Mistakes Made When Remodeling a Bathroom

You may want to renovate your kitchen to be the home’s hub, but a dream bathroom serves a different purpose altogether. The kitchen brings everyone together, but the bathroom is a retreat from your hectic lifestyle where you can enjoy some much-needed time. Whether you want to relax at the end of a long day or have some peace and quiet, the right bathroom can do both.

However, a bathroom reno, although exciting, is more complex than remodeling some of the other rooms in your home. If you need some help, you should look for the warning signs of a bad contractor in any type of renovation project. But beyond that, there are certain mistakes you’ll want to avoid while renovating your bathroom. Here are 18 things to look out for, according to design experts.

Not visualizing what the design will look like

Technology has made it even easier to fully plan your bathroom reno, and it would certainly be a mistake not to take advantage of the digital tools at your disposal. “Years ago, it was a bit of an act of blind faith because you would have drawings, samples of materials, etcetera, but a lot was left to the imagination about how your room was going to end up,” says Mark Cutler, cofounder of L.A. firm CutlerSchulze. “Now you have the option of creating almost photorealistic renderings that show every detail of the design.” Cutler admits that some of these renderings cost “not an insignificant amount of money.” However, he says that they can save you countless hours and thousands of dollars in the end.

Putting the cart before the horse

It’s understandable that you’d want to focus on the finishes. However, Charmaine Wynter, design principal at Charmaine Wynter Interiors in Southlake, Texas, warns that it’s a mistake to spend less attention and energy on the less glamorous parts of the renovation. “For example, people often research at length the grout color, but they fail to consider if the tile requires sanded or non-sanded grout, or if the grout must be sealed versus unsealed.” Wynter also points out that it’s possible to spend hours searching for the perfect tile, but then fail to determine how much space is required between each tile for the proper adherence and to resist cracking. “In essence, DIY enthusiasts often put the cart before the horse, or the aesthetic before the function,” she says.

DBI Kitchen & Bath

We are an Accredited Business Member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB). DBI carries an A+ rating which means that we have chosen to be accountable. Also, we continue to demonstrate good faith in our community. We do this through our business relationships and our operations. DBI Kitchen and Bath commit to responsible construction practices. We install sustainable and energy-efficient materials.

Avoid Making These Mistakes on Your Bathroom Renovation Project

You may want to renovate your kitchen to be the home’s hub, but a dream bathroom serves a different purpose altogether. The kitchen brings everyone together, but the bathroom is a retreat from your hectic lifestyle where you can enjoy some much-needed time. Whether you want to relax at the end of a long day or have some peace and quiet, the right bathroom can do both.

However, a bathroom reno, although exciting, is more complex than remodeling some of the other rooms in your home. If you need some help, you should look for the warning signs of a bad contractor in any type of renovation project. But beyond that, there are certain mistakes you’ll want to avoid while renovating your bathroom. Here are 18 things to look out for, according to design experts.

Failing to plan ahead

Some projects don’t take a lot of thought and planning, but this won’t be one of those. “You can wake up on Saturday morning and decide to paint your bedroom or dining room and be successful, but the same is not true with a bathroom project,” explains Jeff Andrews of Jeff Andrews Design in Los Angeles. “You need to be well aware of the plumbing and electrical, understand the different flooring and surface materials… Even a few coats of paint could cause problems if you don’t have good ventilation.” In order words, you need to think through all of those components and more before embarking on a bathroom reno.

His view is shared by Stephen Pallrand, founder at CarbonShack in Los Angeles, who recommends taking the time—and hiring the right professionals if budget allows—to draw up a really good, carefully considered layout. “It can be very tricky to fit in all the various elements you want to include in your new bathroom in a way that (1) makes sense, (2) looks good, (3) functions properly, and (4) conforms to your area’s building codes,” Pallrand recommends drawing up as many different iterations of the bathroom layout as you need to be confident that you’ve considered everything. “Putting in this extra work at the beginning of the project will help you avoid any undesirable, unintended consequences later on,” he says.

DBI Kitchen & Bath

We are an Accredited Business Member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB). DBI carries an A+ rating which means that we have chosen to be accountable. Also, we continue to demonstrate good faith in our community. We do this through our business relationships and our operations. DBI Kitchen and Bath commit to responsible construction practices. We install sustainable and energy-efficient materials.

Remodel Your Kitchen

Avoid these Common Kitchen Mistakes

Renovating your kitchen is one of the best things you can do to improve the functionality of your home while also adding significant resale value–if it’s done right!

Unfortunately, there are numerous ways a kitchen remodel can go wrong, especially when it comes to budgeting, changing the kitchen layout, and choosing materials.

Whether you’re committed to a DIY remodel or you’re seeking the help of experts, we’ve outlined the most common kitchen renovation mistakes and the pro kitchen remodel tips to help you avoid them.

As you set out on your new project, steer clear of the following kitchen design mistakes with the help of expert kitchen remodeling tips and advice:

Neglecting the Existing Plumbing

One of the biggest kitchen design mistakes you can make during a remodel is failing to consider plumbing.

When designing a new kitchen layout, it may seem like a good idea to put your sink in a new spot or get a fridge with a built-in water dispenser. But many homeowners underestimate the practicality of moving plumbing to accommodate new additions and get stuck with a pushed back timeline and significantly extra costs.

Pro Tip

Make sure to check all your plans with a plumber before you get started. You may have to build your design around what’s possible rather than the most aesthetically pleasing arrangement. Changing your design is a lot easier than having to figure out what to do with material and units that don’t work.

Forgetting about Lights

Many homeowners forget to plan for new lighting fixtures when renovating kitchens, especially if their space already has a lot of natural light. The last thing you want is for light so dim it’s hard to see what you’re chopping or to bump your head on a pendant light that’s hung too low.

Pro Tip

Choose appropriate kitchen lights for each of these three categories: ambient lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting.

Ambient lighting will be your brightest and most illuminating set of lights in your kitchen. You would typically turn these on when you need to see all details of your kitchen, like when you’re cleaning or prepping food. Typically ambient lights are set in your ceiling and can be flush mount or recessed lights.

Tasking lighting is meant for illuminating your counter or stovetop for detailed tasks. You can install linear track lighting on the ceiling (usually over a bar or island), undercabinet lights to focus on your countertops or hood range lights over your stove.

Accent lighting should be installed to complement the ambient lighting you install. Pendant lights are the most popular today, but you can also find wall sconces and chandeliers. Here are some tips for properly hanging pendant lights. For standard eight-foot ceilings, you should hang your pendant lights between 10 and 12 inches below the ceiling plane. Add about three inches to your pendant light for each foot taller your ceiling is so it’s not awkwardly hung from the ceiling.

Call us at DBI Kitchen & Bath and put us to work for you!

Kitchen Remodeling Mistakes

Kitchen Design Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

Renovating your kitchen is one of the best things you can do to improve the functionality of your home while also adding significant resale value–if it’s done right!

Unfortunately, there are numerous ways a kitchen remodel can go wrong, especially when it comes to budgeting, changing the kitchen layout, and choosing materials.

Whether you’re committed to a DIY remodel or you’re seeking the help of experts, we’ve outlined the most common kitchen renovation mistakes and the pro kitchen remodel tips to help you avoid them.

As you set out on your new project, steer clear of the following kitchen design mistakes with the help of expert kitchen remodeling tips and advice:

Choosing Materials That Are Hard to Clean or Install

A common mistake in kitchen renovations is choosing materials and items that give you your desired look but end up being hard to install or even harder to keep clean.

Pro Tip

Make smart design and installation choices. For example, click-lock flooring options will be much easier to install than glue-down varieties, especially if you’re doing DIY renovations. Pre-assembled cabinets reduce the time it takes to install them. Glass refrigerator shelves catch spills that would drip right through wire shelves. Undermount or solid piece sinks prevent crumbs from catching in grooves. Matte finishes don’t show dirt as much as glossy ones do.

Too Much Open Shelving

Open shelving is a common design trend that can allow you to display beautiful, coordinated dish sets or serving dishes.

But if every cabinet in your kitchen is open, things can quickly look messy if dishes are put away chaotically by young children or if you end up needing to store food on the shelves when you run out of room in your pantry. Open shelving also causes dishes to collect dust more quickly.

Pro Tip

Consider a mix of traditional cupboards and open shelving. Plan to display your best, most coordinated collections of dishes on open shelves. Put everyday dishware, plastic items, small appliances, and food in your cabinets.

Not Including Enough Electrical Outlets

One of the most frustrating kitchen mistakes is not having enough electrical outlets! Are you the kind of cook who needs to plug in a blender, toaster, griddle, Instapot, and more all at once? Or maybe you just always need an outlet to charge your dying phone as you make your newest online recipe.

Older homes are particularly likely to have fewer outlets than your family needs, so upgrading your electrical outlets will be an important part of your renovation.

Pro Tip

Your electrical outlet plans should start by meeting the standards in the National Electrical Code established by the U.S. National Fire Protection Association. Here are some of the basics: outlets should be no more than 48 inches from each other, any countertop more than 12 inches wide should have an electrical outlet, and outlets should not be more than 20 inches above the countertop except in kitchen islands or when accommodating disabilities.

Electrical codes can be adapted locally, so make sure to find out the exact code requirements when planning your remodel. Following these standards should help you have enough outlets for everything you need. Consider installing four plug-ins at each electrical port instead of just two. You can also find outlet configurations that have built-in USB ports for phone chargers.

Kitchen Remodeling Tips

Kitchen Design Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

Renovating your kitchen is one of the best things you can do to improve the functionality of your home while also adding significant resale value–if it’s done right!

Unfortunately, there are numerous ways a kitchen remodel can go wrong, especially when it comes to budgeting, changing the kitchen layout, and choosing materials.

Whether you’re committed to a DIY remodel or you’re seeking the help of experts, we’ve outlined the most common kitchen renovation mistakes and the pro kitchen remodel tips to help you avoid them.

As you set out on your new project, steer clear of the following kitchen design mistakes with the help of expert kitchen remodeling tips and advice:

Choosing Too Many Busy Patterns

Choosing fun patterns, different shapes, flashy tile, and busy countertops can be fun, but when you put them all together it could make your kitchen look cluttered and chaotic.

Pro Tip

Pick a focal point and plan all your other kitchen details around it. Keep them simple and complementary to each other.

Laying the Wrong Flooring

Upgrading the flooring in your kitchen takes up a significant portion of your remodeling budget, so you want to make sure what you buy will last.

But some homeowners hope to get more out of their budget by buying cheap flooring that has to be replaced just a few years after a remodel. Or they find flooring they love, but when it’s delivered they discover that it clashes with cabinets or appliances.

Pro Tip

Kitchen floors have a lot to put up with! Start by finding flooring that puts durability first. Here are some properties to watch out for:

Waterproof; stain, scratch, and scuff resistant; easy to clean; and stable under extreme heat changes.

Once you find the flooring that has the durability you want, order samples of different colors and finishes so you can match it with other elements before installing or ordering flooring. For more details on flooring types, check out our ultimate guide to flooring.

Bathroom Remodel Strategies

You dream about a bathroom that’s high on comfort and personal style, but you also want materials, fixtures, and amenities with lasting value. Wake up! You can have both.

A bathroom remodel is a solid investment, with a national median cost of $35,000 that will recover about 71% of those costs when it’s time to sell your home, according to the “Remodeling Impact Report” from the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

Regardless of payback potential, you’ll probably be glad you went ahead and updated your bathroom. Homeowners polled for the report gave their bathroom renovation a Joy Score of 9.6 — a rating based on those who said they were happy or satisfied with their project, with 10 being the highest rating and 1 the lowest.

Make Lighting a Priority

Multiple shower heads and radiant heat floors are fabulous adds to a bathroom remodel. But few items make a bathroom more satisfying than lighting designed for everyday grooming. You can install lighting for a fraction of the cost of pricier amenities.

Well-designed bathroom task lighting surrounds vanity mirrors and eliminates shadows on faces: You look better already. The scheme includes two ceiling- or soffit-mounted fixtures, and side fixtures or sconces distributed vertically across 24 inches (to account for people of various heights). Four-bulb lighting fixtures work well for side lighting.

Today, shopping for bulbs means paying attention to lumens, the amount of light you get from a bulb — i.e., brightness. For these bathroom task areas, the Lighting Research Center recommends:

• Toilet: 45 lumens
• Sink: 450 lumens
• Vanity: 1,680 lumens

Clear the Air

Bathroom ventilation systems may be out of sight, but they shouldn’t be out of mind during a bathroom remodel.

Bathroom ventilation is essential for removing excess humidity that fogs mirrors, makes bathroom floors slippery, and contributes to the growth of mildew and mold. Controlling mold and humidity is especially important for maintaining healthy indoor air quality and protecting the value of your home — mold remediation is expensive, and excess humidity can damage cabinets and painted finishes.

A bathroom vent and water closet fan should exhaust air to the outside — not simply to the space between ceiling joists. Better models have whisper-quiet exhaust fans and humidity-controlled switches that activate when a sensor detects excess moisture in the air.

Call us at DBI Kitchen and Baths

We are an Accredited Business Member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB). DBI carries an A+ rating which means that we have chosen to be accountable. Also, we continue to demonstrate good faith to our community. We do this through our business relationships and our operations. DBI Kitchen and Bath commits to responsible construction practices. We install sustainable and energy-efficient materials.

Strategies for Your Bathroom Remodel 

You dream about a bathroom that’s high on comfort and personal style, but you also want materials, fixtures, and amenities with lasting value. Wake up! You can have both.

A bathroom remodel is a solid investment, with a national median cost of $35,000 that will recover about 71% of those costs when it’s time to sell your home, according to the “Remodeling Impact Report” from the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

Regardless of payback potential, you’ll probably be glad you went ahead and updated your bathroom. Homeowners polled for the report gave their bathroom renovation a Joy Score of 9.6 — a rating based on those who said they were happy or satisfied with their project, with 10 being the highest rating and 1 the lowest.

Stick to Your Plan

A bathroom remodel is no place for improvisation. Before ripping out the first tile, think hard about how you will use the space, what materials and fixtures you want, and how much you’re willing to spend.

The National Kitchen and Bath Association recommends spending up to six months evaluating and planning before beginning work. That way, you have a roadmap that will guide decisions, even the ones made under remodeling stress. Once work has begun — a process that averages two to three months — resist changing your mind. Work stoppages and alterations add costs. Some contractors include clauses in their contracts that specify premium prices for changing original plans.

If planning isn’t your strong suit, hire a designer. In addition to adding style and efficiency, a professional designer makes sure contractors and installers are scheduled in an orderly fashion. Hiring a bathroom designer costs $50 to $200 per hour for a consultation, and $1,200 to $4,800 (5% to 10% of the project) for a complete design.

Think Storage

Bathroom storage is a challenge: By the time you’ve installed the toilet, shower, and sink, there’s often little space left to store towels, toilet paper, and hair and body products. Here are some ways to find storage in hidden places.

• Think vertically: Upper wall space in a bathroom is often underused. Freestanding, multi-tiered shelf units designed to fit over toilet tanks turn unused wall area into found storage. Spaces between wall studs create attractive and useful niches for holding soaps and toiletries. Install shelves over towel bars to use blank wall space.
• Think movable: Inexpensive woven baskets set on the floor are stylish towel holders. A floor-stand coat rack holds wet towels, bath robes, and clothes.
• Think utility: Adding a slide-out tray to vanity cabinet compartments provides full access to stored items and prevents lesser-used items from being lost or forgotten.

Call us at DBI Kitchen and Bath

We are an Accredited Business Member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB). DBI carries an A+ rating which means that we have chosen to be accountable. Also, we continue to demonstrate good faith to our community. We do this through our business relationships and our operations. DBI Kitchen and Bath commits to responsible construction practices. We install sustainable and energy-efficient materials.

Kitchen Remodel Planning

Homeowners spend more money on kitchen remodeling than on any other home improvement project, and with good reason. Kitchens are the hub of home life and a source of pride.

You can recover a significant portion of kitchen remodeling costs through the value the project brings to your home. A complete kitchen renovation with a national median cost of $80,000 recovers about 75% of the initial project cost at the home’s resale, according to the “Remodeling Impact Report” from the National Association of REALTORS®.

The project gets a big thumbs-up from homeowners, too. Those polled in the report gave their new kitchen a “joy score” of 9.8 (out of 10!), a rating based on those who said they were happy or satisfied with their remodeling.

Pay Attention to Lighting

Lighting can make a world of difference in a kitchen. It can make it look larger and brighter. And it will help you work safely and efficiently. You should have two different types of lighting in your kitchen:

1. Task lighting: Under-cabinet lighting should be on your must list, since cabinets create such dark work areas. And since you’re remodeling, there won’t be a better time to hard-wire your lights. Plan for at least two fixtures per task area to eliminate shadows. Pendant lights are good for islands and other counters without low cabinets. Recessed lights and track lights work well over sinks and general prep areas with no cabinets overhead.
2. Ambient lighting: Flush-mounted ceiling fixtures, wall sconces, and track lights create overall lighting in your kitchen. Include dimmer switches to control intensity and mood.

Add Storage Not Space

Storage will never go out of style, but if you’re sticking with the same footprint, here are a couple of ideas to add more:

Install cabinets that reach the ceiling: They may cost more — and you might need a stepladder — but you’ll gain valuable storage space for Christmas platters and other once-a-year items. In addition, you won’t have to dust cabinet tops.

Hang it up: Mount small shelving units on unused wall areas and inside cabinet doors, hang stock pots and large skillets on a ceiling-mounted rack, and add hooks to the backs of closet doors for aprons, brooms, and mops.

Call us at DBI Kitchen and Baths

We are an Accredited Business Member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB). DBI carries an A+ rating which means that we have chosen to be accountable. Also, we continue to demonstrate good faith to our community. We do this through our business relationships and our operations. DBI Kitchen and Bath commits to responsible construction practices. We install sustainable and energy-efficient materials.

Kitchen Makeover Strategies

Homeowners spend more money on kitchen remodeling than on any other home improvement project, and with good reason. Kitchens are the hub of home life and a source of pride.

You can recover a significant portion of kitchen remodeling costs through the value the project brings to your home. A complete kitchen renovation with a national median cost of $80,000 recovers about 75% of the initial project cost at the home’s resale, according to the “Remodeling Impact Report” from the National Association of REALTORS®.

The project gets a big thumbs-up from homeowners, too. Those polled in the report gave their new kitchen a “joy score” of 9.8 (out of 10!), a rating based on those who said they were happy or satisfied with their remodeling.

PLAN!

Planning your kitchen remodel should take more time than the actual construction. If you plan well, you can minimize the amount of time you’re inconvenienced by construction mayhem. Plus, you’re more likely to stay on budget.

How much time should you spend planning? The National Kitchen and Bath Association recommends at least six months. That way, you won’t be tempted to change your mind during construction and create change orders, which will inflate construction costs and hurt your return on investment.

Some tips on planning:

Study your existing kitchen: How wide is the doorway into your kitchen? Many homeowners make the mistake of buying an extra-large fridge only to find they can’t get it in the doorway. To avoid mistakes like this, create a drawing of your kitchen with measurements for doorways, walkways, counters, etc. And don’t forget height.

Think about traffic patterns: Work aisles should be a minimum of 42 inches wide and at least 48 inches wide for households with multiple cooks.

Design with ergonomics in mind: Drawers or pull-out shelves in base cabinets, counter heights that can adjust up or down, and a wall oven instead of a range are all features that make a kitchen accessible to everyone — and a pleasure to work in.

Plan for the unforeseeable: Even if you’ve planned down to the number of nails you’ll need in your remodel, expect the unexpected. Build in a little leeway for completing the remodel. Want it done by Thanksgiving? Then plan to be done before Halloween.

Choose all your fixtures and materials before starting: Contractors will be able to make more-accurate bids, and you’ll lessen the risk of delays because of back orders.

Don’t be afraid to seek help: A professional designer can simplify your kitchen remodel. Pros help make style decisions, foresee potential problems, and schedule contractors. Most kitchen designers charge $65 to $250 per hour, or 10% to 20% of your total project cost.

Call us at DBI Kitchen & Bath

We are an Accredited Business Member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB). DBI carries an A+ rating which means that we have chosen to be accountable. Also, we continue to demonstrate good faith to our community. We do this through our business relationships and our operations. DBI Kitchen and Bath commits to responsible construction practices. We install sustainable and energy-efficient materials.

Custom Bathroom Remodeling

When Quality Matters, Choose DBI Kitchen & Bath

We are an Accredited Business Member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB). DBI carries an A+ rating which means that we have chosen to be accountable. Also, we continue to demonstrate good faith in our community. We do this through our business relationships and our operations. DBI Kitchen and Bath commit to responsible construction practices. We install sustainable and energy-efficient materials.

Design Your Vision

We have a designer on staff with over 30 years of professional cabinet experience. They are here to help you every step of the way. We will handle all the details for you. This includes measuring, designing the layout, and finishing/fixture consultation as needed. We will take the time to thoughtfully lay out your space in our design software. We present to you in full-color 3D—you will be amazed how this will help you visualize your space! We don’t charge to layout your design, and we will work with you until it is exactly how you want it. Other cabinetry suppliers may offer quick and extremely basic design layouts, but we actually put thought into it! We not only want it to be right, but we want it to be right for YOU!

Build Your Dream Home

We are Maryville’s newest kitchen and bath studio, offering a wide variety of quality cabinetry at unbeatable prices! Our goal is to make buying cabinets easy and affordable for individual homeowners as well as other builders and remodelers alike.

Why Choose Us?

We offer a fantastic selection of quality, on-trend cabinet styles that can meet specific needs, and a price range to fit any budget!  We carry 11 beautiful cabinet lines. Also, we offer over 100 different door styles, including several custom lines which offer endless style & finish options. From Traditional to Modern, Rustic to Urban, Transitional to timeless Classic, we have something for everyone.