What Makes a Bathroom Custom?

Last week we answered the question, "What does 'custom' kitchen remodeling mean?" The word "custom" has no standard definition in the remodeling industry, so MKBD believes it is important to clarify our own definition. For kitchen remodeling, "custom" means designs and fixtures created from scratch. The same is true for bathroom remodeling.

Just like our kitchen remodeling projects, MKBD takes a custom approach to designing and building bathrooms. We draft original layouts suited to each client's needs. We source unique materials for showers, bathroom floors, and vanities. And, of course, we build fixtures from scratch.

As we noted last week, "Depending on your budget, you may choose certain 'custom' fixtures and some standardized fixtures. When you work with MKBD, though, your design will always be unique, and each fixture will be installed by expert craftsman."

For a preview of our "custom" approach to bathroom remodeling, please take a look at our gallery below.

A custom walk-in shower is a luxurious addition to any bathroom.

Custom Showers

At MKBD, a shower is never merely a shower. We build each shower to client specifications, including custom-tiled walls and floors, custom benches, and showerheads and jets. Most showers are prefabricated, made from plastic and fiberglass, in uniform shapes and sizes. To accommodate a custom layout, however, you likely need a custom-built shower.

Witness the mosaic tiles in the MKBD project below. Mosaic tiles can be made to fit curved or uneven surfaces, so they're a perfect example of "custom" shower tiling made to fit a unruly space.

Shower mosaics on the wall and floor

Tiles are a great way to add flair to any bathroom design. We source tiles from Italy, yet we're willing to scour the globe to find a perfect fit for our clients. Our clients are fond of accent tiles, which can be used to offer a unique counterpoint to primary tiles in showers and across the bathroom.

In this Cheltenham project,  accent tiles juxtapose the stone tiles lining the shower wall.

Another custom feature of MKBD's showers is our use of water jets and showerheads, which, by nature, are manufactured to suit varying tastes. Do you prefer more or less spray volume? Do you prefer a gentle or vigorous water flow? According to your preferences, we help you find the right showerhead and jets for your shower.

Custom Bathroom Floors

Most bathroom tile is installed in a uniform manner, running in a bonded fashion, from wall-to-wall. With a custom floor, you can experiment with unique tiles and placement, emphasizing different sizes, colors, and patterns.

Rustic tumble-finished travertine is a perfect custom flooring option. 

In the project above, tumble-finished travertine, often said to have a rustic appearance, creates a perfect look for our client's former farm house. This floor is a good example of the "custom" remodeling approach. Travertine's rough edges can present installation problems--it takes a skilled craftsmen to install and seal this rustic material.

In this project, tiles of various shapes and sizes outfit the entire bathroom, including the floor, wall, and bathtub--a truly custom fit!

Custom Bathroom Cabinetry

Much like kitchen cabinets, custom bathroom cabinets can be built to fit specific dimensions. More than even kitchen cabinets, however, custom bathroom cabinets can be especially useful for the bathroom space, which is usually much smaller than a kitchen space.

A double vanity with custom cabinets for storage. 

In a bathroom, cabinets can come in handy for storage. The project above highlights custom cabinets, built from scratch, for the master bathroom. To accommodate the storage needs of our clients, we built large cabinets and deep drawers.

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Many homeowners choose to call a remodeling company at the very beginning of the exploration process. We believe this is the best option--and not simply because we are a remodeling company!

A remodeling company can guide you in your exploration, saving you time. A home remodeling company can also help you set reasonable parameters for your project. How long might the project take to complete? What are the best materials for your lifestyle? And how about the cost?

At MKBD, we offer a FREE In-Home Remodeling Estimate for all custom bathroom designs.
If you have any questions about your next kitchen remodeling project, please feel free to call MKBD for an individualized consultation. Let's talk budget and more! Call now! 215-355-4747. Better yet, check out our Free In-Home Remodeling Estimate on this very blog!

The Walk-In Shower: Practical and Luxurious

For many homeowners, the appeal of a bathroom remodeling project is the opportunity to streamline the bathroom design. A streamlined design might include unobstructed floor space, mirrors and shelves built into the wall, or wall-hung fixtures, like the toilet or vanity. One frequent request we see at MKBD is a walk-in shower.

A walk-in shower  can replace both the traditional bath and shower units with a slim, attractive fixture that is, at once, more accessible and easy-to-clean. To many of our clients, this is the essence of streamlining. Indeed, the walk-in shower simplifies life, yet not at the expense of luxury. As the projects below reveal, a walk-in shower can be both efficient and luxurious.

A walk-in shower can save space

Walk-in Showers: Perfect for Tight Spaces

If designed correctly, a walk-in shower can save valuable space. This is why walk-in showers so often occupy a corner space. Unlike a bathtub, which is built without your specific measurements in mind, a remodeling company can build a walk-in from scratch, shifting dimensions to fit your square footage needs.

In the project above, the shower pan--the floor of the shower, designed with a slope to allow the water to run to the drain--was custom-built to exacting dimensions: 5 feet x 4 feet. To facilitate the streamlined design, we also custom-built the frameless glass enclosure. Even then, despite the space limitations, the shower is equipped with a bench for easy storage or sitting (perfect for shaving those legs, ladies!)

Whatever your space requirements, a walk-in can certainly be made to fit the bill. Just make sure you work with a bathroom remodeling company with walk-in experience.

A corner walk-in shower saves space without sacrificing luxury

Glass Enclosed Showers: Streamlined Design

Streamlined design is not merely about saving space. A streamlined design is about the visual feel of a room. A streamlined room, for example, removes barriers between fixtures--or, at least, appears to do so. Most walk-in showers come equipped with glass doors, which create the impression of a seamless environment.

A seamless walk-in shower design

In the project above, space was not an issue, but our clients nevertheless desired a simple, streamlined design. Note how the walk-in shower feels like part of the room. And, of course, the glass shower door provides easy access--just step in and out!

Luxurious Walk-in Shower Features

Walk-in showers are the height of utility, yet they're also the perfect venue for luxurious features like multiple showerheads (including hand-held) or body jets.

For many MKBD clients, the rain showerhead is the height of luxury

At MKBD, we're big fans of the rain shower head: a flat and wide showerhead that duplicates the feeling of a soft wain shower. Rain showers are perfect for those who want to feel immersed in a shower of water. For a more direct approach, however, a hand-held showerhead is the height of utility. Instead of choosing between the two, the client above chose both.

Body jets with temperature controls

We're also big fans of body jets, which we believe to be the next best thing to a professional masseuse--at a fraction of the price. In the project above, the walk-in shower comes equipped with four (usually the limit) jets with temperature controls. Just imagine yourself enveloped in soothing water from all sides.


Free In-Home Remodeling Estimate

If you have any questions about your next remodeling project, please feel free to call MKBD for an individualized consultation. Let's talk bathroom design and more! Call now! 215-355-4747. Better yet, check out our Free In-Home Remodeling Estimate on this very blog!