Tub and Shower Trim, etc

[whitemerlot]

I'm hiring out a bathroom remodel on 3 bathrooms (a full, 3/4 and a 1/2). I need to pick out the following and would love recommendations. I plan to do stainless/ brushed chrome, but am pretty overwhelmed. I welcome tips, or advice.

Shower trim kit
Tub and Shower trm kit
Bathroom faucet (4 in center set)
TP Holders
Towel Bars (how many do you have?)

[lys]

I do not know what you mean by "kit" - for shower or tub and shower.
I have all chrome for my bathrooms - Kholer faucets, TP holder and towel bar (one large one - in the main bathroom and a towel bar and hooks in the smaller bathroom)

[FoxInFiji]

OK well first stainless steel or brushed chrome finish is going to cost you extra a limit your options. I would stick with either a polished chrome (the cheapest option) or brushed nickel which are both very common.

There is a lot to learn about fixtures. I would start by visiting the GardenWeb bathroom board and using the search function to find discussions on fixtures.
ths.gardenweb.com/forums/bath/

If you simply go with your plumbers advice you're not necessarily going to get the best fixture. They tend to use basic inexpensive fixtures because it's less work for them.

What price range are you thinking? Is this a home you're going to be in for a long time or is it a short term? We just gutted two bathrooms and are intending this home to be our forever home so we wanted the best we could get for a reasonable price. We stuck with Grohe and Hansgrohe brands because they are high quality fixtures with awesome warranties and long lasting parts. When parts do need to be replaced they are easy to access and find. They don't constantly discontinue parts and styles like Kohler, Moen, Delta, and Price Pfister do so you have to replace your fixture all together. Grohe and Hansgrohe fixtures are solid metal (excluding a few trim pieces and some shower faces) and have a PVD finish (the best possible). Some of our fixtures have infused air so they feel like more water than you're actually using and they maintain a nice strong pressure even in homes with low pressure. The weight and build of the Grohe and Hansgrohe fixtures we ordered made the Kohler, Moen, Price Pfister, and Glacier Bay fixtures we had/still have look like crap. The prices aren't much more than Kohler/Moen fixtures and compared to the overall cost of the bathroom remodel the cost difference is insignificant.

As far as type of fixture...go thermostatic. All the way! I am in love with our new thermostatic valves. They make my morning so much nicer and quicker. I just turn the volume handle to on and it's at the perfect temperature in seconds. No adjusting or fumbling to get the right volume and temperature like our old pressure balance fixtures. With the Hansgrohe thermostatic valve we're able to control the handheld (we use it like an overhead) and tub spout with one simple fixture. Oh and I love having a handheld. It makes cleaning the shower, tub, and dog sooo much easier. After using the one in our main bathroom we altered the master bathroom shower design to have one as well. Here are the fixtures we picked for the two bathrooms:

Handheld used as an overhead, stream lined intergrated wallbar, 6" head with 3 adjustable spray patterns, air infused


Tub spout


Thermostatic valve and rough in used to control tub spout and handheld




Hansgrohe single hole two handle faucet, single hole is super easy to clean around, the gooseneck makes face washing easier, I love the vintage look of this faucet


For the master bathroom:
Hansgrohe exposed thermostatic valve with 10" overhead rain shower and handheld, metal shower face, comes with a metal hose (though we have their plastic one in our main bathroom and it's also very nice)


Grohe widespread faucets for each sink and a matching roman tub faucet, handles sold separately in either cross or lever style...we went with the lever




For towels we used hooks instead. We could fit more towels in the same space that way and they dry off fine. We do have towel bars for the hand towels though. Open ended toilet paper holders for both. In both bathrooms we used the Gatco brand. Nice stuff. Gatco Max in the main bathroom and Lowes Allen + Roth in the master which is made by Gatco. We also used Gatco for the metal shower curtain rod and holders as well. No more cheap tension rod that has a lip in the center (because it's adjustable) you have to pull the rings over!

HTH

[whitemerlot]

Thanks for the long reply, FoxInFiji! I will look into everything you are suggesting.