My thoughts are with everyone in Ukraine right now. 🇺🇦 Note to my fellow Canadians, the Canadian government is matching donations to the Canadian Red Cross up to 10 million dollars. Here's the link if you would like to donate: bit.ly/35bpq9y ❤
Ty so much for mentioning the people of Ukraine! My father and 3 uncles all served in WWII, in recent years Canada and the US have had much good fortune. So important to remember those who don't. You r a real class act - and funny too!
Thank you, It was a common sense suggestion that I’d venture most of us missed. 😝 I’m in the market for a new sectional & just ordered the sample fabrics.
It's a great tip! I'd even argue going as far as trying to purchase 1/4yd of final contenders if you own cats. I've seen soooo many couches, arm chairs, and HEADBOARDS on the curbside because people didn't consider the fact that they own cats who like to scratch. That's actually what we did when my mom decided what to reupholster the couch with. That's what I did when purchasing our sofa. The color didn't matter so I asked for discontinued colors of the same fabric type. Microfiber was the winner. Both cats could scratch at it to their heart's content and never poke their claws through it. Almost 6yrs and unless a cat was just laying on the sofa, you'd not know we own cats.
My MIL put a zero-entry floor in her shower (tub size) and uses a shower curtain. She keeps a shower stool in it, and can use her walker to get in without an edge to trip on. She built it this way when she was about 74, after her husband of 50+ years died. She’s 90 now, still in her own home, and that bathroom design was a smart move, especially when she had knee surgery and needed room to maneuver a wheelchair. Another idea for seniors who want to stay in their homes as long as possible, is to put a taller toilet in, so it’s easier for them to sit down and stand up. Also, a vanity with room underneath to roll a wheelchair up to is a plus.
I would suggest a video talking about senior friendly home, kitchen, and bath designs. Many ppl are caring for parents or are aging themselves. Thinking about old age related issues is vital before rehab or remodeling decisions are made. I was looking for retirement home for a year. I see a lot of homes in senior parks not senior friendly (tub no shower, narrow doorways, steep steps not able to install ramp, no place for grab bars by the toilet, short toilets, light fixtures not changing bulb friendly, flooring choices……). You will be amazed how many things to look out for when designing an age in place home.
I agree--that is a helpful idea. My parents are aging in-place and I'd like to help them update their home with tounches to make it easier to live in while still appealing to buuyers when they decide to downsize.
@@Nick_Lewis Not just for the elderly but a lot of us young people have chronic pain, limited mobility, etc. That's actually why I've ditched one set of shower doors and will be ditching the other. And really emphasizing longevity of design. The little black dress and accessorize with jewelry vs dropping massive coin on a statement dress that will be out of fashion in 3 weeks. Actually, I think it would be super cool to ask your audience what are priorities/helpful for those who are aging or limited mobility or hey... that ADHD topic that was brought up in your video with open shelving.
when I was taking some design engineering we called it universal design ( design s everybody could use the space ) short people , people with physical limitations , tall people , visely impaired people . The thing is it even helps out fully able bodied people .
Glad somebody finally commented on these. So often, home designers put form above function. Take the pedestal sinks for example. No place to put anything you are using (shaving cream, razor, hair dryer, etc). It would be like having a pedestal sink in your kitchen with no counter space. It doesn't work. I'd love to see Nick talk about impractical home designs that just don't work. Take the "privacy impossible" master bathroom that is open to the bedroom with no door. If one person needs to get up earlier than the other, the sounds of the shower, hair dryer, etc. will wake the other one up. OR, say a married couple who have kids. The only way a person can have privacy, is to lock the bedroom door, otherwise, the kids are likely to walk right into the bedroom/open bathroom while you are in the shower, which is usually clear glass! However, if you lock bedroom door, than your spouse cannot get into the bedroom. It's just stupid. Yes, having a big, open archway from the bedroom into the bathroom LOOKS nice, but it's impractical. Another current design trend that I hate, is the push for open concept. Yes, open concept is nice, when one room flows into another, but now the trend is just one big open room for the kitchen, living area and dining. This might be OK in an apartment, but in a home, it has a lot of drawbacks. For one, the kitchen is on display, so if it's a mess, everyone can see that as soon as they walk in the front door. Secondly, the noise being made in the kitchen, by dishwashers, blenders, food processors, etc., is all amplified into the living area, where someone might be watching TV. Not saying that the kitchen should be in a closed room with doors, but this new trend has it's drawbacks. I would rather see the kitchen around a corner, or adjacent to the living area, but not a part of it. Sorry for the rant.
Turns out not being able to afford trendy furniture or home renos is not necessarily a bad thing. Thanks Nick for making me content with my functional home.
Hello. Though I agree with you on the lack of trapped heat in completely open showers, I must defend their usefulness too. We intentionally left our primary bathroom shower open and curb-less because we planned our house for aging in place. Splashing is not a problem when the drainage slope is done correctly.
Shower rooms are very common where I live. They are so practical and easy to clean. It doesn't matter if the water gets everywhere since there isn't anything that can't get wet in the room. During winter when you can't wash anything outside, you can just do it in the shower room. You can even have two taps there if you want. Really practical for parents with small kids who can't yet shower on their own.
@@mandi3891 yesss I love the idea of shower rooms and Japanese style bathrooms! I would LOVE to have a Japanese style bathroom in my house. I love the idea that basically the whole room is truly designed to get wet. I feel like it’s so much more practical. And I am so into the aesthetic.
Our tiled shower isn’t really an open shower, but we elected not to get doors and use a curtain instead, based upon how hard it is to keep them clean and the cost of a custom sized door. Best decision ever!
I did that when we replaced carpet, I brought home samples and held them up to the dog to see which matched her tan fur the best. It worked great, I still cleaned weekly, it just didn't look awful between cleanings. Problem is now I have a German Shepherd with black fur. It shows up everywhere!
Hi, Nick, I really enjoy your videos, thanks for doing them! As a retired mansion housekeeper, I can tell you those “Half-glassed” shower “enclosures”, cause minimal water problems for their higher end owners. The housekeeper comes in daily (or nearly so) and squeegies/wipes everything clean and dry. Also, don’t worry about the “freezing cold” bathrooms having a need for a more complete enclosure of the showers- there’s heating in both the floors AND the shower walls, which will also tend to minimize the time involved subject to splashed standing water. Also, regarding heated floors, I would caution against natural white marble tiles on the floor adjacent to a toilet- the toilet wax seal is affected by the heat, and the wax migrates up through the (formerly) white marble, giving an unsavory yellowed surround to the pissoir. 🤗
You are spot on about the bathroom fixtures, Nick. It’s really important to be able to clean your sink properly, especially the grout. Many years ago I worked in an intensive care unit where we had a bad outbreak of Pseudomonas infection. This can be fatal. It transpired that the pseudomonas had set up shop in the grout around the porcelain sinks where we were washing our hands! The sinks were removed and replaced with self contained stainless steel sinks with no grout. Problem solved! And I absolutely agree with you on the hand washing. That said, I bought my first (Arts and Crafts, 1920) home partly because I fell in love with the pedestal sink in the bathroom. But this was one of those sinks with a wide shelf and an integrated soap tray.
My dad won't install vessel sinks for this reason. He was a plumber in a VA hospital for years and during that time they too replaced all their sinks with seamless units or undermounts in the breakrooms. He also immediately ripped out his wife's kitchen countertops when they married because they were tiled. YUCK. Thank goodness for the invention of mildew and mold resistant caulking and grout sealant or even tiling in showers would be horrifyingly disgusting.
Thanks for this. My son is immunosuppressed and had pseudomonas. They finally diagnosed and treated but it was hell for years. I love the one piece sink. Not a fan of undermount whatsoever. Another place for bacteria to breed as hardly anyone cleans there or knows they should.
Your comment about the cold open showers are SPOT on! As someone from Japan, where we usually have an insulated wet room for our shower and bath, just taking a shower in a typical western bathroom feels too cold to me. I can’t imagine taking a shower during winter in an open shower with a stone/tile floor 🥶
We do our shower rooms the same way in Finland! That's why I felt kind of weird about that point in the video, but I hadn't even considered that other places wouldn't have proper insulation for it. Not taking our mandated heated floors for granted again lol
American here who can answer this question; we usually put a small heater in the bathroom to deal with this (at least my household does). For the floor situation, I think most people put down some kind of rug or mat that needs to be cleaned regularly. Although, I think you guys, and everyone else whose culture has an insulated bathing room, have a much better idea.
@@peggedyourdad9560 but we also use bathroom specific rugs/mats and heaters (towel heaters nowadays but they used to just be normal heaters). Having a heater in the bathroom is mandatory at least in Finland, because it helps regulate moisture. This whole thing may feel wilder to me because i’m from such a cold country though
Re: half or no-glass showers - let's not kid ourselves that it's pure water that's splashing and spilling everywhere. It's *soapy* water which leaves visible splash marks everywhere. Who wants to deep clean 2/3 of the bathroom with the soap-scum remover every darn day?
I'm renting a place where the glass is even shorter than any he showed. I have to after every shower rinse half my bathroom and then squeegee it down. It's exhausting.
I have no shower glass/ curtains in my bathroom… yes, you will get your floor wet, I squeegee the floor down after shower. It only takes me about a minute- no soap scum problems ever and I have been doing this for 2+ years….. For me, it really isn’t a problem, and I have polished marble floors- no slipping from it. I’m considering redoing my primary bathroom as a wet room just like they have in many parts of the world where sq foot is tight-
We recently bought a condo with a half-door shower and thought it looked gorgeous at first. Until I noticed water coming down our spiral staircase while my mother was taking a shower on the second floor 🤦♀️
I'd LOVE to hear you talk about various European and Japanese decor features that are not often seen in the US and Canada. For example, bathrooms that have drains in the floor to drain excess shower water, and toilets with sinks on them that use the recycled hand-washing water to fill the toilet after flushing.
So true! One of the great things about a larger sofa is being able to curl up with a blanket and a good book--not possible on a curved sofa. I think these are best in public places, or maybe large homes with multiple living rooms.
We have a family granite, tile and terrazzo business that is 75 years old. We are building a new home. We will be putting stone vessel sinks in the bathrooms, but we don't have those tiny base sinks, they all have nice size bases that make more contact with the granite and unlike the bowl shaped ones, you can easily clean around the base. To keep them clean, we will be using clear silicone like you would around a drop in surface mounted cook top. You can't see it, but it does the job of allowing nothing to get under it. We will also have a free standing cast iron tub so it stays warm for a long time but we also designed our bathroom large enough to be able to clean around it. Oh I love this series you have created. I would love to send a couple of pictures of the house I designed and built 12 years ago. I have loved living in it every day. Thank you for all you do!! You are a breath of fresh air!
Spot on with these impractical items…when we first bought our home, I had a pedestal sink in my main bath which is also connected to the master bedroom through a separate door. It did not take long to realize how dysfunctional this bathroom was just because of the sink. Nowhere to put soap is only the beginning of the issue; no counter or storage for makeup, no place to sit a hairdryer or brush while getting ready! It was a damned disaster! Needless to say, we swapped out that “lovely” pedestal sink for a cabinet with drawers, doors, and a counter! Best decision EVER! I agree in a half bath this could be practical but NEVER in the main bath or master bath!!! Thank you for your videos🥰
Pedestal sinks aren't even practical in a half bath. We moved into our newly built home and immediately replaced the half bath pedestal with a vanity with drawers. It was annoying to buy a brand new home and then have to replace the bathroom sink but it was definitely the right choice. So much more practical and functional and dare I say more pretty.
I grew up with a 1920s pedestal sink that had a wide lip all around that was an effective shelf. The soap dish was on the wall above. Of course the bathroom was big enough that we had room for a little table next to it with a hamper underneath, and the "medicine cabinet" behind the mirror was actually a deep cabinet where we'd could costco-package sizes of toilet paper, as well as hair dryers, curling irons, sanitary supplies, etc. Used by four teenagers at once and we never had an issue with space. The sink with the ledge all around was very practical, but I couldn't find anything like it as an adult.
I moved from the US to the UK and I find pedestal sinks ubiquitous here and, as much as I think they are pretty, I really don't like them practically. In my first apartment it was under the window (no mirror above the sink), so I was able to stick my soap and toothbrush on the window ledge. In my current apartment, the pedestal sink does have a tiny bit of space on either side of the taps to put the soap and toothbrush, but I'm always afraid they'll fall as the space is slightly slanted (which makes sense to help any water go back into the basin). My plan is to get a little shelf to put above it till I can redo the bathroom. Another thing about UK bathrooms...no lightswitches (just a pull cord) and no plugs (except for a specific one for shavers that can't be used for anything else). Drives me nuts lol.
Yea I think they're not as bad in half bathrooms but they're still not good. Like I want to store my soap refill, extra toilet paper, and some feminine hygiene products in a half bath too. May not need a whole lot of storage but some is necessary so they really only work if there's a cabinet elsewhere... which is just taking up extra space and more surfaces to clean instead of a sink/ storage combo
When we bought our retirement home the downstairs full bathroom had an old, rough vanity. The upstairs powder room had a pedestal. My husband wanted to replace the downstairs vanity first, but I insisted on getting rid of the pedestal first.
As someone who has a small apartment with a curved couch, they're SUPER impractical when your space is limited. Thankfully I got rid of it and got a sofa that turns into a bed with storage. Best decision ever
Claw foot bath tubs look great. We had one growing up that I only realised was a claw foot tub has a adult when my Mum commented how hard they are to clean underneath. She had enclosed the tub which also had the added benefit of adding storage space.
I just love when you mention kids, it cracks me up every time because your opinions shine through a bit and I think we are on the same wavelength on that. "Grubby fingers" and "just wipe it on your toddler" too funny 😸👍🏽
I practically helped raise my brothers and sister until I was 14 and as a parent I can't stand grubby fingers ! My kids wash their hands right after eating and only eat in the dining room
Honestly better to just assume there will be kids involved. Even if it's just you, or everyone there is an adult, I guarantee there will still be the odd niece/nephew over often enough you want to make things at least somewhat kid proofed.
@@zackkelley2940 So basically, when figuring out the design layout, always pretend a small child will randomly spawn in your house. This is also excluding adults that act like small children, lol.
Those half showers? You're spot on! Stayed in a hotel with one of these, yep water obviously got out. The bathroom door was also see through. Total nightmare!
I was cringing on this one. If you stay over anywhere in the Balkan peninsula, typically you see wet room with a shower AND a toilet next to each other without any divider at all! Haha
You are not alone Nick making a mess in this half missing showers. Whoever thought that was a good idea must have someone else cleaning their water mess. Unfortunately in my house, that "someone else" is me! 😂
So obnoxious every day waking up to some kind of mess somehwere that I have to clean but I live alone, so that mess was made by me and has to get cleaned up by - u guessed it- me again. Horrendous existence XD
I always thought those minimal showers with just one screen would be more practical, as there is less glass to clean… I’d rather give the bathroom floor a quick mop than try to clean too many glass screens
I feel the same way about modern freestanding tubs as you do about vessel sinks. It’s the same thing! How do you keep the area where the tub meets the floor clean, especially behind the tub?
The only way to have them is to have 3’ of clearance around the whole thing. When I see them against walls, I just shudder. No way to clean around them.
Also they cool down so quickly and even when the water is still warm, anything above the water is chilly due to the air circulating. They take up too much room and I don’t want a tub bring the focal point if my bathroom.
i dont see the issue you all see there?? we put vessel sinks and a free standing tub in our bathroom & we moved in two years ago & no dirt or grime in neither of those cracks meeting the floor/countertops?! like i just vacuum around the tub & then use a flat mop to clean the floor. same on the sink countertop situation, just use a wet wipe to wipe the dust away on the counters? like it’s not a kitchen where sticky or greasy things get handled.. just water & dust here in the bathroom. idk 🤷🏻♀️
The thing about pedestal sinks is that they were invented at a time when under-sink storage wasn't necessary. In the late victorian and early 20th century when they were most popular, people still did their hair and makeup at a vanity in their bedrooms. Electric hairdryers and curling irons weren't a thing yet. So you just needed your soap, toothbrush, and razor, and you'd keep those in the built-in medicine cabinet behind the mirror. They'd also often have a built in ceramic soap dish on one side and toothbrush holder on the other. The ceramic ones can be really cute if you google 1920s bathrooms and I honestly don't think they'd mess of the aesthetic of these modern pedestal sink bathrooms. Anyway, being a relic of the past, I do agree they aren't very practical for modern bathrooms unless you have other storage built in to your bathroom for storing all that stuff.
@@misseselise3864 lmao I said electric. The first handheld household hairdryers came out in the 1920s and the electric curling iron wasn't invented until 1959. "Embarrassing for u."
*Sigh* there is always one. Just because you can google and find out when the first of said items were invented or made does not mean they were common in homes that quickly. Case in point: Wikipedia says the first automobile was a steam powered prototype in 1769. Cars would not be common for almost 200 years after that. Calm down.
I have seen bathrooms featured on _This Old House,_ and related shows, that were so small that a pedestal, or wall-mount, sink was the only practical solution. Yes, with integrated soap dish and a medicine cabinet. As for storage, I have never lived in a home without a linen closet, and I have seen cabinets above the toilet. Another solution are what I call hybrids where the sink is designed for a shallow cabinet underneath.
@@CornbreadOracle I quite like checking when different materials entered commercial usage for debunking other people's claims/mistakes sometimes. You know what's really annoying? People who act like they can't stand to hear one more fact that someone looked up cause they're just way cooler than everyone else.
Whether or not the open shower works depends on the design of the rest of the room. I have a tiny fully tiled bathroom with no shower walls at all. The whole room is basically a large shower that has a sink and a storage unit on wheels. The storage unit is in the far corner from the shower head so it doesn't get wet. The whole floor is sloped towards a drain in the center of the room so I don't need to worry about water going onto a part of the floor it's not supposed to because the whole room is designed to channel the water towards the drain. It's fantastic for cleaning, I can just roll my storage unit into the hall, close the door and hose down the whole room from the tops of the walls down - I actually use a long-handled car cleaning brush to scrub the whole room. It's also fantastic for accessibility, I have hip issues which mean lifting my foot over even a small lip can be painful and to wash below my knees I need to stretch and contort in odd ways that would have me hitting any walls if they were there. Because the room is tiny I don't get the problems with cold either.
That's smart :) I'd like to have something similar for my shower, but I need also a normal bathroom for all my stuff (my bathroom is my laundry room too)
I worked for a bath company in Germany. These one door showers can work and look stunning - The space has to be big enough - you nee about twice the size in every direction This is bigger than any cup (?) on the market so you use non-slip-tiles. Same floortiles as in the rest of the room or you can go for contrast. - The drainage is key, big diameter or elso you have flooding. - Position of the showerhead(s) is crucial, too. We built bathrooms that were fantastic and functional (very easy, to clean) , but I also talked a lot of customers out.
The open shower doors with no ledge on the floor are actually really accessible for people who need assistance showering. My parents renovated two bathrooms to put these in for my grandmother as she aged.
Yes! You can also do doors that go all the way down to the floor with no lip but with a plastic piece at the very bottom of the door that holds in the water as long as you don’t have major drainage issues. Makes it easy to walk (or roll) in but also encloses the space
My nan had her bathroom remodelled a few years ago into a fully accessible wet-room... And put a shower curtain around the shower. It might not have the look of a show bathroom that you'd find on Instagram or in the glosy magazines, but it is very practical for keeping the heat in. Though I guess shower curtains might be more common in the UK than in Canada or the States. One of those cultural differences that we don't even think about.
We do have shower curtains in Canada. I have one in my guest bathroom, which has the shower above the bathtub. I agree that open showers are designed for accessibility in a wet room. But the drain needs to be properly placed with the assumption that water can go anywhere.
KUDOS TO YOU!! I am an interior design educator, and I would love to thank you for explaining you actually need a place for your SOAP!! I am over the lack of function that you het with pedestal sinks and vessel bowls. You are the best on You Tube!!
Love this series! I also appreciate the idea of a future series of videos on what to look out for when adapting our homes due to age related or health issues at at any age. Very often, even experienced home decorators will send you to a medical supply store! Please use your talent and experience to help us continue to live as confortably and with style in our older years. I'm 5'1", 73 yrs old woman watching from the countryside in Paris France. I'm beginning to feel the urgency to make tasteful changes to accomodate my later years in safety. God bless us all and a heartfelt prayer for our brothers and sisters in Ukraine.
I did something similar when we were looking for new carpeting. I had a cat that vomited almost daily and it was usually on the carpet. Before we made the purchase, I got a larger sample of the carpet, took it home, and when my cat vomited I transferred the mess to the carpet sample. I wanted to make sure it was extremely easy to clean without ruining the pile. This way, I avoided buying a beautiful carpet that I couldn’t get animal stains out of. Worked like a charm.
How is your cat? My cat has been vomiting almost once a day and I'm worried (10 times over past 2 weeks) . She vomited up a hairball yesterday and hasn't done a vomit today so I'm hoping the problem is over.
Vomit is unlike other stains. My mom has a very fun rec room with red carpet. There are a couple of spots that have lost all their color due to baby vomit when my nephews were young.
@@em84c @Kizzabell The cat that vomited daily, Taco, passed away. 😥 I don't think the vomiting had anything to do with his passing, but who knows. I have another cat (we have three) that also vomits, but not daily. Mostly it's because she eats SOOOOO FAST so the others can't steal her food. I've just learned that every morning I need to do what we call the Vomit Walk. I have little 4 inch orange traffic cones and I walk around the house placing cones where I need to clean. The carpet cleans VERY easily, and the rest of the house is hardwood so no biggie. It sounds like yours is just bringing up hairballs, hopefully? Maybe brush her daily and also there's a hairball gel you give them that makes it easier for them to pass it in their number twos.
Everything you say about the vessel sinks is true! I bought a house with one in the powder room and it didn't take me long to replace it. Now I live in a house with lovely looking bathroom sink that is just as impractical: it is undermount but - the bowl is square not sloped and no matter how slow or fast you run the water, it spashes - I have to brush my teeth wearing a hand towel like a bib! So beware of some styles of undermount as well! And yes - those open showers are cold! As an addendum, I suggest you add the big flat rain style shower heads as impractical. Especially when they are mounted for 7 foot basketball players: by the time the water reaches the top of my 5'3" head it's luke warm! And you can't use them to rinse the shower/tub when you're done shivering.
We are on a hunt for a good sofa and I have piles of swatches, between that and my research, velvet repels fur the best. It still shows it, but it’s much much easier to clean off. And now my dog thinks I’m crazy because I’m rubbing her with fabric swatches lol.
yep, that's been the case for me and my 4 cats! The sofa saleslady had 3 of her own and basically only showed me swatches that would repel fur and discourage scratching. I settled on a nice, non-shiny velvet and am so happy with it. Don't even need the expensive pet attachment to vacuum all the fur off.
@@juliemorgan4323 from what I’ve learned, there are different types of velvet upholstery. For pets you need performance pet friendly fabrics. I feel your pain, I have chenille couch now and it’s a nightmare
You have listed all my pet peeves. I have a friend who is an architect & she has a vessel basin in her guest bathroom. It is artfully fitted on a slab of glass which sits on horizontal aluminum rods glued onto a wooden cabinet. Whenever I sleep over it is impossible not to splash water over the edge when washing my face. More than often than not there is a trace of black mould in the crevice where the vessel meets the glass. I cringe every time.
I need to defend the frameless glass shower panel, I have had them in 2 separate homes, the trick is to have a really big shower and to have the floor angled for the water to run off easily. I have a 7 year old that loves it and a 6'3" husband that also loves it. We don't have a problem with water splashing everywhere, our glass panel is 130cm wide which is big!
I had a vessel sink in the bathroom and it wasn’t difficult to clean at all. I loved it because I felt like the splash from washing was contained in the sink and didn’t get the countertop all wet. I also had a pedestal sink and that’s where I agree. But a slim little cabinet solved it pretty well.
I agree with you on the vessel sink, and I regret replacing it with the under-mount. Actually we are remodeling our new house and putting in a vessel sink in the master bath exactly because it’s the best for catching splashes.
I totally agree! I had a pedestial sink before our renovation and it was a nightmare to use and to clean as well. We bought a vessel sink instead and it's really easy to clean, gorgeous, and the water doesn't splash out of it at all. (And I have a kid)
The best shower we ever had was in a tiny bathroom in our cabin. Hubby gutted the whole thing, ripped out the standard tub/shower insert and rebuilt a tile surround shower. It had a half wall, tiled and a lipped threshold. No shower curtain and no glass to obsess over. Just wipe the tile quickly after the last shower each night and it was a breeze to keep clean. I loved it!
Thanks for making this video! I wish all interior designers would take this to heart. It makes me so frustrated when designers try to push design that’s simply impractical for life with kids, pets, etc.
I think the open shower thing is an accessibility thing. I know some of my family can't step over large shower steps, but also allows you to place a chair in the shower
I can see the reason for accessibility, yes. I think most of the examples here are for pure decorative reasons. My folks have an open shower in their main bathroom and the water gets everywhere necessitating two towels on the floor every shower.
You raise a good point. It seems one of the biggest barriers for the elderly to age in place is being able to bathe. If they have fallen and broken a hip, common among the elderly, they may need to use a stroller to go anywhere, including the shower.
Everyone of my friends are remodeling their bathrooms to put in a roll in shower to replace the old tubs. We did it 20 years ago and added backing for grab bars to the shower and toilet/bidet area. Why? We've all had to move our parents into expensive senior care, or become nursing care ourselves because they could no longer utilize the bathrooms in their homes. Proper pedestal sinks are easy to roll under and have space for products. Heated flooring takes care of the chill in the winter.
I think someone already commented something similar, but you can have roll in showers with just the "full length" glass sides. my mother in law has one, and put a shower curtain to the open end, so the water does not get everywhere, and keeps the chill out (I agree with Nick - the room will almost always be way colder than the water,and I find that son uncomfortable)
@@lithopheliax61x5 My roll in shower has a full length glass wall and a full glass door! After transferring to a shower seat, I just nudge my wheelchair out and the glass door gently swings shut. The shower is big enough to fit another person, if I need assistance, and has heat lamps and an exhaust fan directly above.
I really love the non-judgemental, educational attitude you take to these kinds of videos and that you're taking into account what works for some may not for others. For example, an open shower may not be practical for everyone but for me as a wheelchair user it's the difference between actually being able to access the shower or not. When done properly with a sloped floor or strip drain to keep the water in the shower, that is.
These are your best video series ever. Please keep making them. They make me feel good about my practical home decor choices, like having visible soap beside my sink.
For the shower without walls, it works nicely if you have a curtain. A friend of mine lived in a wheelchair-accessible studio. She had a very large bathroom and, in one corner, there was a 5×5 ft area dedicated to the shower. No ledge, but the floor was rather heavily slanted towards the drain. She had installed a curved rod to be able to have a shower curtain, so most of the splashing was contained. It was very easy to clean and so useful for wheelchair access. But also useful for the elderly who can't safely step up and into a shower. Also useful if assistance is needed. Also makes it easy to clean the bathroom floor: spray everything with the shower head and let it go down the shower drain.
I, 100%, agree on everything you have mentioned. As interior designers we have all came across this impractical features/ designs/ furniture pieces. Client might love it, we love the looks but it is our job to maybe give you something that meets your requirements and is still practical. It’s our job to explain to the client the pros and cons. Well said Nick!
The open shower is pretty nice for wheelchair users and older people if the floor slopes in the right way. For wheelchair users and older people it’s one less obstacle and potential fall risk, while still providing some splash control. And heated tiles are a great way to keep warm in a bathroom in general (big or small bathrooms).
Totally right on with vessel sinks! We had beautiful turquoise, translucent bowls. We installed them before having children, and since, had 5. The cleaning around the base wasnt actually too bad as long as you keep up with it, but our kids would yank on the side and that broke the seal and made them wobbly. Also, they were much higher than a regular sink so spitting toothpaste, even with a stool, was problematic. Pretty but very impractical!
The open showers in a large bathroom are cold probably, but when I stayed over at my in-laws' house they had small bathroom with no separation of the shower at all. Just a toilet, sink and a showerhead over a drain. The floor was tilted towards the drain so no matter where the water splashed, it would go down. The room was very well ventilated and also, since this is Europe, the house isn't made of cardboard and is very well insulated (we were there in September so we got some colder and warmer days to compare). And you know what? For my disabled ass, it was the best shower experience I ever had. I didn't have to worry about falling over, while getting in and out, the tiles were non-slip and I could hold on to many things including the towel rails while I showered. A++ for accessibility in that bathroom.
I fully agree about the open shower. I stayed at a vacation home that had a very large tiled shower enclosure. It wasn't even open and it was freezing. I've lived in some crazy places (having to use an outdoor shower in a northern CA winter) and it reminded me of that. I don't think shivering even with hot water running on you is an ideal experience. It made me miss my tiny shower enclosure at home (something I'd never thought I'd miss, haha!).
Yes! I watch makeover videos and designer tips videos. They are so impractical! I'm re-doing my house. There are 5 of us in this house. We need practical advice and items. Thank you 😊
I mostly agree with your take on the pedestal sinks except for one situation - when you are in a tiny bathroom. It allows for a much larget basin in a tiny space versus a vanity and countertop with undermount.
My last house had a teeny tiny bathroom that desperately needed to be renovated. I put in an old fashioned pedestal sink with a wide ledge around it & then put a small glass shelf above it, worked great in the space.
So true about the arc lamps! As someone who is also 6'1 & had an arc lamp for 5+ years, I can say that I have nearly knocked myself out countless times. You would think you'd get used to the spatial awareness and not bump your head, but some days you simply forget. It was a beautiful lamp, but I do not miss it.
We have both. A vessel sink and also an open shower with just one tiny glass wall. Our sink is fixed with silicone onto the countertop. So it‘s pretty easy to clean. And I totally love our shower. We had a very small shower before, with those overlapping solider doors and it was a noghtmare to clean them. The glass wall is so easy to clean, and we‘re not flooding our intire bathroom while taking a shower. And we have a rainshower head. I think the main issue is the drainaige hole. I guess ours in Germany are larger then in the US. And the floor needs to lean downwards to the drainaige hole too, so the water gets no other chance, then going down to this direction.
I'm in the UK and have both the open shower and vessel sink too... The shower splashes a little but I'm not cold until I get out of the shower. It's much easier to clean than the track from shower doors. We have no problems cleaning around the sink.
Thank you for this post! I love that you’re looking at the practical side of design, because most of us live in the real world. The no-shower-door thing hits close to home for me. We built a home with a “semi-custom” (read: not custom!) builder in Dallas Ft Worth, and literally every single primary bathroom has an open shower. No door! I fussed and fussed about how I thought it would be drafty and the water would splash all over the tile outside. I even looked into the standard sizes for open showers in order to keep the water contained, etc. The builder insisted no one has ever had an issue with it, and the shower length is built long enough to avoid those issues. The response I got was very “ok, little lady, don’t worry your pretty little head…” 🙄 They said they had to build it according to plan, and the wall “wouldn’t support” a shower door, blah blah blah. Well, we move in, and what do you know?? Drafty! Splashy! Water all over the floor. Just as little ol me suspected! I actually dread showers in our bathroom😞 And to add insult to injury, we have noticed other homes in our neighborhood that have been built after ours now have shower doors!!!! Ugh!
I wanted a vessel sink for my powder room so badly! I found a beautiful glass version on Wayfair, bought it…and then I thought about that little crack, too, and then worried about somebody chipping it. I found a gorgeous, faceted glass undermount sink that satified my longing. It’s green and sits in a figured, green onyx-topped brass washstand with brass, wall-mounted faucet and taps.
The flat I just bought has the half shower and it’s impossible to keep water in! Also I just bought an arc lamp and I love it cause it’s 220cm tall so even at 6’4 I don’t come anywhere near hitting my head on it :)
I had a shower made where you walk in at the skinny end instead of the wide end and has a very tiny lip. Water doesn't splash out since the head is at the other end. Also the shower handle is at the opening, so I don't have to get wet turning it on. I love it! I've had surgery on my knee so not having a big trip hazard due to big lip is another plus.
Brooklinen sheets are so worth it. I upgraded my sheets 5 years ago with Brooklinen’s Classic Percale and I sleep so well. I appreciate them every day. ❤
In my previous home, my master bath was super small; it had a pedestal sink, and after a year I had enough of the lack of space for toiletries and hair tools. So in my bath remodel, I purchased an old MCM lowboy chest and converted it to a vanity; it was beautiful with 3 large drawers for storage, plus a vanity on which I installed...a vessel sink. That thing looked like a huge salad bowl---better than the pedestal but washing my face was a pain. Then my shower remodel had a doorless shower; I chose this because I liked the aesthetics and the bathroom was small so it made the room feel larger. But oh boy was it chilly. I had to keep a portable heater in my bathroom year round, which did not fit the aesthetic I was going for. It was a gorgeous bathroom, much better than what it was when I originally purchased the home, but I learned pretty quickly the mistakes I made.
One item I've always thought was totally impractical is clocks and watches with no markings. You can't even tell what time it is, which the whole point of a clock. Also, I really dislike when they use rings for hand towels instead of bars. The towel never dries all the way and eventually you can't get the smell out even after it's laundered.
Im not too sure about the clocks. I use to wear watches a lot growing up, but with phones that became a thing of the past and to this day I can still tell the time based on the position of the needle, even if it is unmarked like Nick's clock in the back.
I'm with you on the towel rings. I have always disliked them and always had some sort of bar to hang hand towels. I'll usually hang my larger towels on a hanger so not too many are close together
@ Angela Simons: Yes, I agree on both points, can't abide those ridiculous clocks, just so annoying and ridiculously impractical, I really wonder who thought that was a good idea!!?
Thank you Nick for thinking about these things so I don't have to. ❤‼️ Really never liked vessel sinks. Just thinking about children brushing teeth and washing hands in one makes me crazy. I've always liked pedestal sinks however. When I redo our bathrooms, I'll make sure there's room for soap. 😁 The sink in my grandmother 's house from the 1910s had room for soap. I'll look for ones like it.
Going from a pedestal sink to a vessel sink, I’m installing. In my 1/2 bath. Not alot of traffic in this bath, not alot of storage needed. Finding the most beautiful one I can find, and placing it atop a thick piece of clear (slightly green-tinted) glass. Atop that, or to the side, will be another piece of narrower-profiled thick clear glass shelf, which will hold a few items for hand cleaning. It will save lots of space in a bathroom that’s small enough as it is, and most of all, it will look gorgeous. Doing demo right now, and went tile shopping, finding a beautiful large format 18” x 48” blue wall porcelain tile, and a equally beautiful white floor tile. Can’t wait to get started, thanks for your input.
I totally did that with fabric samples! Rubbed all of them on my dogs (they weren’t super into since I had like 20 samples 😂) also poured coffee on all of them see which ones did best. Picked a performance velvet. The morning after getting my sofa that I waited 5 months for, my toddler son had an accident. Wiped right up, no problem.
I usually agree with your design advice but I do love my vessel sink in my powder room. No, I don't have small kids and yes, I keep that crevice clean. That vessel sink has elevated ;) the look of this small space, making it a little jewel box where I can indulge riskier design decisions. Regarding pet-friendly fabrics, I ordered an extra yard of the light-colored material and now drape it over the sofa when my two Schnauzers lay on it. I just remove it when guests come over and the room looks chic and put together. Thanks for your videos, Nick.
When renovating our bathroom, we opted for an open shower stall in order to reduce the amount of glass we had to clean. I was concerned about water splashing out but we have honestly NEVER had any problems with it. Our bathroom is small so we haven’t had any issues with heat loss either and we’re in Minnesota. Heated floors help. I would definitely do it again.
We had an open stall in our bathroom growing up and also had the same experience. We never had issues with getting water everywhere either. I absolutely loved it and would also do it again!
Agree completely with you. Just installed it last year and the best decision I ever made. I guess you just have to ensure you have a heated floor that slopes gently to a proper drain. Totally practical decision as aging in place is a primary concern.
Nick, you are so cute and funny! You just crack me up!!! And........ I have a vessel sink in my master bath BUT the sink sits on a spacer, so clean up is not an issue, I promise!!!! And the bowl drains so quickly, it stays clean. I think I got the unicorn of vessel sinks. xoxoxo
Agree so much, as always! Those above-the-counter sinks also take up room on the counter because they bevel outwards.. and the thought of how gross they'd be to clean - EUGH! I also recently stayed somewhere with an open-shower concept and i was FREEZING during my shower and the entire bathroom floor was wet which made it impossible to do anything else in there afterwards.
we have two vessel sinks in our bathroom and i gotta say they are amazing! the easiest sinks to clean imo. there is no grime in that crack at all i mean it’s not a greasy/sticky kitchen - it’s in a bathroom 🤷🏻♀️ also you actually have a bit more counterspace with those than those built ins - cause the shallow part stands on the counter compared to the wide top on the built in ones ☺️
The showers in our house are open at one end and we have no problem with water. We have an unobtrusive linear drain at the opposite end to the opening. I love them, they look stunning and are easy to clean as there are no lips or edges to catch mould or dirt; nor are there doors to have to get behind to in order to clean the rest of the shower. Our glass is 2/3 of the wall with 1/3 open. We have no splashing issues despite both handheld and rain heads in each shower. There’s no issue of them being cold either. I think what you’re talking about are poorly designed showers. I personally hate shower curtains, I think they’re ugly, messy, often mouldy and hard to clean.
Lol. We have an open shower door, but it’s at the far end away from the shower head to keep water from splashing out of the back end, which was an issue before we remodeled our bathroom, and we still use a shower curtain for privacy. I will say, we are fans of the Japanese and Korean style bathrooms that can get completely wet and our bathroom is small, but I could absolutely see why someone might think it’s weird. 😂
That's the set up that was used in "the world's tiniest bathroom" at a hotel I stayed in once. Super practical and if I ever remodel I'm doing exactly that.
I once came home to a completely flooded apartment because my ex took a shower in one of those open showers (that one didn´t even have a lip, it was just a slight slope down toward the drain) and didn´t realize the drain was slightly clogged. Thank god we only had to stay there 3 months.
Nick you crack me up thanks for the laughs! Also building a house and love/appreciate that your video are making me think things through. I have put so much thought in to the kitchen and how I want it to be functional and look and the rest of the house I haven't really cared so I'm glad your videos have made me want to look back over those other parts of the house. Hopefully we get to start building this summer!
I have a very small bathroom, and I have a round bowl vessel sink on top of a floating vanity which itself has two drawer. It is great because it gives me more counter space around it so I can put down a hairdryer, small carry-on, etc. It never gets dirty under it where it joins the top because it's not close to the edge and has a vertical foot a bit under an inch high so even if water ran down the side it easy to access to wipe. I agree for other shapes I wouldn't recommend them. I also have an open shower with only a panel. It's great, and less glass to wash. It doesn't plash out at all and it's a small shower, I even have the towel rack on the opposite side of the shower head and it does not get splashed, even though I have a rain-shower head and handheld one.
I really wanted a full glass-screen shower to keep the other half of the bathroom dry, but I had to settle with half because I didn't have the budget 🤷🏻♀️ never saw it as beautiful or minimal. We live in a tropical climate so cold weather isn't a problem for us.
How refreshing, you've basically hit all of my pet peeves about design trends, the bowl sinks and how impractical many of them are to clean, the stupid pedestal sinks in a bathroom were you really need lots of storage (they were the first thing to go in 3 houses I've remodeled), those stupid arch lamps, tried one once... total disaster with a 6'3" husband lol. Was never tempted by a curved sofa simply because we've moved a lot and found that a 3 seat sofa and loveseat are the most versatile and can be configured in different ways wherever you land. Those open showers?... all very well if you live in L.A., but if you live in a cold climate I love the sauna aspect of a nice enclosed shower stall, warms you to the bone ;-). I remember falling in love with a white and beige striped cotton sofa which looked fantastic for about a month.... when the reality of a toddler, 2 preteens and a Labrador taught me how young and foolish I was! Nice to see a designer with a "Practical" streak who understands what it means to really live in and take care of a house with a family and critters... Bravo!
I have open showers with no lip. The showers are very practical, especially for older people or people with mobility issues as they are much safer and easier to access. They are a breeze to clean. The floor has to be designed with the correct fall so that the water runs straight to the drain. They are not draughty unless you have a cold and draughty bathroom.
Very good Nick. I find vessel sinks an annoyance, and particularly so when mounted on a standard height countertop. One's arms will hit against the sink especially during face washing. As well, the ability to successfully lift water in cupped hands is hindered. Open showers, I'm glad that you made people aware of temperature. I'd say open showers will lead to higher energy costs due to a need of overheating the entire lavatory. I think at a minimum they require heat lamps directly above the shower. I find myself thinking how much nicer our lives would be if the auto industry would hire you. Car interiors have looked awful for the at least the past ten years. They're either black or gray and if one is lucky to find a "beige interior" those are now 70% black anyway. Add to this, poor grades of leather or fabrics akin to running shoes, and carpeting that has become more like felt. Car interiors have become unattractive and unpleasant places to spend time.
@@katywolffis7678 I couldn't possibly agree with you more! Having been RV'ers I have a good grasp of what that industry has been building for the past ten or so years. As with car interiors, gone is color, and arrived are cheap leathers, with an overall lack of interiors generating any sense of pleasantry. Even the very high-end RVs have the just about the same story going on. I think what's happened is that art class is no longer being taught in grade and high schools. And mom's not in the home, or mom's forty-five and under, unable to help their children as my mom had. It seems that people under the age of about forty-five have no taste. I've witnessed adults that don't know their colors much beyond the secondary colors. The last example about six weeks ago was someone describing Baby Blue and showing a chip that was clearly Robin's Egg Blue. I've even heard Saphire Blue when the actual color was Peacock Blue. These are adults at a loss for basic color association. And I'm not a designer or someone working within the realm of color. As well, our country (USA) has had a complete fascination with the color black for years now. In the summertime I'm amazed by how many young people are dressed in black head-to-toe. They needless sweat horribly because they don't know they're a walking solar panel. It's sad to me that we use to have beautiful colors and fabrics that enhanced our lives and felt good to the touch, and what sells now is cheap black leather.
@@neliaferreira9983 I have the same problem. Pet Hair vacuum cleaner attachments can be helpful, but I always have to finish up with a masking tape lint roller. I became disgusted and now I stretch out large bath towels on the floor of the back seat area. The seat cover protects the seat, and the remaining hair falls onto the bath towels. When it's time, remove the bath towels gently! And shake them outdoors. For odors, wash anything doggie in a regular wash first without fabric softener, then rewash using a lot of white vinegar in place of detergent and use fabric softener for the final rinse. If possible, brush your pup before getting into the car.
We had a desk in the kitchen. Sounded like a good idea at the time: a workspace in a convenient location. NOPE!! Ended up being a big messy catch-all area in the main part of the house. It also took up too much room on the wall. We remodeled the kitchen, got rid of the desk and it opened up the room a lot more so traffic flow was clear. I have a new cabinet for office supplies such as stapler, stamps, envelopes, etc. Never again will I have a desk in the kitchen.
Thank you for your elegant design for regular people. You are are always classic and elegant. Are there any people in the entire world that are as inherently nice as Canadians?
I've been living in an apartment with those "half showers" and I don't know how you do it Nick 😂 bit in 3 years, the only time I had water over the lid is when the shower was clogged (not fun no matter if you have an open ore closed shower). Regarding temperature... let's just say that in Congo, it really doesn't matter, it's around 30°C all year round 😚😉
See now that makes sense to me! Jealous of your weather btw - here in Canada (where Nick is from) it fluctuates on average from -36 C to +36 C throughout the year 🙃🙃😬
Re: doorless showers. I first encountered them about 5 years ago when I traveled to England and Ireland and stayed at AirB&Bs that had them on shower-tub combinations. I found them annoying. Although I tried my best to be careful to avoid splashes it was always a mess outside the shower/tub area. I kept wondering how people showered there that they think it’s a good idea to have this set up. My guess is they mostly just used the shower hose and aim it directly at the body parts they are cleaning rather than stand under the shower to let a torrent of water pour over them… 🤷🏼♂️. IDK. I rather to stand under the shower so this doesn’t work for me.
![Blox Fruits Dragon Rework Update [Full Stream]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EqDAp8udhm0/mqdefault.jpg)
My thoughts are with everyone in Ukraine right now. 🇺🇦 Note to my fellow Canadians, the Canadian government is matching donations to the Canadian Red Cross up to 10 million dollars. Here's the link if you would like to donate: bit.ly/35bpq9y ❤
Yes prayers to all hope this will end very soon 🙏🙏
Thank you 🙏🏻
Ty so much for mentioning the people of Ukraine! My father and 3 uncles all served in WWII, in recent years Canada and the US have had much good fortune. So important to remember those who don't. You r a real class act - and funny too!
Thank you 🇺🇦🙏
❤❤❤
I'm so humbled that you took my suggestion to test fabrics on your pets. I also almost threw my laptop on the floor when you showed my post! Lol!
I’ve never thought of this, but this is genius. Thank you for the idea!
Thank you, It was a common sense suggestion that I’d venture most of us missed. 😝 I’m in the market for a new sectional & just ordered the sample fabrics.
Thanks for the tip Julie!
Completely irrelevant but you have the same last name as my husband's lol
It's a great tip! I'd even argue going as far as trying to purchase 1/4yd of final contenders if you own cats. I've seen soooo many couches, arm chairs, and HEADBOARDS on the curbside because people didn't consider the fact that they own cats who like to scratch. That's actually what we did when my mom decided what to reupholster the couch with. That's what I did when purchasing our sofa. The color didn't matter so I asked for discontinued colors of the same fabric type. Microfiber was the winner. Both cats could scratch at it to their heart's content and never poke their claws through it. Almost 6yrs and unless a cat was just laying on the sofa, you'd not know we own cats.
My MIL put a zero-entry floor in her shower (tub size) and uses a shower curtain. She keeps a shower stool in it, and can use her walker to get in without an edge to trip on. She built it this way when she was about 74, after her husband of 50+ years died. She’s 90 now, still in her own home, and that bathroom design was a smart move, especially when she had knee surgery and needed room to maneuver a wheelchair. Another idea for seniors who want to stay in their homes as long as possible, is to put a taller toilet in, so it’s easier for them to sit down and stand up. Also, a vanity with room underneath to roll a wheelchair up to is a plus.
I would suggest a video talking about senior friendly home, kitchen, and bath designs. Many ppl are caring for parents or are aging themselves. Thinking about old age related issues is vital before rehab or remodeling decisions are made. I was looking for retirement home for a year. I see a lot of homes in senior parks not senior friendly (tub no shower, narrow doorways, steep steps not able to install ramp, no place for grab bars by the toilet, short toilets, light fixtures not changing bulb friendly, flooring choices……). You will be amazed how many things to look out for when designing an age in place home.
That is on the calendar!
I agree--that is a helpful idea. My parents are aging in-place and I'd like to help them update their home with tounches to make it easier to live in while still appealing to buuyers when they decide to downsize.
so true, we all have ageing parents, and then we'll be getting old. my pet peeve about downlights is how hard they are to change, i hate them.
@@Nick_Lewis Not just for the elderly but a lot of us young people have chronic pain, limited mobility, etc. That's actually why I've ditched one set of shower doors and will be ditching the other. And really emphasizing longevity of design. The little black dress and accessorize with jewelry vs dropping massive coin on a statement dress that will be out of fashion in 3 weeks.
Actually, I think it would be super cool to ask your audience what are priorities/helpful for those who are aging or limited mobility or hey... that ADHD topic that was brought up in your video with open shelving.
when I was taking some design engineering we called it universal design ( design s everybody could use the space ) short people , people with physical limitations , tall people , visely impaired people . The thing is it even helps out fully able bodied people .
Glad somebody finally commented on these. So often, home designers put form above function. Take the pedestal sinks for example. No place to put anything you are using (shaving cream, razor, hair dryer, etc). It would be like having a pedestal sink in your kitchen with no counter space. It doesn't work. I'd love to see Nick talk about impractical home designs that just don't work. Take the "privacy impossible" master bathroom that is open to the bedroom with no door. If one person needs to get up earlier than the other, the sounds of the shower, hair dryer, etc. will wake the other one up. OR, say a married couple who have kids. The only way a person can have privacy, is to lock the bedroom door, otherwise, the kids are likely to walk right into the bedroom/open bathroom while you are in the shower, which is usually clear glass! However, if you lock bedroom door, than your spouse cannot get into the bedroom. It's just stupid. Yes, having a big, open archway from the bedroom into the bathroom LOOKS nice, but it's impractical. Another current design trend that I hate, is the push for open concept. Yes, open concept is nice, when one room flows into another, but now the trend is just one big open room for the kitchen, living area and dining. This might be OK in an apartment, but in a home, it has a lot of drawbacks. For one, the kitchen is on display, so if it's a mess, everyone can see that as soon as they walk in the front door. Secondly, the noise being made in the kitchen, by dishwashers, blenders, food processors, etc., is all amplified into the living area, where someone might be watching TV. Not saying that the kitchen should be in a closed room with doors, but this new trend has it's drawbacks. I would rather see the kitchen around a corner, or adjacent to the living area, but not a part of it. Sorry for the rant.
Turns out not being able to afford trendy furniture or home renos is not necessarily a bad thing. Thanks Nick for making me content with my functional home.
Well not everything has to be on trend all the time. That is why there are classics too.
Hello. Though I agree with you on the lack of trapped heat in completely open showers, I must defend their usefulness too. We intentionally left our primary bathroom shower open and curb-less because we planned our house for aging in place. Splashing is not a problem when the drainage slope is done correctly.
we did the exact same for the exact same reason & i wouldn’t want it any different 👌🏼
I am a housekeeper and I love open showers. They are so much easier to clean than infinity showers or tubs with sliding doors.
Shower rooms are very common where I live. They are so practical and easy to clean. It doesn't matter if the water gets everywhere since there isn't anything that can't get wet in the room. During winter when you can't wash anything outside, you can just do it in the shower room. You can even have two taps there if you want. Really practical for parents with small kids who can't yet shower on their own.
@@mandi3891 yesss I love the idea of shower rooms and Japanese style bathrooms! I would LOVE to have a Japanese style bathroom in my house. I love the idea that basically the whole room is truly designed to get wet. I feel like it’s so much more practical. And I am so into the aesthetic.
Our tiled shower isn’t really an open shower, but we elected not to get doors and use a curtain instead, based upon how hard it is to keep them clean and the cost of a custom sized door. Best decision ever!
I’ll never forget the clients that matched the colour of their sofa fabric to their dogs’ coats. Both brilliant and just a little eccentric.
I love this! 😂
I did that when we replaced carpet, I brought home samples and held them up to the dog to see which matched her tan fur the best. It worked great, I still cleaned weekly, it just didn't look awful between cleanings. Problem is now I have a German Shepherd with black fur. It shows up everywhere!
Eccentric? Kinda gross. Like who wants to sit on something and only then discover it's caked in slobber and dog hair? Clean it. Don't camouflage it!
@@Level1Hera Just between us, when your friends start calling you eccentric, that’s what they mean. 🤫
@@gary4760 haha!
Hi, Nick, I really enjoy your videos, thanks for doing them! As a retired mansion housekeeper, I can tell you those “Half-glassed” shower “enclosures”, cause minimal water problems for their higher end owners. The housekeeper comes in daily (or nearly so) and squeegies/wipes everything clean and dry. Also, don’t worry about the “freezing cold” bathrooms having a need for a more complete enclosure of the showers- there’s heating in both the floors AND the shower walls, which will also tend to minimize the time involved subject to splashed standing water. Also, regarding heated floors, I would caution against natural white marble tiles on the floor adjacent to a toilet- the toilet wax seal is affected by the heat, and the wax migrates up through the (formerly) white marble, giving an unsavory yellowed surround to the pissoir. 🤗
You are spot on about the bathroom fixtures, Nick. It’s really important to be able to clean your sink properly, especially the grout. Many years ago I worked in an intensive care unit where we had a bad outbreak of Pseudomonas infection. This can be fatal. It transpired that the pseudomonas had set up shop in the grout around the porcelain sinks where we were washing our hands! The sinks were removed and replaced with self contained stainless steel sinks with no grout. Problem solved! And I absolutely agree with you on the hand washing. That said, I bought my first (Arts and Crafts, 1920) home partly because I fell in love with the pedestal sink in the bathroom. But this was one of those sinks with a wide shelf and an integrated soap tray.
My dad won't install vessel sinks for this reason. He was a plumber in a VA hospital for years and during that time they too replaced all their sinks with seamless units or undermounts in the breakrooms. He also immediately ripped out his wife's kitchen countertops when they married because they were tiled. YUCK. Thank goodness for the invention of mildew and mold resistant caulking and grout sealant or even tiling in showers would be horrifyingly disgusting.
@@Chaotic_Pixie Tiled countertops are an abomination!
@@gerardacronin334 Hours to get the grout clean if you live in a dampish climate.
@@gerardacronin334 in my last rental it was tile kitchen countertops but the landlord had glossed them 😂 absolute s h ! t show 😂
Thanks for this. My son is immunosuppressed and had pseudomonas. They finally diagnosed and treated but it was hell for years. I love the one piece sink. Not a fan of undermount whatsoever. Another place for bacteria to breed as hardly anyone cleans there or knows they should.
Your comment about the cold open showers are SPOT on! As someone from Japan, where we usually have an insulated wet room for our shower and bath, just taking a shower in a typical western bathroom feels too cold to me. I can’t imagine taking a shower during winter in an open shower with a stone/tile floor 🥶
We do our shower rooms the same way in Finland! That's why I felt kind of weird about that point in the video, but I hadn't even considered that other places wouldn't have proper insulation for it. Not taking our mandated heated floors for granted again lol
American here who can answer this question; we usually put a small heater in the bathroom to deal with this (at least my household does). For the floor situation, I think most people put down some kind of rug or mat that needs to be cleaned regularly. Although, I think you guys, and everyone else whose culture has an insulated bathing room, have a much better idea.
@@peggedyourdad9560 but we also use bathroom specific rugs/mats and heaters (towel heaters nowadays but they used to just be normal heaters). Having a heater in the bathroom is mandatory at least in Finland, because it helps regulate moisture. This whole thing may feel wilder to me because i’m from such a cold country though
@@SesseTheWolf Ah, that’s interesting, I didn’t know that.
Re: half or no-glass showers - let's not kid ourselves that it's pure water that's splashing and spilling everywhere. It's *soapy* water which leaves visible splash marks everywhere. Who wants to deep clean 2/3 of the bathroom with the soap-scum remover every darn day?
We have a full glass shower and we never have to clean it. Would not want to have it any other way
I'm renting a place where the glass is even shorter than any he showed. I have to after every shower rinse half my bathroom and then squeegee it down. It's exhausting.
I have no shower glass/ curtains in my bathroom… yes, you will get your floor wet, I squeegee the floor down after shower. It only takes me about a minute- no soap scum problems ever and I have been doing this for 2+ years….. For me, it really isn’t a problem, and I have polished marble floors- no slipping from it. I’m considering redoing my primary bathroom as a wet room just like they have in many parts of the world where sq foot is tight-
Depends on where water is splashing!! And if new home what they are putting in..
We recently bought a condo with a half-door shower and thought it looked gorgeous at first. Until I noticed water coming down our spiral staircase while my mother was taking a shower on the second floor 🤦♀️
I'd LOVE to hear you talk about various European and Japanese decor features that are not often seen in the US and Canada. For example, bathrooms that have drains in the floor to drain excess shower water, and toilets with sinks on them that use the recycled hand-washing water to fill the toilet after flushing.
Another reason to avoid curved sofas - they don’t make comfy napping spots!
Yes,. I thought exactly that too!
you don't have enough thumb's ups
My thought too! 😂
So true! One of the great things about a larger sofa is being able to curl up with a blanket and a good book--not possible on a curved sofa. I think these are best in public places, or maybe large homes with multiple living rooms.
We have a family granite, tile and terrazzo business that is 75 years old. We are building a new home. We will be putting stone vessel sinks in the bathrooms, but we don't have those tiny base sinks, they all have nice size bases that make more contact with the granite and unlike the bowl shaped ones, you can easily clean around the base. To keep them clean, we will be using clear silicone like you would around a drop in surface mounted cook top. You can't see it, but it does the job of allowing nothing to get under it. We will also have a free standing cast iron tub so it stays warm for a long time but we also designed our bathroom large enough to be able to clean around it. Oh I love this series you have created. I would love to send a couple of pictures of the house I designed and built 12 years ago. I have loved living in it every day. Thank you for all you do!! You are a breath of fresh air!
Spot on with these impractical items…when we first bought our home, I had a pedestal sink in my main bath which is also connected to the master bedroom through a separate door. It did not take long to realize how dysfunctional this bathroom was just because of the sink. Nowhere to put soap is only the beginning of the issue; no counter or storage for makeup, no place to sit a hairdryer or brush while getting ready! It was a damned disaster! Needless to say, we swapped out that “lovely” pedestal sink for a cabinet with drawers, doors, and a counter! Best decision EVER! I agree in a half bath this could be practical but NEVER in the main bath or master bath!!! Thank you for your videos🥰
Pedestal sinks aren't even practical in a half bath. We moved into our newly built home and immediately replaced the half bath pedestal with a vanity with drawers. It was annoying to buy a brand new home and then have to replace the bathroom sink but it was definitely the right choice. So much more practical and functional and dare I say more pretty.
I grew up with a 1920s pedestal sink that had a wide lip all around that was an effective shelf. The soap dish was on the wall above. Of course the bathroom was big enough that we had room for a little table next to it with a hamper underneath, and the "medicine cabinet" behind the mirror was actually a deep cabinet where we'd could costco-package sizes of toilet paper, as well as hair dryers, curling irons, sanitary supplies, etc. Used by four teenagers at once and we never had an issue with space. The sink with the ledge all around was very practical, but I couldn't find anything like it as an adult.
I moved from the US to the UK and I find pedestal sinks ubiquitous here and, as much as I think they are pretty, I really don't like them practically. In my first apartment it was under the window (no mirror above the sink), so I was able to stick my soap and toothbrush on the window ledge. In my current apartment, the pedestal sink does have a tiny bit of space on either side of the taps to put the soap and toothbrush, but I'm always afraid they'll fall as the space is slightly slanted (which makes sense to help any water go back into the basin). My plan is to get a little shelf to put above it till I can redo the bathroom. Another thing about UK bathrooms...no lightswitches (just a pull cord) and no plugs (except for a specific one for shavers that can't be used for anything else). Drives me nuts lol.
Yea I think they're not as bad in half bathrooms but they're still not good. Like I want to store my soap refill, extra toilet paper, and some feminine hygiene products in a half bath too. May not need a whole lot of storage but some is necessary so they really only work if there's a cabinet elsewhere... which is just taking up extra space and more surfaces to clean instead of a sink/ storage combo
When we bought our retirement home the downstairs full bathroom had an old, rough vanity. The upstairs powder room had a pedestal. My husband wanted to replace the downstairs vanity first, but I insisted on getting rid of the pedestal first.
I love how real and unapologetic you are please make a video for contemporary minimalist window treatments thank you
As someone who has a small apartment with a curved couch, they're SUPER impractical when your space is limited. Thankfully I got rid of it and got a sofa that turns into a bed with storage. Best decision ever
Claw foot bath tubs look great. We had one growing up that I only realised was a claw foot tub has a adult when my Mum commented how hard they are to clean underneath. She had enclosed the tub which also had the added benefit of adding storage space.
I just love when you mention kids, it cracks me up every time because your opinions shine through a bit and I think we are on the same wavelength on that.
"Grubby fingers" and "just wipe it on your toddler" too funny 😸👍🏽
I practically helped raise my brothers and sister until I was 14 and as a parent I can't stand grubby fingers ! My kids wash their hands right after eating and only eat in the dining room
@@HosCreates same here!
Honestly better to just assume there will be kids involved. Even if it's just you, or everyone there is an adult, I guarantee there will still be the odd niece/nephew over often enough you want to make things at least somewhat kid proofed.
@@zackkelley2940 So basically, when figuring out the design layout, always pretend a small child will randomly spawn in your house. This is also excluding adults that act like small children, lol.
@@peggedyourdad9560 Quite. At some point it's gonna come up. Maybe not often but it will come up.
Those half showers? You're spot on! Stayed in a hotel with one of these, yep water obviously got out. The bathroom door was also see through. Total nightmare!
I was cringing on this one. If you stay over anywhere in the Balkan peninsula, typically you see wet room with a shower AND a toilet next to each other without any divider at all! Haha
Agreed on the half shower - yikes. They’re ridiculous.
The Luxor in Las Vegas has these in their guest rooms. Water gets EVERYWHERE.
You are not alone Nick making a mess in this half missing showers. Whoever thought that was a good idea must have someone else cleaning their water mess. Unfortunately in my house, that "someone else" is me! 😂
So obnoxious every day waking up to some kind of mess somehwere that I have to clean but I live alone, so that mess was made by me and has to get cleaned up by - u guessed it- me again. Horrendous existence XD
I always thought those were more practical for wheelchair users, idk
Hotels usually have open showers or shower doors to the floor. I have never not half flooded the entire bathroom.
@@elsa_ and for bathroom accidents,where you need to carry the wounded out
I always thought those minimal showers with just one screen would be more practical, as there is less glass to clean… I’d rather give the bathroom floor a quick mop than try to clean too many glass screens
I feel the same way about modern freestanding tubs as you do about vessel sinks. It’s the same thing! How do you keep the area where the tub meets the floor clean, especially behind the tub?
Free standing tubs are an irksome nuisance.
The only way to have them is to have 3’ of clearance around the whole thing. When I see them against walls, I just shudder. No way to clean around them.
Also they cool down so quickly and even when the water is still warm, anything above the water is chilly due to the air circulating. They take up too much room and I don’t want a tub bring the focal point if my bathroom.
i dont see the issue you all see there?? we put vessel sinks and a free standing tub in our bathroom & we moved in two years ago & no dirt or grime in neither of those cracks meeting the floor/countertops?! like i just vacuum around the tub & then use a flat mop to clean the floor. same on the sink countertop situation, just use a wet wipe to wipe the dust away on the counters?
like it’s not a kitchen where sticky or greasy things get handled.. just water & dust here in the bathroom. idk 🤷🏻♀️
@@Prairiebirdpottery shudder, wretch, look away....I'm with you!!!
The thing about pedestal sinks is that they were invented at a time when under-sink storage wasn't necessary. In the late victorian and early 20th century when they were most popular, people still did their hair and makeup at a vanity in their bedrooms. Electric hairdryers and curling irons weren't a thing yet. So you just needed your soap, toothbrush, and razor, and you'd keep those in the built-in medicine cabinet behind the mirror. They'd also often have a built in ceramic soap dish on one side and toothbrush holder on the other. The ceramic ones can be really cute if you google 1920s bathrooms and I honestly don't think they'd mess of the aesthetic of these modern pedestal sink bathrooms. Anyway, being a relic of the past, I do agree they aren't very practical for modern bathrooms unless you have other storage built in to your bathroom for storing all that stuff.
the first curling iron was made in 1866 & the first hairdryer was made in 1888. embarrassing for u.
@@misseselise3864 lmao I said electric. The first handheld household hairdryers came out in the 1920s and the electric curling iron wasn't invented until 1959. "Embarrassing for u."
*Sigh* there is always one. Just because you can google and find out when the first of said items were invented or made does not mean they were common in homes that quickly. Case in point: Wikipedia says the first automobile was a steam powered prototype in 1769. Cars would not be common for almost 200 years after that. Calm down.
I have seen bathrooms featured on _This Old House,_ and related shows, that were so small that a pedestal, or wall-mount, sink was the only practical solution. Yes, with integrated soap dish and a medicine cabinet. As for storage, I have never lived in a home without a linen closet, and I have seen cabinets above the toilet. Another solution are what I call hybrids where the sink is designed for a shallow cabinet underneath.
@@CornbreadOracle I quite like checking when different materials entered commercial usage for debunking other people's claims/mistakes sometimes. You know what's really annoying? People who act like they can't stand to hear one more fact that someone looked up cause they're just way cooler than everyone else.
I've had a shower with no glass or curtain and staying "heated" has never been an issue. And not having any curtain or glass to clean is AWESOME.
Literally laughed out loud when you suggested wiping fabric swatches on your fur babies and skin babies 😂
It makes me wish I could take my pets clothes shopping to find black pants that their hair will slide straight off!
@@JutaStokes Emamaco leggings are so soft and smooth pet hair does not stick to them!
I have a toddler. It's always usefull to wipe him down!
Whether or not the open shower works depends on the design of the rest of the room. I have a tiny fully tiled bathroom with no shower walls at all. The whole room is basically a large shower that has a sink and a storage unit on wheels. The storage unit is in the far corner from the shower head so it doesn't get wet. The whole floor is sloped towards a drain in the center of the room so I don't need to worry about water going onto a part of the floor it's not supposed to because the whole room is designed to channel the water towards the drain. It's fantastic for cleaning, I can just roll my storage unit into the hall, close the door and hose down the whole room from the tops of the walls down - I actually use a long-handled car cleaning brush to scrub the whole room. It's also fantastic for accessibility, I have hip issues which mean lifting my foot over even a small lip can be painful and to wash below my knees I need to stretch and contort in odd ways that would have me hitting any walls if they were there. Because the room is tiny I don't get the problems with cold either.
That's smart :) I'd like to have something similar for my shower, but I need also a normal bathroom for all my stuff (my bathroom is my laundry room too)
Oh, I have a very small bathroom (just a shower and a sink) and that might work for me as well! Thanks for the tip.
I worked for a bath company in Germany. These one door showers can work and look stunning
- The space has to be big enough - you nee about twice the size in every direction
This is bigger than any cup (?) on the market so you use non-slip-tiles.
Same floortiles as in the rest of the room or you can go for contrast.
- The drainage is key, big diameter or elso you have flooding.
- Position of the showerhead(s) is crucial, too.
We built bathrooms that were fantastic and functional (very easy, to clean) , but I also talked a lot of customers out.
Doing lord's work by pulling your clients away from bad ideas lol
Nick, you're just like me. I always see the cleaning challenges when deciding on decor, appliances, etc.
The open shower doors with no ledge on the floor are actually really accessible for people who need assistance showering. My parents renovated two bathrooms to put these in for my grandmother as she aged.
Yes! You can also do doors that go all the way down to the floor with no lip but with a plastic piece at the very bottom of the door that holds in the water as long as you don’t have major drainage issues. Makes it easy to walk (or roll) in but also encloses the space
Very good point!
My nan had her bathroom remodelled a few years ago into a fully accessible wet-room... And put a shower curtain around the shower. It might not have the look of a show bathroom that you'd find on Instagram or in the glosy magazines, but it is very practical for keeping the heat in.
Though I guess shower curtains might be more common in the UK than in Canada or the States. One of those cultural differences that we don't even think about.
We do have shower curtains in Canada. I have one in my guest bathroom, which has the shower above the bathtub. I agree that open showers are designed for accessibility in a wet room. But the drain needs to be properly placed with the assumption that water can go anywhere.
Absolutely! These are great if you need accessibility for a shower wheelchair or other mobility device. I’m considering one for my guest bathroom.
KUDOS TO YOU!! I am an interior design educator, and I would love to thank you for explaining you actually need a place for your SOAP!! I am over the lack of function that you het with pedestal sinks and vessel bowls. You are the best on You Tube!!
Love this series! I also appreciate the idea of a future series of videos on what to look out for when adapting our homes due to age related or health issues at at any age. Very often, even experienced home decorators will send you to a medical supply store! Please use your talent and experience to help us continue to live as confortably and with style in our older years. I'm 5'1", 73 yrs old woman watching from the countryside in Paris France. I'm beginning to feel the urgency to make tasteful changes to accomodate my later years in safety.
God bless us all and a heartfelt prayer for our brothers and sisters in Ukraine.
as soon as I saw the title of this video I knew I'd love it
I did something similar when we were looking for new carpeting. I had a cat that vomited almost daily and it was usually on the carpet. Before we made the purchase, I got a larger sample of the carpet, took it home, and when my cat vomited I transferred the mess to the carpet sample. I wanted to make sure it was extremely easy to clean without ruining the pile. This way, I avoided buying a beautiful carpet that I couldn’t get animal stains out of. Worked like a charm.
This is genius!
How is your cat? My cat has been vomiting almost once a day and I'm worried (10 times over past 2 weeks) . She vomited up a hairball yesterday and hasn't done a vomit today so I'm hoping the problem is over.
Vomit is unlike other stains. My mom has a very fun rec room with red carpet. There are a couple of spots that have lost all their color due to baby vomit when my nephews were young.
@@em84c @Kizzabell The cat that vomited daily, Taco, passed away. 😥 I don't think the vomiting had anything to do with his passing, but who knows. I have another cat (we have three) that also vomits, but not daily. Mostly it's because she eats SOOOOO FAST so the others can't steal her food. I've just learned that every morning I need to do what we call the Vomit Walk. I have little 4 inch orange traffic cones and I walk around the house placing cones where I need to clean. The carpet cleans VERY easily, and the rest of the house is hardwood so no biggie. It sounds like yours is just bringing up hairballs, hopefully? Maybe brush her daily and also there's a hairball gel you give them that makes it easier for them to pass it in their number twos.
@@peachypie2962 Thank you, Peachy Pie! I will tell my husband you said that because he thinks that I do such weird things!!!!!!
Everything you say about the vessel sinks is true! I bought a house with one in the powder room and it didn't take me long to replace it. Now I live in a house with lovely looking bathroom sink that is just as impractical: it is undermount but - the bowl is square not sloped and no matter how slow or fast you run the water, it spashes - I have to brush my teeth wearing a hand towel like a bib! So beware of some styles of undermount as well!
And yes - those open showers are cold! As an addendum, I suggest you add the big flat rain style shower heads as impractical. Especially when they are mounted for 7 foot basketball players: by the time the water reaches the top of my 5'3" head it's luke warm! And you can't use them to rinse the shower/tub when you're done shivering.
We are on a hunt for a good sofa and I have piles of swatches, between that and my research, velvet repels fur the best. It still shows it, but it’s much much easier to clean off. And now my dog thinks I’m crazy because I’m rubbing her with fabric swatches lol.
yep, that's been the case for me and my 4 cats! The sofa saleslady had 3 of her own and basically only showed me swatches that would repel fur and discourage scratching. I settled on a nice, non-shiny velvet and am so happy with it. Don't even need the expensive pet attachment to vacuum all the fur off.
@@sparklie962 awesome, thank you for sharing your experience!
I have two cats and have had a similar experience with my velvet-y couch! They still scratch but it hides the marks well too
Velvet is terrible! All my Newfoundland’s fur sticks to the couch. I have brush it weekly!
@@juliemorgan4323 from what I’ve learned, there are different types of velvet upholstery. For pets you need performance pet friendly fabrics. I feel your pain, I have chenille couch now and it’s a nightmare
You have listed all my pet peeves. I have a friend who is an architect & she has a vessel basin in her guest bathroom. It is artfully fitted on a slab of glass which sits on horizontal aluminum rods glued onto a wooden cabinet. Whenever I sleep over it is impossible not to splash water over the edge when washing my face. More than often than not there is a trace of black mould in the crevice where the vessel meets the glass. I cringe every time.
I raised 5 children and 2 dogs on leather until I was finally became an empty nester. Now I have the velvet sofa I always wanted. ❤
Nick, I just love your personality. And your facial expressions crack me up sometimes! Your look of disgust about the impractical sink 😂😂😂
Greetings to everyone from Europe!
I need to defend the frameless glass shower panel, I have had them in 2 separate homes, the trick is to have a really big shower and to have the floor angled for the water to run off easily. I have a 7 year old that loves it and a 6'3" husband that also loves it. We don't have a problem with water splashing everywhere, our glass panel is 130cm wide which is big!
I had a vessel sink in the bathroom and it wasn’t difficult to clean at all. I loved it because I felt like the splash from washing was contained in the sink and didn’t get the countertop all wet. I also had a pedestal sink and that’s where I agree. But a slim little cabinet solved it pretty well.
I agree with you on the vessel sink, and I regret replacing it with the under-mount. Actually we are remodeling our new house and putting in a vessel sink in the master bath exactly because it’s the best for catching splashes.
I think it would depend on the angle of the curve.
I totally agree! I had a pedestial sink before our renovation and it was a nightmare to use and to clean as well. We bought a vessel sink instead and it's really easy to clean, gorgeous, and the water doesn't splash out of it at all. (And I have a kid)
How do you get your head in it for hair washing?
i agree with you on the vessel sinks! they are actually the easiest sinks to clean in my opinion!
The best shower we ever had was in a tiny bathroom in our cabin. Hubby gutted the whole thing, ripped out the standard tub/shower insert and rebuilt a tile surround shower. It had a half wall, tiled and a lipped threshold. No shower curtain and no glass to obsess over. Just wipe the tile quickly after the last shower each night and it was a breeze to keep clean. I loved it!
Thanks for making this video! I wish all interior designers would take this to heart. It makes me so frustrated when designers try to push design that’s simply impractical for life with kids, pets, etc.
I think the open shower thing is an accessibility thing. I know some of my family can't step over large shower steps, but also allows you to place a chair in the shower
They're referring to having no glass/curtain, not no bath
I can see the reason for accessibility, yes. I think most of the examples here are for pure decorative reasons. My folks have an open shower in their main bathroom and the water gets everywhere necessitating two towels on the floor every shower.
@@mymasmith7848 They are not so great if you want privacy, either.
You raise a good point. It seems one of the biggest barriers for the elderly to age in place is being able to bathe. If they have fallen and broken a hip, common among the elderly, they may need to use a stroller to go anywhere, including the shower.
you can still have a second door….
Everyone of my friends are remodeling their bathrooms to put in a roll in shower to replace the old tubs. We did it 20 years ago and added backing for grab bars to the shower and toilet/bidet area. Why? We've all had to move our parents into expensive senior care, or become nursing care ourselves because they could no longer utilize the bathrooms in their homes. Proper pedestal sinks are easy to roll under and have space for products. Heated flooring takes care of the chill in the winter.
I think someone already commented something similar, but you can have roll in showers with just the "full length" glass sides. my mother in law has one, and put a shower curtain to the open end, so the water does not get everywhere, and keeps the chill out (I agree with Nick - the room will almost always be way colder than the water,and I find that son uncomfortable)
I must be dense because I've no idea what a roll in shower is. 🤷♀️
@@Beruthiel45 it's a wheelchair accessible shower. Hence "roll in"
@@lithopheliax61x5 My roll in shower has a full length glass wall and a full glass door! After transferring to a shower seat, I just nudge my wheelchair out and the glass door gently swings shut. The shower is big enough to fit another person, if I need assistance, and has heat lamps and an exhaust fan directly above.
I really love the non-judgemental, educational attitude you take to these kinds of videos and that you're taking into account what works for some may not for others. For example, an open shower may not be practical for everyone but for me as a wheelchair user it's the difference between actually being able to access the shower or not. When done properly with a sloped floor or strip drain to keep the water in the shower, that is.
These are your best video series ever. Please keep making them. They make me feel good about my practical home decor choices, like having visible soap beside my sink.
For the shower without walls, it works nicely if you have a curtain. A friend of mine lived in a wheelchair-accessible studio. She had a very large bathroom and, in one corner, there was a 5×5 ft area dedicated to the shower. No ledge, but the floor was rather heavily slanted towards the drain. She had installed a curved rod to be able to have a shower curtain, so most of the splashing was contained. It was very easy to clean and so useful for wheelchair access. But also useful for the elderly who can't safely step up and into a shower. Also useful if assistance is needed. Also makes it easy to clean the bathroom floor: spray everything with the shower head and let it go down the shower drain.
I, 100%, agree on everything you have mentioned. As interior designers we have all came across this impractical features/ designs/ furniture pieces. Client might love it, we love the looks but it is our job to maybe give you something that meets your requirements and is still practical. It’s our job to explain to the client the pros and cons. Well said Nick!
The open shower is pretty nice for wheelchair users and older people if the floor slopes in the right way. For wheelchair users and older people it’s one less obstacle and potential fall risk, while still providing some splash control. And heated tiles are a great way to keep warm in a bathroom in general (big or small bathrooms).
100% agree on the open showers. Bloody freezing and what a mess!
Totally right on with vessel sinks! We had beautiful turquoise, translucent bowls. We installed them before having children, and since, had 5. The cleaning around the base wasnt actually too bad as long as you keep up with it, but our kids would yank on the side and that broke the seal and made them wobbly. Also, they were much higher than a regular sink so spitting toothpaste, even with a stool, was problematic. Pretty but very impractical!
You are 100% correct with the “open concept” showers being very cold!
It depends. In our old house, it would have been drafty. In our new house with heated floors and no drafts, it works fine.
The open showers in a large bathroom are cold probably, but when I stayed over at my in-laws' house they had small bathroom with no separation of the shower at all. Just a toilet, sink and a showerhead over a drain. The floor was tilted towards the drain so no matter where the water splashed, it would go down. The room was very well ventilated and also, since this is Europe, the house isn't made of cardboard and is very well insulated (we were there in September so we got some colder and warmer days to compare).
And you know what? For my disabled ass, it was the best shower experience I ever had. I didn't have to worry about falling over, while getting in and out, the tiles were non-slip and I could hold on to many things including the towel rails while I showered. A++ for accessibility in that bathroom.
I fully agree about the open shower. I stayed at a vacation home that had a very large tiled shower enclosure. It wasn't even open and it was freezing. I've lived in some crazy places (having to use an outdoor shower in a northern CA winter) and it reminded me of that. I don't think shivering even with hot water running on you is an ideal experience. It made me miss my tiny shower enclosure at home (something I'd never thought I'd miss, haha!).
Yes! I watch makeover videos and designer tips videos. They are so impractical! I'm re-doing my house. There are 5 of us in this house. We need practical advice and items. Thank you 😊
I mostly agree with your take on the pedestal sinks except for one situation - when you are in a tiny bathroom. It allows for a much larget basin in a tiny space versus a vanity and countertop with undermount.
My last house had a teeny tiny bathroom that desperately needed to be renovated. I put in an old fashioned pedestal sink with a wide ledge around it & then put a small glass shelf above it, worked great in the space.
That's what we have and it works great.
So true about the arc lamps! As someone who is also 6'1 & had an arc lamp for 5+ years, I can say that I have nearly knocked myself out countless times. You would think you'd get used to the spatial awareness and not bump your head, but some days you simply forget. It was a beautiful lamp, but I do not miss it.
We have both. A vessel sink and also an open shower with just one tiny glass wall. Our sink is fixed with silicone onto the countertop. So it‘s pretty easy to clean. And I totally love our shower. We had a very small shower before, with those overlapping solider doors and it was a noghtmare to clean them. The glass wall is so easy to clean, and we‘re not flooding our intire bathroom while taking a shower. And we have a rainshower head. I think the main issue is the drainaige hole. I guess ours in Germany are larger then in the US. And the floor needs to lean downwards to the drainaige hole too, so the water gets no other chance, then going down to this direction.
I'm in the UK and have both the open shower and vessel sink too... The shower splashes a little but I'm not cold until I get out of the shower. It's much easier to clean than the track from shower doors. We have no problems cleaning around the sink.
Thank you for this post! I love that you’re looking at the practical side of design, because most of us live in the real world. The no-shower-door thing hits close to home for me. We built a home with a “semi-custom” (read: not custom!) builder in Dallas Ft Worth, and literally every single primary bathroom has an open shower. No door! I fussed and fussed about how I thought it would be drafty and the water would splash all over the tile outside. I even looked into the standard sizes for open showers in order to keep the water contained, etc. The builder insisted no one has ever had an issue with it, and the shower length is built long enough to avoid those issues. The response I got was very “ok, little lady, don’t worry your pretty little head…” 🙄 They said they had to build it according to plan, and the wall “wouldn’t support” a shower door, blah blah blah.
Well, we move in, and what do you know?? Drafty! Splashy! Water all over the floor. Just as little ol me suspected! I actually dread showers in our bathroom😞 And to add insult to injury, we have noticed other homes in our neighborhood that have been built after ours now have shower doors!!!! Ugh!
Thanks, this list makes so much sense. We’re talking about our homes. Functionality is a must for some of us.
Open showers kill me. They’re gorgeous but you FREEZE during your shower!! I need the warmth 🥶
I wanted a vessel sink for my powder room so badly! I found a beautiful glass version on Wayfair, bought it…and then I thought about that little crack, too, and then worried about somebody chipping it. I found a gorgeous, faceted glass undermount sink that satified my longing. It’s green and sits in a figured, green onyx-topped brass washstand with brass, wall-mounted faucet and taps.
The pet test. The toddler test. That's excellent.
The flat I just bought has the half shower and it’s impossible to keep water in!
Also I just bought an arc lamp and I love it cause it’s 220cm tall so even at 6’4 I don’t come anywhere near hitting my head on it :)
I feel like I'd manage to hit my head on it. I'd find a way... 😆It IS all about the positioning though!
I had a shower made where you walk in at the skinny end instead of the wide end and has a very tiny lip. Water doesn't splash out since the head is at the other end. Also the shower handle is at the opening, so I don't have to get wet turning it on. I love it! I've had surgery on my knee so not having a big trip hazard due to big lip is another plus.
I love how real you are when commenting trends!!! So authentic ❤️ I’ve been following many of your tips and it transformed my home 🙏🏻😘
Brooklinen sheets are so worth it. I upgraded my sheets 5 years ago with Brooklinen’s Classic Percale and I sleep so well. I appreciate them every day. ❤
In my previous home, my master bath was super small; it had a pedestal sink, and after a year I had enough of the lack of space for toiletries and hair tools. So in my bath remodel, I purchased an old MCM lowboy chest and converted it to a vanity; it was beautiful with 3 large drawers for storage, plus a vanity on which I installed...a vessel sink. That thing looked like a huge salad bowl---better than the pedestal but washing my face was a pain. Then my shower remodel had a doorless shower; I chose this because I liked the aesthetics and the bathroom was small so it made the room feel larger. But oh boy was it chilly. I had to keep a portable heater in my bathroom year round, which did not fit the aesthetic I was going for. It was a gorgeous bathroom, much better than what it was when I originally purchased the home, but I learned pretty quickly the mistakes I made.
Yes, Nick tell us! Design should be beautiful AND functional. That is the true magic of this art.
One item I've always thought was totally impractical is clocks and watches with no markings. You can't even tell what time it is, which the whole point of a clock. Also, I really dislike when they use rings for hand towels instead of bars. The towel never dries all the way and eventually you can't get the smell out even after it's laundered.
Im not too sure about the clocks. I use to wear watches a lot growing up, but with phones that became a thing of the past and to this day I can still tell the time based on the position of the needle, even if it is unmarked like Nick's clock in the back.
Agreed! Why have a clock you can't tell the time?!
I'm with you on the towel rings. I have always disliked them and always had some sort of bar to hang hand towels. I'll usually hang my larger towels on a hanger so not too many are close together
You mean like the one just over his left shoulder?
@ Angela Simons: Yes, I agree on both points, can't abide those ridiculous clocks, just so annoying and ridiculously impractical, I really wonder who thought that was a good idea!!?
I reupholstered a chair with beautiful fabric that showed every bit of cat drool and of course it was the favorite place for them sit, purr and drool
Thank you Nick for thinking about these things so I don't have to. ❤‼️ Really never liked vessel sinks. Just thinking about children brushing teeth and washing hands in one makes me crazy. I've always liked pedestal sinks however. When I redo our bathrooms, I'll make sure there's room for soap. 😁 The sink in my grandmother 's house from the 1910s had room for soap. I'll look for ones like it.
Going from a pedestal sink to a vessel sink, I’m installing. In my 1/2 bath. Not alot of traffic in this bath, not alot of storage needed. Finding the most beautiful one I can find, and placing it atop a thick piece of clear (slightly green-tinted) glass. Atop that, or to the side, will be another piece of narrower-profiled thick clear glass shelf, which will hold a few items for hand cleaning. It will save lots of space in a bathroom that’s small enough as it is, and most of all, it will look gorgeous. Doing demo right now, and went tile shopping, finding a beautiful large format 18” x 48” blue wall porcelain tile, and a equally beautiful white floor tile. Can’t wait to get started, thanks for your input.
I totally did that with fabric samples! Rubbed all of them on my dogs (they weren’t super into since I had like 20 samples 😂) also poured coffee on all of them see which ones did best. Picked a performance velvet. The morning after getting my sofa that I waited 5 months for, my toddler son had an accident. Wiped right up, no problem.
I usually agree with your design advice but I do love my vessel sink in my powder room. No, I don't have small kids and yes, I keep that crevice clean. That vessel sink has elevated ;) the look of this small space, making it a little jewel box where I can indulge riskier design decisions. Regarding pet-friendly fabrics, I ordered an extra yard of the light-colored material and now drape it over the sofa when my two Schnauzers lay on it. I just remove it when guests come over and the room looks chic and put together. Thanks for your videos, Nick.
When renovating our bathroom, we opted for an open shower stall in order to reduce the amount of glass we had to clean. I was concerned about water splashing out but we have honestly NEVER had any problems with it. Our bathroom is small so we haven’t had any issues with heat loss either and we’re in Minnesota. Heated floors help. I would definitely do it again.
We had an open stall in our bathroom growing up and also had the same experience. We never had issues with getting water everywhere either. I absolutely loved it and would also do it again!
same here!! idk how people take shower but i dont have water everywhere! LOL
Same here. I put a bath mar at the opening and it barely gets splashed on. And our house isn’t drafty and has heated floors, which certainly helps.
Agree completely with you. Just installed it last year and the best decision I ever made. I guess you just have to ensure you have a heated floor that slopes gently to a proper drain. Totally practical decision as aging in place is a primary concern.
Nick, you are so cute and funny! You just crack me up!!! And........ I have a vessel sink in my master bath BUT the sink sits on a spacer, so clean up is not an issue, I promise!!!! And the bowl drains so quickly, it stays clean. I think I got the unicorn of vessel sinks. xoxoxo
Agree so much, as always! Those above-the-counter sinks also take up room on the counter because they bevel outwards.. and the thought of how gross they'd be to clean - EUGH! I also recently stayed somewhere with an open-shower concept and i was FREEZING during my shower and the entire bathroom floor was wet which made it impossible to do anything else in there afterwards.
we have two vessel sinks in our bathroom and i gotta say they are amazing! the easiest sinks to clean imo. there is no grime in that crack at all i mean it’s not a greasy/sticky kitchen - it’s in a bathroom 🤷🏻♀️ also you actually have a bit more counterspace with those than those built ins - cause the shallow part stands on the counter compared to the wide top on the built in ones ☺️
The showers in our house are open at one end and we have no problem with water. We have an unobtrusive linear drain at the opposite end to the opening. I love them, they look stunning and are easy to clean as there are no lips or edges to catch mould or dirt; nor are there doors to have to get behind to in order to clean the rest of the shower. Our glass is 2/3 of the wall with 1/3 open. We have no splashing issues despite both handheld and rain heads in each shower. There’s no issue of them being cold either. I think what you’re talking about are poorly designed showers. I personally hate shower curtains, I think they’re ugly, messy, often mouldy and hard to clean.
Lol. We have an open shower door, but it’s at the far end away from the shower head to keep water from splashing out of the back end, which was an issue before we remodeled our bathroom, and we still use a shower curtain for privacy. I will say, we are fans of the Japanese and Korean style bathrooms that can get completely wet and our bathroom is small, but I could absolutely see why someone might think it’s weird. 😂
That's the set up that was used in "the world's tiniest bathroom" at a hotel I stayed in once. Super practical and if I ever remodel I'm doing exactly that.
I once came home to a completely flooded apartment because my ex took a shower in one of those open showers (that one didn´t even have a lip, it was just a slight slope down toward the drain) and didn´t realize the drain was slightly clogged. Thank god we only had to stay there 3 months.
Nick you crack me up thanks for the laughs! Also building a house and love/appreciate that your video are making me think things through. I have put so much thought in to the kitchen and how I want it to be functional and look and the rest of the house I haven't really cared so I'm glad your videos have made me want to look back over those other parts of the house. Hopefully we get to start building this summer!
I have a very small bathroom, and I have a round bowl vessel sink on top of a floating vanity which itself has two drawer. It is great because it gives me more counter space around it so I can put down a hairdryer, small carry-on, etc. It never gets dirty under it where it joins the top because it's not close to the edge and has a vertical foot a bit under an inch high so even if water ran down the side it easy to access to wipe. I agree for other shapes I wouldn't recommend them. I also have an open shower with only a panel. It's great, and less glass to wash. It doesn't plash out at all and it's a small shower, I even have the towel rack on the opposite side of the shower head and it does not get splashed, even though I have a rain-shower head and handheld one.
Can you do a video on window treatments. I'd love to get your opinion on the do's and don'ts. I look forward to watching your videos every week!
I’ve had a vessel sink in bathroom for over ten years. Still in love with it !
Great comment about the fabric swatches, Julie! Thanks for sharing it Nick!❤️
😊
Brilliant and funny as always 👏🏽
I really wanted a full glass-screen shower to keep the other half of the bathroom dry, but I had to settle with half because I didn't have the budget 🤷🏻♀️ never saw it as beautiful or minimal. We live in a tropical climate so cold weather isn't a problem for us.
How refreshing, you've basically hit all of my pet peeves about design trends, the bowl sinks and how impractical many of them are to clean, the stupid pedestal sinks in a bathroom were you really need lots of storage (they were the first thing to go in 3 houses I've remodeled), those stupid arch lamps, tried one once... total disaster with a 6'3" husband lol. Was never tempted by a curved sofa simply because we've moved a lot and found that a 3 seat sofa and loveseat are the most versatile and can be configured in different ways wherever you land. Those open showers?... all very well if you live in L.A., but if you live in a cold climate I love the sauna aspect of a nice enclosed shower stall, warms you to the bone ;-). I remember falling in love with a white and beige striped cotton sofa which looked fantastic for about a month.... when the reality of a toddler, 2 preteens and a Labrador taught me how young and foolish I was!
Nice to see a designer with a "Practical" streak who understands what it means to really live in and take care of a house with a family and critters... Bravo!
I think the arc lamps are just out to get you Nick. 😁
I have open showers with no lip. The showers are very practical, especially for older people or people with mobility issues as they are much safer and easier to access. They are a breeze to clean. The floor has to be designed with the correct fall so that the water runs straight to the drain. They are not draughty unless you have a cold and draughty bathroom.
Very good Nick. I find vessel sinks an annoyance, and particularly so when mounted on a standard height countertop. One's arms will hit against the sink especially during face washing. As well, the ability to successfully lift water in cupped hands is hindered. Open showers, I'm glad that you made people aware of temperature. I'd say open showers will lead to higher energy costs due to a need of overheating the entire lavatory. I think at a minimum they require heat lamps directly above the shower.
I find myself thinking how much nicer our lives would be if the auto industry would hire you. Car interiors have looked awful for the at least the past ten years. They're either black or gray and if one is lucky to find a "beige interior" those are now 70% black anyway. Add to this, poor grades of leather or fabrics akin to running shoes, and carpeting that has become more like felt. Car interiors have become unattractive and unpleasant places to spend time.
How about RVs? I still think they could use help in the design department.
@@katywolffis7678 I couldn't possibly agree with you more! Having been RV'ers I have a good grasp of what that industry has been building for the past ten or so years.
As with car interiors, gone is color, and arrived are cheap leathers, with an overall lack of interiors generating any sense of pleasantry. Even the very high-end RVs have the just about the same story going on.
I think what's happened is that art class is no longer being taught in grade and high schools. And mom's not in the home, or mom's forty-five and under, unable to help their children as my mom had. It seems that people under the age of about forty-five have no taste. I've witnessed adults that don't know their colors much beyond the secondary colors. The last example about six weeks ago was someone describing Baby Blue and showing a chip that was clearly Robin's Egg Blue. I've even heard Saphire Blue when the actual color was Peacock Blue. These are adults at a loss for basic color association. And I'm not a designer or someone working within the realm of color.
As well, our country (USA) has had a complete fascination with the color black for years now. In the summertime I'm amazed by how many young people are dressed in black head-to-toe. They needless sweat horribly because they don't know they're a walking solar panel.
It's sad to me that we use to have beautiful colors and fabrics that enhanced our lives and felt good to the touch, and what sells now is cheap black leather.
Yes, what's with the felt in car interiors? I have dogs, and my car, with all the felt everywhere, is a magnet for fur and smell...
@@neliaferreira9983 I have the same problem. Pet Hair vacuum cleaner attachments can be helpful, but I always have to finish up with a masking tape lint roller. I became disgusted and now I stretch out large bath towels on the floor of the back seat area. The seat cover protects the seat, and the remaining hair falls onto the bath towels. When it's time, remove the bath towels gently! And shake them outdoors. For odors, wash anything doggie in a regular wash first without fabric softener, then rewash using a lot of white vinegar in place of detergent and use fabric softener for the final rinse.
If possible, brush your pup before getting into the car.
@@discerningmind I use a silicone brush to remove the hairs, The hair sort of stick to the silicone as I passes over the area in circles.
Finally someone took a practical approach towards designs that are otherwise beautiful 👏👏👏
We had a desk in the kitchen. Sounded like a good idea at the time: a workspace in a convenient location. NOPE!! Ended up being a big messy catch-all area in the main part of the house. It also took up too much room on the wall. We remodeled the kitchen, got rid of the desk and it opened up the room a lot more so traffic flow was clear. I have a new cabinet for office supplies such as stapler, stamps, envelopes, etc. Never again will I have a desk in the kitchen.
Thank you for your elegant design for regular people. You are are always classic and elegant. Are there any people in the entire world that are as inherently nice as Canadians?
I've been living in an apartment with those "half showers" and I don't know how you do it Nick 😂 bit in 3 years, the only time I had water over the lid is when the shower was clogged (not fun no matter if you have an open ore closed shower). Regarding temperature... let's just say that in Congo, it really doesn't matter, it's around 30°C all year round 😚😉
See now that makes sense to me! Jealous of your weather btw - here in Canada (where Nick is from) it fluctuates on average from -36 C to +36 C throughout the year 🙃🙃😬
I love how he changed his throw pillow in the background at 1:57 lol
Re: doorless showers. I first encountered them about 5 years ago when I traveled to England and Ireland and stayed at AirB&Bs that had them on shower-tub combinations. I found them annoying. Although I tried my best to be careful to avoid splashes it was always a mess outside the shower/tub area. I kept wondering how people showered there that they think it’s a good idea to have this set up. My guess is they mostly just used the shower hose and aim it directly at the body parts they are cleaning rather than stand under the shower to let a torrent of water pour over them… 🤷🏼♂️. IDK. I rather to stand under the shower so this doesn’t work for me.
LMAO