bath. We already treat ourselves with bath bombs and bubble bars, why not treat the bathroom as well? Make your bathtub the centerpiece of your bathroom by hanging a classy chandelier above. It's elegant, ambient, and opens up the bathroom more than other light sources.
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Usually when you talk about upgrading your kitchen, you're talking about big ticket items: a new refrigerator, range, cabinets, or floors. But sometimes it's the little changes that add up to a big difference in the way you use your kitchen. Especially in a smaller kitchen, simple functionality-adding features are the best upgrades you can make. Better still, many of the most useful kitchen gadgets are inexpensive to add. Here are a few of my favorites that are affordable and easy to install, but that can really streamline the way you use your kitchen.
In Sink Colander
[caption id="attachment_6927" align="aligncenter" width="472"]coffee tables. Why? Because ordinary coffee tables take up a lot of space, but don't really do much. Sure, you can toss a magazine or a remote on one, or maybe kick up your feet (if that's your thing), but these big, low tables aren't actually useful for much more than taking up space... unless they're specifically d...
Doing laundry is one of those tasks that is tedious to do and devastating if you don't do. Between gathering all the clothes in the house, sorting the whites and colors, swapping wet clothes between the washer and dryer, and getting everything back out to be worn again, you likely spend way more time than you would like in the laundry room. For those of you hoping to shave a few minutes off your cleaning schedule, here are five different ways you can shorten your time spent doing the laundry and make life just a little easier.
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I've seen a lot of cool high-tech bathrooms: ones with waterproof TVs built into the showers, stereo systems built into the toilets, even mirrors that will tell you the weather. But you don't need a bathroom of the future to enjoy a few modern conveniences. Having outlets built into your vanity used to be a perk that came with a high price tag. But these days they aren't exclusive to custom cabinetry; you can find vanities with an outlet already installed - and for a lot less than you probably think.
Sometimes the bedroom closet isn't enough space for all your things. This problem is especially noticeable for people who share a room, like couples or siblings. You could always try decluttering and minimizing, but there's only so much you can take away before being left with the essentials. If you simply can't part with your entire wardrobe, adding storage to your bedroom is the next best option.
Back To Basics: Add A Dresser
warm and inviting rather than a little alien. The best, most important first step is to choose modern bathroom vanities that are either made from
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Your steam shower at home must be sealed in by vapo...
A good bathroom should be, above all else, comfortable. So while I tend to favor a more modern, minimalist design in other rooms, the bathrooms I like best always have a quaint, country style. The combination of slightly rustic furnishings, light, welcoming colors, and vintage fixtures alway...
You ca...
