DO's and DON'TS

Thanks so much for the comments I got from the last post, so much so that it has inspired me to still stay on this topic of bathrooms but like it was suggested, I want to show you how to achieve this look in your own bathrooms as it really isn't impossible to do so.

Though as an interior designer myself, I would always recommend for you to seek out professional services in this instant but as this blog is about educating people in the Diaspora, I feel compelled to show you some things that will help or even to show you what to look out for when doing your own designs.

Like I said in the last post, the bathroom is one of the most important parts in a house. Guests will probably judge an entire house when they take a look at the bathroom; which is why many people in Europe etc spend hundreds of dollars remodelling and refurbishing its interiors to make their bathroom more appealing and desirable but this doesn't happen in West Africa. I've noticed this to be a perpetual problem. All most homeowners seem to care about is that they have a toilet, (some don't even have seat covers) end of story. So, I want to propel you to see the other side and hopefully start a revolution (is that too strong, lol) in the way Africans see or treat their bathrooms!


There are simple things that you can do to improve your bathroom, first let's look at the do's and don'ts to consider before you begin your bathroom renovation.

1. If you have an existing bathroom, decide whether you want to change the sanitary ware you have already i.e. bath/toilet or you feel they are in good enough condition to keep or for budget reasons you can't change them right now.

2. You bathroom layout will depend a lot on the size of your bathroom, so I suggest that you take a piece of paper and roughly draw the plan of your bathroom and then draw in where you will like the bath, toilet and wash hand basin to go. Then get a measuring tape and you measure your bathroom exactly so as to make sure your bath/shower will fit in comfortably if buying new sanitary.

Virtually every bathroom uses one of the following three basic layouts:

One-wall layout. One-wall baths have the toilet, sink, and combination shower/tub plumbing aligned along one wall, making for a relatively long, narrow bathroom.

Two-wall layout. Two-wall baths usually have the toilet and sink on one wall and the shower/tub combo (or separate shower and tub) on the other

Three-wall layout. A three-wall layout, with the toilet on one wall, sink on another, and combination shower/tub on the third, is a space-conserving solution that can put every fixture within a step of the others.
The above picture is using the two wall layout, but notice how close the toilet is to the shower. This is BAD planning!!

3. Choose a proper colour scheme that would be the basis of your bathroom design theme.  Also you should decide whether you will be using paint, wallpapers or tiles. (I would not recommend real wood for your flooring as it's a wet area and will get easily damaged. Also, I recommend keeping it neutral and just adding splashes of colour on a feature wall or using your accessories to add colour).

4. Decide on the theme for your bathroom. Will it be contemporary, Victorian or traditional....the choices are endless depending on your taste.

5. Source reliable places where you can get good quality sanitary wares, tiles, accessories etc. (Check out my where to shop page). Using good accessories i.e towel rail, cabinets, tissue holder, is a great way to elevate your bathroom from ordinary to wow factor.

6. Get good workmen that people you know have recommended as it's the difference between a great bathroom and a bad one!

  


Well, I hope this has helped in giving you a clearer insight into how you can achieve the look in your own home, as it really isn't impossible. Please feel free to leave comments as it's really spurring me on to be more dedicated to this blog as we have a lot to teach each other.

Make sure you check out my 'Where to shop' page as Rouge interiors can really help you to achieve the look you need.

Don't forget....you can contact me for full interior design services or just a consultation.

Ciao!

From functionality to Pleasure!

I got thinking about houses and what my favourite room in the house is.....it was actually harder than I thought to narrow down but it turns out to be the bathroom!

Whenever I visit someones house or even travel and stay in a hotel, the first place I'm headed to is the bathroom because for me, if that is done well, then the rest of the room/house to me, is then livable. You might be thinking, o...it's not that bit of a big deal then I would say that I beg to differ. It just then means that you never experienced a 'top notch' bathroom before as if you have, you find it very hard to use mediocre ones.

What is making a 'splash' with bathroom designs now, its seems like pretty much anything goes. I've noticed how the bathroom is not just plain old bathrooms anymore but they are now another room entirely in there own right....not being just for functionality but places where you can relax and unwind and shut yourself off from the stress of the world.....

“If I want to be alone, some place where I can write, I can read, I can pray, I can cry, I can do whatever I want – I go to the bathroom.” – Alicia Keys -

So let me show you some bathroom designs that I found that I think bathrooms should be done and don't forget that a lot of these looks can be achieved in your very homes too so don't look at it like it's just a picture. Let them inspire you too......

Bela units Blanco Mate finish. GAMADECOR from Porcelanosa



LOUNGE Capitoné 120 cm units. NOKEN from Porcelanosa

IMAGINE units. NOKEN from Porcelanosa

Actually, let me use this opportunity to highlight this great company I've found here in West Africa. It's a company called Rouge Interiors and they are based in Accra, Ghana. They are an interiors furnishing company, so they provide most of your interior needs but the main reason I'm highlighting them is that they are the sole representative for Porcelanosa in Ghana and as we are looking at bathrooms, Porcelanosa do some of the best bathroom furnishings/sanitaries in the world. They are renowned for there outstanding quality and as you can see from some of the images above, you can agree that there products are stunning.
(If you want to find out more about them as they offer this full service so you too can have your bathroom looking like this, I will put there details on my 'where to shop' page).

Jennifer Brouwer Design

 I hope you've enjoyed taking a look at a few of these bathrooms and I hope as always it's inspired you to elevate your own bathrooms too.

Any comments or feedback, feel free to contact me and I also offer Interior design services too. Holla!