Are you sure you want to die?

ngel Hernndez stared at his wife through clear glasses. His face was pallid, haggard, his lip quivering.

Mara Jos Carrasco, 61, and eight years his junior, drooped in a squeaky red armchair. Her body was limp, her face sunken, and her mouth sagged into a scowl. But Carrasco wasnt angry; she was nervous, uneasy even. Uneasy and in pain. She had endured multiple sclerosis for 30 years, and it was ravaging her body.

Would you like it if we do it tomorrow? Hernndez said, glancing into the camera recording it all.

Yes.

OK, he sighed. Well, I suppose theres nothing more to be said.

No, she responded. The sooner, the better.

Silence followed the recording. Part of Hernndez couldnt quite believe what was happening. This was something he had suppressed, considered, accepted and then suppressed again. Back and forth, a wearisome rally in his head, for three decades.

Hernndez knew that what he was about to do probably meant prison. He knew that his face would appear in every one of his countrys newspapers. He would become a momentary lament over breakfast or a boozy debate at a bar. And while some would support him, some would rather see him burn in hell.

There was a time when Hernndez tried to show Carrasco that life was worth living. But as years passed, he began to question everything he had thought was kindness, everything he thought was generous.

Was he trying to keep her alive for her sake? Or for his? Was he selfish?

Carrasco had her own fears, not of death but of what her husband would face after her suicide. Prison? Would he become a pariah? They had never had children because they did not want someone between them. They were for each other. But soon she would be gone, and he would be alone.

That afternoon, on April 2, 2019, as Hernndez peered into his wifes sunken eyes in the couples cramped living room on the outskirts of Madrid, he was still torn. Everything was about to end, and everything was about to begin. He would end her suffering, but he would also open up an abysmal absence.

But personal concerns had to cede to higher objectives. After all, Hernndez and Carrasco had planned it this way. For months, they had given press interviews and shot videos showing Carrascos day-to-day life. Videos that were designed to show Mara Jos's suffering, Hernndez lawyer would later tell the press.

The reality was this: The next day, Hernndez would wake up and help his wife die. And then, he would have to be alone.

::

Hernndez came from a poor family in Madrids Alcala de Henares suburb his father was a factory worker, his mother a homemaker. He was rebellious and had spent the years in prison during Francisco Francos dictatorship. The charge was terrorism, though the action was breaking windows at a bank. He denies it. I wasnt even there, he said.

Carrasco had been born into a family of lawyers. She was from the bourgeoisie, Hernndez said. She found her own path. She dropped out of university and went to live in an artists commune in New York. She spoke languages, read literature and loved to paint and play the piano.

When Carrasco and Hernndez met at a theater workshop in the 80s, both were attracted to each others differences: Carrasco liked that he was tough and streetwise, Hernndez liked that she was whimsical and erudite. They watched avant-garde films, read great works and traveled.

Hernndez remembers they would talk late into the night about anything and everything. We had solidarity, which went beyond infatuation and sex, he said.

They married in 1988, and soon, Hernndez noticed things that he didnt want to see. Small things at first: the missed note on the piano, the errant brushstroke on one of her paintings, and a squiggle too many in her signature. In a matter of months, she was losing her footing on her way to the kitchen or seeing double while watching TV.

It was as confusing as it was terrifying. This was back in the 80s in Spain, and we had no idea what was going on, Hernndez said.

Neither did the doctors. Carrasco went from test to test, hospital to hospital. She was desperate. He was desperate. All my hair fell out from the stress, he said.

Then in 1989, the diagnosis: multiple sclerosis, a disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord that causes the bodys immune system to attack its nerve fibers.

There is no cure, and Carrasco knew it would only get worse. She grew embarrassed; she stopped seeing friends, she stopped going out. She had to quit work as a court clerk. The outside world, which had once so enchanted her, began to taunt her with its possibilities.

One day, in 1996, Hernndez returned late from his job as a technician at the Spanish parliament, where he recorded debates and hearings. It was around midnight, and Hernndez called out to his wife when he entered the apartment. She would normally wait up for me, he said. But this time there was no reply. He shouted again. Nothing.

He scrambled to the room and found her encircled by empty prescription bottles, unconscious but still breathing. As he dragged her from the bed, her limp body thudded to the floor.

The emergency services wouldnt arrive fast enough, he thought. He had to act. I dragged her to the bathroom and shoved my fingers down her throat, he said. She vomited a mush of pills.

When Carrasco awoke, Hernndez told her that though he could not stop her from taking her life, he would do everything to prove that she had a reason to keep on living.

In the following years, he reduced his hours at work. He cooked, cleaned and shopped. He read to her before she went to sleep, and he bought hundreds of films they watched together. Every Saturday, they would travel to villages outside Madrid to lunch and enjoy nature.

They traveled further afield too. We liked to go to the Netherlands, he said. We would go to the coffee shops because marijuana helped ease Mara Jos's pain.

As her health deteriorated in the 2000s, Hernndez started remodeling the apartment. He installed handrails on the walls so Carrasco could drag herself to the kitchen and refitted the bathroom to make it easier for her to wash up. Did she have a phenomenal life? No, she didnt. But did she have enough to keep on going? I think so....

::

By 2010, Hernndez had to take early retirement. He was struggling. He woke Carrasco up, he washed her, changed her diaper, applied her creams. His own health began deteriorating. He had developed an excruciating hernia, which he aggravated the more he cared for her. He also doubted his motives.

Death can be instantaneous, one unknowing step or traffic accident away. But this this was different. Death lurked it was a chronic weight on his everyday thoughts. He could hear its presence in his wifes groans, in the squeak of her wheelchair, in the rattle of her pills.

Sometimes it made Hernndez feel guilty. He often thought he was selfish. Was he obligating Carrasco to stay alive?

He supposed that she had these debates too. He knew she was caught between her love for him and her own suffering. Yes, she had tried to kill herself, but they had spent regular times together, good times, when deaths grip had loosened. In those moments, she must have known what she meant to him. Maybe thats why she held on? For him.

The couple had talked about euthanasia over the years, but it was still illegal in Spain, and, as such, seemed a comforting impossibility to Hernndez. But in 2015, when Carrasco asked him to acquire some sodium pentobarbital, to have just in case, he knew that even the law might not be enough to deter his wifes desires.

In the following years, Carrascos condition worsened. She was on high doses of morphine and fentanyl, and often the withdrawals from these drugs were worse than the problems caused by the disease itself, Hernndez said.

In late 2018, Carrasco lost the use of her hands. Propped up in her wheelchair, she appeared bound by an invisible straitjacket. She could barely see, barely hear; sometimes, she couldnt swallow or talk.

It was around this time that the couple gave an interview to El Pais, in which Carrasco told the broadsheet that she was ready to die. Hernndez said he would be willing to help her if necessary. Spains governing party had presented a bill to decriminalize euthanasia, and polls showed an overwhelming majority of Spaniards favored legalizing la muerte digna.

But, just as assisted suicide seemed possible, it wasnt. Several months later, the bill was blocked by Spains conservative parties and then held up by the ruling partys inability to form a majority government. It was then early 2019, and Hernndez knew he would have to take matters into his own hands so the couple could make a point.

The plan was to record her daily suffering and show the world what it was to live with the burden of this disease. Then they would record the assisted suicide, and the moments before and after. Hernndez would show his face despite the risk of prosecution.

It was only with the last of those points that there was an issue. Carrasco did not want to end her suffering only to propagate his. She worried about me until the end, he said.

But Hernndez was resolute. He had been to prison before, he told her, and during the dictatorship, no less. What was more, he said, he didnt believe in God, or heaven; he believed in life, and that it be lived with dignity. Nothing would prepare him for the void she would leave, but he could no longer watch her suffer, he could no longer justify what he came to believe was just his greed.

On April 3, 2019, Hernndez woke up Carrasco as he always did. He showered her, dried her, changed her diaper and took her back to the bed. Around 9:30 he turned on the camcorder.

Mara Jos, the moment has arrived, Hernndez said, his voice shaky. Carrasco smiled. He handed her a glass of water with a straw, to see if she could swallow.

What do you think? he asked.

Yes, I can do it, she gurgled.

Are you sure you want to do this? Hernandez asked again.

Yes.

OK.

Hernandez handed her another cup, this time with sodium pentobarbital. Carrasco swallowed. She grimaced.

Give me your hand, Hernndez murmured. I want to feel your suffering slip away. Dont worry; you will be asleep soon.

In the hours after Carrasco died, Hernndez handed himself in to the police and admitted he had aided his wifes death. He was released on bail the next day.

After Hernndez shared videos of his wife to the press, he became one of 2019s biggest news stories, splashed across broadsheets and tabloids, as he had predicted. I only did it to help our cause, he said. This year, Spain is consumed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but he still faces domestic abuse charges.

Yet, for as much as his life has changed outside his house, inside, nothing has. The living room is still full of books and paintings, many painted by her. The armchair where she used to sit lies empty. He can barely look at it now.

I will change the house only when euthanasia is decriminalized, he said. Thats when my grief will end.

Until then, he says, he will live uneasily with her absence. Alone.

Bremner is a special correspondent.

See the article here:
Condemnation, sympathy after man helps wife kill herself - Los Angeles Times

Dublin, May 14, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "COVID-19 Economic Impact Report: Cabinets" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The US cabinets industry is facing a number of challenges as it deals with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. How has the macroeconomic environment changed and what does it mean for the cabinets industry going forward?

This report looks at how the expected impact of the pandemic on the current macroeconomic environment in the US compares to other major events since 2000, including the bursting of technology bubble and 9/11 terrorist attack, and the 2007-2009 Great Recession. It also provides a historical view of industry sales since 2000, a look at how the industry is being currently impacted, and estimates for sales through 2024.

Product types include kitchen, bathroom, and those installed in other parts of a structure (e.g., store fixture and laundry and mudroom cabinets).

Cabinet markets include new residential, residential remodeling, new commercial, commercial remodeling, and nonconstruction (such as transportation and recreational vehicles).

Materials used in the construction of cabinets include lumber, engineered wood, metal, plastic, glass, and other materials.

Construction methods of cabinets include stock, semicustom, and custom.

Key Topics Covered:

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xipo8z

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

Read more here:
COVID-19 Economic Impact Report on the United States Cabinets Industry - GlobeNewswire

Bathroom remodel cost

Bathroom contractor pricing varies widely depending on the type and complexity of the bathroom remodeling project. Budgets are also impacted by complications, changing orders and increases in project scope, so homeowners need to completely understand pricing before any work begins.

Bathroom remodelers work on specific project deadlines, but their work speed is impacted by several factors.

Bathroom remodelers have different levels of expertise. General contractors and specialty contractors provide homeowners with different levels of service. When comparing brands like Bath Fitter vs. Re-Bath, its important to understand if they can do the type of remodel you need.

Most bathroom remodeling services can create any style of new bathroom, but some specialize in certain distinct styles. For example, some contractors might focus on modern designs, while others are experts on historical restorations.

Most states require licensing for bath remodeling general contractors, subcontractors, designers and other specialists. Avoid hiring unlicensed contractors.

Bathroom remodelers carry commercial or contractor insurance to cover any accidents and problems that may occur during the remodeling project.

To avoid any mistakes or misunderstandings, stay in communication with your bathroom remodeling contractor throughout the duration of the remodeling project.

Read the rest here:
Best Bathroom Remodeling Contractors | ConsumerAffairs

Renovations of any kind are a daunting process. But when it comes to the batha space that needs to be both hyper-functional and serene, practical and, ideally, a little bit luxethe stakes somehow seem higher. There are a million decisions to be made along the way, from mirror to groutand the price tag can be surprising. What to know before you begin? Take our advice:

When youre functioning as the general contractoror even working with a general contractoryou have to spell out every part of the plan, and never assume everyone is up to speed, say the mother-daughter team behind Matriarchy Build inHow to Avoid Rookie Remodeling Mistakes. Someone we know had a contractor demo the wrong bath, they add.

Think of renovations like surgery: to avoid getting the wrong knee replaced, make surethen make sure again, then again, then one final timethat the proper knee (or bathroom) is marked and agreed upon.

Think you can remodel your bathroom head to toe for a couple thousand dollars? We hate to tell you: the average cost of a bathroom remodel was $11,364 in 2016, according to the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA). A basic, low-grade renovation with less expensive materials or smaller swaps could run from $1,500 to $5,000, while a top-of-the-line, tip-to-toe renovation could run up to $23,000.

NKBA estimates that, broken down, most of this cost comes from fixtures and plumbing (about 29 percent), followed by counters and surfaces (21 percent), labor (20 percent), and cabinetry and hardware (16 percent). Keep in mind: they advise that, all told, your bathroom project should cost no more than 5 to 10 percent of your homes value.

You may be tempted to upgrade your bathroom with a dramatic freestanding bath. But it might not be the most practical choice going forward, particularly if youre petite, hate cleaning, have an old rickety house, like to take long baths, or take more showers than baths. Read more about the merits of built-in baths (and showers) versus freestanding options in10 Things Nobody Tells You About Clawfoot Bathtubs, as well as inRemodeling 101: Romance in the Bath: Built-In vs. Freestanding Bathtubs.

Dont think you can install a few lights and call it a day: because bathrooms are sometimes small and/or dark and filled with mirrors (which complicates how light bounces around), lighting requires careful thought and placement. The simplest way to light a bath is a single diffuse light in the center of the ceiling. Have a bathroom thats already pretty bright? A pair of wall sconces should be sufficient. Thinking about ceiling-inset downlights? Place with care: avoid installing directly over light-colored countertops (since those will reflect the lights), and place close to the wall over a vanity to maximize light when looking in the mirror. And if you spend a lot of time applying makeup, consider vertical fluorescent light fixtures on either side of the mirror. For more pro tips, seeRemodeling 101: How to Install Flattering Lighting in the Bathroom.

You dont want to get to the end of a renovation and realize youve forgotten to consider the outlets. Think of these outlet errors: you have to plug your hairdryer in across the room, and cant see yourself in the mirror from there. Or, youd like to keep your electric toothbrush charging at all times, but neglected to install an outlet in the medicine cabinet. Or, you share your bathroom with your spouse, but only installed an outlet on one side of the vanity. To avoid these mistakes, readRemodeling 101: Where to Locate Electrical Outlets, Bath Edition.

Forget the endless stacks of tile samples your contractor will show you: you need only remember a few key varieties. The types of tile that are particularly hardy, long-wearing, and timeless in the bathin shower stalls, on floors, and on wallsare porcelain, glass, natural stone, cement, and, of course, subway tile (a type of ceramic tile so popular were counting it in its own category). The options become a lot simpler once you whittle down to these time-tested options; then choose a color and a shape and go from there.

(Need help sourcing subway tile? See7 Favorite Architect-Approved Sources for Subway Tile. And read more about timeless tile options inRemodeling 101: A Guide to the Only 7 Types of Tile You Need to Know.)

Grout may be an afterthought in the scheme of your whole remodel: its a small, andas Meredith points out in Remodeling 101: How to Choose the Right Tile Groutunsexy element of the bath. But, she adds, its hugely important: It seals out dirt and water, compensates for small size differences between individual tiles, and firms up the structural integrity of an installation.

How to choose the right grout for your bath? Answer this series of questions: Do you want the grout to stand out, or blend into the tile? Is the grout in a high splash zone, or a fairly dry place? (If itll be getting wet a lot, as in a shower stall, opt for synthetic grout; go for cementitious grout everywhere else). Will dirty grout drive you crazy? (If so, avoid white.)

See more considerations inRemodeling 101: How to Choose the Right Tile Grout; then learn how to keep it looking new inEverything You Always Wanted to Know About Grout and Caulk (but Were Afraid to Ask).

Toilets are not one size fits all: if you have a small space, consider a petite toilet (see 10 Easy Pieces: Compact Toilets). Or, opt for a traditional or modern floor-standing toilet, water-conserving toilet, or wall-mounted toilet.

So much of creating a bathroom that feels both serene and well-functioning comes down to good storage. Be sure to look for storage opportunitieseven small, simple oneswhen drawing up your plans, to make them feel integrated and not added-on. For example, architect Malcolm Davis says: I like to place a couple of tall shallow cabinets hidden in a stud bay. You dont need deep shelf storage; a shallow shelf can store a lot. I like to put a recess in the shower and I try and integrate towel bars to feel built in. Read more about his tips inExpert Advice: 10 Essential Tips for Designing the Bathroom, and see 10 Things Nobody Tells You About Bathroom Storage over on The Organized Home.

Maybe youve moved into a new house and cant stand the tile in the bathroom, but dont have the budget to replace it completely. Or maybe youre renting andcant remodel (if you want your security deposit back, that is). The good news is you might not have to demo everything and start fresh. If its the tile you want to upgrade, consider tile refinishing, like blogger Athena Calderone did inBefore/After: A Perfectionists $1,000 Bathroom Overhaul in Brooklyn. Or swap out a few basic fixtures (lights, faucets) for a big impact, as inExpert Advice: 10 Tips for Transforming a Rental Bath.

More inside intel on remodeling projects and materials, large and small:

Continued here:
10 Things Nobody Tells You About Renovating Your Bathroom

Tom Acitelli -- Boston.com correspondent and Christopher Gavin --- Boston.com staff

May 12, 2020 10:39 am

Windson Honorato is the owner and operations manager for Tewksbury-based JC General Contracting & Cleaning. Honorato said his firm has been taking as many precautions as possible on home improvement jobs since the pandemic hit, including using personal protective equipment such as glasses, masks, and gloves and cleaning spaces and tools regularly.

It seems as though we cant protect ourselves enough, Honorato said via e-mail in early May. Well get phone calls almost every week from colleagues or friends in the business saying that they caught the virus or someone in their company did. Keeping the crew and the clients safe has never been a bigger priority, and its also never been so hard.

Still contractors have continued to take on home renovation and remodeling projects during the pandemic, but not without extensive precautions aimed at protecting their workers and clients and limiting their legal liability.

The City of Boston allows residential construction projects in dwellings with no more than three units, and the statehas issued guidelines encouraging social distancing and local authorities oversight of such projects.

On May 5, officials said the city will incrementally expand the categories of allowed construction projects in the coming weeks.

On May 18, essential construction may resume for permitted projects for hospitals and public schools, roads and utilities, and open-air and outdoor work that have filed a COVID-19 safety plan and are positioned to carry it out. Work on larger developments with safety plans will be allowed to recommence on May 26.

The precautionary steps contractors and subcontractors are taking are a necessary part of salvaging whatever business remains. As with so much else in the region, the pandemic disrupted the home improvement work that had flowed so steadily in a hot real estate market.

Spending on remodeling within the regions owner-occupied housing stock is projected to decline 1.1 percent overall through the end of 2020, according to the Remodeling Futures Program at Harvards Joint Center for Housing Studies. Thats due entirely to the pandemic; the center had predicted an increase in remodeling spending regionally by the same percentage before the novel coronavirus hit.

The workload has dropped dramatically, according to Ray Yehoshua, owner of Boston-based Bay State Refinishing and Remodeling. He said customers have asked to postpone jobs either because of changes in their personal finances, coronavirus concerns, or both.

Yehoshua said the precautions his firm takes now are aimed at easing those concerns and landing jobs and that those steps not only include personal protection equipment and social distancing on-site, but estimates via video when possible.

That is one of the main goals for contractors and subcontractors doing in-house work now: minimizing contact. Who can cross or climb where and when, and when should jobs start and wrap on a given day?

These are the things that people are thinking about in trying to minimize contact, said Glenn Kingsbury, executive manager ofthe Boston chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association, which includes more than 100 member firms. He said what little work there is for the associations members comes from smaller projects, as a lot of work on larger ones has ceased due to pandemic-related construction moratoriums.

Protecting themselves from legal action is also a factor.

Contractors have always been legally liable for things such as health and safety on the job, not the property owners, said David Fine, a partner at Mirick OConnell, a law firm with offices in Boston. The pandemic has heightened that responsibility.

The liability they face is more of the same, but its all exacerbated, Fine said.

It is easier to take precautions with some projects than others, the contractors said. Larger rooms as opposed to smaller ones bathrooms, for example make it easier to maintain that social distance. And basement work is even easier, because contact with clients is less likely.

Really, though, its a constant challenge, they said.

On-site, keeping away from one another is quite impossible because many tasks have to be done in twos, Honorato said.

In the end, though, its that falloff in business that may be the main threat to Boston-area contractors (and a boon to homeowners looking for a deal down the road). Honorato said that hes been asked to quote quite a few projects in the past few weeks, including residential elevator installations and basement and bathroom remodels but doing them is a different matter.

Well most likely reach a season where few people have the money to start and finish a construction project, so the companies that can hang on long enough until those opportunities come will get a chance to bid the job, Honorato said. With the demand so low, the prices will have to drop quite a bit to a point of little to no profit, so well be working to hopefully keep the company alive until the economy starts to rise again.

Subscribe to the Globes free real estate newsletter our weekly digest on buying, selling, and design atpages.email.bostonglobe.com/AddressSignUp. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter@globehomes.

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Hurting, contractors are implementing coronavirus measures to protect their clients and themselves - Home Improvement, New Developments - Boston.com

Dublin, May 14, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "COVID-19 Economic Impact Report: Cabinets" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The US cabinets industry is facing a number of challenges as it deals with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. How has the macroeconomic environment changed and what does it mean for the cabinets industry going forward?

This report looks at how the expected impact of the pandemic on the current macroeconomic environment in the US compares to other major events since 2000, including the bursting of technology bubble and 9/11 terrorist attack, and the 2007-2009 Great Recession. It also provides a historical view of industry sales since 2000, a look at how the industry is being currently impacted, and estimates for sales through 2024.

Product types include kitchen, bathroom, and those installed in other parts of a structure (e.g., store fixture and laundry and mudroom cabinets).

Cabinet markets include new residential, residential remodeling, new commercial, commercial remodeling, and nonconstruction (such as transportation and recreational vehicles).

Materials used in the construction of cabinets include lumber, engineered wood, metal, plastic, glass, and other materials.

Construction methods of cabinets include stock, semicustom, and custom.

Key Topics Covered:

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xipo8z

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

More here:
COVID-19 Economic Impact Report on the United States Cabinets Industry - Yahoo Finance UK

I partnered with Home Depot on a DIY small bathroom remodel. This bath renovation included how to install a shower surround with tile, installing a toilet, new vanity and lighting. The shower tile job uses a custom hexagon mosaic set in an acrylic surround. #bathroom #remodel #renovation

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I acknowledge that The Home Depot is partnering with me to participate in this Delta UPstile Program (the Program). As a part of the Program, I am receiving compensation in the form of products and services, for the purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All expressed opinions and experiences are my own words. My post complies with the Word Of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics Code and applicable Federal Trade Commission guidelines.

See original here:
DIY Small Bathroom Remodel | Bath Renovation Project

We hope you like the products we recommend. Just so you are aware, Freshome may collect a share of sales from the links on this page.

Tired of your small, dark and uninspiring bathroom? Are you ready to finally give it an overhaul? Well, theres no better time to give your small bathroom a fresh look. Small bathroom design is finally stepping out of the cookie-cutter bathtub, sink cabinet, mirror and toilet combination.

The latest small bathroom design ideas are fresh and revolutionary, rethinking what we all expect a bathroom design to look like. Wall-mounted toilets and sinks defy gravity. Cabinet doors are gone. Bold texture and patterns take over a small bathroom space. Get ready to break some rules and open your mind to what your small bathroom should look like with the following nine concepts.

The first small bathroom design idea for 2017 is a big one: you really dont need more storage, just a more minimalist attitude! Think about this one for a minute. Those large vanities with the deep cabinet space under the sink are really an inefficient use of space. Things get lost at the back of the cabinet. And the scale takes up so much real estate in your small bathroom design that your bathroom ends up looking smaller. So how do you solve the issue?

Shop These Products Now: Washer Sink Faucet Mirror Floating Sink

Once you clear clutter and replace the oversized bathroom vanity with something more minimalist, think of all the useful things you can do with the space. Like adding an all-in-one washer and dryer. Or creating a vanity space.

Shop These Products Now: Towel Bar Sink Faucet Mirror

Some of the most expensive items in a bathroom design are the fixtures, tile and finishes. Since youre working with a smaller space, you need less. Its time to break out of thinking that a small bathroom isnt worth the money. Its time to splurge on making your small bathroom design look like a million bucks! Some ways to add more luxury on a little less budget include:

Heres a small bathroom design tip that may not sit well with traditionalists: tear out the bathtub and add a modern walk-in shower surrounded by seamless glass. Its a great way to save tons of space in your small bathroom. A seamless glass door may be more expensive than a shower curtain, but will definitely be more durable. Not to mention, it will open up the space and add value to your home.

Not ready to give up on the bathtub? You can still add a seamless glass shower or tub enclosure.

Shop These Products Now: Bathroom Tiles Sink Faucet Towels

Most designers tell you that dark colors or busy patterns are not a good idea in a small space. Think again. Strong patterns and textures add depth and play to a space, creating the illusion of more size and life.

Here are some of our favorite tile patterns and textures for your small bathroom

Shop These Products Now: Towel Bar Wall Mount Shelf Towel Holder

The small bathroom design keyword for 2017 and beyond is: floating. Float everything, including the toilet, from your walls. Its a great way to make cleaning easier, when you can access the floor below. Not to mention the space looks bigger, because our eye tends to judge space by analyzing the floor area. You also maximize valuable wall space, which is often left bare. And lets be honest, it looks pretty fresh and cool!

Its time to tear up the walls (or add new ones) for cubbies. The inset wall cubby is an ingenious way to add integrated storage to a small bathroom without sacrificing space. Its also known as an alcove,niche or recessed niche.

Behind bathroom walls, between the studs, is just enough of a gap to create a useful cubby. And nowadays, you can even buy a DIY tile-ready niche at Lowes.

Dont want to tear up the walls? Find new ways to add cubbies to your small bathroom, by adding a shelf, wall mounting a floating cubby shelf or choosing a cabinet with open shelves to store extra items, like the bathroom below.

Mirrors do an incredible job at creating the illusion of more space. Want to add more space to your small bathroom design? Then add more mirrors, like the inspiration images above.

An all-white bathroom does feel brighter and lighter, but it can look a little cold or lack the depth your eye registers as space. Adding black to your bathroom, in the form of black walls or a black-and-white tile design or a black ceiling adds the POW! your small bathroom is begging for.

Which one of these new small bathroom design trends are you ready to try?

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New & Exciting Small Bathroom Design Ideas | Freshome.com

Good bathroom design should elevate a utilitarian space into a place for rejuvenation and self-care. Outdated, cramped or oddly outfitted bathrooms can disrupt the daily personal hygiene activities that lead to wellness. If you find yourself getting in and out of your small bathroom as quickly as possible each morning, it could be time for a redesign.

As you begin your search for small bathroom design ideas, it might seem that decorators only cater to those with the expansive bathrooms normally featured in decor magazines and home renovation television shows. Dont be disheartened! If your bathroom is barely big enough to accommodate one petite person, rest assured that youre not alone. Design divas all over the internet have tackled the problem of cramped bathroom quarters.

Weve selected a variety of the best small bathroom decorations below. Even if you only have a modest space in which to work, you can find ways to open up space and create an aesthetically pleasing respite by applying some inspiration from this collection small bathroom designs. Youll find modern, retro and classic looks in an array of color schemes and mood themes. With a little help from these lovely small bathroom dcor ideas, even a tiny washroom can become your sanctuary.

This is a beautiful, modern design with touches of elegance. It is simple, with a dark grey color scheme and clean lines, but the marble countertops add charm. The wood trim around the white cabinets also adds texture and depth to the area. The bathroom doesnt feel small, especially with all of the innovatively designed storage options in and around the room.

Step into the luxury of a 4-star hotel with this bathroom design. Marble tiling in the tub brings culture into the small space. The marble tile floor follows the pattern of the tub and provides a consistency to the room in a striking way. The deep soaking tub features a rain shower and a hand-held faucet feature, which adds a touch of luxury to your daily routine.The open towel storage solution will let you showcase your fluffiest towels, and remind you of your last stay in a luxury hotel.

This solution is perfect for any person who loves retro-charm. A clawfoot tub provides old-school appeal and is the perfect place to soak or read. The exposed pipes of the pedestal sink complete the old-fashioned look. This bathroom may not look out into a garden, but with plenty of light colors, and elements of nature, it can transport you to your own secret garden.

This modern bathroom is perfect for an in-city loft or contemporary home. The concrete flooring and exposed wooden ceiling provide amazing textures to this simplistic bathroom. These simple elements are mimicked in the designs of the tub and sink, making the space look larger with a cohesive design. Linens on the sink, rug, and shower curtain bring a touch of softness to this industrial design.

This Victorian bathroom design brings the appeal of times gone by. A classic clawfoot tub and simple pedestal sink are contrasted by extravagant brass light fixtures. The sunny yellow and white color schemes are mimicked in the fixtures and linens of the room. A beautiful stained glass framed window brings in light while completing the charm of this old-fashioned bathroom.

Wood textures are on display in this modern bathroom. A ladder leaned against the wall above the toilet adds a practical storage solution, while bringing rustic, farmhouse elements into the room. These elements are imitated in the raised porcelain basin of the farmhouse sink and the wicker baskets that serve as storage solutions under the vanity.

The beach is brought indoors in this ocean-inspired design. Nautical inspired wainscoting lines the ceiling and walls, in an ocean themed blue and white color scheme. The White tile flooring with grainy accents is reminiscent of the sand. Copper fixtures pop against the lighter colors and add richness to the room.

This tiny bathroom packs a lot of style in a small space. The white colors make the room seems brighter and bigger. Crown molding is placed below the ceiling line, which draws attention upwards, and adds height to the room. Rustic wooden shelves add open storage solutions, and a simple, geometric pattern adds texture without cluttering the room.

The over-sized mirror plays a starring role in this bathroom design. With its expansive size, it reflects the bright colors of the room and gives a sense of spaciousness. The plain lines leave the space feeling simple and uncluttered. The sink brings an extra level of interest and acts as an accent piece to the space. Simple metal shelving acts as open storage, providing a simple, but a visually pleasing solution.

Weathered-wood paneling lines the walls and floors of this bathroom, adding exciting details to the space. Contrasted by the dark walls, the white features of this bathroom pop. The white, plain ceiling ensures that the space does not feel too dark or overwhelmed by the wood. The dramatic effects of this bathroom make it the perfect solution for anyone who wants their small space to make a big impression.

You can feel like a regular mermaid in this bathroom. Glittering blue tiles encompass the room, creating an ocean of blue. The mosaic is only minimally interrupted by shining metal and subdued white colors. The antique-inspired vanity is the ideal addition to the mermaids hideaway, and the gently curved faucet is suggestive of a mermaids tail.

This outdoor-inspired bathroom feels like a natural hideaway. The rock-lined shower features a rain-head faucet, making you feel like you are washing in a waterfall. Wood floors extend the natural feel. The sink and toilet are kept simple so they dont interrupt the motif. Potted plants, pillar candles, and lots of natural light perfect the organic character of the space.

If your bathroom is becoming a bit out-of-date, this bathroom solution is ideal. A fresh coat of paint and some hardware upgrades give this basic vanity a modern feel. Painting old lightening fixtures in uniform black updates their look without having to replace them completely. Adding industrially inspired shelves with metal whicker baskets brings the look together and draws your bathroom into this century.

Simple white marble and gentle light make this bathroom the perfect, calming area for your home. The spa-like shower provides you a choice of a rain or hand-held shower head. The uniform look inspires you to quiet your mind, with no signs of clutter or stress in sight. Natural, relaxing light makes the space feel larger.

Cute and pretty accents are the main draw of this classy design. A lovely clear display case makes storage into a statement. The vase-like lamp adds a surprising, and unique lightening element to the room. Potted lavender and a richly textured shower curtain complete this well-appointed space.

This adorable bathroom is perfect for people who love modernist designs but hate boring colors. Pops of bright blue shine through the tiled wall. A unique yellow desk lamp serves as a quirky vanity light. A round mirror adds to the fun design and a free floating pedestal sink gives the illusion of extra space. This design uses unconventional features to create a cohesive, modern, and fun bathroom.

Who says wallpaper is dead? Far from looking dates, this woodlands themed wallpaper adds lines to this bathroom that draws attention to its height, and makes the room seem larger. The simple, geometric sink and clean, white backsplash prevent the wallpaper from making the room look cluttered. The nature theme is continued in the wood flooring and the artwork accents.

This simplistic bathroom uses a monochromatic color scheme to blend shelving into the walls. The shelves allow fully displays of collections of shells in this design, adding to the nautical feeling of the room. This design, however, can be modified to showcase whatever treasures you love. The barebones clawfoot tub, copper pipes, and chair and basin add rustic charm to the space without detracting attention from the highlight shelves.

If stark colors are more your speed, this bathroom is for you. A concrete based shower with metal siding acts as a strong focus of this design. The dark textiles and colors give the space a powerful feel. The distressed wood cabinets also add drama to the area.

Comfortable brown linens contrast bright blue walls in this rich scheme. The light blue walls provide light, while the brown wood vanity and ladder add darker elements. Rich, fluffy towels, and wicker baskets provide warmth. A clear blue vase with woody blooms ties the two looks together.

This gorgeous design brings the peace and tranquility of the spa into your home bathroom. Cedar wrapped ceilings and walls bring warmth and the healing properties of nature. The simplistic, neat lines provide unity to the room and inspire calming thoughts. The high window and white tiles in the shower afford lots of light to the room and add another touch of nature.

This minimalist design is anything but boring. The simple, bright colored room is interrupted by a mosaic pattern of colors. The pattern extends from the bath wall to the vanity, to the floor, and even to the candle holders. The repeated pattern adds a level of interest to the standard design, elevating the standard scheme to a truly unique space.

This bathroom provides a gorgeous upgrade to a standard home feature: the medicine cabinet. Rather than hiding your things behind a bulky, ugly mirror, this bathroom adds glass and paneling to the medicine cabinet. Clear shelves, a glass window, and white paneling turn something homeowners usually hide into a featured piece.

This bathroom is the perfect way to wake up in the morning. An energizing, lime green wainscoting gets you up and going. The green color scheme is mimicked in the potted plants and the natural element is reflected in the wooden toilet seat cover. The green glow is kept from overwhelming the space through simple, white colors.

Elegant, but minimalistic, this design takes its color scheme from the marble countertops. Silver walls and white trim mimic the marble countertops through the room. white storage bins and a rich, carved vanity bring elegance to the forefront without sacrificing the streamlined design.

City apartments can have beautiful bathrooms too. The charcoal greys and black bins in this design give the room an urban feel. The white counters and subway tiled bath give light to the space, and an oval mirror lends length and makes the space seem larger.

This beautiful bathroom is inspired by nature. Pebble flooring is reminiscent of gently flowing rivers, a motif which is mimicked in the gorgeous, blue, mosaic tiles lining the shower. Dark brown accents provide a wooded feel to the room. While the white sloped ceiling draws the eye upward and bathes the room in light.

It doesnt take a fortune to revamp a space, even garage sales can be a source of inspiration and decor for your bathroom. Showcased in this design, garage sale finds can be repurposed and upcycled to provide charm in your bathroom. Old license plate are reimagined as decor, lending a rustic quality to the design. The is complemented by a garden ladder which has been remodeled for towel storage, and a hand-woven wicker basket that is given new life as a bathroom shelf.

This tiny space turns its back on convention and gains space in the process. By forgoing a curtain, the room doesnt feel as divided, and the space seems larger. The uniform tile extending from the floor to the back wall of the shower also provides unity and ties the space together.

This modern bathroom is breezy and light. Large, horizontal tiling draws attention to the width of the space and makes it seem more expansive. Likewise, the clean, geometric lines leave the space feeling simple, modern, and inviting.

This beautiful blue bathroom is flooded with natural light. With gorgeous, white Venetian blinds, light can enter the room without sacrificing privacy. A pop of green on crisp, bright valances brings an element of contrast to the blue. A weathered white vanity affords rustic charm to the room.

One of the first things that catch the eye in this design is the unique toilet placement. This design feature utilizes the natural depth of the tub, and makes sure not a square foot of space is wasted. However, there is much more to see in this design than just the commode. Beautiful pops of orange come through clean white fixtures and gray walls. Chrome fixtures grant a mid-century modern feel to this quirky bathroom.

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32 Small Bathroom Design Ideas for Every Taste - Homebnc

While COVID-19 has created problems worldwide, there still have been a few positive outcomes. For instance, this is a great time to go for a home remodel. There are plenty of remodeling companies ready to go the extra mile during this time.

Of course, you might be questioning if dealing with a home remodel is a good idea under the current circumstances. You have to weigh the pros against the cons. Its fair to say that it all depends on the stage of the remodel you are in.

More Organized Planning

This calm period would give you enough time to plan out the entire project more minutely. You can even visit showrooms or ask for a virtual tour or even hold a meeting with the designer via Zoom or/and FaceTime for home guidance.

Discounts and Discounts

Take advantage of the discounts offered by a number of remodeling companies at the moment to lower the cost of your project.

Make sure that you have the money to afford the project. It doesnt make any sense to get into borrowing, considering the possibility of an economic recession.

If you are in the process of renovating, the situation is very different. Since you already have the required resources with you, along with your plan, to back up the project, you are distinctly at an advantage.

You may face a few hurdles like falling short of a certain material for your home. Also, there is no guarantee if you are going to be able to procure the needed stuff in time, given the lockdown. The solution is to make your contractor order all the supplies right away.

This is the best stage to be in! Since you are already there, theres no reason to look back. Plus, you will have all you need for your project in your possession by now. And even if you go short, your order will be considered a priority as you may have already placed the order long back.

You may have to pay extra for building protection against the coronavirus. Alternatively, you may ask the remodeling company if they plan on providing their crew with all the necessary sanitizing equipment.

Besides, your contractor at this stage will try to finish the task as soon as possible. However, you need to make sure that all the desired precautions are in place to avoid the infection.

In the end, it all depends on the precautions that your remodeling company takes to combat the issue.

If you plan to visit their showroom, find out if all the frequently used items are being sanitized regularly. This applies to commonly used phones, work stations, doorknobs, light switches, computers, all bathroom fixtures and the likes of those. Aside from that, the office personnel should be expected to sanitize themselves regularly before and after interacting with people.

At the job site, plastic must be used to separate the job site from your home. The crew must wash their hands before entering the worksite, while exiting and after using the bathroom.

You should also learn if the remodeling company can provide its workers with Port-a-Jon for sites where there are no extra bathrooms available. Finally, ensure that a sanitization station is parked outside each clients home for the workers to use.

*This article is posted by and in partnership with Dulles Kitchen and Bath, a kitchen and bathroom remodeling store in Fairfax, VA.

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Should I Continue With My Home Remodeling Project Amid Pandemic? - The DC Post