need bathroom fixture recommendations - vanity, toilet, lighting, tub, etc

Let’s hear your favorite (or most hated) bathroom fixtures! We have 3 bathrooms and need new everything! Vanity Toilet Tub Neo-angle shower pan Medicine cabinet (we need storage) Lighting Faucet for sink Faucet for bath “Rain” shower head (after years of yearning, my husband’s wish will finally come true!) Fan with heater (or no heater) Anything else missing? We don’t have a high-end budget, but I want to hear all your recommendations. Thanks!

ps158

in Bath & Kitchen 10 years and 10 months ago

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tanyarey | 10 years and 8 months ago

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We usually buy from a store in our neighborhood and they’ve got good quality products of good brands. So I didn’t find any problems in getting a good stuff for my place or my Client’s. If you haven’t used more of brackets and caddies in place of large storage cabinets, try it. I’m telling you, these bathroom accessories save a lot of space for you in your bath. I’ve always opted for accessories from Better Living (ON) and they’ve always maintained good quality.

alfredsutton | 10 years and 9 months ago

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Don’t use any fancy item or a very costly item because it is possible that after few years you have to replace that. Then, you have to suffer heavy costing again. I suggest to use a medium budgeted one so that if there will be any plumbing issue, your pocket won;t get burned too much.

agdipierro

in Bath & Kitchen 10 years and 10 months ago

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Start with the Kohler website. It’s easy to use. The products are good quality and can usually be shopped down on the internet

nyc_sport | 10 years and 10 months ago

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PS158 — On the rain shower, maybe it is many decades of being accustomed to a shower head on the wall with massive water pressure, but I prefer my Speakman showerheads. For me at least, it is not the model we have — which is a large 12 inch rain head, attached to an exposed valve system, and I often experience others in hotels. To me, it is harder to rinse your hair, face and various body parts, and if you are the type that sometimes shares a shower with a significant other, it is less convenient in my view to have the water coming down in the middle of the shower. Tubs can be very expensive. If by regular you mean no airbaths or whirlpools, not sure there is a lot of reason to go beyond the Kohler/American standard. If the tubs will be tiled in, there can be a difference in the tile flange and the way that the tile meets the top that some of the more expensive brands do better. We used Zuma and MTI tubs. You should make friends with houzz.com More ideas than you could ever imagine.

ps158 | 10 years and 10 months ago

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Thanks for all the names of brands and such. I haven’t heard of half of them! Time to do some online shopping… Tubs will be regular, not free standing. Don’t shoot me, but we have the original claw foot tubs, and as much as I love looking at them, I hate using them!! I had one a long time ago and found it very hard to get in and out of, nearly slipping and falling and taking down the shower curtain and rod with me – not just on one occasion, either. Now 10 years later I sure ain’t more graceful… nyc_sport – why aren’t you a fan of the rain shower head? Is it the particular brand you got, or rains in general? Also will let you know if we’re interested in those parts you have after looking up Newport.

NeoGrec | 10 years and 10 months ago

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We love our bidet. Apart from its obvious uses, it’s great also for tired, sore feet and watering houseplants. For the vanity, I recommend something with a solid rim you can grab onto and that has plenty of room for a soap dish, toothbrush holder etc. The Duravit “Happy D” line is great in this respect and works well with both traditional and modern decor. For the loo, Toto is the best. A hand-shower in the tub is vital for general cleaning and tasks like hair washing, dog washing and even window screen washing. Rejuvenation Lighting has great, classic medicine cabinets. By the way, there are plenty of quiet extraction fans available. I will also say I regret positioning our tub under the window along the short side of the bathroom. It’s a little drafty in winter and discourages me from taking a soak — so don’t regret your lack of windows! On my wish list: 1\. a steam shower (expensive to install but apparently not expensive to run); 2\. a heated towel rail (although we can at least drape towels over the radiator). Good luck!

nyc_sport | 10 years and 10 months ago

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“High end” budget means different things to different people. I renovated a house 4 years ago and my apartment this year. A few thoughts Toilet — Toto, whichever one you want Vanity — Too many variables. Most of ours were made by cabinet people. We used an Empire vanity in a guest bath — well made and reasonable. Tub — Regular tub? Freestanding?? Medicine Cabinet — These can get expensive, and may provide options you did not think of (outlets inside, built-in lighting, etc.) Robern is very nice but expensive. If they fit your tastes, you might wait for the next Restoration Hardware sale (they happen regularly). They are well made. Faucets — Newport Brass are well made and attractive. Not particularly cheap. If you have any interest in the Newport Brass “East Linear” line, we have some extra never used shower/tub valves and handles that we would sell very cheap. Rain shower head — We put one in our house, I am not a fan (of the concept, not our shower). Ours is a Sigma, which also makes decent faucets etc., particularly if you are looking in more traditional style. Heater — I highly recommend electric in-floor heat if you can swing it. It totally changes your perspective when your toes hit that marble/ceramic tile.

ps158 | 10 years and 10 months ago

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Thanks for the tips DIBS. That is something that just dawned on me a few days ago – that we will have not a heat source in any of the bathrooms…Gulp! I was wondering if we could get away without have a heater / fan combo (I hate noisy fans, and figured a heater would make it worse). The bathrooms are all along a party wall in the center of the house, so there aren’t any windows. But I think we should play it safe and get a heater/fan combo.

daveinbedstuy | 10 years and 10 months ago

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Depending upon the efficiency of your heat supply in the bathroom (some have none) install a ceiling heat lamp with a fan. If you install an exhaust fan, make sure it is vented to the outside, NOT just up into the ceiling rafters!