Small Bathroom Shower Design Options

How to fit a small bathroom shower

What do you do if you want to install a shower but you only have a very small bathroom?

Shower

While I love my bathtub for the rare occasions that I get to use it for a long relaxing soak, I don't know what I would do without my shower. Showers are quick, refreshing and a lot more economical than taking baths. When I had the chance to redesign my small bathroom I jumped at the opportunity to improve the shower that was installed above the bathtub at the time.

Small Bathroom Shower Design Options

The first thing to remember is that there usually is a way to do these things and you mustn't give up before you've really thought about the problem. Don't be put off by the fact that you don't seem to have much room to play with in your bathroom design.

So what are the options?

Throw the bathtub away

Taking out the bathtub will give you more than enough room to fit a sizeable shower enclosure. Unfortunately you won't have a bath anymore. While this might fit in well with your current lifestyle you might want to think about what you might have need of a few years down the line and when you come to sell your property.

When you sell a property you must have a bathroom with a bathtub even if it has a great shower instead. People expect to find a bath in the bathroom and the lack of one can seriously depress the value of your property.

Put your shower in your bathtub

If you have no other option you can install a showerhead above your bathtub together with a shower curtain or splashguard. This should be the easiest solution, as it will take up no additional floor space. Personally I'm not keen on this option.

Turn your bathroom into a wet room

This is an ambitious design that will involve turning the floor of your entire bathroom into a giant shower base and drain. It can be a very expensive option to convert a conventional bathroom into wet room but it has the advantage of allowing you to put your small bathroom shower anywhere you like. Even over the toilet if you want to although I wouldn't advise it.

Install a curved quadrant shower cubicle

The option that I like best for any bathroom is to install a separate shower enclosure either free standing in the room or in a corner of the bathroom. This is a great solution if you can find the space to accommodate the shower enclosure.

The problem with this idea is finding the space in a small bathroom to fit the shower enclosure. Enclosures come in various sizes so you will need first of all to decide on the smallest size that you think you can live with. Even a very small shower enclosure is better than none at all.

To make the space available you should consider the whole small bathroom design. Find a smaller toilet and washbasin and even a smaller bathtub if you have to. Use squared paper and cut out shapes to try many different ways of arranging everything.

Finally look at curved quadrant shower enclosures as a space saving alternative to square or rectangular ones. Finding one of these was the turning point in my small bathroom shower design. Everything fell into place nicely after that.

Read the full article at Small Bathroom Shower

Small Bathroom Shower Design Options

Small bathroom design ideas Small Bathroom Design at http://www.bathroomsremodeling.this-info.com

Adopt a Virtual Baby Online

Virtual pets have always been very popular, but now it's becoming more and more common to adopt a virtual baby online. This is a baby that you will look after just like a real life baby. You'll play with it, feed it, give it toys and, most importantly of all, provide it with a nice home.

When it comes to adopting your own baby on the internet you'll first need to find a website that offers the service. The good news is that more and more sites now have virtual babies to adopt for free. All it takes is a few minutes to sign up, and to do this you'll need an email address and to enter a few personal details such as your name and address.

Baby

Next you will need to choose the baby to adopt. You will be given a number of different options, after which you should enter the name and gender of your baby. It really is that quick - you now have your very own virtual baby to take care of! You are going to have to log back into the site regularly in order to make sure that your baby always stays looked after and happy. Some websites will allow you to download a program so you don't have to log in to the website all the time.

Adopt a Virtual Baby Online

Many websites that allow you to adopt a virtual baby online will also let you show off your baby on sites like Facebook or MySpace, helping you to get your friends involved so you can all watch each other's progress.

Adopt a Virtual Baby Online

Adopt a virtual baby at the author's website by clicking here.

Wording Baby Shower Invitations For Baby Party

A certain turn of phrase will make the baby shower invitations sing - and capture the attention of potential guests. Baby shower wording ideas can come from just about any source, but mostly, the baby shower invitation wording for your baby shower should come from the heart.

Use of Baby Gender for Baby Wording

\"baby Shower Invitations\"

The proper baby invitation wording can be gender specific or gender neutral. If the parents know the gender of their coming child, they could incorporate various phrases to indicate they're expecting a boy or a girl. "We're tickled pink she's having a girl," or "The princess is on the way, so come and celebrate her special day," are possible baby invitation wording. "The little prince is on the way, so come and celebrate his special day," and the traditional "Snakes and snails and puppy dog tails, that's what little boys are made of," are alternate shower invitation wording for moms expecting boys.

Wording Baby Shower Invitations For Baby Party

Shower wording ideas for the gender-neutral shower could include something like "We're all as happy as can be, Mommy and Daddy and baby make three," or "On the way is a bundle of joy, let's shower the brand new girl or boy."

Use of Shower Theme in Selecting Wordings

The shower invitation wording can even come from the theme of the event itself. If there is a star baby theme or a celestial theme, the baby showing wording verses could be "Twinkle, twinkle little star," or "When you wish upon a star." If the host has chosen bears, the baby announcement wordings could be "We are 'beary' excited to welcome a new bundle of joy," or "We can 'bearly' wait for the little one's arrival." Should the theme be ducks, the shower invite wordings, verses and sayings could be "We're so lucky, the new baby is just plain ducky," or "Someone is having a baby, isn't that just ducky?"

For the expectant mother of twins, some cute and creative baby invitation wording verses could be used. "Double the fun, double the love," "They've been blessed twice...it's twins," or "They're coming two-by-two, so much fun for me and you," are all possible baby wording ideas for the baby twin shower.

Wordings from a Poem or Children's Book

For the perfect baby invitations wordings, the host may even check with the expectant mom. The shower invite wordings, verses and sayings may come from a special poem or children's book that are important to the mom-to-be. If the host is stuck, doing a quick search of online shower stationery shoppes should provide some invitation wording ideas. Sometimes, brainstorming wording ideas with friends can also get the juices flowing and allow the host to create the perfect baby shower wording.

What to Include in the Wording, Sayings and Verses

No matter what cute wording verses are used, the important information must be included. The mother's name or the baby's name, if available; the date, location and time of the shower; the phone number for RSVP; and the registry information should all appear somewhere in the announcement.

With creative baby shower wording verses, the guests are sure to get a smile.

Wording Baby Shower Invitations For Baby Party

Sarah Porter has written several articles about Custom Baby Shower Invitations, Printable Baby Invitations, Cheap Shower Invitations, Personalized Invitations Baby Shower, Custom Baby Thank You Cards, Unique Baby Shower Wording and many more for Announcements-Shoppe, Birth-Cards, Cards-411, CardsShoppe and Express-Invitations

Baby Room Decorating Ideas - Color

Baby Room Decorating Ideas.

Color is a major component when it comes to baby room decorating ideas.

Baby

Which color and how much color? Will it be too dull or will it be too bright? Should it be calm without stimulation? Many people wonder about this and we should be relieved to know that there is quite a bit of science behind color theory. How does it affect infants, well there is still much scientific debate about that. There is a multitude of research about how colors affect adults; this is a million dollar research area because marketers need to know about color psychology. And much has been revealed, for example, it's no coincidence that most fast food restaurants are yellow and red, these are the colors that can make you feel more hungry.

Baby Room Decorating Ideas - Color

Can you use this research for baby room decorating ideas? New-borns may not perceive colors correctly for a while, however as your child gets older, pretty soon colors will be affecting there moods and perhaps their decisions to be good or naughty! Here's a quick look at of some color theory:

RED - Emotional, Passion, Excitement, - Red is bold and attention-grabbing. Good as an accent in the nursery. Red's 'hot' personality is too intense for an all over red scheme for your baby room decorating ideas.

ORANGE - Warm, Comforting, Cosy - Orange is a very comfortable color. It promotes a welcoming feeling. A soft orange may be a good choice, especially if the room is not a sunny one.

YELLOW - Energetic, and Lively, Yellow is known as one of the most highly perceived colors. One that catches the eye; so once again use yellow as an accent more so than an overall scheme when thinking of your baby room decorating ideas.

GREEN - Calming, Nurturing Refreshing, - Green is one of the most versatile decorating colors. There are so many hues of green - just like in nature. Good for a learning environment, it is serene and encourages calmness of thinking and of concentration.

BLUE - Calming, healing, subtle and trusty- Blue is calming, but be careful with the shade. Like green it offers many hues. Interestingly, although blue is thought to promote productivity, it is not a companion of food and should not be used too lavishly in food areas. Avoid blue plates or children who do not like eating. With baby room decorating ideas, use warm or bright blues and steer away from dark blue.

PURPLE - Mysterious, Dignified, Luxurious - Purple is relatively rare in nature, and is therefore considered an 'unnatural' color. Somehow perhaps seems too adult for a nursery. However, pastel purples, like lavender and lilac are calming and serene.

PINK - Feminine, Romantic, Loving, - a classic baby colour of course. Girls just love pink. Pink is very calming as well. It sits in between red and white - and pulls on the emotional, passionate elements of red and the purity of white. Pink is a calming colour, and can work wonders with children who are prone to fits or tantrums, so definitely include pink in your baby room decorating ideas. Just in case!

WHITE - Pure, Innocent, Clean - White is pure and angelic. However did you know it can also invoke secretiveness? Pure white is too pure. Always use tones or tints of white to soften the effect. And of course the lighter the color the less it will hide any wear and tear marks.

GREY - Introspective, Intuitive, and Emotional -Perhaps grey is not the color to consider for baby room decorating ideas. This is also an adult style of color, inspiring contemplation, but not always on the bright side. If you love grey and want to use it, perhaps in a very bright sunny room, make sure the tone is warm and you have bright and breezy accent colors.

BROWN - Earthy, Grounded and Haven-like. The personalities of brown should make it an ideal choice for a nursery. However, brown can be dour and un-inspiring, so use with caution and be careful of the shade of brown you select. It should definitely be on the yellow side of the spectrum instead of the blue/brown. And avoid the toilet related medium browns!

BLACK - Powerful and Authoritative. It would be unusual to find a black nursery. But certainly use black as an accent, it is a very defining color that can really sharpen up a scheme. I think most people would choose a softer approach to a baby's room.

Do your research; there is lots of information about color theory to help you when thinking about baby room decorating ideas to create a perfect baby environment.

Baby Room Decorating Ideas - Color

Learn more about what can make life harmonious for babies and parents at this site.
http://www.babiescominghome.com
Baby Room Decorating Ideas

Homemade Baby Shower Centerpieces For Your Next Baby Shower

Whether you are making homemade baby showers centerpiece for the food table or the gift table, you can easily come up and create you own masterpiece. Creativity goes a long way and saves a lot of money! When you begin brainstorming centerpiece ideas, revert back to your overall theme. If the mommy-to-be is having a boy and you have a shower that focuses on all the different sports, then maybe you could have a toy wagon or Tonka truck full of toddler sport equipment. If it is a beautiful baby girl that is expected them you could Care Bears in Diapers as their pastel colors would be perfect.

For the food table, your centerpiece should be your cake, or a diaper cake. A diaper cake is a non-edible creative "cake" made of diapers with baby shower gifts attached to it. You can place it in a cake dish if you would like for an added effect. The diaper cake would look just as great on the gift table and can serve as both a gift and a centerpiece. You could also place miniature pacifiers, bottles, or carriages, (found at your local Dollar Tree), around the food table. Another cute idea for the food table include a basket lined with a clean baby receiving blanket and filled with cookies. For the final touch to the "cookie basket" add a bottle filled with pastel colored m&m's! If your theme involves rubber ducks, why not add a baby bathtub filled with punch to your food table with floating rubber ducks.

\"baby Shower\"

For the centerpiece of the guest's tables, you could use:

• Candles shaped like baby bottles
• Remove the nipple from baby bottles and use the base as a vase; insert fresh or artificial flowers
• Remove the nipple from the baby bottle and insert candy
• Styrofoam Baby Bootie Cups - these are adorable baby booties made from styrofoam cups that you can insert mints, jelly beans, etc. in.
• Alphabet Blocks

Homemade Baby Shower Centerpieces For Your Next Baby Shower

The gift table could easily go without a centerpiece for an inexpensive baby shower as it is likely to be bright and colorful with all the wrapped gifts. As stated earlier, the diaper cake would be perfect. Other great ideas include:

• Diaper wreath - this could also be hung on the delivery room door
• Balloons - by themselves or attached to a diaper stuffed animal or floral arrangement
• Floral arrangement

Making your own centerpiece is easier than you think and you will wow your guests and yourself with these great ideas.

Homemade Baby Shower Centerpieces For Your Next Baby Shower

Maleshia Cave loves sharing inexpensive baby shower ideas. Her site has step-by-step directions, with pics, for making homemade baby shower centerpieces.

Fabric Shower Curtains - Matching the Curtains and Shower Curtain Rods in Your Bathroom

Finding the right fabric shower curtains.

No house would be a home without a few standard rooms. The kitchen, the bedroom, and most importantly the bathroom is used countless times during the day. The average person spends a few hours a day in the small little oasis of the bathroom. However, not everyone's bathroom can be considered an oasis. Although it is the most used room in the house, bathrooms often go undecorated and untouched because they tend to be the smallest.

Shower

Now, there are many ways to spice up this room that is usually dark and glum. Options to lighten up and room and make it an enjoyable place to be are swarming the market. From bathroom renovations with interesting sinks and baths, to new tile and mirrors. There are many ways to make a change. The easiest would be new decorations and linens. Almost every shower requires a curtain to make it private, which makes it the perfect thing to replace. There are many options available for making your shower and your room attractive. Fabric Shower Curtains are a favorite in the market, and are in high demand. They come in thousands of styles to match any look you might be trying to achieve. The benefits of this great decoration are numerous. Everyone should have these to top off their look.

Fabric Shower Curtains - Matching the Curtains and Shower Curtain Rods in Your Bathroom

Fabric Shower Curtains can add a much needed style to your room. They take up a large portion of your area, therefore making it essential that they are styled to match. Plastic and vinyl shower curtains are unsightly and build up mold over a period of time. They can be very hard to clean and need to be replaced often. Fabric Shower liners stay clean much longer, and when they do require a wash, it is easy to throw them in the laundry with the rest of your clothes. Once you pick a curtain that is perfect for you and your space, you'll never have to replace it as long as its made of fabric!

No matter what shape your bathroom is in, you can make a stylish and homey room by just changing your shower curtains. Fabric Shower Curtains will add the touch that your room needs and make it an enjoyable room to be in.

Fabric Shower Curtains - Matching the Curtains and Shower Curtain Rods in Your Bathroom

No shower curtain would be attractive without a curtain rod to match. Fabric Shower Curtains [http://www.84inchshowercurtain.org/] have many options for hanging, whether you wanted a pole that slides through a long slit in the top of the curtain, or holes that require hooks to slide on the shower curtain rod [http://www.84inchshowercurtain.org/], you can pick from hundreds of styles. Choose from different colors and shapes of metal and plastic rods. Curved, L-shaped, straight and more are available to add the perfect touch to these curtains.

Check out 84inchshowercurtain.org to find the curtain to complete any home bathroom.

Parenting Tips For a Couple's First Baby

Many people wait for years to have a child and it is a very special time that they cherish. It can also be a very stressful time, especially when you consider all that needs to be done around the home to prepare it for the arrival of the new child. Although the type of work that is going to be done may vary from one family to another, here are some suggestions which will help you to get started and to provide your child with the healthiest, safest home that is possible.

One thing that you are obviously going to want to consider is the room where the child will be sleeping. If you are going to be doing anything with this room, make sure that it is done far in advance of the arrival of the child. Many of the new items that you bring into the room are going to put off gases that may be harmful to the child. Having them in the room for a while and providing adequate ventilation can help to reduce those dangerous problems. This is also true when painting the room, as paint fumes should not be in the room where the young child will be sleeping.

Baby

Although the child is not going to be moving about when it first comes home, you might be surprised with how quickly it is going to start taking place. That is why it is a good idea for you to have everything prepared in advance for when that moment arrives. Make sure that any electrical outlets are secured so that the child is not able to access them. You should also be cautious about any draperies or blinds, as these can be a choking hazard that will put the child in danger. A checklist can be downloaded on the Internet to ensure that you're doing everything that is possible to keep your child safe.

Parenting Tips For a Couple's First Baby

Most new parents are also not prepared for the amount of items they will need to keep the child happy. These include everything from diapers to custom baby bibs which are going to be used several times throughout the day. Even having lovies for babies so that they can be comfortable and cute at the same time is important and having these things in advance is going to be invaluable in saving time and frustration. You may want to consider asking for these items at your baby shower and continue to pick them up on occasion so that you have an overabundance for when the child arrives.

Finally, do what is necessary in order to make the home a comfortable location so that it will be peaceful for the entire family. There is increasing stress that is associated with bringing a child home, especially as everybody gets accustomed to their new role in the family. If you are able to set up the home in such a way that it will be peaceful and comfortable, you will find that you are able to spend more quality time with the new arrival and everyone will benefit as a result.

Parenting Tips For a Couple's First Baby

The author, Melody Thomas, have many years of experience in caring for newborns and children. She advise young parents to invest in items that provide comfort and warmth for newborns such as lovies for babies.

Baby Shower Party Recipes: Make "Baby" Your Theme

"When you are looking at making food for the next baby shower you host, make sure the word "baby" appears in all the recipes. When the baby shower party recipes all have the word "baby" in them, you are making the menu thematic. Your guests will love it!

Here are some baby shower recipes you can consider the next time you are hosting this type of party:

Baby

*Baby Shrimp

Baby Shower Party Recipes: Make "Baby" Your Theme

*Baby Meatballs

- Both of these only need to be purchased and heated. You can serve them as appetizers with decorative toothpicks.

*Baby Carrots

*Baby Snap Peas

*Baby Swiss Cheese

- Wash and eat the vegetables. Cut into cubes and eat the cheese. These can be used as sides along with your main course or as appetizers throughout your baby shower.

*Baby Bagel Sandwiches

Ingredients:

Various cooked meats - ham, turkey, roast beef

Various fillings - chicken and tuna salad

Various cheeses - American, Swiss and mozzarella

Baby bagels - white and wheat varieties

Sliced vegetables - lettuce, tomato, cucumber

Condiments

- Slice bagels and place on large serving tray.

- Create a large display of the cooked meats and cheeses on a separate large serving tray.

- Have the various fillings in matching serving bowls on either side of the cooked meats tray.

- Create a large display of the sliced veggies on a separate large serving tray.

- Allow your guests to create their own baby bagel sandwich on the spot, so it will be fresh and to their liking.

*Baby Back Ribs</p><p>Ingredients:

2 lbs pork baby back ribs

1 bottle of barbeque sauce - 18 ounces of your favorite variety

- Brush each rib with plenty of barbeque sauce. Wrap tightly in a piece of tin foil sprayed with cooking spray. Place in the refrigerator overnight.

- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

- Bake the foil covered ribs for 2 ½ hours.

- Remove from the foil and add additional sauce to taste.

Makes 4 servings

*Baby Blue Punch

Ingredients:

1 package of blue drink mix, unsweetened - any flavor that is blue

1 bottle lemon lime soda

1 bottle white cranberry juice

Vanilla ice cream

White sugar

- In a large punch bowl, mix the flavored drink mix, lemon lime soda and cranberry juice.

- Add the sugar to taste, up to 1 cup.

- Scoop the ice cream on top and serve.

Makes up to 24 servings

All of these baby shower party recipes are fresh, yummy, and will allow everyone to eat something they enjoy.

Baby Shower Party Recipes: Make "Baby" Your Theme

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies, using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. ="http://baby-showers-etc.com">Free Baby Shower Games, printable activities, party planning tips, menus, recipes, and party supplies to help complete your event.

6 Places to Wear Baby Boy Hats

When it's time to get dressed up for special occasions, many parents like to put their baby boys in special outfits. Along with a cute suit or jumpsuit, they may feel the need to accessorize. Booties and bibs are popular choices, as are hats. When choosing designer baby boys clothes, there are a variety of hat styles to wear that make him look dapper and dressed in his finest. This shows respect for the hosts and gives people something pleasant to talk about.

Birthday Party
Dressing children for birthday parties gives parents the chance to be creative. Whether formal or informal, baby boy hats add a touch of cute and class. They can be worn with jumpsuits for a fashion statement or worn to and from the car for warmth and protection.

Baby

Weddings
Weddings call for accessories, especially for little ones. Wearing a matching hat with a bib, booties and suit adds charm and elegance to the occasion. Whether he is in the wedding party or not, he may steal the show away from the bride and groom.

6 Places to Wear Baby Boy Hats

Church
Wearing elegant baby clothes to church isn't new. For centuries, little boys have been dressed up in their Sunday best, in suits with matching boy booties. A soft matching hat keeps his head warm in church, protecting him from drafts and breezes any time of year.

Anniversary Party
A soft hat in pastel colors goes with nearly any outfit. A cap with a pleated bill in front protects baby's eyes from bright overhead lights and makes a fashion statement at the same time. Those adorned with lace, embroidery, soft trim and buttons show that the little one is dressed for a party to celebrate with family and friends.

A Day at the Park
Not every occasion is commemorated with a party. Sometimes a day at the park for a family outing is a nice way to spend quality time together. A head covering protects him from sunburn, even on cloudy days. It also keeps him warm and wards off breezes while adding a playful touch to his outfit.

Family Photos
Dressing up the entire family for a photo takes careful thought. It is a picture that will be used in holiday cards, framed for gifts and hung on the living room wall. Adding a hat to the children's outfits helps the boys look more dressed up, and is a nice complement to their sisters' dresses and fathers' suit.

6 Places to Wear Baby Boy Hats

Author is a freelance writer. For more information on baby boy hats please visit http://www.babybeauandbelle.com/

Baby Shower Invitations For Twins, Triplets and Other Multiples

Twins and other multiples need double, triple or quadruple the love! Throwing a baby shower for the mom-to-be of twins or multiples can be loads of excitement. The twin baby shower invitations, triplets baby invitations and multiples shower invitations all provide creative and fun ways to let the guests know they'll be celebrating the arrival of more than one baby.

Twins Baby Shower Invitations

\"baby Shower Invitations\"

For the mom expecting two at once, "Peas in a Pod" is a common theme for the occasion. Twin invitations, favors and decorations can pull the "peas" theme together perfectly. The theme can also be used for showers for triplets, just including three peas in the pod on the triplets shower invitation instead of two.

Baby Shower Invitations For Twins, Triplets and Other Multiples

Twins are a more common phenomenon than multiples, so "double" themes can be included in everything from the decorations to the invitations twin showers. On Noah's ark, there were two of every animal. The host can incorporate two of several animals into the shower twin baby invites, as well as the decorations. The old Wrigley's Doublemint commercials always promised "double your pleasure, double your fun." A creative hostess can include this wording on the invitations and maybe give out sticks of gum with specially-designed wrappers as favors.

Baby Party Theme

Moms who like card games can be showered with card-themed parties, incorporating two of a kind, three of a kind or even four of a kind. The invitations for twins, triplets or multiples can be personalized to feature these adorable themes. Much like the sprinkle, where moms-to-be already have children, the expectant family could really use lots of diapers. Incorporating the diaper theme into the cards will let the guests know these necessities will be greatly appreciated.

For the parents of multiples, life gets stressful very quickly. The invitation cards could indicate that guest should bring some homemade meals for the new family to enjoy during those hectic first days as parents of two or more. The host of the shower for multiples should keep in mind that many twins and multiples deliver early. A shower after the babies arrive will avoid mishaps if the mom-to-be goes into labor early or must have an emergency Caesarean section.

Personalized Invitation - A Little Extra for the Twin Baby Shower

Whatever type of party the expectant mom receives, she will always treasure a twin baby shower invitation to remind her of the special day her family and friends put together for her. Putting aside at least one extra invitation will make the mom-to-be's shower experience complete. An invitation delivered in a pretty frame is a special way to commemorate the party.

No matter how many babies the guest of honor is expecting, the invitations can creatively announce the exciting event.

Baby Shower Invitations For Twins, Triplets and Other Multiples

Sarah Porter has written several articles about Free Couples Baby Shower Invitations, Custom Twin Baby Shower Invitations and many more for Announcements-Shoppe, Birth-Cards, Cards-411, CardsShoppe and Express-Invitations

Handling Your Own Shower Drain Installation Project

Upgrading a bathroom is one of the more popular home improvement projects. Handling the plumbing for draining your shower can be exceedingly simple unless you go overboard.

Whether you are a bathtub or shower person, most people look for shower only options when buying a home. This simple fact means more than a few homeowners spend a weekend upgrading or installing showers in their bathrooms. Fortunately for you, it is a fairly simple process.

Shower

A collector or pan refers to the horizontal surface located at the bottom of the shower. The collector typically consists of a non-slip surface slightly banked towards the center or wherever the drain is located. Combined with three to four inch walls around the side, the goal of your shower drainage plumbing is to get the water to flow to and down the drain.

Handling Your Own Shower Drain Installation Project

You can physically build a collector for your new shower, but you really need to think about it. Do you really want to get into the complications of getting the sloping correct, not to mention making sure every aspect of it is waterproof? And I mean every aspect! It is much easier to simply buy a pre-cast collector online or at your local Lowes, Home Depot or hardware store. Building one might sound like a great idea, but you will probably feel differently after a couple of hours.

Regardless of how you go about getting a pan, you should make every effort to use one that has the drain located in the same spot as the original pan. Moving the drain pipes can be a task, particularly if the builder used a unique framing structure. If you are determined to move the drain, you are going to have to cut back the pipe or lengthen it, which may mean ripping up large chunks of the floor. Put another way, you are going to be looking at a multiple weekend project.

Assuming we have our drain lined up, the actual hook up is fairly simple. The drainage pipe should be facing vertical up to the collector. It will often look like a "U", which means it acts as a cleanout to keep nasty smells from coming back up from the drain. To connect the drain, you are going to create a water tight connection between a drain cap on the top of the pan and the drainage pipe. Systems vary, but you are typically going to do this by putting a coupling piece on the top of the drainage pipe. This is then covered with gaskets and literally screwed into the drain cap. The drain cap should act as a locknut, to wit, it screws directly onto the coupling.

The tricky part of this process is getting your drain cap to fit into a watertight position in the pan. This is accomplished by backing off the drain cap once you are sure everything fits together. At that point, you put plumbers putty around the underside of the cap and then screw it back on. The putty should form a tight seal between the cap and the shower pan, which keeps water from trickling under it and into the framing under the shower.

Obviously, bathroom showers come in a wide variety of styles these days. If you purchase a collector, they almost always come with plumbing instructions or the store can note anything unusual you should know. It sounds complex, but is typically pretty straight forward. Have fun!

Handling Your Own Shower Drain Installation Project

Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com, a directory of solar energy companies. Visit us to read more articles on building your own home.

Baby Shower Budget - Who Pays &amp; Figuring the Costs?

Baby showers used to be a gathering of family and close friends, giving handmade gifts and bringing a food item to share. Today's baby showers are much more elaborate, complete with themes, custom baby shower invitations, decorations, entertainment and food, all of which is usually provided by the hostess. This could end up costing the host a whole lot more than anticipated if a budget is not prepared and kept. Read More About Baby Shower Budget, Costs and Who Pays for Baby Shower.

The baby shower is a gift to the Mom-to-Be by the hostess. Therefore, the hostess usually pays all expenses, and depending on how large the baby shower is, the more it will cost. However, the shower does not have to cost a fortune. A nice shower can be planned that meets the budget of the hostess. If the hostess is not in a financial position to pay all of the costs it is becoming very common for several friends or family members to co-host the event ensuring there is enough funding to have a great baby shower. While money isn't everything, you do want to make sure to have the basics are taken care of for the baby shower such as cake, food, custom invitations and entertainment such as games and prizes.

\"baby Shower Invitations\"

The purpose of the baby shower is for the expectant mother's family and friends to get together to help her celebrate her new baby. Of course it is important for both the guest of honor as well as the other guests to have fun, but it does not have to put the hostess in debt.

Baby Shower Budget - Who Pays & Figuring the Costs?

Some of the costs that go into a baby shower are the imprinted baby shower invitations or announcements cards, the food, decorations, games and prizes for the games. Establishing a budget will also keep the costs under control. A nice touch that could help save money is to order your discount baby shower invitations early so you can avoid express shipping.

Another way of keeping the cost down is to co-host with one or more people. This practice is becoming more popular as it allows for a more elaborate baby shower with more people pitching in the funds for the party. The easiest way to go about the dividing up the funds is to divide up the different expenses. Pooling the money can become too difficult and could end up with problems among the hostesses.

It is not appropriate to ask the Mom-to-Be to share in the expenses of the baby shower party, nor asking guests to help with the costs. The hostess should not volunteer to host a baby shower if she truly cannot afford the cost associated with a party. If someone offers to help or pitch in for some of the expenses, that is great. Just don't ask for financial assistance.

If the budget is tight with any of the guests, then suggesting a potluck is still popular and may be a welcoming way for people to feel a part of the planning process without feeling the need to fork over funds that they may or may not have. Plus people can bring their favorite dish, or one of the expectant mother's favorite dishes, which would be a treat for everyone. Don't forget the baby shower thank you cards for the Mom-to-Be to use in thanking all those who gave gifts or who contributed to the baby shower. There are lots of sample invitations and thank you cards wordings, verses and sayings for your baby shower cards.

Baby Shower Budget - Who Pays & Figuring the Costs?

s: Sarah Porter and Patti Paz are authors of several articles including Budget & Who Pays for Baby Shower Party, Invitations Cards for Baby Showers, Baby Showers Invitations and more.

Popular Bathroom Tile Shower Designs

When selecting the ideal shower design for your bathroom, there are several aspects of the project to consider before a final decision is made. Firstly, how large is your bathroom? If you have a small sized bathroom, you will not want to overwhelm it with a large tile design. Doing this will only make the bathroom appear smaller and will throw off the balance of the bathroom. After all, that is what you are looking for isn't it?

On the other hand, if your bathroom is so massive that you can hear a slight echo when words are spoken, the worst thing you can possibly do is to pick a shower tile design that is too small and intricate. Intricate designs work best with small bathrooms, and vice versa. As a rule of thumb, keep your bathroom tile shower design proportionate with the overall size of the bathroom.

Shower

Here are some of the most popular bathroom tile shower designs:

Popular Bathroom Tile Shower Designs

Glass

As of late, glass bathroom tile shower designs are becoming more and more popular. The most up and coming variation of glass tile is called the "mosaic" effect. The mosaic effect is made up of thousands of tiny square glass tiles, usually in a variation of shades within the same base color. Glass tiled showers also attract the eco-activists because glass tiles are often composed of recycled glass. Aside from granite, glass tiles are by far the most expensive bathroom tile shower design of the bunch.

Subway

Subway tiles may very well fall into the retro category; however subway tiles have remained one of the most popular shower design options for over half a decade. If applied correctly, shower tiles are the most seamless and clean-lines options available. Want another reason to choose subway tiles for your shower re-tiling? They are by far the most cost effective shower tiling solution.

Granite

Since the turn of the 21st century, it seems that the design pros have been obsessed with granite tiles, and not just for the bathroom. Interior designers love to use granite tiles as kitchen and bathroom counters, kitchen and bathroom floors, kitchen backdrops and of course, as shower tiles. The nation has spoken; the most luxurious option for bathroom tiles is granite. Yes, granite tiles in a shower look extremely lavish in a shower, however this beauty will come with a hefty price tag. Using granite is the most expensive shower tiling solution.

Popular Bathroom Tile Shower Designs

You can learn more about bathroom tile patterns, and get much more information, articles and resources about bathroom tiles by visiting bathroom tile designs