Diary by ASID Professional Laura Birns
The first stages of the design process are always so exciting as all my ideas bubble to the surface. Kate and George have chosen a design that will require changing the footprint of their bathroom, and I am thrilled. It will make all the difference in the world. Kim said that it opens the room up. This is true; that bathroom is more than cozy and the ceilings are low. Bringing in as much natural light as possible is vital.
Now that the design is set, it is time to actually draw in all of the details. Thank goodness for CAD and Sketch-up! Gone are the days of hand-drafting – using computers really makes the process fly. Although Sketch-up makes rendering simple, I always go back and add in some hand-drawn details so the final product is personalized and doesn't look too mechanical or sterile.
I am so excited! I located some great flooring material. It is perfect for my clients. It is much softer than the usual hard surfaces chosen for bathrooms, and yet it wears like iron, can be used in wet locations, and is… in other words… perfect!!! Did I forget to mention that it looks fabulous too? I am a happy designer.
Choosing the sinks, toilets, and faucets is easy; a piece of iced chocolate cake really. My only dilemma now is deciding between paint or wall covering. I confess, I'm really a paint kind of person...
Actually there is one other cloudy spot in the clear skies of my design… those dang countertops! I’m baffled. It all comes back to that sound issue. There are plenty of options out there, but the majority of them will bounce the slightest noise around like a champion ping-pong player after a triple espresso. I’m just not sure what product to use. I do have a secret longing. It would be the perfect solution, but I’m not sure we can afford it. Have you guessed the material I’m pining for?
RECYCLED PAPER!!!!!
The only downside is that it’s only 3/4-inch thick, so that means we’ll have to add another material beneath it to give the 1.5-inch thickness I like unless I can come up with something else.
It’s all coming together design-wise with the ever-present evil that is our budget. Oh how I hate that word! Think of all the things we could accomplish if money were no object. I have to admit, it was a bit depressing when the contractor wished us all "good luck" in managing to stay within the guidelines. As with most projects, there’s a lot to specify with not a lot of money.
Time is the other factor in short supply. Right now we’re looking at a deadline between the holiday weekend and Rosh Hashanah. With all my other work, I’ll need a miracle. But I think I’ve been sent one: A design student wants to help me!