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Today's Bathroom
| Article
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12643 |
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Section : |
LIFE
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| Issue
Date : |
6 / 1987 |
806 Words |
| Author
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Rochelle Larkin
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Americans will spend an estimated thirteen billion dollars this year to install, upgrade, and embellish their bathrooms; more than ten million American bathrooms will receive major renovations. This may indicate a new golden age of the bath, the first since classical Rome.
For the householder who wants to enhance or enlarge the space, new technology can transform the bath into an oasis of pleasure. There are enclosed showers that convert into steambaths with the flick of a switch, and tubs that become whirlpools by turning an extra faucet. Saunas can be built into bathrooms or added as adjoining structures, transforming the look and purpose of the bathroom.
A convenient way to update a bathroom is to add a prepiped, ready-for-installation unit, available in a choice of colors and in various shapes, to make the most of floor space.
Contemporary Italian units feature shower, steam, and whirlpool in a 67-by-67-inch round. Fixtures include faucets which give readouts of water temperature, water-heated towel bars, storage space for toiletries - protected by an acrylic panel - separate shower head and hand-held spray, and a full-length mirror. A dome - to create a steam room - and an eight-jet whirlpool with contoured seats are other options.
Because of the expense and the endless array of options, many people employ a decorator. However, this isn't absolutely necessary. Most cities have either a store specializing in bathroom fixtures, or a local showroom representing major manufacturers. Kohler, American Standard, Eljer, Grohe (made in Germany), and Twyfords (made in England) are some of the biggest companies, with readily available supplies. Hastings-Il Bagno in New York is the distributor of several contemporary lines from Italy and Spain.
Color Coordinates
Kohler has a scheme to make bathroom remodeling less complicated. Under the designation of Kohler Color Coordinates, a group of seven specialized suppliers coordinate their products with Kohler's own fixtures. There are a broad choice of products in six color-groups, allowing an almost endless variety of options. You can custom-design your new bathroom from standard items that have been chosen to go together - floors, wall coverings, towels, tiles, countertops, storage units, and even paint color. This is a well-planned program, and its results are both cost-effective and individual.
The best approach to revitalizing your bathroom is to decide on the look and the additional function you want the room to serve. A harmonious décor can be achieved with a judicious selection of bathroom accessories. The effect can reflect any time period or place in the world, from contemporary to classic periods, from cultivated gardens to wild jungles. If the bath is to become an escape from the stresses of the workaday world, a soothing atmosphere can be evoked by small-scale patterns or solid pastels.
For the house or apartment with more than one bathroom, the tastes of individual family members can be accommodated with totally different bathrooms. By using basic colors, for example, the children's bathroom can be adapted to "grow up" with the youngsters, perhaps with little more than new
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