Resources

The first place I start on any decorating projects is with a book. There are so many design possibilities and for a bathroom, lots and lots of things to learn. Fortunately, there’s a book for just about everything. Listed here are the best of the best and some of my favorites.

If you haven’t watched Candice Olson on TV, then you’re missing one of the best designer out there. I call her style “grown up with easy comfort.” She has a way of making even the simplest of design look elegant, but not too full of it self or fussy. Fortunately, she has a lot of design books and including this new one one: Candice Olson Kitchens and Baths 

There’s a reason the “Dummies” books do so well. It’s because they are crammed full of useful information. Just look at what you’ll find in Bathroom Remodeling for Dummies, Establishing a Budgets, Find the $, Ruba Dub Dub! All About Tubs, Walls and Ceilings Finished to Perfection. There’s even a chapter about hat the well-stocked tool box should look like. Bathroom Remodeling for Dummies 

Every do-it-yourself needs a well-stock library of reference books. For plumbing, I recommend checking out Black & Decker: The Complete Guide to Plumbing. It’s filled with a lot of good information (and lots of pictures, too).  There’s a lot here, from plumbing fixtures, to installations, to repairs and everything you need to know about plumbing tools. It’s also gotten solid reviews from buyers on Amazon. Black & Decker: The Complete Guide to Plumbing 

I love remodeling before and afters. It’s that whole “silk purse from a sow’s ear” thing. Sunsets Before & After Bathroom Makeovers is full of sow’s ears and silk purses. Sunset, after all, is one of my favorite magazines, so it’s no wonder it’s filled with the real thing. These bathroom makeovers don’t take place in a studio, but in real people’s homes. It’s one of those idea-inducing books you could spend hours pouring over, so to make sure you get your copy. Sunsets Before & After Bathroom Makeovers