Beautiful Bathrooms
AND HOW TO GET THERE
A little about me
My Name is Linda Fougerousse, Principal
Designer at Interior Transformation, Inc.
Illinois registered interior designer with 20 years of
experience
Certified by the National Council for Interior Design
Qualification
On-call designer at the Merchandise Mart
Interior design instructor at the College of DuPage
Winner of HGTV’s Designers’ Challenge
You might say………….
I’m the girl with lots of hats…………..
WE’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT
HOW TO GO FROM THIS
TO THIS
So how do I get started?
Go out and collect as many samples
as you can get your hands on
….(ok J/K)
The Steps Include:
1. Space Planning
2. Selecting Finishes
3. Getting Proposals
4. Vetting & Hiring a Contractor
5. Going on a nice a vacation….
Step 1: Space Planning
Even if you’re a DIYer,
this is one area that
bringing in a
professional can make
a huge difference in
the finished project.
BEFORE
AFTER
But if you insist, here are some general
space planning tips:
Door – if at all possible, try to have your door opening into
the bathroom at least 34” (2’-10” door). The minimum
allowable door is 24”
Tub – a typical tub will be at least 30”W x 60”L with
various tub heights. This size is typical in a tub/shower
combo.
All Fixtures – we recommend at least 34-36” in front of all
the fixtures for adequate circulation within the space. A
minimum code requirement is 21” for the lav, toilet & tub
and 24” for the shower.
Soaker Tubs can be small as 32”w but 34”-36” are a more
standard.
Toilet – ideally you should 18” on center on both sides of
the toilet. 16” on center is acceptable for residential.
Enclosed Toilet (water closet) – You should plan for a space
that is at least 36”w x 60”L for a enclosed toilet.
Sink – The recommend spacing from centerline of the lav
is 20” to the wall. The minimum is 15”.
Double Vanity – best would be 36”, minimum by code is
30”
Showers – allow at least 36” Sq. if possible for glass
enclosed shower. Code on this is 30” sq. Many homes
today are accommodating 2 person showers or luxury
showers so 42” Sq. plus is recommended.
Storage – allow as much storage as possible but a
minimum you should plan for a few extra toilet tissue rolls
and hand towels.
Lighting – ideally, try to plan for two sconces placed on the
sides of the mirror vs above. This gives a better
illumination of the face for shaving or applying makeup.
Also adding a light in the tub/shower area (be sure to use
the correct UL rated fixture) and then at least one central
fixture for general lighting.
Step 2: Selecting Finishes
In order to prepare for the bid process, it is a good idea to have most of your
finishes selected prior to the bid process.
Recommended Checklist:
Optional Checklist
Cabinetry
 Mirrors
Countertop
 Hardware (towel bars, etc)
Tile
 Cabinet hardware
Plumbing Fixtures
Lighting
Cabinetry
What to decide:
Door Style – This has large influence on the
overall price of the cabinetry
Wood Species – This can also swing the price of
the cabinetry
Finish
Storage Options
Bathroom Storage Ideas
More Bathroom Storage Ideas
Countertop Choices
Granite
Soapstone
Marble
Solid Surface
Quartz
Images from Corian and
Stone Design websites
Countertop Options
FINISH
PROS
CONS
Granite
100% natural stone; every piece is unique, extremely
resistant to heat and very scratch resistant
Requires seams and may need periodic sealing
Marble
No two slabs are alike and handles heat
More porous than granite so it can scratch and stain (nail
polish, liquid make-up etc.)
Soapstone
Extremely durable natural surface; no staining, heat,
resistant and nonporous. Considered the most
environmentally safe countertop with no chemicals used
for finishing. Available in matte or polished
To keep the finish and darkness consistent, you do have to oil
it quite often. Limited color selection.
Solid Surface
Man-made of acrylic or polyester plastics; nonporous and
highly resistant to bacteria-growth. Seams are almost
undetectable and scratches or chips can be repaired.
Can discolor or become damaged when exposed to extreme
heat; also can scratch and chip
Quartz
Made with 85-95% crushed quartz with a resin binder.
Nonporous and highly resistant to bacteria growth. More
durable than solid surface and won’t scratch or chip. Heatresistant (up to 400F).
Seams can divide to trap dirt and bacteria
Tile: Ceramic
Pros
• Unlimited color selection
• Tons of shapes
• Most budget friendly
Cons
• Can crack easily
• Color only on surface
• Most is wall and ceiling (floor available but
will have a different rating)
Tile: Porcelain
Pros
• Unlimited color selection
• Excellent substitute for natural stone and
other materials
• Can be used on floors and walls
Cons
• Limited shapes and trim pieces
• Color only on surface
• Harder to cut to size
Tile: Natural Stone
Pros
• Minimal upkeep
• Durable and timeless
• Color consistency throughout
• Many size options for the more popular stone
Cons
• Can be porous and will need to be sealed
• Highest cost
• Some stone is hard to cut as it can flake
Plumbing Fixture Finishes
Chrome
Polished Nickel
Stainless Steel
Brushed Nickel
Oil Rubbed Bronze
Images from Ferguson.com
Plumbing Fixture Finishes
Brass
Copper
Satin Brass
Satin Bronze
Matte Black
Images from Ferguson.com
Fixture Finishes
FINISH
PROS
CONS
Chrome
Very popular – second only to brushed nickel, usually most
inexpensive.
Spots
Polished Nickel
Also popular – has a warmer finish
Spots, harder to find matching accessories
Brushed Nickel
Most popular finish. One of the most durable finishes.
Doesn’t show water spots or fingerprints
Doesn’t give the shiny impact of chrome or polished nickel
Stainless Steel
No plating, long lasting
Can scratch and rust
Oil Rubbed Bronze
Easy to clean and match accessories
More expensive and not as popular
Brass
Easy to clean and match accessories
More expensive and not as popular
Satin Brass
Elegant unique look that doesn’t show spots or fingerprints
Harder to find and more expensive
Copper
Great antibacterial properties. Will develop beautiful
patina over time
Very hard to find and match accessories
Satin Bronze
Is a nice alternative to copper that offers a softer look than
oil rubbed bronze but can be used with similar finishes
Very expensive and harder to find accessories
Matte Black
Easy to clean, doesn’t show dirt
Hard to find accessories
Lighting Tips
Choosing Lamps (Bulbs)
White Light
Halogen bulbs give the most natural white light
and are closest to daylight.
Some new fluorescent lights offer good color
rendering and are more efficient than halogen or
incandescent.
Dimmers help to reduce costs when the bright
light is not needed.
Always select your finishes in the lighting that
you plan to use in the bath. Lighting can change
the color dramatically.
SOME TRENDS – 2014 Houzz Survey
Tubs:
Showers:
4 out of 10 remodels
are leaving the tub out
of the master bath.
Younger homeowner prefer
rain showers
The tub is less
important the older you
get. 59% of the 65 and
older are skipping the
tub.
For those installing a
tub, free standing tubs
are winning!
Older homeowners really
want the hand held
Only 14% of younger and
older homeowners want the
body sprays
Frameless clear glass is the
“clear” choice
SOME TRENDS – 2014 Houzz Survey
Toilet:
Sinks & Cabinets
The “water closet” or at
least some type of
privacy for the toilet,
tends to be more
important to those over
35
45% of the 25 to 44 YO’s want
two sinks & 58% of those 45
and over want two sinks.
91% of the new toilets
being installed are high
efficiency and dual flush
Two piece toilets are still
in the most demand
Undermount sinks are
preferred by 45% of those
remodeling
White cabinets in the
bathroom are the most
popular but only by 32%.
Dark, Medium woods
received 21% and light wood
is the least popular at 6%
Questions?
Please feel free to stop by our booth #512 today.
You can also contact me directly at:
linda@interiortransformation.com or 630-782-0806 and I’ll be happy to help!