Designing Your Bathroom: Layout

A Gorgeous Bathroom

Bathrooms have come a long way over the last 100+ years.  The very informative article A Brief History of the Bathroom chronicles the long story of how people have been taking care of their bodies since ancient times.  This brings us to today, where we not only have indoor plumbing (thankfully), but bathrooms have become large and glamorous.

The three main components of a bathroom are a sink, a bath tub/shower, and a toilet.  Then, if you have the space, additional fixtures can be added for the opulence that additional fixtures are: separate tubs and showers, double sinks, and sometimes even bidets.

If you're remodeling, the most cost effective thing to do is to keep the same fixture layout.  Replacing all the fixtures (and finishes) will give you a new bathroom.

If you're designing from scratch, then the options are wide open.  The shape of the room will have a big impact on what fixtures will fit and where.  The trick is to find the layout that fits the space the best.

If you're having trouble figuring out a layout for your dream bathroom, Kohler has 101 Bathroom Floor Plan Options to help you get some ideas.  All of them are customizable because there are a million different ways to lay out a bathroom.  Here are a couple samples of Kohler's bathroom layouts.

Bathroom Plan 1 - Standard Layout

Bathroom Plan 1 is the most standard bathroom plan there is.  It's a compact 40 sf and has everything you need to take care of your body.

Bathroom Plan 39 - Jack & Jill Layout

Bathroom Plan 39 is what's called a Jack & Jill bathroom.  It is two bathrooms in one, where two separate sink rooms share a tub and a toilet. 

Bathroom Plan 44 - L Shaped with a Corner Tub

Sometimes an L-shaped bathroom fits best in a house plan.  With 200 sf, Bathroom Plan 44 is a good example of how to fit additional fixtures into a non-standard shape.  Two sinks, a corner tub, separate shower, and a toilet compartment round out the fixtures in this bathroom.

Bathroom Plan 59 - Large Shower

Bathroom Plan 59 includes a large, luxurious shower to provide a place for the multiple shower head experience.  The rest of the bathroom fixtures are pretty great, also, and include a corner tub, large vanity and toilet.

Bathroom Plan 74 - The Freestanding Feature Tub

At 318 sf, Bathroom Plan 74 is a large and glamorous retreat.  The freestanding tub in the middle of the room is the focal point of this spectacular bathroom.  There's also plenty of space for separate vanities, toilet compartment, and multiple storage cabinets.

Here are a few examples of our Cottages which successfully use four of these layouts:

Plan 1 Standard Layout: Most of our Cottages use this layout.

Plan 39 Jack & Jill:  Lookout Cottage.

Plan 44 L-Shape: Grand Gazebo Cottage.

Plan 59 Large Shower: Porches Cottage 2,395 sf.

Once you have a layout selected you can move toward personalizing your bathroom with materials and finishing touches.

Kitchen Cabinets

One of the most important rooms in a house is the kitchen.  We ponder, dream, and obsess over what our kitchen will look like.  There are counter tops, cabinets, appliances, flooring, windows and lighting choices to make.  Some things you can do to narrow down your choices are to tear out pictures in magazines or make a Pinterest or Houzz board dedicated to these decisions.  When you see a picture with something you like, tear it out or "pin" it.  Make sure to note what exactly it is that you like.  "Love the countertops."  "Island configuration is just what I need."  "Perfect paint color." You get the idea.

rustic kitchen cabinetry

The kitchen element we're focusing on in this post is the cabinets.  Here at Southern Cottages House Plans, the cabinets we specify are Kraftmaid.  They are a good, quality product with loads of options.  Door style, overlay, color, technique, and wood type combine to produce a distinctive look for your home.  Whether you're into traditional, eclectic, rustic, modern, something timeless, or any other style you will find what you're looking for.  The Kraftmaid website has some great tools to help you decide what you want.  Other manufacturer's should also have similar tools to help you.

With so many options out there we can't go over even a tenth of them, but here are a few ideas we found on Houzz:

Photo by Hill Farm Furniture Ltd - Search farmhouse kitchen pictures

Farmhouse style with recessed panel and trim, white glazed finish, inset panels (cabinet doors flush with the frame) and combination solid and glass doors.

Photo by Clay Construction Inc. - Browse traditional kitchen photos

Traditional style with arched recessed upper cabinets, square recessed bottom cabinets, medium wood finish, and full overlay (no cabinet frame showing between doors).

Photo by Greg Natale - Look for contemporary kitchen pictures

Contemporary kitchen with square recessed panels on base cabinets, glass paneled cabinets above, painted green finish, full overlay, and paneled tall doors.

Photo by Drury Design - Look for traditional kitchen pictures

Timeless traditional style with square raised panel, white color, full overlay, and combination solid and glass doors.

 

Photo by Roundhouse - More transitional kitchen ideas

Contemporary style with slab (flat) cabinets, gray color, full overlay (no cabinet frame showing between doors), and integral shelf in island.

Photo by Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery - Discover traditional kitchen design inspiration

Farmhouse style with square raised panels, glazed finish, dual colors, and beaded inset (small bead around the panel door and the cabinet doors flush with the frame).

Photo by Witt Construction - Look for traditional kitchen pictures

Traditional style with square recessed panel, distressed finish, dual colors, and beaded inset (small bead around the panel door and the cabinets flush with the frame).


We haven't even mentioned the many molding details, hardware options, lighting or storage solutions.  With so many alternatives available, good luck making a decision!  But seriously, remember, if you can pinpoint what exactly you like about a picture you find that will help narrow down your decision.  Good luck!

Grassy Green Paint Colors

You want to paint your room green, but you're not sure what color is the best one.  You know you like the color of the grass outside because it's lush, pretty and inviting.  But how will you know what the right choice of green is?  There are so many different colors of green!  What will keep you from making the wrong decision?

I'm going to help you out with my selection of four colors that are pretty, inviting and hopefully fit the bill for lush.  These grassy green paint colors are from Sherwin Williams and you can use them to enjoy that refreshing green color inside your home.  I'm showing you the paint color, plus a picture of a room painted with it.  

SW 6718 Overt Green

 

In southeastern North Carolina, where we're located, one of the typical grasses available is centipede.  Overt Green is a nice yellow-green color, similar to the look of centipede grass.  It is also a bold color so it's perfect for an accent wall, as pictured below.

Contemporary Bedroom by Austin Interior Designers & Decorators Panache Interiors

Although beautiful, the picture is slightly misleading about the color of this paint: the lamp light gives the wall a yellowish color.   If you look at the wall near the window on the left you can see the true color of the paint.  So, here's a lesson in paint and the type of light bulbs you're using: the color of your light bulbs can have a dramatic effect on the perceived color of your room.  Different types of bulbs give off different colors.  This in turn can make your paint or furnishings look different at your house than in the store.  Or even from one room to the next.  Home Depot usually has a light bulb display next to their bulbs.  If you haven't taken the time to look at it, it's worth the 5 minutes it takes to review.


SW 6732 Organic Green

 

A name that includes "organic" portrays an idea of fresh, all-natural, beneficial, and healthy. In my opinion, this color is bright and cheerful.  What could be more beneficial and healthy than that?  What I like about Organic Green is that it's a "clear" color.  By that I mean that it hasn't been lightened too much, nor has it been darkened too much.  It's a nice medium color of green.

Picture from Fred Smith Company

In the picture, even though there are lighter spots and darker spots the color remains bright and clear.  By painting all of the walls one color you are surrounded in a consistent hue.  I have to say that this room is refreshing to me.  Using white trim and cabinetry adds to the overall feel of the room, contributing to the alluring color.


SW 6725 Pickle

When I think of pickles I imagine the zesty flavor of a pickled cucumber.  This color is very similar to Organic Green, but to me, it has some zest to it!  It's not quite as bright, but it's still beautiful.  I think Pickle is one of those colors that is very much like the color of grass and any number of green plants growing outside.

Eclectic Bedroom by Los Gatos Interior Designers & Decorators Design Theory Interiors of California, Inc

The room above has been decorated with items that are white, black and a slightly different green that are brought together in a cohesive and beautiful way.  Even though this green is darker than the rest on my list so far, there are a greater number of white elements in the room.  It keeps the atmosphere light yet still incorporates darker items that do not dim the space.


SW6733 Grasshopper

Many things come to mind with the word "grasshopper".  But the fact of the matter is that this is a very good candidate for a color reminiscent of the turf outside. It looks like one of those beautiful dark green lawns you see sometimes.  This color is the darkest green on my list; it's light enough to match the color of grass and foliage, but it's also not going to make you feel like you're in a dungeon. 

Picture from Pinterest

This picture has a darker atmosphere, almost opposite of the one painted with Pickle, yet it still works well.  Instead of lighter accents, it has natural wood trim, dark floor and a smoky blue ceiling.  The wall color does not overwhelm the space, yet it still brings in the lush color of grass. The paint color invites you into the space.

So, what will help you know if you're making the right or wrong decision with a paint color?  The best indicator is this: go to the paint store, get the color chips for the colors you're interested in and take them home.  Hold them up to your furniture, the floor, and pictures on the wall.  You can even tape them to the wall and then stand back to see if you like the way the color interacts with your belongings and the light in your room.  Make your decision based on this action.  If the color isn't quite right, go to the next one.

The four colors that I have suggested are all lush, pretty, and inviting.  They show how beautiful and refreshing the color of a lawn can be inside a home.  If you're looking to make a bold statement in your room while also bringing a touch of the outdoors to the inside of your home, using one of these colors will help you accomplish your goal. 

Do you agree?  Let me know.

Stacey

Let us help you create a building to serve your needs at www.mcleodarchitect.com.
View our architect designed house plans at www.southerncottages.com.

Top 5 Kids Rooms

Sometimes it's fun to go crazy and design the most creative and whimsical bedroom for a child.  And for those of us who can't afford to do something like this, it's always just fun to look and wish.  When I was young I would have loved to have any of these bedrooms.

A colorful indoor gym.

Kid's Bedroom #1
The Gym
In addition to all the color and fantastic lighting, this bedroom has exactly what kids want:  a place to climb, swing, scale, jump and pull themselves up!  This is just what they need to get out their energy and exercise their muscles, all while keeping the living room clean.  (Who's going to want to play in the living room when they have a bedroom like this?!)  Anchoring the gym to the ceiling structure is definitely a must in order to use this.  But let's be honest, if my kids had a room like this, you would probably find me in there playing on that equipment with them! 

 

What do we do with that column?

Kid's Bedroom #2
The Indoor Tree
This is a fantastic use of a column.  Instead of living with a boring column that is required for the structural stability of the building, spruce it up and make it interesting!  This brings so much imagination into the room.  At Christmas you can string lights on it.  You can store your child's stuffed animals in there:  dogs, cats, foxes, snakes, chipmunks, monkeys, or owls.  You can have a picnic under its leaves any time of the year.  The fun is endless!

Bunk beds with a slide?  That's brilliant!

Kid's Bedroom #3
The Bunk Bed Slide
As if bunk beds did not incite enough enthusiasm with kids, adding a slide makes it that much better!  This is a great idea for a vacation house. If your kids are going to be sleeping in a room with 4 or more people, why not mix in some fun and put in a slide?  This gives them a great way to start the day and a fun incentive to sleep in a room with that many people.  Plus, you will not have any trouble getting them to go to their room and play for a while so you can relax.

A loft in the kids room?

Kids Bedroom #4
The Jungle Loft
Kids love to climb and be taller than everything else (especially their parents).  This loft gives them a place to do that!  It's also an exciting location to play or read...up at the ceiling level.  The jungle theme gives them a way to be in the tree tops to feed the imaginary giraffe that's come to play.  Or giggle with the monkeys.  Or they can rescue the cat who has climbed too high and gotten stuck.  And of course, when they get in trouble, that's where you're going to find them.  This would definitely be a favorite spot in the house for any child.

A secret hideout.

Kids Bedroom #5
The Clubhouse
When I was young a clubhouse would have been so awesome!  And one in my room would have been off the charts!  This imaginative idea creates a cool place to sleep or a great locale for your child's clubhouse meetings.  You can imagine the floor is a lake full of alligators that you've got to stay away from.  Or you can go sightseeing above the treetops.  Maybe you can get out the flashlights and have story time in there.  Or have a camping trip every night.

All of these different kids room ideas are on my list of fun ways to decorate a room and inspire play.  Which is your favorite?  Which do you wish you had as a child?  Do any of them inspire you to play and imagine more with your children?  Let me know!

Stacey

Let us help you create a building to serve your needs at www.mcleodarchitect.com.
View our architect designed house plans at www.southerncottages.com.

Disclaimer: Southern Cottages House Plans and Michael R. McLeod Architect, PA did not design any of these rooms.  Click the picture or the caption to find out where I found these pictures.