Wednesday, October 2, 2002

To retile or not to retile? That's the question

If you're like most homeowners, you're long on decorating ideas ... and short on cash.

Oh, to have a fully landscaped backyard! Restored kitchen cabinets! New carpeting! While the ideas may be endless, the ways of financing them are all too finite.

One of the most utilized, yet often most under-appreciated, rooms of the house is the bathroom. Like the kitchen, it tends to fall into the "I'd-like-to-remodel-but-it's-too-daunting-and-expensive" category.

According to calculations by R.S. Means, a construction-costs estimating company, a full bathroom remodel costs, on the average, $7,771 in the South, $8,989 in the Midwest, $9,458 in the West, and $9,500 in the East. While that may seem high, compare it to the price of a brand-new bathroom, which the National Kitchen and Bath Association estimates could cost up to $11,600.

Small wonder many homeowners simply accept their temperamental toilets, faulty faucets, and tired-looking tiles. With the latter, however, there is not only hope -- but also a solution.

Hopkins, Minn.-based Environmental Graphics, the market leader in decorative products for home or office in the United States, has recently launched their revolutionary Stick'n Stile appliqués, offering homeowners a new cost-effective way to brighten up their bathrooms.

"While the number-one goal of 83 percent of Generation Xers is to remodel this year, cost will certainly be a factor" explains Todd Imholte, president of Environmental Graphics. "Many of those seeking to redecorate their bathrooms will focus on ways to enhance what already exists -- as opposed to remodeling the entire room."

According to Imholte, ceramic tiles continue to be a popular bathroom design element. "The average growth rate of tile sales is expected to be in the 6 percent-per-year range through 2004, as more and more people appreciate their value, aesthetic appearance, durability and ease of maintenance. With Stick'n Stile, they can retain the ceramic wall tile look that they currently enjoy, yet incorporate fresh design attributes that will add new life and personality to the room."

Stick'n Stile peel-and-stick appliqués are easily applied to tiles, shower doors, mirrors and plastic or fiberglass tubs, creating a ceramic custom look within minutes. Appliqués come in several popular sizes and are available in trend-setting designs (such as Water World) that reflect the latest colors and themes. Created with today's consumers in mind, they color-coordinate with towels, bathmats, shower curtains and other bath accessories readily available at upscale department stores as well as value stores like Target.

Installation is a breeze, since the appliqués are simply affixed to the cleaned surfaces. A damp cloth and mild domestic cleaner is all that's needed to clean them, and removal is just as easy with the help of a blow dryer.

Stick'n Stile appliqués are currently available in most Bed Bath and Beyond stores. For the nearest location for Stick'n Stile, visit the company's Web site, www.sticknstile.com.

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