Retre fittings added to room’s look From previous page In shopping for plumbing fixtures, my room for the simple fact that it takes up less space than a cabinet-style unit. It is also reminiscent of old bathrooms you see in which was a nice cost saving. The floor we chose was the Mannington Laminate in an “antique” finish, a dark best advice from my good friend in Kelowna is not to take your toilet-training child to a plumbing store without explaining that the toilets are not hooked up. Or better yet, do not take your eyes off your child in a plumbing store (I don’t think anybody deserves to be banned from a plumbing store). All we had to do now was chvose our toilet and sink. I don’t know if you’: er given any serious thought to the type of sink you would like, but we were overwhelmed at the choices. We loved the look of the Kohler Memoirs Pedestal sink. This sink has a beautiful, wide surrcund- ing rim and is a natural for this small bath- heritage-style buildings. The hardware is all in silver and all my bathroom accessories are in tin-plated pots. The faucets we used were again the tradi- tional crisscross to complement the ones on the tub. An antiqued silver mirror was hung over the sink to finish the look. The removal of the bathroom closet pre- sented a bit of a problem for our storage needs. We decided to fit in a custom cabinet we had made prior to the renovation which happened to work beautifully. It has leaded glass work and it tends to age the room. A little small but definitely workable. An added bonus of using the old-fash- ioned tub in the main bathroom was that we did not necessarily need any tile work done, wood in a rough saw style. It complemented the tub and sink beautifully. The walls were painted a grey-green and light fixtures were added. Instead of the traditional overhead light in the room, we opted for more ambient light through the use of diffused lighting, which also decorated our walls. Kichler makes a beautiful antique milk- glass sconce which is available in a two- or three-light series. We chose the chrome fin- ish because we felt it added an aged look to the room. The finishing details included towel bars, soap dispensers and a palm tree placed behind the tub to liven up the room. Still in the plan are drapes. See you in two weeks: BEFORE the renovation, the layout of the bathroom was extremely tight. Get your agreed renovation _ From previous page right person for the job.” Call the GVHBA, the renovator’s previous clients, the bank and the building supply store to ensure that you are making the right choices. @ Work out a contract. Even ', the simplest of jobs should be outlined in writing because the contract is the basis of understanding between you and your renovator. Before signing a contract, read it carefully. Remember that if something is not in the con- tract, then it’s your responsi- bility. Have a lawyer examine the contract before you sign it. B Pian how you will live dur- ing the renovation. Careful planning can greatly mini- mize inconvenience of living in the midst of a renovation. Talk to your renovator about the schedule of work to be done and how your daily rou- tine might be affected. For instance, will the water be turned off for any length of time? Do you need to set upa . temporary kitchen elsewhere in the home? Can major work be done in stages so you always have some livable space? Discuss your expecta- tions of the work crew and determine the work environ- ment. The crew needs access to washroom facilities, tele- phones, water and electricity. Decide which areas of your home are off limits. % Establish a good working relationship with your reno- vator. Mutual trust is essen- contract in writing tial. Keep lines of communi- cation open at all -times. Expect a brief report on the progress of your job at regu- lar intervals, perhaps every evening. Be available to make decisions when they are need- ed so work is not held up, perhaps costing you more money. @ Try to stick with your first choices. Once work is under way, changes should be kept to a minimum. The details of your project, described in the contract, down to the finish- ing touches, form the basis of both the price and the sched- ule of your job. Changes could affect both significantly. Source: homebuilders.org CBC rates Open 7 days a week Cars, Trucks, Vans & Minivans (@ Mey Cail for tree pick-up a Call or drop by for more details. 1600 acinar : www.vancouper-. . 1999 Winner of GVHBA et Renovator of tha Year & - - Georgle Awards We Fix “EXCEPTS...” Bob Rasmus When your house — is great except... OlThe kitchen’s too small OQYou need a new roof OlThe carport could be - a tw @r : - 0 One bathroom fst isn't enough anymore. Perfect for patio, porch or poolside! Tannoy All-Weather Speakers offer outstanding weather- resistance and performance. Black or white in two sizes. 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