EQUIPOS DE PROTECCION INDIVIDUAL (EPI)
CAPÍTULO 01 DEMOLICIONES Y TRABAJOS PREVIOS
There’s an Asian flair to this bathroom in a renovated 1950s Minneapolis rambler, not only in the shoji paper wall sconces but also in the harmonic simplicity of materials and colors.
The bathroom is part of a bedroom suite in a new sec- ond floor. Architect David Wagner, a principal at SALA Architects, kept the palette of materials fairly simple, choosing to unify the design with the rich color of the Douglas fir in the ceiling, trim, and cabinets. Interior glass partitions visually link the bathroom and adjoining bedroom. Although the rooms are modestly sized, they don’t feel that way.
Colors and textures were chosen carefully. “Cooler colors such as a light eucalyptus paint color, two tones of gray tile for the bathroom floor and shower, and a mottled blue-green for the sinks and countertop provide a counterpoint to the warm fir,” Wagner says. These contrasting colors allow each of the materials to feel in harmony with the whole composition.
A cast concrete counter with integral sinks is a focal point of the new bathroom. The 8-in.-thick counter extends all the way across one wall, supported on one end by a fir cabinet and dropping down to become a seat in the shower on the other end of the room. Wall-mounted faucets above the sinks extend from a Douglas fir backsplash, helping to keep the countertop open and uncluttered. At each side of the mirror are Japanese shoji paper wall sconces and wood-trimmed incandescent lighting.
P U t t I n g I t A l l t O g e t h e r
A thick concrete vanity top, a focal point of this new bath in a remodeled home, stretches across the room and becomes a seat in the shower.
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above • Shoji wall sconces and spare trim details lend an
Asian feel to the room.
above left • Architect David Wagner limited materials and
colors and balanced the warm tones of the Douglas fir with cooler tile colors.
6 ft. 69⁄16 in. 2 ft. 113⁄4 in. 7 ft . 9 1⁄2 in . 33 ft . 9 13⁄ 16 in . 17 ft. 75⁄16 in.
Cabinetry
Manufactured cabinetry comes in a tremendous range of styles, everything from Arts and Crafts and Shaker to modern minimalist. Beyond the cosmetic differences, what makes cabinets truly different is how they are made and what they are made from. Generally speaking, the more money you spend, the more durable the materials and the more careful the assembly. Cabinets fall into three broad categories: stock, semicustom, and custom.
above • this vanity combines drawers with open shelving, allowing towels and linens
to become part of the room’s décor.
left • Bathroom cabinetry doesn’t have to be fancy. this simple cabinet with textured
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top • this freestanding cabinet tucked beneath a glass-topped
vanity is an attractive and practical storage solution. Standard cabinet base units designed for solid countertops may need some extra work if you want a glass top.
above • Cabinets can help set the mood. this paneled vanity and
StOCk
Stock cabinets, the most economical on the market, are available in limited sizes, colors, and finishes. They’re kept in stock at big-box stores and kitchen and furniture showrooms. While appealingly low in price, some stock cabinets are also low in qual- ity. Stay away from cabinets made with thin, vinyl- covered particleboard. Look for tight joinery, drawers that open and close smoothly, and plywood rather than particleboard shelving and drawer bottoms.
SemICUStOm
The next grade up from stock is semicustom, and these cabinets offer more choices in finishes, hard- ware, and trim and molding details. Like stock cabinets, semicustom cabinets are made in 3-in. increments. Materials and hardware may be of higher quality (full-extension ball-bearing drawer slides, for example, rather than simple epoxy-coated slides and plywood construction over particleboard). You’ll have to order the cabinets; lead times vary by manufacturer.
above • restraint can be a virtue. this
unadorned cabinet competes with neither the decorative tile on the floor nor the colorful subway tile in the shower.
right • When space permits, a large
vanity that includes a lot of drawer space is ideal. look for full-extension ball-bearing slides that travel easily.
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above • Specialized cabinetry can fill
awkward spaces. this round-front cabinet is ideal for a small powder room.
left • Against a neutral background in the
rest of the room, the wood veneer on the face of this cabinet stands out sharply.
CUStOm
Custom cabinets are at the top of the food chain, made completely to individual specifications and typically priced to match. This is the route to take if you want materials that large manufacturers typically don’t offer, such as highly figured woods, special veneers, or unusual trim or finish details. Custom cabinets can be built to fit a space exactly, without the use of awkward filler strips, and you can pick precisely the construction techniques you prefer: dovetailed drawers and full mortise-and-tenon con- struction, for example.
Depending on what you order and who you’re buy- ing it from, lead times can be lengthy, possibly a matter of months, so that’s something to ask about while shopping around. There are a few companies that specialize in custom cabinetry, but you might do just as well or better with a local cabinet shop or even an individual cabinetmaker in your area. Though these industry labels for cabinetry are a helpful starting point, remember that it’s not so much what they’re called as how they’re made that really counts. High-quality materials and finishes are very important for durability in the bathroom simply because of the potential for water damage. Avoid, if you can, particleboard, hardboard, and similar products unless they’re specially engineered for water resistance. Avoid cabinets that come with drawers made from thin material stapled together at the corners.
above right • Bathroom furniture can
reflect the overall architectural style of the house, in this case a strong Arts and Crafts theme.
right • many furniture styles can be
adapted to bathroom use. What looks like a Federal-style sideboard is really a marble-topped bathroom vanity.
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left • Sleek and stylish, this vanity is well
matched with the bathroom’s overall décor and combines drawers with open shelving.
below • given enough space, bathroom
storage can include a dressing room with armoire-like closets, drawers, and even a shelf for a tV.