THE WEIRS TIMES & THE COCHECO TIMES, Thursday, February 16, 2012
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You may want to have
by Dr. Debi Warner Contributing Writer
Dear Dr. Debi, There are some nice sales
going on and our tax refund comes soon. We want to redo our upstairs bathroom putting in a laundry with new appliances. Any ideas of what to beware of? Signed,
Wanting Conveniences
Dear Sale Ready, It sure is nice to have re-
sources and needs line up together with a good sale. It just doesn’t get much better than that. Let’s see what is involved in making this a success. Upstairs laundry in-
stallations are being seen more and more. Folks like the chance to start a load of laundry when they are changing clothes. The multitasking world today brings us the notion that sporadic actions that are routine can happen in the background while we put our main attention onto meaningful or pleasant activities. Upstairs, the laundry may be in a hall- way closet or a bathroom. You can see what makes sense for plumbing access and also the flow of people and competition for the bathroom itself. I am a fan of side-by-
side appliances because the surface can then be a good folding platform. Also, at other times, you have a handy surface to sort toiletries, make up, or manicure items for your spa moments.
the ironing board handy, a hanging rack, and of course shelving for the cleaning supplies. Shelves with removable baskets for each person’s bathing items are nice. Overall, you can use louvered doors, shelves with curtains, or pretty cupboards to handle these scattered purposes and mixed visuals. So, being driven by the
urgency of a sale will lead us to suddenly consider the planning of the project. This may seem backwards to many folks, but actually is what happens for a good number of people. If you are shopping for big op- portunities and mega sav- ings, you are also picking up a chunk of preparation, a labor that will demand that big gears are turning in your heads. When you go to the store, if you can find out the parameters and come back later to buy after thinking it through, all the better. If you are already handy
with the plumbing that is great. But projects that in- volve water should not be taken for granted. Water is unforgiving. You may be able to do a bulk of work to ready the project, but may want an experi- enced plumber to give it the working finish. So, you could figure that into your budget. Some discussion with
your Home Team about the ideas and the traffic flow will help you think through the many parts to a whole project. It is good to have input from others who might even surprise you with extra ideas, be- cause it will broaden your thinking. This is good, es- pecially if you are trying to get the plans hashed out quickly while the sale is still on. It will be more ef- ficient to handle the wide possibilities and even mis- takes, before you make a commitment. As for the bathroom fix-
tures, there is a big range available today for prices and features. Toilets come in different
heights now, with the taller ones seeming more com- fortable for many people. Water saving features are also a big seller, with all of us trying to conserve our resources. Some folks shy away from these thinking they will not clear out the contents and will need a second flush anyway. But reviews can be informative about the efficiency of the newer designs. I like the pressure flush toilet, be- cause a small amount of water just scours the whole bowl in a fast burst. Toilets can come with a
bidet option, which may seem foreign but actually is healthy to use and can be quite convenient for the elderly. It may seem silly to consider this feature, but old is what you get, so you might plan ahead if the feature is offered at a reasonable price. A sink that has a wide
brim is very nice to hold the soaps, rinses, and small jars of creams that can be placed handy when using the sink and mirror. Cup- board doors underneath are nice, but pedestals are quite pretty too and make a bathroom look clean. Just make sure the type of sink you choose is compat- ible with your water supply
Dr. Debi Warner is the Founder of Renovation Psychology®
and
author of Putting the Home Team to Work, available now online. Dr. Debi provides advice for greater domestic harmony to folks who are renovating their home – for True Home Improvement. This column is offered for enjoyment and enhancement and is not intended to replace your personal medical care. Photo by Bob Jenks, St. Johnsbury, Vt. Dr. Debi has a con- sultation practice, visiting home sites all over New England from her studio in Littleton, NH at the Tannery Marketplace. © 2012 Renovation Psychology® Questions are welcome.
waste options. Some sink designers defy the usual plumbing conventions and end up requiring expensive traps that cost as much as the sink. Just check the connector prices too as you make your selections in that area. You will also need to con-
sider shower and tub op- tions. These can be pretty extravagant – to put your budget together before you hop on that. Many features and pleasant options. En- joy what you spend, but know what your limit is before you open that glass door. So, looking at the sale fly-
ers ahead and taking time to plan, and even preview the store’s collection and ancillary supplies will help you make a good purchase that invests your refund in your home’s value and your family’s enjoyment. Happy Home Team! Dr. Debi
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