Posts Tagged ‘hollywood bathrooms’

If you were to wiki Mosaic (and if you are reading blogs then you are no doubt wont to) it would tell you that it “is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials”. Whilst this form of art has historically found expression in cathedrals and Roman public baths it can now be effectively used to brighten up and truly individualize your own bathroom or kitchen. Does this fall into the “trends of 2010” category? No, it is actively distancing yourself from a trend and making your own unique voice heard… or rather seen.

• Stone Mosaics are smooth and non-slippery so they are perfect for bathroom floors. A natural cascading zen flow can be fostered from pebble wash or slate, marble or travertine may be used to give the impression of natural stone
• Glass and Metal Mosaics find their place on bathroom walls and kitchen backsplashes, the pair of them (glass and metal) always conspiring to bring more space, light and colour to whatever room they grace. Common materials used here are vitreous glass and smalti (Byzantine glass).

So when you are considering your dream bathroom or kitchen renovation remember that there is the accent of mosaics available to you, truly making your dream a unique one. For any and all queries regarding mosaics and bathroom and kitchen renovations please do not hesitate to call Linda on 99 675 675

like it or not, it's a hot topic

whether you’re a skeptic or an environmental radical you can’t deny that it is the trend of 2010. Beyond ideals and the aversion of extinction, creating a “green” bathroom is often cost effective as you are essentially trying to use less. Beyond this we should also consider the global microcosm of Sydney; Hollywood Bathrooms and Kitchens is based in Willoughby and primarily services the north shore and it is our duty (as “north shorers”) to take the first step in this and take up the slack of the developing world (read “the west”). So if you are looking to expiate your eco-guilt or if you just wish to drop your bathrooms carbon footprint into conversation there are several things you need to consider.

Low-Flow Toilets

These are not simply toilets with that half flush option that we in Australia are so familiar with but rather toilets that reduce flow dramatically without compromising their original purpose.

Energy Efficient Lighting

If you haven’t installed these already for savings alone then get on it

Low Flow Shower Heads

In the same vein as Low-Flow toilets, Bathrooms hog the most water in the home after the Laundry. Curbing the usage, however possible, is key.

Sustainable Building Products

When designing your renovated bathroom, opt for materials made of recycled or renewable sources

So if it’s the parallels with cost cutting or displaced polar bears consider the environment as you consider your new bathroom. For any and all questions regarding your dream bathroom please do not hesitate to call Linda on 99 675 675

An Essential Part of any kitchen

Range hoods are essential to any kitchen. Without them you are left with a thin film of grease covering all exposed surfaces and the sound of the smoke alarm resonating in your ears. Your choice of range hood becomes more important depending on what you intend to be cooking. If lots of stir fry’s are on the menu then you will need a range hood of some force in order to remove all the airborne oils. There are essentially three types of range hood ducting options to consider when renovating your kitchen.

In ceiling

The gasses will be vented into the ceiling space. You will need to ensure sufficient airflow exists in the attic space so that the gases can get away.

Carbon filter

This will filter the gasses, oils, smoke etc and eject clean air but the filter must be changed at regular intervals.

Outer wall

Send it straight outside for mother nature to worry about, she loves it.

The ducted option (in ceiling, outer wall) is always preferable and a renovation is the perfect time to knock a hole in the wall and not have to replace a carbon filter ever again.  Hollywood Bathrooms and Kitchens have all the trades to ensure that the work will occur without hassles and all under one project manager.

For any and all enquiries about range hood installation call Linda on 99 675 675

only the pan acts as a heating element

A current may not immediately conjure up an image of safety in a kitchen. Those that have ever dabbled in physics may well be familiar Eddy and any of you who have ever braved a roller coaster have most likely been in his safe hands.

In short, by varying an electromagnetic field we induce a current in an inductor whose field opposes our electromagnetic field. To the layman, it heats your saucepan and only your saucepan, the plate does not get hot. The saucepan itself is now the cooking element.

No more leaving the plate on, itching for some innocent to rest their elbow upon it, your stove now simply wills water into boiling. So, yes, you can put rubber stops on all your corners and child lock the cupboards below the sink but here is an element of kitchen safety that is a hell of a lot cooler. Add to this that the surface is not as hot as electric or gas  and so a spillage will not remain baked on for further generations to discern your eating habits.

Besides the safety element here are some pros and cons of induction cook tops

Pros

• Change heat instantly and precisely
• No wasted heat (for those who are green minded)

Cons

• Your cooking saucepans etc have to be made of conductive material
• They are pricier than your average gas or electric cooker

For any and all enquiries regarding the installation of an induction cook top into your new kitchen renovation please do not hesitate to call Linda on 99 675 675

How do you make a little space look bigger?

Lining the walls of your bathroom with mirrors will certainly have your bathroom stretching out to infinity.  However it is not the most orthodox choice and perhaps only suitable for the more narcissistic among us.  Here are two key elements for attaining “Open Space”

1. Jostling your Bath and Window

Jostling either does not sound easy, or in the latter case cheap, but the finer points of how these two are placed can dramatically change your perception of a bathroom.  Invariably a bath should not be placed below a window, compare…

a)  A bath jutting out from the window.

b)  Seeing the floor all the way up to the window wall.

Our eye picks up the vertical plane of the front of the bath.  If it sits below the window the room is perceived to be smaller.  Not to mention not having to awkwardly reach over the bath to open the window (a more significant hassle if you are without an exhaust fan)

2. Knock Down a Wall or Two

When you have exhausted the possibility of shifting the elements around it’s time to produce a sledge hammer.  Many bathrooms are separated into 2 or three compartmentalized units (basin, toilet, bath/shower) each walled off from one another.  At the obvious sacrifice of multiple people using the facilities at once (or as the children leave) you may join all these areas together and reclaim more “Open Space” so you can fit in a corner spa or a double bowl vanity.

Hollywood Bathrooms and Kitchens are licensed builders (only those with builder’s licenses rather then just renovation licences can knock down walls) and are therefore able to provide the convenience of not only a new bathroom Layout but an entirely new bathroom.

For any and all enquiries about these or other options for redeeming some coveted Open Space do not hesitate to call Linda on 99 675 675

Waterproofing – An Absolute Fundamental of Bathroom Renovations

We all want our finished, renovated bathroom to look stunning but, before you get to that stage you need to deal with the fundamentals.

Waterproofing is probably the most crucial aspect of any bathroom renovation. Making sure it’s done right will save you a lot of money    and heartache in the long run.

The Building Code of Australia and the Australian Standard (AS 3740-2004) for the minimum standards in relation to waterproofing includes the following:

waterproof the whole floor within the shower recess
need to waterproof at least 100mm over the hob or step down onto the bathroom floor
waterproof at least 150mm up the walls inside the shower walls
waterproof at least 1800mm high on the vertical angle between any two walls in the shower
waterproof the entire bathroom floor if it is made from timber, plywood or particleboard, or if it is above the ground floor of the house

At Hollywood Bathrooms all of our tradespeople are fully licensed and trained in their trade. This means that you get the peace of mind that your bathroom is waterproofed up to and, in fact, beyond the industry standard. For instance, we feel that waterproofing the whole of the shower is the best option.  Refer to attached photo

If you have any concerns or questions about the preparation needed when renovating a bathroom, just call Andre on 99 675 675

Hollywood Bathrooms and Kitchens
Inspired Renovations
Willoughby, Sydney

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