As part of this year’s Bathroom Blogfest, we’d like to spend a moment talking about Universal Design using this room scene.

The bathroom in this photo has an interesting design – contemporary with a natural touch. What you may not have noticed is that the bath is also designed for accessibility.

If you look a bit more closely, you can see that this bathroom is wheelchair-friendly. The sink has open space underneath to allow a wheelchair to slide in closely. The towel rack is within easy reach of someone who is seated.

Take a look at the storage unit toward the back. It is on casters, allowing it to be moved out of the way for easier maneuvering, but positioned when needed anywhere in the room.

Where is the mirror for a seated person? If you could open the door of the storage cupboard on the left, you would see a mirror set on the door at the perfect height for viewing from a chair. This cabinet also has all its storage in easy reach from a wheelchair. The higher mirrors and medicine cabinets indicate that this bathroom is used by two or more people, one standing.

Manufacturers recently have begun to design products that meet varied mobility needs without sacrificing style. Check in with your salesperson to find out some of the beautiful pieces that are also functional for those of limited mobility. In the long term, there are definite advantages to having a bathroom that is well designed and more accessible.

You can follow along with other Bathroom Blogfesters by visiting the Bathroom Blogfest Facebook page as well as on Twitter @bathroomblogfes.

Stay tuned next week! We are proud to be participating in this year’s Bathroom Blogfest.

What on earth is a Bathroom Blogfest? The 2010 Bathroom Blogfest, now in its fifth year, brings together 33 bloggers from the U.S., Canada, the UK and India to address the 2010 Mad Men inspired theme “Stuck in the 60s?” A blogfest brings together writers who direct their blog posts around a single subject while making the subject relevant to their readers during a specific timeframe. Between October 25 and 29, these experts in marketing, customer experience and service, public relations, library sciences, museums, home & interior design, life, retail, flooring and healthcare IT/RTLS will call attention to improving the overall bathroom experience for end users via their 40 blogs during Bathroom Blogfest 2010.

Below are the folks that are participating this year. Stay tuned!

October is child safety month, and today’s parents have the ability to keep their children safer than yesterday’s, thanks to the many changes in home products.

One major change came from window blinds and shades. When the industry faced concerns about the dangers posed to children and pets by hanging cords, some manufacturers redesigned products to make them much more child-safe.

Hunter Douglas has proved to be an industry leader in this area. They manufacture the only roman shades with no exposed cords, avoiding choking risks. The company also developed a safer tassel on their wooden blinds that breaks open under pressure if a child or pet becomes tangled in the cord loop.

Other Hunter Douglas window products have no cords at all. Their LiteRise^® system eliminates cords completely. Shades or blinds can be raised or lowered to any desired position by pushing up from the top or down from the bottom. When you stop moving the blind or shade, it locks in the final position automatically.

An even easier tool available with Hunter Douglas window treatments is their motorized lifting system with a remote control to raise or lower your shades or blinds by pushing a button. There is one child safety issue with this product, however. Will you be tempted to strangle your children when they first discover this and your shades go up and down and up and down? For your sanity’s sake, just as with your television, put the remote beyond their reach!

Reader Question
We are currently renovating our small apartment and would like to make it look bigger. We were planning on going in for small furniture pieces for a spacious look. Please advise.

-Carl

Hi Carl,
Have you been to a magic show? The rabbits are never there in the hat and the card tricks are all sleight of hand. Using smaller furniture pieces can help, as long as you don’t go for too many small elements, which can add to a feeling of clutter and actually defeat your purpose. Consider these other design tricks to help make your small apartment feel more spacious.
1. Bring the floor in view: The more visible the floor, the larger your room will appear. Choose furniture with open bases such as chairs and sofas on legs. Keep walkways open, and make sure the walls can be seen. Less furniture is even more important than smaller furniture.
2. Let there be light: Dark floors and walls tend to lend a cozy feeling to rooms, but can make a small room feel cramped. Paint your walls in a light color and go for light flooring; this will give your apartment a more open feel. Also, let in natural light from outside by choosing sheer window coverings. At night, light up the corners of your space so no inch is lost to darkness.
3. Ceiling to floor: Doors and curtains extending from ceiling to floor give an impression of height, so if you have a low ceiling this is an effective trick.
4. Blend in: Avoid strong contrasts between your floor, walls and furniture in your design. Monochromatic color schemes open up a space, while too much contrast reduces it.
5. Keep it simple: Stay clear of bold and bright patterns for the upholstery or other fabrics adorning your room. Keep the designs simple and plain; go for sheer and light fabrics for that relaxed and open look. If you love bold patterns, pull them in for smaller elements such as throw pillows and placemats.
By using a few of these tricks, you can really make a home feel more spacious and inviting. Since you’re ready to renovate your space, this is the time to make these alterations to make your apartment feel larger than life!

Many decorating advice books recommend reviewing magazines with photos of beautiful rooms for ideas, or visiting model homes. These are good suggestions, but really anything can inspire a room.

How about taking a chance by using a completely unrelated idea or theme to create a room? The bathroom in the photo was inspired by an afternoon of fun when a family played at creating oversized bubbles.

Looking at photos later, this mom decided to capture the images when she redecorated the family’s guest bathroom. Color, shape and shine combined to create a space that clearly echoes the balloon photo shown.

The half-globe sink started the process, reflecting the bubble theme in both shape and material. A circular mirror continued the imagery. Colors came from the bright glossy wall as well as towels and flowers. Shiny faucets and fixtures in chrome kept a bubble’s sun-touched look in the space.

Long-term goals for this bathroom include a back wall of glass tiles to strengthen the theme. Budget limitations postponed that part of the plan for a few months. You don’t have to finish every element at the same time. Sometimes a step-by-step plan works better for schedules and budgets.

Do you have a bathroom that’s due for remodeling? The small size almost gives you permission to be more daring with your decorating plans. Have some fun and create a memorable room by capturing a memory such as this one!

We always appreciate when people take the time to let us know about their experiences with us. We are delighted to share this customer testimonial with you.

“My husband and I wanted to thank you for all that you did for us. We truly do appreciate you keeping your word on the promotion and going out of your way to make sure we were happy in the end. We apologize if we caused any confusion for your store or employees. We were very happy to work with Jonathan again as we realize he is very honest, upfront and professional. After leaving your store Sunday we went to a different carpet store and dealt with a guy who we knew was quoting us way over price and trying to sell us more square yards then we needed and after being to two other stores before we even came to yours when we bought our first carpet we realize that you guys really are one of the best deals around (even without discounts) and we will be back for any future needs and we will definitely be more than willing to let people know to call Jonathan or stop by.

Thanks again for being so accommodating and helpful.”

Ashley and Jason

It’s getting close to that time of year! Pumpkin carving time!! This year, before you get started – take a few moments to bookmark or print this page so that in the event that you have a pumpkin mess during your carving, you won’t have to worry.

Below are some easy to follow instructions for removal of pumpkin stains from carpet.

Detergent Solution – Mix one fourth (1/4) teaspoon of a liquid dishwashing detergent per one (1) cup of lukewarm water. NEVER USE A STRONGER CONCENTRATION! Thorough rinsing is necessary to remove detergent residues that may cause rapid soiling. It may be necessary to rinse with warm water several times to completely remove residues. (See Residue Precautions.) Care should be used in selecting a detergent. Never use a laundry detergent of any type, because laundry detergents may contain optical brighteners (flourescent dyes) that dye the fiber. Do not select an automatic dishwashing detergent because many contain bleaching agents that destroy dyes and some fibers.

Vinegar Solution – Mix one (1) cup of white vinegar per two (2) cups of water. White vinegar is a 5% acetic acid solution. It is used most often to lower the alkalinity caused by detergent solutions or alkaline spills.

Warm Water – Lukewarm tap water should be used in most cases to rinse the cleaning solutions from the fiber. Failure to completely rinse the solutions from the fiber may cause accelerated soiling.

Ammonia Solution – Mix one (1) tablespoon of household ammonia per cup of water. Please note: Be aware that ammonia, if used improperly, can cause a color change. Be sure to test a hidden area.

When in doubt , Call a Professional – Professional cleaners have the ability and the equipment to use more aggressive cleaning solutions to remove stubborn spills. Always consider consulting a professional cleaner regarding any spot removal question.

On the surface, this kitchen is alright if a bit dull, but look beyond the obvious – the floor is just not a fit. The light shaker cabinets allow the black countertops and appliances to really pop. Then the flooring, with its total lack of contrast with the cabinets, removes any chance of excitement in the design.

This kitchen had another opportunity to add a surprising element with the backsplash, but instead it’s just the same white as the inside of the glass-fronted cabinet, taking the energy right out of the room. Every kitchen deserves some drama, and this one was definitely short-changed.

Instead of what we see here, imagine the space with a black and white tile floor in a checkerboard pattern and a bright backsplash in an orange and red mosaic of contemporary glass tiles. These simple changes would turn this room into something that would make guests stop and stare instead of just walking past, waving at the cook on their way to the living room.

Why not go a little wild in your kitchen? You’ll be glad you did!

When you’re making a decision on a home purchase, do you find yourself confused by the number of options? That’s when you need to use an approach that works well for making a final decision: just walk away.

This concept may sound counterproductive, but in reality you may find that one choice stays in your mind over all of the others. Or it may just be that you will realize that you don’t really want several of the options you were considering. Even taking the time to walk away and then look again with fresh eyes may make the decision easier.

You may want to take a photo of the choices you are facing, or bring home samples. Many stores allow either or both options, with a small deposit on the samples. Once home, give yourself a break from the decision process – at least a couple of hours if not a day. Then go back to your photos and samples and see which ones stand out. You may find that the decision you have been reaching for is now there for you.

While all salespeople want to make a sale, good salespeople understand that letting you take the time you need to make a decision you are happy with will turn you into a long-term customer, which is much more valuable. Let them know when you come back to make your final choice how much you appreciate their patience, and how helpful it was for you in the decision-making process. And you can make your final purchase confident that walking away and thinking about it brought you to the right choice.

When you’re making a decision on a home purchase, do you find yourself confused by the number of options? That’s when you need to use an approach that works well for making a final decision: just walk away.

This concept may sound counterproductive, but in reality you may find that one choice stays in your mind over all of the others. Or it may just be that you will realize that you don’t really want several of the options you were considering. Even taking the time to walk away and then look again with fresh eyes may make the decision easier.

You may want to take a photo of the choices you are facing, or bring home samples. Many stores allow either or both options, with a small deposit on the samples. Once home, give yourself a break from the decision process – at least a couple of hours if not a day. Then go back to your photos and samples and see which ones stand out. You may find that the decision you have been reaching for is now there for you.

While all salespeople want to make a sale, good salespeople understand that letting you take the time you need to make a decision you are happy with will turn you into a long-term customer, which is much more valuable. Let them know when you come back to make your final choice how much you appreciate their patience, and how helpful it was for you in the decision-making process. And you can make your final purchase confident that walking away and thinking about it brought you to the right choice.