·        Style: It’s always good to know what you are looking for. Do you currently have a medicine cabinet with one or two doors? Are there mirrors on the doors? Is the medicine cabinet built into the wall or just screwed in?    

·        Craftsmanship: This is a tricky one. In other words, how is the cabinet made? Is it made of wood, or is it made of metal. If it is made of wood, what type of wood? Is the wood easy to clean? What about the metal? What type of metal is it made of? You need to know this for future cleaning and maintenance.  

·        Mirror: Does the medicine cabinet have a mirror? If so, is it incased in metal or plastic? What type of glass is it made of? Will it streak easily or what?

·        Assembly: Does the medicine cabinet come already assembled, or do you need to assemble it? Is hardware included to make installation easy to do?    

 

·        Inset or surface mounted: What kind of medicine cabinet are you looking for? Do you want a surface mounted one that you merely attach to the wall by screws, or an inset mounted one that you literally have to cut a hole in the wall large enough to fit the cabinet?  

·        Location of mirrored door: Are you concerned about the location of the door? Do you want the door to open from the left or the right? You have to see the contour of your bathroom to know which side you want the door to swing open.

·        Sturdiness of hinges: Is the medicine cabinet door and frame recessed where the hinges go? And are the hinges flush against the wood? If it is, the door will close easily and have nothing but the knuckle showing. Do the door hinges come with ball tips (common in older cabinet door hinges)?

·        Your choice of door pullers: Does the dealer have different types of door pullers available for you to choose from you can decide on what door puller you want?

 

·        Winslow Collection Large Mirrored Wall Cabinet: If you have a fancy styled bathroom and want a medicine cabinet with elegance, you should get this one. This one is made from hardwood and handcrafted with a beautiful design. This medicine cabinet comes in a choice of Cherry, ivory, or oak. This unit comes with two shelves inside. It is fully assembled. The price for this lovely is $250.

·        Mendenhall Medicine Cabinet: This cabinet comes in such a style you will not want to hide. It comes in a crown lintel trim style that is unlike other cabinets. The design makes this look classic and elegant to say the least. It comes with a mirrored door and two shelves. The price for this is $465.

·        Palmer Medicine Cabinet: If you are looking for something that is simple but nice, the Palmer medicine cabinet would work for you. You can easy fit this into any kind of bathroom regardless of the look. The price for this is $400.

·        Stainless Steel Medicine Cabinet: Unlike other types of metal cabinets, this won’t rust. It is made of stainless steel that will last for a long time. It has four removable shelves for easy cleaning. It comes with a full-length piano hinge to allow for easy opening and closing. And it has a good quality mirror that gives a great reflection. It comes in a polished or brushed finish. The price for this cabinet is $359.  

·        Steel and Aluminum Medicine Cabinet: Here is a medicine cabinet that is different in that it has an oval shaped mirror to it. It has the same characteristics and features as the stainless steel version above, only the mirror is oval. The price is easier to deal with to at $209.

·        Rhett Design Three Door Medicine Cabinet: Talking about style. This baby comes in aluminum with an anodized finish. It has three beveled mirrors, with plenty of space to store things. If you have the room in your bathroom, this would fit nicely. It is pricey at $1,425, so think about that one when you do your search.

·        Recessed Medicine Cabinet: This medicine cabinet is made of the finest wood materials. This one is made from solid mahogany with a nice satin lacquer finish. If mahogany does not suit your taste, you can get it in cherry, maple, stained oak, or white. This one is installed in the wall, so you need to have a hole there already. The price for this one is $660.

 

·        Door Pullers: Are you given the choice of the type of door puller you want? Instead of the standard door puller, maybe you want one a little classier. For example, instead of having a standard puller, what about a small glass knob? Or a bin puller?

·        Hinges: The type of hinges mounted on your door will determine how easy the door is to open and close. Piano hinges are used for heavier doors while regular hinges are used for average doors. You can get ball-tip types, brass ornamental half-mortise types, and more. Make sure you get the right type.

·        Cabinet latches: Does your medicine cabinet have one on it now? Or do you find them to be better for you when you want to close and lock the doors. This would be especially handy if children are around. If you do need latches, make sure you look at them to find which one will suit you the best.  

 

If you don’t have to stain or paint it, just install it with the screws provided. If it is a recessed cabinet, and you do not already have a hole for it, you will need someone (if you can’t do it yourself), to cut a hole in the wall to place it there.

 

After you have the cabinet on the wall for a while, you need to clean it. Just treat the wood with a cleaner like ‘Pledge’. This will help keep it looking new. If it is metal, just polish the metal every so often to keep it shining like new. Use window for the mirror. This will help keep it from streaking.

If you are looking for a way to transform your current bathroom into an “at home” spa, a steam shower might just be the ticket. Steam showers are great for added relaxation, soothing a cold, or just for something fun and different. You might be interested in adding steam to your existing shower or you might want to completely redo your entire bathroom and each option is possible. It is not difficult to convert a conventional style shower into a steam shower, but there are a few things to consider before making the investment.

It is important to be aware of the walls and ceilings surrounding your shower. The shower enclosure walls and ceilings must be constructed of a completely waterproof material. Marble, stone and ceramic tile are excellent materials that are water-impervious and create a water tight steam shower.  Some manufacturers offer a steam shower package deal which consists of the complete unit. Most of these units are constructed from acrylic or fiberglass, which are both water-impermeable. Exposed sheet rock and plaster are not recommended for the casing of a steam shower. The slope of the ceiling is also a crucial factor to consider. It plays an important role in creating the perfect configuration. While it is not a requirement, a small slope in the ceiling is quite beneficial. As steam from the steam shower begins to condense, it forms drops of water that will eventually fall straight down from a flat ceiling. These drops are often cool and unwanted during a hot and relaxing steam shower. An ideal ceiling should contain a slight slope or curve that forces the condensed steam down the wall rather than directly on the person taking a shower. These simple steps will allow for a more enjoyable experience.

The steam shower door does not seem to be very crucial, but it is an element that is important in considering when creating a new steam shower. It must be specifically designed to keep steam inside of the shower. A conventional shower door is constructed to keep water inside of the shower, but not necessarily steam. A steam shower requires a special door that is properly sealed with something similar to weather stripping. The door must also extend to the very top of the shower. An appropriate steam shower door will help capture more steam and in tern, create a more relaxing shower for you and others to enjoy.   

If you are building a new home and feel that you might be interested in a steam shower, then now is the best time to consider purchasing one. 
It is much easier for you to invest in the steam shower now and have it completely installed while the new bathroom is being built, rather than changing your mind later. However, even if you do change your mind, there are trouble-free ways of creating steam showers from existing conventional showers. 

The steam generator is the heart of the entire steam system. The generator is what produces the steam and sends it to the shower. Steam generators of fairly petite in size, especially for all of the work they do. They are designed to be placed in a cabinet, an attic, or a basement. There are some generators that are even small enough to fit between two studs in the wall. A pipe connects the steam generator to the shower and it is recommended that the steam generator be located within twenty five feet of the shower.  

There are many types of controllers for you to choose from, depending on the amount you are willing and able to afford. The controller’s job is simply to turn the steam shower on and off when needed. It basically consists of an on/off switch to be used by the person taking the shower. Some more advanced controllers contain timers and thermostats to make it even easier for the user. Controllers are normally located inside of the steam shower, but they can also be installed outside of the unit for easy access. 

The steam head is the piece of hardware that emits the steam. They are available in a variety of finishes to match other hardware in your bathroom. The steam heads should be installed near the bottom of the shower. They do become extremely hot when the steam is being emitted and should be located in a place that they will not be touched by the user.   

Some steam heads are constructed with small reservoirs that are designed hold scented oils. The oil is heated and then emitted along with the steam. This is a great way to relax in your steam shower while enjoying a pleasant aroma of your choice.