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Bathroom beauty boost. Atlanta-area interior designer Phoebe Taylor favors elegant bathrooms and has a few ideas about turning an otherwise functional room into a mini-retreat. “Using a limited budget and unlimited imagination, homeowners can quickly update the look of an old bathroom,” says Taylor, a faux painter, photo stylist and landscaper specializing in Southern design.
Find a theme. If you love music, accent the bathroom with a bust of Beethoven, old instruments, musical-note soaps and towels.
Add or replace ceiling moldings. Use a product that resists moisture and high humidity.
For color inspiration, start with a rug or towels that you love. Then, faux- finish accent pieces, including your trim, in the same colors.
Add accent pieces. A small wall niche inserted between the studs provides the perfect space for bath soaps or a flower arrangement.
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Spring mold patrol. Even the most frequently cleaned, newest and best-built homes can become mold breeding grounds, especially during damp weather. And after a flood, toilet leak or even the smallest bathtub spill, mold and mildew can take hold within 48 hours, virtually anyplace inside or outside a home. Below are some mold- cleaning tips from Moldex (moldexbrands.com):
Clean any suspect surface including rugs, tiles, counters, walls with a nonbleach mildewstat and fungicide to kill microorganisms, mold and mildew. Use regularly as part of a normal household cleaning routine.
Get the air flowing. Mold thrives in stagnant areas. Open up doors, windows, closets and cabinets to allow air to circulate.
Keep it cool. Since mold loves warm, moist locations, keep your home as cool and dry as possible during cleaning. Consider turning on an air conditioner or setting up fans while monitoring humidity levels.
Check nooks and crannies. Mold growth may occur underneath water-damaged surfaces or behind walls, floors and ceilings.
Know where to look. Visible signs of mold growth may include discolored patches and cottony or speckled growth on walls or furniture. But mold isn’t always visible. If you recently experienced flooding or if you smell an earthy or musty odor, mold could be hiding almost anywhere. Consider calling in an environmental consultant or other professional.
