Main Location: Brisbane, CA: 415-657-0280 I Dublin, CA: 925-829-1133 I Sacramento, CA: 916-387-0481

You’ve decided that this is the year to get rid of the avocado green bathtub and cracked tile and bring your bathroom to the 21st century. More importantly you want to renovate your bathroom not just to a point where it doesn’t make you groan, but to the point where you feel content in your surroundings.

OK, but where do you start? IRG has put together a list to help you get inspired to move your bathroom renovation to the next level.

Where to start?

kitchen and bathroom design elements and ideas

1. Take Note.

One suggestion is to sit down with a notepad or iPad and think about how you want to feel when you’re in your newly remodeled bathroom. Think about logistics like:

  • Is this the one place in your home where you want total privacy, peace, and calm? Or is it OK for your children to have access while you dress and prep for the day?
  • Do you want a fast, easy dressing area to quickly get ready for work?
  • Would you like a lounge chair and/or a private dressing table area in an extended master suite to prepare for date-night soirees?
  • What other features will make this renovated room the bathroom of your dreams?

Now that you know how you want to feel (literally), about your bath space, determine which tactile qualities can make this happen for you.

Do you like soft surfaces?

  • rounded corners
  • fabric treatments
  • hardware that you just want to touch?  

Or

  • clean, straight edgings,
  • utilitarian cabinetry
  • minimalist touches.

These are important qualities so take the time to jot down what comes into your mind and take notice—you’ll be living with these details for a long time.

kitchen design notes and books

2. Search Your Style.

Whether on the internet or by leafing through books and magazines, search for those images that match the specifics you’ve outlined. A few of our favorite interior design websites are:

beautiful bathroom with stone surfaces. Interior design: Sarah Hoover Interiors. Image © Jean Bai Photography
Interior design: Sarah Hoover Interiors. Image © Jean Bai Photography

3. Follow a Professional.

Find an interior designer that you feel drawn to and become a follower. You’ll see posts of their latest projects that will inspire your bathroom remodel project and keep your motivational momentum going (See how IRG worked with interior designer Sarah Hoover here).  We’ve listed other San Francisco/Bay Area designers who visit IRG in search of the latest surfaces including:  marble, granite, onyx, pental quartz, quartzite, and soapstone. And trust IRG’s expertise to help complete their remodel projects:

people looking at kitchen design

4. Get Out to Get Going.

Did you know movie set design can set the tone for interior design for decades? Think Diane Keaton’s kitchen in Something’s Got to Give or whole house interiors in The Holiday. Depending upon the style you’ve chosen for your bathroom remodel, try looking at historical dramas and period pieces. In-person strolls through art museums never fail to inspire, as does even a shopping trip to the mall where fashion can be your muse. The point is not necessarily to be literally looking for bathrooms that you like but rather to see what gets your attention and speaks to you in any way pleasurable.

Stone Surfaces at the IRG Showroom

5. Come to the Source.

When all is said and done, you’ll most likely want to start with your bathroom surface selections. This is where IRG’s vast in-stock inventory really shines. Nothing helps you visualize your bathroom better than seeing and touching the surface in person. Whether you want marble, porcelain tiles, engineered stone, (or even Onyx!), IRG’s staff of surface experts can tell you which surfaces will work best in bathrooms, help match a slab to your bathroom remodel budget, and guide you through your decisions. Schedule an appointment with IRG today.