The Beauty of Shower Niches
Amidst the various elements that contribute to a luxurious bathing experience, shower niches stand out as both functional and aesthetically pleasing additions. These built-in shelving units not only enhance the organization of your shower space but also elevate the overall design of your bathroom. In this blog, we'll delve into the charm and practicality of shower niches, exploring their benefits and the creative possibilities they offer. Design Considerations Shower niches can be built in a diverse range of shapes and sizes, providing ample room for customization. Whether you lean towards a recessed shelf, a corner niche, or a more intricate design, their versatility ensures a seamless integration into any bathroom layout or style. To achieve the envisioned outcome, meticulous planning and design considerations are crucial before construction begins. Much like framing a window, the niche is framed early in the construction process, emphasizing the importance of determining its size and placement at this initial stage. It's essential to note that niches cannot be incorporated into exterior walls where insulation is needed, or in areas with a pocket door, plumbing, HVAC, or electrical components. Addressing these constraints may involve furring out the wall to create the necessary depth for the niche, albeit at the expense of some shower space. Additionally, designing a niche around a specific tile further emphasizes the value of having precise measurements planned from the project's outset. Streamlined Aesthetics & Functionality Shower niches provide a sleek and seamless appearance to your bathroom. By integrating the storage solution directly into the shower wall, you eliminate the need for external shelving or storage units, creating a clean and uncluttered visual appeal. Toiletries, shampoos, and shower essentials can be nicely tucked out of sight, adding organization to the space as well as functionality. When designing, it is important to consider the niche’s placement from a functionality perspective, making sure first that it’s located in a spot that is easy to reach while using the shower. Next, you can decide if you’d like it to steal the show or slip into the background. Make it a Statement Piece Adding a niche to a shower design instantly creates an opportunity for it to be the focal point of the shower. Selecting a more intricate or contrasting tile for the back wall of the niche is one simple way to make it stand out. Alternatively, the shape, size, or placement of this clever nook can be what catches your eye. To add more ambiance, lighting can be incorporated with the use of hidden LED tape light or recessed lighting placed inside the niche. This produces a subtle glow, highlights gorgeous tiles, and creates a spa-like atmosphere in your bathroom. Conclusion Shower niches are not just utilitarian features; they are an expression of thoughtful design and an investment in the overall aesthetic of your bathroom. Embracing the elegance of shower niches transforms your bathing space into a haven of sophistication and practicality. So, whether you're planning a bathroom renovation or building a new home, consider integrating shower niches into your shower design and enjoy the advantages for years to come.
Tips for Avoiding Unnecessary Stress During Construction
You’ve received approved permits for your project - yay! Although it may have been quite an arduous process to get to this point, the hardest part often lies ahead in construction. Anyone who’s experienced a remodel or built a new home will tell you how stressful it can be. One thing that might help is being prepared, having realistic expectations, and communicating clearly with your builder. In this article, we’ll review some ways you can set yourself up to avoid unnecessary issues throughout the construction phase. Be Prepared Many builders prefer to have all design selections made prior to bidding the project or at least starting construction. There are a few reasons why this is important - knowing what fixtures and finishes you have decided on enables them to provide a more realistic budget, order materials on time, and prepare or rough-in the spaces according to product requirements. You might find it hard to make a final decision on key design features like light fixtures and tile, but waiting until the last minute to order items can cause significant delays and backtracking. One sure way to avoid shipping delays is to select fixtures and finishes that are stocked locally. If the item you want is special order or shipping from afar, it’s crucial that the builder is aware so that they place the order in time. Trades will come in to rough-in for plumbing, electrical, and HVAC, so having those fixtures selected well ahead of time ensures that they will set everything up accordingly. For example, if you have specified a wall mount faucet in the powder bath, the plumber will need to know how high you’d like it mounted and the distance between the valves on the fixture itself. This is also where interior elevations play a crucial role. The interior elevations will represent where fixtures should be installed and how they interact with each other in the space. The cabinet layout will also be shown in these drawings; they will be shared with the cabinet manufacturer who will then draw up their own shop drawings. Make sure that you’ve thoroughly reviewed and approved all of the drawings before construction begins, working with us to revise as needed. Set Expectations & Communicate Clearly Executing designs in real life is no easy task, even for professionals. Often times, builders struggle most with managing the homeowner’s expectations. In your initial meeting with your builder, make sure to tell them the method of communication you prefer, what you expect in terms of updates (daily, weekly, as needed, etc.), and any other considerations you’d like them to make while construction is occurring. If you don’t communicate your needs, builders (similar to designers) will make assumptions as to what your expectations are based on their experiences with previous clients. Reviewing this at the start of the project will help get everyone on the same page and open up communication lines early on. There will, no doubt, be some surprises along the way. Many of the hurdles that arise through construction are not at the fault of the builder, so approaching those issues from a place of understanding will help avoid unnecessary tensions. If your builder did make a mistake, communicating how you expect them to remediate the situation in a calm manner will help you move forward gracefully. You will be dealing with your builder for at least a couple of months, and it can make a huge difference if all parties agree to put an extra effort in to help the construction process go smoothly. Contact us if you’re interested in working with us and would like more information about how we help navigate the construction (and pre-construction) process with you and your builder.