Bathroom Furniture
A typical American bathroomA bathroom is a room that may have different
functions depending on the cultural context. In the most literal sense,
the word bathroom means "a room with a bath". Because the traditional
bathtubs have partly made way for modern showers, including steam showers,
the more general definition is "a room where one bathes". There
can be just a shower, just a bathtub or both; and often both plumbing fixtures
are combined in the bathtub. The room may also contain a sink, often called
a "wash basin", "hand basin" or "lavatory"
(USA), and often a toilet fixture.
In the United States, "bathroom" commonly means "a room
containing a toilet". In other countries this is usually called the
"toilet" or alternatively "water closet" (WC), lavatory
or "loo". In America they are categorized as a "full bathroom",
containing four plumbing fixtures: bathtub, shower, toilet, and sink;
"half (1/2) bath" (or "powder room") containing just
a toilet and sink; and "3/4 bath" containing toilet, sink, and
shower. The word is also used in the U.S. for a public toilet.
Bathroom Furniture
Styles of sink
Sinks are available in many colours, such as this red enamel-over-cast-iron
sink in a washroomSelf-rimming (top-mount) sinks sit in appropriately-shaped
holes roughly cut in the countertop (or substrate material) using a jigsaw
or other cutter appropriate to the material at hand and are suspended
by their rim. The rim then inherently forms a fairly close seal with the
top surface of the countertop, especially when the sink is clamped into
the hole from below.
Bottom-mount or under-mount sinks are installed below the countertop
surface. The edge of the countertop material is exposed at the hole created
for the sink (and so must be a carefully finished edge rather than a rough
cut). The sink is then clamped to the bottom of the material from below.
Especially for bottom-mount sinks, silicone-based sealants are usually
used to assure a waterproof joint between the sink and the countertop
material. The advantage of an "under-mount" sink is that it
gives a contemporary look to the kitchen but the disadvantages are extra
cost in both the sink and the counter top. Also, no matter how carefully
the cut out is made, the result is either a small ledge or overhang at
the interface with the sink. This can create an environment for catching
dirt and allowing germs to grow.
Solid-surface plastic materials allow sinks to be made of the same plastic
material as the countertop. These sinks can then easily be glued to the
underside of the countertop material and the joint sanded flat, creating
the usual invisible joint and completely eliminating any dirt-catching
seam between the sink and the countertop. In a similar fashion, for stainless
steel, a sink may be welded into the countertop; the joint is then ground
to create a finished, concealed appearance.
A Belfast sink is a large ceramic sink with a traditional appearance,
often set under work surfaces.
A farmer's sink is a deep sink that has a finished front. Set onto a
countertop, the finished front of the sink remains exposed. This style
of sink requires very little "reach-over" to access the sink.
Types of bathrooms
A bathroom directly connected to a bedroom is often called an en-suite
bathroom. Its use is primarily intended for the occupants of that bedroom
only. In French the term "en-suite" literally means "a
following", in this case referring to the bathroom being part of
the bedroom to which it is attached. A bathroom adjacent to or directly
connected to a master bedroom in a private home is generally called a
master bathroom, unless it is shared by other bedrooms or is the only
bathroom in the home. An en-suite bathroom attached to two bedrooms is
sometimes referred to as a "Jack and Jill bathroom".
Travelers often get confused regarding different types of bathrooms when
booking rooms in hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation. Some common
questions relate to en-suite, "private" and "shared"
bathrooms (sometimes called "facilities"). Both en-suite and
private bathrooms are for the exclusive use of the occupants of a particular
bedroom. However, an en-suite bathroom is accessed from within the bedroom,
whereas a private bathroom is accessed from outside the bedroom but is
normally adjacent or near to the bedroom. A shared bathroom is a bathroom
outside of any bedroom that is shared between guests staying in two or
more separate bedrooms. Although the word bathroom may be used this can
refer to a room with a shower rather than a bath. The bathroom would also
normally include a toilet as well as washing facilities.
Design considerations
The design of a bathroom must account for the use of both hot and cold
water, in significant quantities, for cleaning the human body. The water
is also used for moving solid and liquid human waste to a sewer or septic
tank. Water may be splashed on the walls and floor, and hot humid air
may cause condensation on cold surfaces. From a decorating point of view
the bathroom presents a challenge. Ceiling, wall and floor materials and
coverings should be impervious to water and readily and easily cleaned.
The use of ceramic or glass, as well as smooth plastic materials, is common
in bathrooms for their ease of cleaning. However, such surfaces are often
cold to the touch and so water-resistant bath mats or even bathroom carpets
may be used on the floor to make the room more comfortable. Alternatively,
the floor may be heated, possibly by strategically placing heater conduits
close to the surface.
Electrical appliances, such as lights, heaters and heated towel rails
generally need to be installed as fixtures, with permanent connections
rather than plugs and sockets. This minimizes the risk of electric shock.
Ground-fault circuit interruptor electrical sockets can reduce the risk
of electric shock, and are required for bathroom socket installation by
electrical and building codes in the United States and Canada. In some
countries, such as the United Kingdom, only special sockets suitable for
electric shavers are permitted in bathrooms, and are labelled as such.
On the decorating front,
master bathroom may be considered by some owners to be of value only
because of their utility and they may be reluctant to decorate or redecorate
to "freshen" tired decor or to suit their tastes. However, others
like to decorate their bathrooms.
Color is a key factor; the use of colors can alter the mood of any room
and even make it look bigger. The bathroom is no different. It is sometimes
suggested that bathrooms be painted in light, "cool" colors
as a bathroom is a wet room and water is the predominant element. Many
owners use watery elements across the bathroom, such as cloud or wave
patterns across the tiles and the ceiling. Patterned wallpaper with blue
or green as the predominant color is also common.
Another remodeling idea is changing the lighting, as it accentuates objects
in the room. For bathrooms it is advisable to have overhead or ceiling
ambience lights which could optionally be fitted with dimness regulator.
Also add spot or task lights on the mirror. Installing bathroom mirrors
opposite each other can make the room appear larger when combined with
the right lighting. Bathroom cabinets, vanity units and countertops with
shiny, reflective surfaces can also brighten the room.
Materials
Stainless steel is commonly used in kitchens and commercial applications
because it represents a good trade-off between cost, usability, durability,
and ease of cleaning. Most stainless steel sinks are made by drawing a
sheet of stainless steel over a die. Some very deep sinks are fabricated
by welding. Stainless steel sinks will not be damaged by hot or cold objects
and resist damage from impacts. One disadvantage of stainless steel is
that, being made of thin metal, they tend to be noisier than most other
sink materials, although better sinks apply a heavy coating of vibration-damping
material to the underside of the sink.
Enamel over cast iron is a popular material for kitchen and bathroom
sinks. Heavy and durable, these sinks can also be manufactured in a very
wide range of shapes and colors. Like stainless steel, they are very resistant
to hot or cold objects, but they can be damaged by sharp impacts and once
the glass surface is breached, the underlying cast iron will often corrode,
spalling off more of the glass. Aggressive cleaning will dull the surface,
leading to more dirt accumulation. Enamel over steel is a similar-appearing
but far less rugged and less costly alternative.
Solid ceramic sinks have many of the same characteristics as enamel over
cast iron, but without the risk of surface damage leading to corrosion.
Plastic sinks come in several basic forms:
Inexpensive sinks are simply injection-molded thermoplastics. These are
often deep, free-standing sinks used in laundry rooms. Subject to damage
by hot or sharp objects, the principal virtue of these sinks is their
low cost.
High-end acrylic drop-in (lowered into the countertop) and undermount
(attached from the bottom) sinks are becoming more popular, although they
tend to be easily damaged by hard objects - like scouring a cast iron
frying pan in the sink.
Plastic sinks may also be made from the same materials used to form "solid
surface" countertops. These sinks are durable, attractive, and can
often be molded with an integrated countertop or joined to a separate
countertop in a seamless fashion, leading to no sink-to-countertop joint
or a very smooth sink-to-countertop joint that can not trap dirt or germs.
These sinks are subject to damage by hot objects but damaged areas can
sometimes be sanded-down to expose undamaged material.
|
