One Week Bath Kansas City recently completed a bathroom remodel that included the expansion of a master shower.  This particular home was built in the early 1990’s, during a time when larger master bathrooms started to be come more popular in new homes.  These larger bathrooms allow for a more spacious feel and often include whirlpool tubs, 2-bowl vanities, and standard showers.  By today’s standards, these showers are often undersized and many homeowners feel they have everything they need in their master bathroom — except for a larger shower.

For this particular remodel, we were able to double the size of the shower without compromising any of the existing fixtures.

We had a really wonderful time working with these homeowners. We’re glad that they are pleased with their new shower! We also want to thank them for the kind words that they had to say about our their experience:

“We want to tell you how happy we are with the project and how it turned out. We enjoyed working with Doug, and also Brad and Gayle. They were all very professional and hard workers, trying to make everything right.”

If you have a shower in your master bathroom that could be bigger, contact Jake Schloegel and One Week Bath KC!

The Anderson Family now has not one but two updated, accessible bathrooms thanks to the Fox 4 Love Fund for Children and Schloegel Design Remodel of Kansas City.

A few months ago, Jake Schloegel, owner of One Week Bath Kansas City and Schloegel Design Remodel teamed up with the Fox 4 Love Fund for Children. Together, they created The Big Splash Remodel, a contest that would ultimately result in a complete bathroom remodel for a family in need.

Hundreds of applications poured in. “At first, as the entries started coming in, I thought ‘wow, this is great,” said Debby Allmon of One Week Bath Kansas City and Schloegel Design Remodel. “But then, after starting to read about all of these people who could really use our help, all I could think was ‘oh my gosh, we’re actually going to have to pick someone.’”

Meet the Andersen family. Brothers Daniel, age 14 and Samuel, age 9 were both diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy at a young age. They are both wheelchair bound which made it impossible to access their bathroom in their home on their own. After a few weeks of hard work, the Schloegel Design Remodel team was able to demolish their old bathroom and unveil to them a brand new, completely accessible bathroom. Not only did they remodel Daniel and Samuel’s bathroom, they were also able to remodel the Family’s upstairs bathroom and widen the door to their bedroom so that they would be able to access those spaces with their wheelchairs as well.

“It’s a ‘move that bus’ kind of moment for us,” said the boys’ father during a Problem Solvers segment of Fox 4 news.

It’s a project that the entire team has been proud to be apart of. “This project was just as rewarding for us at Schloegel Design Remodel and One Week Bath as it was for the family,” says Jake Schloegel. “To be a part of this bathroom project not only transformed a room but it also transformed the lives of Samuel, Daniel, the entire Andersen family.  Because of the generosity of our vendor partners we were able to remodel the second floor bathroom and expand the door into Samuel and Daniel’s bedroom, which included an automatic door opener.”

Schloegel Design Remodel is planning on continuing the Big Splash Remodel program this year and we’ll keep you up to date once we have more information about future opportunities!

In the dictionary next to the definition of “bathtub,” you will no longer see a picture of a boring white enamel tub. These days, tubs are created in unique materials, bold colors, and abnormal shapes with textures and designs that are out of this world!

Here are a few bathtubs that are anything but run-of-the-mill to spark your bathroom design inspiration.

Blue Glass Bathtub by Regia

This glass tub from Italian bath fixture & furniture desinger, Regia, is a perfect example of the new wave in bathtub design. A most classic shape with a twist: transparent materials and a blast of color.

Natural Materials and Textures from Stone Forest

Using nature for its inspiration, New Mexico-based Stone Forest plays on organic shapes and textures for their creations. We love that some of their bathtubs look like they were plucked straight out of the forest. The Round bathtub (pictured here) is available in black granite, carrara marble, and travertino romano.

Spiritual Mode: Modern & Unique Shape

Step outside the box and choose an unconventional shape for your bathtub to create visual interest in your bathroom. This bathtub by Spiritual Mode whose tag line is “for excitement and relaxation.”

Do you like bathroom design that leans more towards traditional or modern?

During the demolition phase of a recent remodeling project, our lead carpenter, Tom Korn, came across some writing on the bottom of a shelf in the daughter’s closet. Recognizing immediately that this is something the homeowners would love to keep, Tom took it upon himself to save the important part of the shelf.

Many years ago these young girls, now in their late teens, while playing in the closet, decided to write their names in a way to be long remembered as best friends.  Tom made a frame to hold the piece of the shelf and presented it to the homeowners at the end of the remodeling project. What a great way to recall some fond memories from a time long ago. It certainly made this project that much more memorable!

Which makes me wonder, what do people do with the height charts on door frames and other fun souvenirs left behind by the kids as they grow up in a house? Have you been creative in the preserving the memories? We’d love to hear your stories!

And to Tom, thanks for doing this for our clients!

Master Bathroom becomes the focus of one of our recent whole-house remodel.

Alongside Schloegel Design Remodel, we’re currently wrapping up a whole-house remodeling project. The home was built in the 1980′s and one of the areas that the owners wanted to put special attention was their master bathroom.

The changes included the installation of a new curbless shower. The size of the shower allowed us to eliminate the doors. Plus, it has heated floors, his & hers shower heads, a comfy corner sear, and two recessed shampoo niches.

We also removed an old whirlpool corner tub and installed a new pedestal soaking tub alongside a floor-mounted tub filler with handheld shower head. We’ve noticed recently that soaking tubs have become far more popular than the long-rivaled whirlpool. This deep tub allows for some serious relaxing.

The project was rounded out with all new tile throughout.

All that’s missing now is some Mr. Bubble and a glass of wine!

In honor of our love for Target, we’re giving away 4 $25 Target GiftCards!

A Target GiftCard® is your opportunity to shop for thousands of items at more than 1,700 Target
and SuperTarget® stores, as well as Target.com. From home décor, small appliances and
electronics to fashion, accessories and music, find exactly what you’re looking for at Target.
No fees. No expiration. No kidding.®

All you have to do is like One Week Bath Kansas City on Facebook, fill out a quick form, and voila! You’re in the running!

To make things a little more fun, we’re not going to just give away one $25 Target GiftCard, we’re giving away one-per-week, every week, for the next four weeks!

So what are you waiting for? Head on over to Facebook, Like One Week Bath Kansas City, and enter the Target GiftCard Giveaway Contest.

Good luck! What will you buy if you win?

One Week Bath Kansas City President, Jake Schloegel knows a thing or two about remodeling. In addition to One Week Bath KC, Schloegel is also the founder and president of Schloegel Design Remodel, a Kansas City based design and remodeling company in operation since 1980.

While Schloegel Design Remodel offers a full array of remodeling services, the One Week Bath business model allows Schloegel to help a special consumer segment that doesn’t need to do a major overhaul of their bathroom. Here is what Jake had to say about the differences in the One Week Bath KC approach.

What do people really want when it comes to remodeling their bathroom

People want products that convey a fresh, updated and clean look.  They want a room that is comfortable and feels good to them.  They look for styles that fit their taste and they are looking for amenities such as heated floors, taller vanities, expanded showers and more light.You serve many different types of clients.

Can you profile a One Week Bath customer?

Middle age to empty-nesters and married couples with double incomes comprise the majority of our clients. Its best for people where convenience and speed is very important, this could be where a couple has only one bathroom in their residence and they need it to be done quickly, they can’t run the risk of being without a working bathroom.

What’s different about One Week Bath from Schloegel Design Remodel in the way you handle bathroom remodeling?

The primary difference is that with One Week Bath, our ability to make major changes to the structural components of the space is limited.  This would include adding or relocating windows and doors, moving or eliminating walls, and altering ceilings.  Since job length is critical in the OWB model, changes during the project must be kept to the absolute minimum, but our job is to do it right, no matter what. So we design a great bathroom that doesn’t require these major structural changes which will ultimately achieve the same result without the extra strain on our clients’ schedule or their budget.

What’s the most rewarding part of what you do?

When I visit a completed job and find out we have created a raving fan for our company.  They truly love their new bathroom, the selections they made and the people involved.

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What important things do you look for in a contractor to help you design and remodel your home?

Phew! What a fun weekend! From October 21st through the 23rd, Schlogel Design Remodel and One Week Bath Kansas City loaded up our trucks with swatches, tile samples, brochures, a half bathroom, and a giant rubber ducky and headed over to the Bartle Hall Convention Center for the 2011 KC Home Design & Remodeling Expo.

The event featured over 200 booths that housed vendors for absolutely anything and everything that has to do with home remodeling. There were also presentations given on a variety of topics from Innovative Remodeling Products, How to Protect Yourself from Home Improvement Contractor Fraud, and even How to Know if Your House is Haunted.

In today’s economy, homeowners need to get the highest value out of their home and so they are often turning to remodeling projects.  We had an amazing time and feel fortunate to have met and spoken with countless homeowners, answering their questions about remodeling everything from basements to bathrooms.

One Week Bath KC owner, Jake Schloegel loves answering homeowners’ questions! Do you have questions about remodeling? Be sure to send in a question using our Just Ask Jake submission form!

This month’s bathroom remodeling question comes from Mary Anne. Her goal is to increase the value of her home by converting one of her half baths to a 3/4 by adding a shower, all while being as mindful about her money as possible.

Jake,

I have a half bath I’d like to convert to a 3/4 cheaply but still have it add to the home’s value. There is a toilet at the far end and a vanity cabinet and sink, all on the left wall as you enter the space. There is not enough room for a 36×36 shower base, nor for a 32″ base, to fit in front of the toilet as it faces out, and the floor is tile so I’d rather not tear it up. Is there any possible way to convert the sink area into a shower without the need to cut into the floor? I’ve thought maybe then a small antique table with pitcher and water basin opposite the toilet could substitute for a sink, though brushing teeth in a basin won’t work. I’m afraid the only solution is more than I can afford, e.g. install new drain, move existing fixtures.

Mary Anne

Mary Anne,

I can appreciate you trying to save money in your remodeling project, however, it may be a little difficult to achieve a shower installation without spending some money.  A funky installation could do more to detract from the value of your home than to add to it.
To meet building codes, there are minimum plumbing fixture clearance requirements.  For example, in front of a lavatory (sink), you should have a minimum of 21” to the wall or other fixture.

Showers are suppose to be a minimum of 30” square and have a minimum of 24” in front.
Regardless of where you install the shower, you will need to install a floor drain thru the floor and connect to a waste line below the floor level.  The exception would be if you installed your shower on a raised platform.

I suggest you consult with a professional remodeler in your area to see if there is a relatively simple solution to your conundrum.

Best of luck to you.

Jake

Do YOU have a bathroom remodeling question? Click here to Just Ask Jake!

Our One Week Bath Kansas City design specialist, Debby Allmon, helps all of our clients through the design process of their bathroom remodel. Here are some of her insights on the latest trends in design and the One Week Bath design process.

What design trends and styles are really popular right now?
The most popular design trend right now is Transitional design.  A combination of traditional and modern.  This style is represented with clean lines and simple but elegant finishes.

What’s most important to people in the design and remodel process of their bathroom?
The combination of great design with quality construction is very important to consumers.  A seamless transition from design to construction is very important.  Knowing that what was designed and planned will be executed perfectly in the building phase puts homeowners at ease.

Once a client has decided that they want to remodel their bathroom, what are the things that people can do to organize their thoughts and ideas?
I always recommend looking at photos and noting what draws your attention in each photo.   The One Week Bath website is a great way to look at baths, get ideas and help define what style, finishes you are looking for.

How long does the design process take? What is your role in this process?
The design process for a bathroom usually takes 3-4 hours.  Once I have visited with a client and reviewed the photos/ideas on the website I can meet at a clients home and bring the materials and finishes with me to look at the products in the space where they will be installed.  There are many elements that need to be decided in a bathroom remodel from the toilet to the tile and I help people through each of the selections making sure that the right material matches the homeowners function and style requirements.

How do you help people choose their fixtures, colors, and other design elements?
This can happen one of two ways.  I can bring all of the selections to the homeowner’s house or we have a convenient showroom where we can view the selections.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of what you do?
When the bathroom is complete and the homeowner says “it is better than I imagined”.  There are so many decisions and selections to be made in the bath and that can be nerve wracking for some homeowners.  This is a big investment and an exciting project for homeowners – knowing that they are beyond pleased when it was over is the best!

If you have a question for Debby or would like to get started with your bathroom remodel, contact her today!