Bathroom remodeling ideas can be broken into categories: Vanities, tub/shower walls, tub types, flooring, plumbing fixtures, lighting fixtures, and mirror/shower door styles. I'll go into some of the options for the different categories. Visit the web site Bathrooms Design Ideas for a general bathroom guide.

Vanities: Vanities can have different heights, widths, depths, toe kick/legs, wood types, stain types, and door styles. The normal vanity is 32" tall, and 21" deep, but if this is too small then some people use kitchen size cabinets which are 36" tall by 24" deep.

The width of a vanity is what ever can fit. A toilet needs 15" from center side to side by code. If a vanity doesn't hit the perfect width you need then fillers are used. The minimum width for a vanity with 2 sinks is 5'.

The bottom of the vanity can be toe kick, wall mounted open underneath, or decorative legs. The decorative leg cabinets are called dresser type vanities, ( see picture below). These type of vanities seem to work best without a wall on any side. There are some manufacturers that specialize in furniture style vanities. See the Vanities by Woodpro page on this site.

Some of the more common vanity wood types listed by hardest first are: Maple, hickory, oak, cherry, and alder. 

                                                                                                                 












Countertop cabinet with vanity



Tub and Shower Walls:  Tub and shower walls are usually tile of some sort, but there are some solid surfaces available. Tile is either natural stone, porcelain, ceramic, or glass. To me the bigger tiles 12x12 or bigger work best for field tile because of less grout joints to clean. The small sheets of tile work best for decorative stuff and shower floors. The only way to go on a shower floor is a custom made pan so there can be tile on the floor and they can be made any dimension. (see shower picture below)

Porcelain and ceramic would be the easiest to clean in a shower, and most water resistant. Natural stone looks best to me, but can be a little absorbing and harder to clean.  The only way to get a good feel for whats available is to visit some tile stores. I like CapCo in Boulder. The big box stores have good prices on some tile, but the quality is usually not good on the stuff in stock. 

The bigger tiles work better on the main floor as well, and the same advise on clean ability holds. Tile works great over electric heated floors. The heated floors are not as expensive as you might think and use a low amount of power.


Shower with bench

            
Bathtub Types:  Bathtubs are made of acrylic, porcelain coated cast iron or steel,  and fiberglass. Acrylic is increasingly becoming the material of choice because it is light weight, washable, strong, scratch repairable and affordable. Porcelain coated cast iron is extremely heavy, can chip, and stays cold. Fiberglass fades and dulls with age. porcelain coated steel is ok for a bargain but also is cold and can chip.

The different bath tub styles are the regular tubs that are surrounded by walls, the drop in style, and the free standing style. Square tubs come in sizes 5' to 6' long, by 30" to 42"wide, by 15" to 24" tall. Corner tubs are usually the drop in style, and come in 4' to 6' along the sides. Of course some tubs are non mechanical and some are whirlpool. See the Bathtub page at this site.


Drop in style tub with granite top.



Free standing tub




Verticle Japanese style tub with travertine natural stone, and solid granite countertop.



Plumbing Fixtures:  Plumbing fixtures are best searched out in showrooms or online. The better manufacturers are available at show rooms and online.

Glass Doors and mirrors: Frameless shower doors are more expensive than the framed, but really are a must have in the nicer bathrooms. Glass doors and mirrors are best done by your local glass company.  


Natural stone travertine shower wall and floor, frameless glass door, and ceiling mounted rain style shower head plumbing fixture.