 A Fresh Start
Bathroom remodeling
with nature in mind
by Mary Lance
photography
by Al Rendon
More and more homeowners are looking to their bathrooms as places not only to be efficient during the rush out the door to work, but as places to relax and rejuvenate. Bathroom remodeling often comes to mind when you’re thinking of selling your home or when your family needs change, but many people are now looking at remodeling as a way to renew more than the fixtures.
Remodeling the bathroom with nature in mind can create a space that’s mentally and physically soothing, as well as good to the environment and your pocketbook. Natural materials have a soothing effect on almost everyone. We connect to them in a basic way, as their textures and colors are familiar and comfortable, and they work together without effort. Cool colors like green, bark brown, blue, slate gray and indigo are calming, reminding us of meadows, trees, sky, water and mountains. The texture of stone, wood and natural fabrics connects to our essential selves.
Replacing water-wasting toilets and faucets with water-savers, trading worn, petroleum-heavy flooring and countertops for natural, renewable materials like teak, tile and stone, and refinishing instead of trashing some existing fixtures can transform your bathroom from a space that is only functional to one that is also beautiful, durable, restful and respectful to both Mother Nature and your budget.
With so many options from which to choose, taking just two important steps — getting a good design and replacing water-wasters with water-savers — can put you well on your way to your dream of a soothing, environmentally friendly bathroom escape.
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