Plumber: Little accessories make a big impression in a bathroom

Q: I'm planning to remodel my bathroom, and a friend asked me what theme I had in mind for the accessories. Accessory theme? Is this something that I really need to plan for? I had never heard of such a thing and would like your views on the topic and any additional information that you could give me.

— Betty, Indiana

A: Yes, there's really such a thing as accessory planning for your bathroom. It's big business, and there are many plumbing-fixture manufacturers that make complete lines of bathroom accessories to perfectly match the style, finish and color scheme of their fixtures. For instance, suppose you pick out a brushed-nickel finish on your contemporary faucet. With custom bathroom accessories, everything from your toilet-flush handle to your exposed sink traps and shower valves can match up perfectly. That also includes all your non-plumbing accessories as well. Here are some of the non-plumbing accessory items available that you can get from your manufacturer to snazzily complement your bathroom plumbing fixtures:

— Toilet-tissue holders: Notice they're not called "toilet-paper holders" — pretty classy. Even classier is when they look as pretty as your faucet, shower head and shower valve.

— Towel bars: Even though they will look custom-made, they come in different standard lengths and double-bar setups to provide great options for your bathroom.

— Robe hooks: A robe hook is one of those small details that really make a bathroom a lot more user-friendly.

— Glass shelves and draw pulls: These items can add functional elegance to any bath or powder room.

— Bathroom lighting, along with mirrored cabinets: From contemporary to traditional, mirrors and lighting fixtures offer coordinating solutions to bridge gaps between all the accessories.

— Soap dishes and toothbrush holders: These matching accessories can always provide the final finishing touch.

Designing a bathroom where all the small accessories are made in the same style with the same finishes can take that room to a higher level of elegance. You might say that when it comes to your bathroom, the days of odds and ends have come and gone!

Master Contractor/Plumber Ed Del Grande is known internationally as the author of the book "Ed Del Grande's House Call" and for hosting TV shows on Scripps Networks and HGTVPro.com. For more information, visit eddelgrande.com or write eddelgrande@hgtvpro.com. Always consult local contractors and codes.

Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.