Home Construction Ideas

Bathtub Materials

I'm pretty neurotic when it comes to the type of bathtub that I want to have in our home someday. I grew up in a house that had a porcelain-on-steel bathtub. It was super easy to clean and maintain and the non-slip pads that you put at the bottom of the bathtub worked perfectly for this type of bathtub material. It was easy to clean the bathtub and get it white again by pouring in water to almost the top of the bathtub, pouring in some clorox and letting it sit for an hour, then draining the bathtub and perfecto - you have a very white and sparkling clean (bacteria-free) bathtub. Since moving to California and touring a lot of new and older homes around the area, I've noticed a new kind of bathtub becoming popular: acrylic. This is the same material that we have in our apartment. It just SUCKS BIG TIME. I HATE acrylic bathtubs - they are so difficult to clean and maintain. Dirt sticks very easily to them and you have to scrub your ass off to get them sparkling white clean. I can't even put those cute pads on the bottom of the tub that help with the non-slip factor. It's not even worth it to pour in clorox and clean it the way I used to clean the bathtubs in Wisconsin because it just doesn't work with this acrylic junk.

I understand that whirlpool tubs are the 'in' thing these days and obviously, acrylic is used for such tubs because it's inexpensive and quite a bit lighter than porcelain-on-steel. However, I've definitely resigned to the fact that I will gladly forego a whirlpool tub so that I can have a tub that cleans easily, is durable, and lasts a very long time (not to mention a tub where I will be able to place those cool non-stick things).

I've been doing some research on bathtubs and fell in love with cast-iron bathtubs. It's the most durable bathtub material and naturally, like with everything else in life, I tend to fall in love with things that are at the top of the price range. I also still hold porcelain-on-steel bathtubs close to my heart because I find those very long-lasting and very easy to clean (from personal experience).

I've found a cast-iron tub that I really like: http://www.us.kohler.com/onlinecatalog/detail.jsp?from=thumb&frm=&module=Baths&item=467002&prod_num=868&section=2&category=10. I love Kohler products (and not just because they are located in Wisconsin).  Here are some of Kohler's other cast iron bathtubs.

If you want to learn more about the different types of bathtub material available, check out these websites:

1. Keidel

2. Home Building Club

Kitchen Sink Fixture from France

Ohhh...check out these beautiful fixtures from France: http://www.herbeau.com/. This specific sink fixture is absolutely lovely: http://www.herbeau.com/Products.aspx?Item=4207. It would go well in both antique themes, European themes (like Spanish, gothic), and new-age themed kitchens. Lots of possibilities here. Definitely lovin' it.

Copper Backsplashes

Gorgeous copper backsplash products and other stuff: http://www.abbingdon.com/. I really have no idea if we will ever use metal ceilings, backsplashes, etc, but I just wanted to make sure I got this in our blog so that we can archive it for later use. I have to say that soapstone, copper backsplashes, and stainless steel appliances sound really sexy. =-)

Really Sexy Antique New Age Appliances

I don't know if we'll ever go for a Victorian-type kitchen; however, I have to say that this specific company makes some outrageously awesome antique new-age appliances. Just check out the place called Elmira Stove Works located in Canada: http://www.elmirastoveworks.com

Soapstone: Countertop and Sink Ideas

Karan and I were watching the DIY network and saw a kitchen renovation program where we learned about something called soapstone. Soapstone is made up of mineral deposits created by nature and quarried from the earth. The main mineral components in soapstone include talc, chlorite, dolomite and magnesite, giving a warm, soft feeling to the touch. Soapstone has a unique soft color with light flowing veins. When cut, it oxidizes from light grey to dark charcoal in color. A protective coat of mineral oil makes its color even more dramatic. It's very dense, which makes it nonporous and impervious to virtually any type of staining. It’s also heat neutral, so you can literally place red hot cookware on its surface without batting an eye. 

We were initially planning on having granite countertops in our kitchen; however, after hearing about soapstone and doing more research on it, we've resided to having our kitchen sink and countertops be soapstone. It really is much better than the traditional type of stone you see in kitchen these days, like granite and marble.  Soapstone won't burn or stain and requires very little maintenance. It really is inert so acids and alkalis will not etch soapstone as they will with other stones.

Here are some websites of interest to us where we would potentially purchase the soapstone from:

1. Vermont Soapstone: http://www.vermontsoapstone.com/

2. Green Mountain Soapstone Corporation: http://www.greenmountainsoapstone.com/

3. http://www.soapstones.com/

I think I'm even dabbing with the idea of having soapstone surround the fireplace. Obviously, I have a grand design for a fireplace which I'll go through in a later post. :)

Introduction

Karan and I are working hard to save money to buy a great house someday that is on a nice plot of land. We then want to rip that house apart and start from the ground up to design and build our dream house! We've decided that California is not a place we want to stay and raise a family. We're hoping to move back to the Midwest someday, specifically Madison, WI. We're saving as much as we can and using this blog to jot down ideas that we have about external and internal home design and construction. These ideas are inspiration for us, as well as help keep us motivated to save, save, save!

Enjoy!!