What practical feature/item do you secretly crave for your house?
Tom Flanagan
9 years ago
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kchappell139
9 years agoKate Burt
9 years agoRelated Discussions
What features do you like about your bathroom?
Comments (4)Someone locally is selling a new, misordered white Kohler Purist tub for like 1/3 of normal cost, and I almost jumped at until I realized it had BubbleMassage and not the Effervescence i wanted (tiny bubbles rather than the usual big ones that quickly float to the surface and pop). I'm still intrigued with this tub - it, and its rectangular cousin the Kohler Sok, are like bathing in your own personal infinity pool. It's also a rare 2-person tub configured so you can either face each other or (my preference) face the same direction side by side, both in reasonable comfort. But I just can't fit a 46"w tub in this house (and thats before the obligitory deck built around it) so it will have to wait until my next move, which hopefully won't be too long in the future. Things I like in a bathroom that I really have: another Ikea Godmorgan sink cabinet (4' long x 18") with Odensvik sink - what an incredible use of space with those four deep wide drawers, thanks to the sink drain plumbing that's quickly pushed to the back, and the glossy drawerfronts, full extension drawer glides, soft-close feature, and wall hangability, along with the thick, glossy glazed ceramic top and nice chrome pulls I used, fool everyone into thinking it's seriously high-end stuff. As with a previous poster, the 18" rather than 21" depth went a long way to making the room feel roomier, since the deeper vanity would have been right up against the door opening. Since the Ikea sink doesn't have a backsplash, I put large ceramic tiles on the wall that look like Carrara marble. Nestled amonst those tiles between the sink and medicine cabinet is a 4" tall strip of glass/marble/metallic accent tile from Porcelanosa. Like everything else at that modernist boutique, it's expensive, but since I didn't need much it didn't matter, and the presense of obviously luxury-grade accent tiles further disguises that everything surrounding it came from Lowes or Ikea. Ditto the Pfister Kenzo waterfall faucet, which only set me back about $125. Looks 4x the price it is. California Faucets thermostatic tub/shower valve. Central lever controls temperature, with temperatures embossed in the metal, giving it the appearance of a dial on a nice wristwatch; just set your favorite temp and it keeps it. Below and above the large temperature control are two smaller levers for water volume control that can be used one at a time or both at once, for tub spout and shower, or fixed shower and hand shower, without the need for a seperate diverter control. All three controls fit on either a round or rectangular metal bezel, and there are loads of styles and finishes to choose from. Higher than average flow rate too. Much better than the Hansgrohe thermostatic valve I used in another room. An infrared heat lamp strategically positioned in the ceiling in front of the mirror and vanity cabinet, right under where you stand in front of the sink and mirror whilst drying off and styling hair. Also on the ceiling is a Broan QTR080L exhaust fan/light - very quiet, and the light uses a standard bulb instead of some funky compact fluorescent lamp that can only be purchase from an electrical specialty store, which is the norm for new exhaust fan/lights it seems. I put a retrofit LED bulb in there, which makes it even more efficient than the fluorescent bulbs most of these force you to use, and it gives off a more natural light too. Toto Drake II commode (or its skirted cousin, Vespin II). High quality, doesn't clog, perfect 16-1/2" height, cleans the side of the bowl extremely well (rare in 1.28gpf toilets), has two large water outlets instead of dozens of tiny holes that collect mildew so you can toss your toilet brush away. It's also slender so the space around it looks roomier in tight spaces. I used the Church 1720 slow-close seats from Lowes, which cover up most of their own seams at the back further easing cleaning (the lid on these sticks out about 1/2" beyond the seat and bowl underneath which looked odd at first, but that lets you lift the lid without touching the sometimes soiled parts underneath which I like). Also from Lowes, the Kohler recessed medicine cabinets mirrored inside and out, 26"h with several widths available, most for under $200. Would like them even better if the hinges allowed the doors (mirrored on the inside) to open further, but replacement hinges are available if you need that. Still, these look very elegant and are also very functional, with height-adjustable glass shelves. Home Depot has similar units with doors that swing open further, but they're not as well made. In another bathroom I used the Lowes Allen + Roth 31"w x 22"d vanity top in Blue Pearl, my favorite granite color, which was only $200 a few months ago but has risen in price some since. It's available in several other colors and widths too, all including an oval white undermount bowl. Still a good deal for a high quality granite top that fits atop loads of stock cabinets, though I'd prefer if it weren't pre-drilled for an 8" widespread faucet, generally ruling out using a single-hole or wall-mount faucet. These aren't stocked in stores, but they're not truly custom/built-to-order, probably sitting in a warehouse somewhere, and there's only about a one-week turnaround if you order from their website and pick up in their stores. These do include a backsplash, and a sidesplash is available too. Finally, nice sculpted lever handles on the bathroom doors, which allow them to be opened by pushing upward using the top of your hand if it's wet or soapy. I'm not a germophobe, but I like being able to do this before I'm about to eat a meal and want my hands to be clean and disinfected, and have guests over who may not have washed their hands after using the restroom. When used in the normal fashion, pushing downward with your palm, they're easier to open than round knobs....See MoreDo you Crave Antiques?
Comments (38)Love the first pattern, Jan. Yes, yes and yes. I am very drawn to old pieces. I only have a few "new" pieces and they have patina. Made to look old things. I only buy vintage or antique accessories. I use family things when/where I can. Mom has told me to come go through a few drawers - can't wait. It was confirmed by an astrologist that I have an "old soul." I think that's part of the reason, if not the reason, I am drawn to things with history. I'm a big toucher when shopping antiques. I love running my hand across the top of something or picking it up for closer inspection. I often wonder who owned items before me and what it has witnessed. Imagine my horror of being raised by a furniture store family! lol I started buying old pieces at 21yo and had a few older family things in my room as a teenager. The home I was born into was 50s Danish, but I loved visiting my 90yo next door neighbor's home and was fascinated by her antiques. We moved to an English Tudor when I was 10yo and it fit my decorating personality. I like English things, but don't try to decorate in English. Def. eclectic, to fit what I am drawn to and feel good around. I love the coolness of Swedish, but would never decorate my home that way. I need warm colors/items. Texture is a must. I'm a very visual person. Could never live in a modern home (I do enjoy seeing) but would not be comfortable in one on a daily basis. Touches of French are okay, but I'm not into ornate pieces from any style....See MoreWhat do you love and not love about your home?
Comments (26)What I love; the front is oriented full south, and has a large picture window in the front living room which allows me to survive winter. It is compact and easy to keep clean (with a little self discipline!) Rooms are smallish (compared to modern design) but big enough for me. Because I have insulated (foam in the walls and lots in the attic) and replaced windows, heating/cooling costs are less than average for my neighborhood. Full basement, original wood floors, nice front porch, cement board/plaster walls, A good well kept neighborhood, walkable, schools and 3 parks within 1/4-1/2 mile, our little suburban downtown with library, coffee, restaurants also can be walked to (about 1.5 miles). Big window in the north family room addition that lets me gaze on my gardens. Excellent city services, pretty good county services also. What I don't love so much: noisier than I'd like --under the flight approach for the local university airport (commercial traffic day and night); freight trains only a block away, even freeway noise from a mile away audible much of the time. (note -- I moved here from out of state 25 years ago and relied on the agent to alert me to those issues, but disclosure wasn't required back then and didn't happen) Big city neighborhoods surrounding my suburban paradise deteriorating. Property taxes are high -- paying for those good services. Not a large enough lot for the gardens that I want to have (although larger than average for the neighborhood's age). Poor draining soil that floods in spring and I am still remediating. Mosquito central. Only one bath, and because of the layout of an addition done in the 50's, no good place to add a half bath, or a screened back porch. The single car garage isn't big enough anymore for all my stuff. 1940s duct work really not efficient for cooling the upstairs. Aaand, when my neighbor goes outside to smoke on his patio, the smoke travels into my windows....See MoreJust for fun, what do you love but would never have in your own home?
Comments (78)In my new home, I have a housekeeper come every other week. I like clean homes. I do NOT like the actual job of cleaning them. I'd rather work in the garden, or do some cooking, or deal with the chickens, or keep up with physical maintenance and house painting/staining, or do graphic arts or anything else. I'm fine with doing laundry, too. I clean up after myself in the kitchen, but the housekeeper does floors, bathrooms and general dusting/windows and such. And I now have a robot vacuum who is pretty decent at what he does. He even has a name: Sharkey. I'm not crazy about cleaning his filter, but it comes with the territory and lasts five minutes... I didn't have a housekeeper back at my old CT home. One reason my getting out of there and getting the place on the market is taking so long... especially since I then had a full time job that lasted well over the standard 40 hour work week. THIS one will be clean! But it doesn't need to be anally-House Beautiful clean. Simply lived in and tidy. My reasons for not wanting a fully white kitchen or other rooms are not about appearing clean, but about my just only wanting white as an accent. Aesthetically. That's what works for my sense of eye appeal....See Moresizzlinghot
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