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Rethinking bathroom styles

Tuesday, November 15th, 2011

minimalist bathroom

When homeowners are looking for decorating styles for bathrooms, they often hit a blank because of the fact that the room has to remain functional. The general mentality is that the bathroom is a place to get cleaned up and ready for the day, and that because of this, it tends to be a bit of a loose end when it comes to design. Granted, you cannot expect your bathroom to be as stylized as the rest of your house because of space and function limitations, but there are a few stylistic trends that you can implement to make your bathroom feel like part of your home instead of a functional dead space. One of the biggest bathroom design trends right now is to have a minimalist feel that extends into your bathroom.

Minimalist bathrooms

A style that is very popular with designers, but one that is normally quite difficult to achieve because of the limited space within your bathroom. The minimalist philosophy is one that requires clever storage and neutral tones – the overall effect is one of simple tranquillity. This is a great atmosphere to have in your bathroom, as you are trying to create a relaxing, comforting space.

Colour

The first tip is your colour scheme. Go for something neutral and modern – gun-metal grey, black, and creamy tones can work well. Having one colour can create a sense of calm, and if you choose the right tone you can open the space up. Look to design magazines for a suitable palette.

Create Strong Lines

Next, you need to invest in some great bathroom pieces. An open glass shower with a chrome showerhead can do the trick. Minimalism limits the amount of stuff in your bathroom, so spend the money and time looking for something understated, subtle and quality. Minimalism often incorporates strong structuralist influences, so break the monochrome on your walls with a sharp, strong chrome line.

Storage solutions

The next piece of design advice for a minimalist bathroom is that you need great, simple storage. If you are building a room from scratch then you can investigate options for hidden storage. However, if you are working on an existing room keep the neutral colour scheme and look for clever vertical storage – a boxed floating shelf may work here. Keep the lines strong, and think creatively – exercise restraint and keep it simple.

This guest post was written by freelance writer Victoria. She is current learning about online website builder.

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Posted in Bath Transformations, Design, home improvement

Inspirational Modern Bathrooms

Monday, November 14th, 2011

Here is an inspiring collection of bathrooms from interior designers in the Greater Toronto Area!

A designer created this small bathroom at a client’s request. The client wanted to have a true European feeling in their bathroom. The design uses porcelain tiles to mimic cobblestone streets and sleek custom designed cabinetry takes advantage of this small space.

Bungalow Bath Renovation eclectic bathroom

The contemporary bathroom was created in Port Credit, Ontario. The sleek lines, walk-in shower give a spacious feel to what could have been easily a cramped bathroom.

Port Credit Townhome contemporary bathroom

If you have a larger bathroom and want luxury in your space then you might like this Toronto bathroom design. This lavish luxury kitchen has under mount sinks in a granite counter top, a Neptune Zen 3666 modern whirlpool/air tub and a walk in shower with its own granite bench and rain shower.

Lavish Luxury contemporary bathroom

This lovely Port Credit modern bathroom has a wonderful spa like feeling. I love the small tile details and the blue tile backsplash!

Port Credit Townhome modern bathroom

Whoever said that a small bathroom can’t be sizeable? This Waterloo black and white bathroom was has mirrored glass doors create the illusion of space and the Cayen L/R corner tub maximizes the use of every corner in this bathroom. Not to mention the gorgeous light fixture!

b-w Bathroom eclectic bathroom

This Toronto master ensuite bathroom was designed with soothing turquoise walls and white flooring. The overall effect creates a wonder spa like feeling.

Master Ensuite Bathroom - Divine Homes contemporary bathroom

Candice Olson created this cute modern contemporary bathroom. Light wood custom cabinets create a feeling of lightness to this room and the Eureka pendants add an airy feeling to this small bathroom.

Candice Olson Bathroom 1 contemporary bathroom

What is your dream bathroom design?

About the author:

Marika is a writer for the Home Improvement Directory EiEiHome.com and create blogs and articles on home improvement, décor and design.

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Posted in Bath Transformations, Design

Bathroom Style

Thursday, November 10th, 2011

These days there is so much choice in bathroom suites, bathroom vanities and the general look of the room, that your bathroom style can be as individual as you like. Even the smallest bathroom can be personalised with a bit of ingenuity. Most people will tell you that you shouldn’t have strong colours in a small bathroom, but if you have mirrored surfaces on vanities and cupboard doors they will give the illusion of space.

If your existing bath and wash basin are showing signs of wear then you may want to think about resurfacing and any other bath repairs. While some people prefer the size and shape of a hotel style bath, there are others who crave for a majestic bath with claw feet. Warm up a tiled floor in your bathroom with a bright rug as this looks fantastic with a large, centrally placed bath.

Keep your shower cabinet looking good and make sure you have any shower repairs undertaken as soon as you notice a problem. No matter how great your shower looks from the outside, a crack in the tray will soon spoil your style.

Don’t Suffer the Wash Basin Blues

A scratched and cracked wash basin will spoil the whole look of your bathroom. Don’t run the risk of having a leaking basin in your bathroom, get it repaired and resurfaced before any real problems occur. An open plan style, ensuite bathroom, with a centrally placed bath and twin sinks against one wall makes the most of your available space.

The style and state of repair of your wash basin can make or break your bathroom style. In a small bathroom a corner fitted basin may be the best choice, while a bigger bathroom may demand a basin with a full vanity underneath. Veneers have been a popular choice in many kitchens for a good number of years and more recently these are being introduced into bathrooms.

Which Loo is for You?

You may like the look of a small, compact toilet, but some of these are also very low and may be uncomfortable for some people to sit on. When you are choosing a loo, you need to make sure that it fits well with your chosen bath and basin style

If you have chosen an oblong, almost butler style sink for your bathroom, then you may want to consider an angular loo with a deep, square bowl. Black bath surrounds are now back in style and you may want to match this with a similarly styled loo.

Short on Storage Space?

If your bathroom is short on space for storing spare toiletries and extra towels, then small wash basins fitted into a double vanity will give you plenty of room underneath. It’s possible to get some good quality stacking storage units in a variety of materials and colours to suit most bathroom styles.

Once you’ve settled on the bathroom style that’s right for you, regular maintenance checks will save you money in the long run. Get bath repairs done on damaged surfaces as soon as you spot a problem and your bath will look as good as new.

This post was written by James Harper on behalf of Hometech who provide bath repairs and shower repairs. James writes on subjects relating to home improvements.

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Posted in Bath Transformations

Ways to go Green in Your Bathroom

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011

Bathroom Wall Colours

It’s a noble undertaking to make your home as environmentally friendly as possible. Now that “going green” is so popular and celebrated, there are endless ways to improve your home. You can decrease the amount of energy you use and the waste that you produce, buy organic or natural products, and in general increase your awareness of your own carbon footprint. Greening your home can be a very big task to take on, so it’s a good idea to keep it simple and practical by doing on room at a time. Here are some ways you can go green in your bathroom.

Lighting
Reduce the amount of energy you use in your bathroom by replacing light bulbs with more energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs. Even changing just one bulb will make a significant difference in the amount of energy you use when you flip on the switch.

Showerhead
Replace your showerhead with a low-flow model. This will greatly reduce the amount of water you use while taking a shower. There are many different types that can suite your preferences and still keep you comfortable. And take a shower instead of a bath whenever possible, because it uses much less water.

Shower Curtain
Don’t use a typical shower curtain that is made of PVC, which is rife with chemicals and can’t be recycled. Use a shower curtain that is made of linen, hemp, organic cotton, or coated nylon, for a more earth-friendly choice.

Toilet Paper
Use toilet paper made of recycled paper. Scott even makes a Tube-Free brand of recycled toilet paper that greatly reduces waste by leaving out the cardboard tube.

Toilet
A simple way to use less water in your toilet is to reduce the amount that is needed to fill the tank. To do this, put a half-gallon bottle in your tank to reduce the space, and you can use half as much water every time you flush. Also, consider converting to a dual-flush toilet.

Faucet
You can also install a low-flow faucet to reduce your water consumption. Also, be mindful of when you run the water – don’t keep it on when you’re brushing your teeth!

Towels
Definitely don’t use paper towels to dry your hands when a hand towel can be used repeatedly. Also, reuse your after-shower towel as many times as you’re comfortable with. You’re clean when you’re done, after all. Buy hemp or organic cotton towels.

Cleaning
Your bathroom cleaners are very bad for the environment and are one of the least eco-friendly things you use in your bathroom. Switch to natural cleaning methods to greatly reduce toxins. Sprinkle baking soda on your tub and sink alone, or combine it with water to form a paste, then wipe clean with a sponge. You can also use diluted vinegar or lemon juice. Another good tub scrub recipe is to mix baking soda with a castile soap, and then add a few drops of any good-smelling essential oil you like. Also, spray your shower after each use to prevent mold with a homemade spray of just white vinegar, or two cups of water mixed with two teaspoons of tea tree oil.

Photo credit: Gundulf

Terry Ford writes for grammarly, the most accurate and powerful grammar checker on the web.

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Posted in Bath Transformations, remodeling

The Cheapest Renovations You Can Do To Your Home That Have The Biggest Impact

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011
Cabinet hardware on display in a home store. F...

Image via Wikipedia

When it comes to the value of your home, performing small renovations can have a big impact. There are several key areas that will make a big difference in the sales potential of the property. It will also ensure that the current inhabitants are living in comfort and can enjoy a pleasant atmosphere. The most important areas of the home that can be greatly impacted by a renovation are the kitchen and bathroom. It is not always necessary to spend a lot of cash on these renovations. Most can be accomplished for under $1,000 by the do-it-yourself homeowner. The renovations that can have the most impact need not be time-consuming or done by a professional.

Curb appeal home is another important factor in the value of the home. For those who wish to sell their home quickly, it is amazing what a difference an attractive car in the driveway can make to the perceived value of the home. Those on a budget can visit used car search engine websites that allow for the quick finding of a suitable vehicle. The kitchen of most homes receives a lot of traffic and is often the focal point of the home. This is where people gather together and prepare meals. An outdated and messy kitchen is very off-putting and can instantly ruin the look of the home. Fortunately, it is very easy and inexpensive to completely overhaul this much-used hub of the home.

Refinishing or re-facing the cabinet doors is something that will dramatically change the look of the kitchen. The cabinets are left in place and only the doors are changed. This can be accomplished by going to a hardware store and purchasing new doors, or simply stripping off the old paint and putting on a new coat. Another part of the kitchen that is often worn out from much use is the counter-tops. This will require a bit more work, but the talented DIY-er will be able to easily accomplish this task. The desired material for the surface is up to the homeowner and there are many styles to choose from. Changing the floor by either putting in a new style of linoleum or installing tiles can give a contemporary look to any kitchen.

Painting the walls a more attractive and modern color will add eye-appeal and make the atmosphere more inviting. Simple measures like putting attractive new appliances on the counters and changing wall-outlets and door knobs can create a new look for very little financial outlay. The next area of the home that should always be up-to-date is the bathroom. It is easy to change the vanity and sink. Many large hardware stores carry kits that can be quickly installed. The walls should be painted with a flattering color and accessories replaced with newer versions. Shower curtains can be replaced, as well as towels and soap dishes. Putting in new flooring will add a modern look. The bathtub can receive a new coating and may not need to be replaced. These seemingly small improvements will have a huge impact on the home.

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Posted in Countertop Overlay, Tips/Advice, remodeling

Applying Granite in the Bathroom

Friday, November 4th, 2011

granite bathtub

Applying granite tiles and surfaces in the bathroom is a fantastic way of contrasting colours and textures if done correctly. Choosing the right shade and style of granite surfaces can be a huge pay off when combined with the right fixtures, colours and decoration. The first thing you may notice when you come to choosing the right type of granite textures and colours for your bathroom is that there are a range of products available. Be it smaller tiles, useful for lining the side of your bath and breaking up colours, larger tiles which are ideal for covering a large surface area on walls and floors, or granite surfaces and fixtures to match your chosen colour scheme. So with that in mind, let’s take a look at the types of granite available to you and how they can be applied stylishly in your bathroom!

Bathrooms are one of the rooms in our homes with which we can truly impress family and guests, and by combining modern colours with stylish sink, bath, or shower models we can really add that ‘wow’ factor. Consider shopping around to find some matching granite fixtures such as luxurious and fashionable granite basins and sinks, this can help to give your colour scheme more consistency and certainly a touch of class. Apply this thinking to shower enclosures too; modern and well fitted granite tiles combined with the large panes of glass on your shower can look fantastic. Highlight these features with some well positioned lighting to give your luxurious bathroom a warm, comforting glow.

Darker granites such as the Nero range found in stock at Granite Transformations can look great when combined with rich, vibrant colours as well as contrasting it with whites and creams. For example, in the summer you may choose to re-colour the upper section on your wall with a fresh mint green; darker shades of granite can accompany such a dynamic colour with ease.

As the winter season approaches, you may choose to switch to warming colours such as creams and beiges. These can be matched with darker granite textures just as well but may benefit from a lighter shade if you are looking to bring more light into the room. Finally, consider the colour of your bathroom flooring beforehand; if you are interesting in purchasing granite tiles for your Bathroom Suite then this could truly be the icing on the cake. Matching the colour and texture of your granite wall tiles with granite flooring can bring the entire room together, and give you a fantastic looking room to relax and unwind in.

Written by Daniel Travis-Brown on behalf of Bathshop 321 Bathroom Suites. Follow him on twitter @DanTravisBrown

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Posted in Bath Transformations, Design, Granite and Trend stone, home improvement

How to Make Better Use of Space in a Small Bathroom

Thursday, November 3rd, 2011

As a family grows, the bathroom seems to shrink. A small bathroom can easily become cluttered and untidy, and finding a home to store toiletries, towels and other accessories can become a challenge. When space is limited, some creative thinking is needed to make a bathroom both aesthetically pleasing and functional. It is possible to make the bath area seem much bigger by making simple changes in design and storage options.

Visual Appeal

Making the bathroom look bigger is easier than building onto it, especially in an older home. Try the following ideas to create the illusion of more space:

• Survey the bath, and remove objects that can be used in other places or are just creating clutter.

• Paint all of the walls, doors, and cabinets in similar shades, the lighter the better.

• Add mirrors, or mirrored tiles, in several places to reflect opposite walls.

• Add extra light sources in shadowy corners.

• Install metallic tiles running horizontally around the room so that the eye is almost following an arrow.

• Inset tiles in a diamond pattern to make the ceiling seem higher.

• Consider a slender pedestal sink or a hanging vanity.

• Think about installing lighting strips under the toe-kick areas of the cabinets in the bathroom to serve as a night light and to give the illusion of more room.

Small Bathroom by respres

Storage Surprises

Even if a complete bath renovation is not possible in the next few years, space in the bathroom needs to be used as efficiently as possible. Creative storage solutions can make a real difference in the usability of a bath, and the following are all excellent ideas:

• Use the spaces between the wall studs to make recessed shelving to store bath linens or toiletries. Recessed medicine cabinets will not take usable area from the rest of the room.

• Consider tossing the clothes hamper and building a laundry chute into the wall.

• Either hang the bathroom door so that it opens into the hallway or bedroom or use a pocket door instead.

• Add several hooks on the back side of the bathroom door and on the wall behind the door.

• Roll towels and wash cloths so that they fit into a smaller storage area.

• Build storage units in any useful corner or stack baskets for storage.

• Use the space above the toilet by adding shelving or a floor to ceiling storage unit.

• Install wire shelving in convenient places near the tub or shower to hold razors, shampoo, and cleansers.

• Insert drawer dividers to keep hair clips, cotton swabs, or cosmetics neat and orderly.

• Replace a standard tub with the corner variety to gain additional space.

• Make a wall of towel bars and display all of the prettiest designs as a form of artwork.

Some of these ideas are quick and easy to implement; others may require a professional. All of them will improve the cosmetic appeal and usability of a tiny bathroom. Because it is one of the most frequented rooms in the home, changes made in the bathroom is will be appreciated by the entire family.

Mike Genner writes for a team of plumbers that issue gas safety certificates and has used some of the ideas above when renovating his family bathroom.

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Posted in Bath Transformations, Design, home improvement

Modernize Your Bathroom On A Budget

Wednesday, October 19th, 2011

modern double sink vanity

Many modern homeowners find themselves faced with a problem. They want a modern bathroom renovation, but need to stay on a strict budget. Is there a way to achieve one without sacrificing the other? Certainly. Here’s is a foolproof plan to get you started.

Choose only 1 item to spend the most money on. For many people, when they think of a modern bathroom, they see a glass enclosed shower stall, a separate soaking tub, a beautiful vanity—I could go on and on. Don’t worry, for the sake of time and your sanity—I won’t.

To tear out and replace all of these fixtures to create this look, for most, is way out of their budget’s reach. If what you are starting with is a smaller, simpler bathroom that won’t allow for all of these changes, choose one item to drop the most money on. Take a mental inventory of what you like and what you can’t stand in your current bathroom. If your vanity saw better days in the 1960’s, then this would be a good place to start. If your shower enclosure used to be ivory and now appears yellowed—then here is another option to change. Remember, you can decorate around this one item to modernize the entire look of your bathroom. After you’ve decided on what’s got to go—go shopping. To stick with a modern bent, you’ll want to find something with clean lines and simple design.  Give yourself a lot of options. This is the one big ticket item you’ll be using—so make your choice count!

modern single sink vanity

Modernize the rest of your fixtures to match. If your vanity was the piece that went, start modernizing the rest of your room around it. Simple and inexpensive switches abound here. A good place to start is with a fresh coat of paint. A new color or often–just another coat—can really breathe a new feeling to a space. Next, you’ll want to check into getting new hardware to match that of your vanity. You’ll find a wide variety of towel bars, door handles, or light fixtures, for example, at any Home Depot or Lowes. In addition, try changing out your old medicine cabinet for a funky new mirror. Most modern bathroom vanities allow for a good amount of storage. Utilizing this space will allow you to add a great accent right above your vanity—making it even more the central focal point of your bathroom!

Should you have decided that the shower was the piece to be updated, no worries here either! You can always update your vanity by sanding it down and adding a new finish to it. This is labor intensive, but certainly worth the effort. Another option would be to paint it. If you’re going for a clean, white look, try sanding your vanity down and adding a bright white coat of paint. You’ll find it may appear that you did get a new vanity altogether! (Remember to use a paint that is suitable for bathroom conditions—nothing looks worse than chipped or peeling surface.) Fixtures can still be replaced but now can include the vanity faucets as well.  In addition, if you’re feeling really ambitious, you can even change out the tile!

modern vessel sink vanity

There are tons of ways you can update the look of your bathroom without breaking your budget. Start first with choosing one expensive item to replace. Once you’ve got that installed, pull together the inexpensive items to complete the transformation. You’ll be happy with the cost and the completed project! Good luck!

Hillary Hansen is a featured author for the site www.UniqueVanities.com, where you can find a large selection of beautiful modern vanities for every style, size, and budget!

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Posted in Bath Transformations, Services, home improvement

8 Steps to a Greener Bathroom

Tuesday, October 18th, 2011

Bathroom complete

The bathroom is one of the most frequently used spaces in your home. Whether you’re getting ready for work in the morning, or for bed at night, or taking a relaxing bath or shower, you’re certain to spend a portion of your day there. The bathroom can also be one of the least energy efficient rooms in your home if you don’t take the necessary steps to keep it “green” and eco-friendly. Here are 8 tips to help you do just that.

Toilets can be responsible for up to 30 percent of household water usage. Older toilets are especially guilty – many using as much as seven gallons with each flush. If you happen to have an older toilet in your bathroom, you can very easily displace a bit of the water that’s stored in the tank, and up its efficiency. Simply place a brick, or a tightly sealed container filled with pebbles or sand, in the tank. That’s all there is to it.

A leaky toilet is even more of a water wasting nightmare. Some data reveals that a leaky toilet can be responsible for up to 200 gallons of wasted water per day. Of course this is a terrible situation for the environment if left unchecked, but, can you imagine the damage being done to your water bill? It’s a simple thing to test for leaks. Just add some food coloring, or even instant coffee, to the water in the tank. If you can see color being released into the toilet bowl, even without being flushed, you definitely have a leak and you should try to have it repaired as soon as possible.

The hot water heater is another guilty party when it comes to waste. You can conserve energy, and still have plenty of hot water, by lowering the the temperature setting from 140 degrees to 120 degrees. It’s also a good idea to insulate the hot water heater and pipes. When it’s time to replace it, go ahead and invest a bit more money and purchase an energy efficient model. Your initial investment will repaid in no time at all through substantially lower energy bills.

Get into the habit of shutting off the water while brushing teeth or shaving. You can also turn the shower off while you soap up and shampoo your hair. Installing low-flow showerheads and sink fixtures can reduce water usage by up to 3,000 gallons per person, per year – definitely a wise investment.

When it’s time for new bath towels, wash up the old ones and donate them to a veterinary clinic or animal shelter. Any place that cares for animals is almost always in need of extra towels and will most certainly welcome your donation.

Replace your vinyl shower curtain with one made from organic cotton or some other type of natural material such as hemp, or bamboo. It’s better for the environment, and the added bonus is, the natural materials can be laundered.

Place a small box for recycling next to the bathroom trash can. This will make it easier to ensure that items such as empty toilet paper rolls and shampoo bottles are recycled along with everything from the kitchen and other rooms of the house.

Replace incandescent bulbs with fluorescent. The quality of light is much better, especially for applying cosmetics and other things such as styling your hair or tweezing your eyebrows, and they’re also much more energy efficient and longer lasting.

Try out some, or all, of these tips today, and begin seeing a difference in your energy bills!

This article is by Amanda Knox-Reynolds, a freelance writer for Advance Me Inc. America’s leading provider of the business cash advance – an alternative to traditional, collateral based bank loans, for small-medium sized businesses.

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Posted in Bath Transformations, Environmentally Friendly, home improvement

Bring Nature into Your Bathroom

Tuesday, October 18th, 2011
An outdoor bathroom is a portal that brings the outside world in. Use natural finishes, and keep things simple.

An outdoor bathroom is a portal that brings the outside world in. Use natural finishes, and keep things simple.

There is an overall trend in design, particularly in bathrooms, to either have part of your bathroom outside or open to the elements, or to mimic the world outside in the design and layout of the bathroom itself. Both trends are very powerful design statements that are intended to make you feel at one with nature, and thus naturally relaxed. There is a genuine attempt to remind the home owner that they are the master of their domain, and having a bathroom in this style is guaranteed to make you feel like the king of the world around you.

Outside bathrooms

This trend is extremely popular in areas with great climates – Australia, South Africa etc – and actually started out in the tourism industry. Game lodges offered rooms with outdoor bathroom facilities, not standing separate, but merged into the room itself. More often than not, the shower or bath itself is located in an alcove that is exposed to the elements. The space is finished in natural materials like wood, slate or granite, and should offer a view of the world outside. Bathing on a balcony that is open to the world but still private is really quite an experience.

If you are designing a home from scratch, then you will need to keep the outside space in mind. You will need access to water and plumbing, as well as ample room – having an outside bathroom is useless if it is cramped. Think luxury and space. Also, you should take into consideration privacy issues, and design some kind of cover that protects the client from prying eyes that can ruin their intimate bathing experiences.

Design the room itself so that it is an extension of the world outside – the bath or showers are portals that bring the outside world in. Use natural finishes, and keep things simple. Large windows will extend the feeling of emersion in nature.

A natural bathroom

If you like the idea of an outside bedroom, but don’t have the nerve or inclination to go all the way, you can use a few of these tips to create the effect without actually having it.

Firstly, detail is the key. Everything in the room should suggest a naturalistic outlook. Go for muted, earthy towels, natural hand and body products, and stone or wood finishes. An arrangement of indigenous flowers can add that special touch. Go for a pebble or slate finish in your shower, that offers a truly outdoor feel, and invest in a wide shower head – you will feel like you are showering in the rain, plus you will save water at the same time.

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Posted in Bath Transformations, Design, Environmentally Friendly, home improvement

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