Community.Swnews4u.com - http://Community.Swnews4u.com/blogs/detail/52789/. Dodgy plumbing, rotten flooring, leaky fittings - the thought of undergoing major renovations on your bathroom can be enough to make any of us shudder.

But although embarking on work on your property can be daunting, home design and real estate expert Kate Rumson explains that with the right preparation there's no reason why you can't achieve an Instagram-worthy finish.

Kate, who founded The Real Houses of Instagram - one of the largest interior design and luxury real estate brands in the world - says that the social media platform is actually a really great place to look for inspiration. 






Embarking on bathroom renovation can be daunting, but home design and real estate expert Kate Rumson says that there's no reason why you can't achieve an Instagram-worthy finish


She tells DailyMail.com: 'I love it when designers share progress shots of their work on Instagram - it's so interesting to follow a project from start to completion.'  

Since building the Real Houses of Instagram into an incredibly popular home decor feed with a following of nearly 2.5 million, Kate has embarked on the mammoth project of building her own home in New Jersey from scratch.

Kate's followers have watched (and contributed their thoughts) through each step of the project right back from when the land was cleared and the first plans drawn up. Here Kate shares some of the bathroom renovation tips and tricks she's learnt along the way.

Potential pitfalls 

Kate says that there are a host of potential problems that could be lying behind the drywall and tile in bathrooms, from rotten subfloor and missing insulation to outdated electrical wiring and gas pipes inside the walls you were hoping to build on.






Kate Rumson founded The Real Houses of Instagram, one of the largest interior design and luxury real estate brands in the world


But she believes that this shouldn't put you off embarking on a project. Kate explains: 'Just remember that everything can be fixed and bathroom remodeling contractors see some, or all of these issues on most jobs - it's a part of the bathroom remodeling process.

'I wouldn't recommend worrying too much about potential pitfalls, but instead focus on the end result - it's best to address all of those potential issues anyway. 

'Just think about the peace of mind you'll have from knowing that your new bathroom isn't only beautiful on the outside, but everything is new and up to code on the inside as well!' 

Time and budget 

Although it depends on the size and complexity of the project, Kate says she usually estimates that the entire bathroom renovation process will take about a month. 

And when it comes to budget, since costs can vary wildly Kate advises really doing your homework and meeting with at least two reputable contractors to get a few estimates. 

'I would recommend visiting decorative plumbing, tile and lighting showrooms to get ideas for what you like and get familiar with prices of different products,' she adds.

'Just faucets alone range from $15 to $4,000 plus, and the same applies to tiles, countertops, lighting and everything else. So knowing the type of fixtures and finishes you want to use will make it easier to plan a budget.'   

Fixtures and fittings 

The brands and styles you use in your bathroom will depend largely on your budget and the aesthetic you hope to achieve, but Kate has shared a few of her favorites with DailyMail.com.

She says: 'I have Brizo faucets in my current bathroom and will be going with them again in the new house I'm building. I love Brizo's edgy designs and their fixtures look and feel high-quality.
















Kate has shared photos of her own bathroom renovation, having transformed a dark dingy room (left) into a bright, chic and fresh space (right)


'I love DreamLine shower doors for their endless style options and proprietary ClearMax glass coating that makes them easy to keep clean and looking brand new.'

Kate also raves about Wetstyle, a Canadian brand she discovered while looking for the perfect bathtub for her own master bathroom. She says: 'They make stunning and environmentally friendly bathtubs, sinks and vanities - I couldn't love their products and story more.' 

For lighting, she recommends Hinkley for the 'many beautiful and unique designs that come in a variety of sizes and finishes'. 

Kate adds: 'Having options makes it easier to work in small spaces such as bathrooms, and being able to match lighting to the finish of the plumbing fixtures is simply wonderful!' 
















Kate says that bathroom remodeling contractors see a variety of pitfalls and problems on jobs but there's rarely ever anything that can't be fixed with a bit of work


The home design expert says the one thing you don't want to forget is proper ventilation to prevent mold and mildew and all of the issues that can come from it.

'I install wallpaper and crown moldings in almost every bathroom I design,' she says. 'So my list of products needed for any bathroom renovation always begins with a high quality exhaust fan. I always use Broan fans - they offer many fantastic features and are quiet and energy efficient.' 

The final touches

Once construction is complete, the fun part begins. In terms of bathroom decor, Kate says that Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware tend to be her go-tos. 

She adds that Bed Bath and Beyond offers a great selection for everything you could possibly need to complete a bathroom renovation project. 

Kate says: 'Accessorizing a newly renovated bathroom is the best part of the process - all of the hard work is behind you and now you get to have fun with colors, textures and small storage solutions to make the space beautiful, functional and truly reflective of your personal style.'

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