Bulb choices The light source inside your wall-mounted fixture can be incandescent bathroomsinkfaucet or fluorescent. You may want to experiment with different bulbs to judge which are most effective; for example, fluorescents can now achieve a warm glow However, in new construction and major remodels, code provisions that mandate at least some fluorescent lighting may apply For locations near water--in bathroomsinkfaucet bathrooms, most notably--use fixtures approved for such use. They should also be served by a ground fault circuit interrupter. Our bathroom design is the perfect solution for the old, heavily used, small bathroom that you can never quite get clean enough. We not only pulled a few rabbits out of the hat to produce features that make the room easy to clean but also used smoke and mirrors to make it appear much larger. Installing a preassembled glass block window. You can have a window in your shower that will stand tip to water. Replacing a bathtub with a spacious shower. A one-piece shower pan is a simple, leakproof solution to the mistake-prone chore of traditional shower pan construction.Installing a state-of-the-art residential wall-hung toilet and sink. Having fewer dirt-catching corners and edges simplifies floor cleaning.Making a small (6 x 8-ft.) bathroom feel larger.

Later in the year fans needn''t stop spinning at the end of summer. Wintertime energy savings are possible by reversing the direction of the fan blades--from counterclockwise to clockwise, when seen from below--to force the air upward. Moving in this direction and set at low speed, a fan will gently push hot, trapped ceiling air to the walls and down toward the floor, a process called heat reclamation. Since the air isn''t blown forcefully downward, you won''t feel draftiness or chill. Manufacturers report savings of up to 10 percent on winter heating bills through heat reclamation. Size and speed Choosing a fan that suits the size of the room is important for energy savings and comfort. Fans are measured by blade span, with the 52-inch five-bladed fan being the most common: It is appropriate for rooms up to 400 square feet. The 44-inch fan will adequately serve rooms up to 225 square feet; the 42-inch works for rooms up to 144 square feet; the 36-inch fan is for rooms of 100 square feet or less. Fan motors can be set at low, medium, or high speed.

Brightening many a wall these days are sconces and other lighting fixtures that provide versatile illumination and more than a little decorative flair. Wall-mounted fixtures often supply ambient light, bouncing their beams off walls and ceilings or emanating a subtle glow through translucent covers. They may also serve as equally purposeful task lights directed at work surfaces or stairs. They have the advantage of utilizing wall space, substituting for a lamp what would take up part of a tabletop or counter. How they work Descendants of candle-holding brackets, sconces are usually closed at the base and open at the top, so light washes up the wall and onto the ceiling, where it provides gentle overall illumination of a space. They are particularly effective at lighting entryways, ornamenting the walls of formal living or dining rooms, or creating a romantic ambience in a bedroom. Designer installed sconces in his bedroom, dining room, and living room. "Sconce lighting is a softer effect," he says. "It creates a certain mood." He makes sure all of his sconces are on dimmer switches, so he can adjust the light level as the mood dictates.

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