There is a lot to think about when designing and selecting materials for a bathroom project. As with any project, the first step is to define your needs, overall objectives and budget.

Most homeowners need better bathroom storage and more counter space, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. Busy lives and the pandemic have significantly changed how homeowners view their bathrooms and what they would like bathrooms “to do” for them, creating a shift from simple, utilitarian spaces to ones that emphasize features for aging-in-place and safety; spa-like amenities that enhance health and wellness; and sustainability for water, energy and material conservation.

When learning a foreign language, a common recommendation is to immerse yourself in the country and the culture of that language. The same can be said for a product. If you really want to understand a product, you need to understand its origin, the raw materials, the manufacturing and distribution processes, and most importantly, the product’s application. In that vein, I recently accepted an invitation from Tile of Spain USA to participate in its Passport to Creativity Tour 2024 for a full immersion into the world of Spanish designed and manufactured tile in Valencia, Spain, the heart of the Spanish tile industry.

When planning to build a new home or remodel an existing one, whom do you call to start the ball rolling on making your dreams a reality? Finding the starting line for a residential building project can feel a bit illusive, so we have created a flow chart to help you navigate these potentially uncharted waters. Note that the timing on the charts pertains to hiring, not necessarily interviewing these professionals.

A list of the primary professionals who may be engaged for your project, along with their educational and professional qualifications, is presented below in alphabetical order. Don’t be surprised by the number and variety of professionals it may take to make your dreams come true.

Do you have specific objectives for your project, such as improving the sound quantity of the room (sound abatement) or products that have low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to minimize the off-gassing of toxic substances that are wreaking havoc on your indoor air quality? It’s easy to search for materials on the internet that are designed for sound abatement, as well as those that maintain health and wellness in your interior home environment.

Foreign travel is great for sparking a designer’s creative juices; however, mixing business with pleasure can be the ultimate reward. In that vein, I have made a point of attending kitchen and bath industry trade shows on a regular basis in North America and Europe. This year, I was selected by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) Global Connect team, along with 20 other certified members, to attend German Haus Fair. Global Connect is a program developed by the NKBA to forge relationships between foreign manufacturers of kitchen and bath products and its association members. German Haus Fair is a unique, seven-day trade convention that takes place in September in northern Germany, showcasing German designed and manufactured kitchen and bath products.

Two working professionals with very active children needed a bathroom that would keep up with their busy lifestyle and help them unwind at the end of the day. Lack of storage, dated finishes, a failing shower and, window added to their dissatisfaction. The view of the toilet while soaking in the tub was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

McCabe By Design LLC was the builder responsible for all aspects of the project, with Molly McCabe as the designer.

The master bath water closet walls needed to be permanently removed to provide full access to the toilet and grab bars. The bathtub and curbed tiny shower were removed in favor of a spacious, roll-in shower with a transfer pole, grab bar shampoo shelves, hand-held shower head, and thermostatic valves. An awkward “linen” closet was removed to make room for accessible pull-out storage and two nearly identical vanities (at the homeowner’s request), with one vanity being a roll-up. Lighted LED mirrors provide full illumination for grooming.

Italian kitchen appliance manufacturer Irinox is blazing trails in the food and beverage preservation segment of the appliance world. The company was founded in 1989 to serve the professional food service and confectionary industries with blast chillers. Its blast chillers not only physically preserve foods (think no freezer burn), but are capable of maintaining the organoleptic properties (appearance, flavor, aroma and texture) of food, as well as vitamins and minerals.

Wine sales around the world are on the rise, with more people enjoying wine in the comfort of their own homes rather than in restaurants or bars. Drinking wine can be a thoroughly delightful experience and a worthwhile expenditure, provided you treat it with respect. For best results, understand the fundamentals of when to consume wine, how to store it and how to preserve it at home.

Whether you are a budding enthusiast or an avid wine imbiber, consider following some standard guidelines regarding the timing of your wine consumption to ensure you reap the greatest enjoyment. First, the year printed on the bottle’s label defines the year the wine grapes were harvested, or “vintage.” If no year is printed on the bottle, it means the wine was made with grapes harvested in different years.