Tenant Proof Bath Tub and Shower Design

For a tenant proof  bath tub/ shower area, tile the entire wall including the ceilings. This will prevent water damage to the shower ceiling from broken shower nozzles or aggressive shower cleaning. If you can afford to do so I recommend also tiling the ceiling a foot or two past the shower ceiling or even better the whole bathroom ceiling.

Tiling the ceiling wall of the shower or even the entire bathroom ceiling was typically done in 1930's bathroom such as the one pictured above. Later on this very practical tiling practice was abandoned, most likely due to builder costs. Leaving homeowners with the odious task of repainting and replacing the shower ceiling every few years. If have your very own pink and green 1930's vintage shower as pictured above be sure to keep it. You can of course create your own 30's inspired shower using black and white subway tile with gray grout. This color scheme will appeal to the greatest number of tenants. The initial cost will be more but you won't need to ever paint or repair the walls due to a broken shower nozzle. I also recommend taking the opportunity to add a support bar attached to the stud walls at this time.

 Here is another tiled shower/tub combinations.

Timeless Kitchen Design Part 3 Hardware

Timeless Kitchen Cabinetry Hardware Part 3

Simple hardware, unadorned knobs and pulls enhancing the functionality of this kitchen. The practicality of the old fashioned drawer pulls and glass knobs is such that they have become classics used in a variety of applications far beyond kitchens and bathrooms. For a variety of classic knobs. pulls and hardware check out Rejuvenation Classic American Lighting and House Parts.

This kitchen has 1 1/4 inch black hexagonal glass knobs in black and hexagonal glass pull.

1-1/4in. Hexagonal Glass Knob

Tenant Proof Kitchen Sinks and Surrounds

The best kitchen sinks for your home and rental that are useful and easy to maintain are seamless double drainboard sinks with an integral countertop and backsplash. These sinks were either wall mounted or came with legs. They came with a low apron and because of the lack of an extra hole next to the faucet to provide an air gap dishwashers cannot be installed underneath them. However, portable dishwashers than you roll up and hook up to the sink can be used. Portable dishwashers come with a finished top, side and back as well as being on wheels to make their wheeling up to the sink much easier.They are more expensive then built in dishwasher but also easier to replace if something breaks and can't be fixed. They tend to last a long time we are still using ours built in the 1980's.

Another option is the porcelain sink with integral backsplash and double drainboards with the metal base cabinet that were available in the 1930's to 1950's. Many of these are still available.

These double drainboard integral sinks in either a single or double sink model have a deck mounted faucet and a lower backsplash. The deck mounted faucet will make your plumber smile but you will grimace at cleaning the water gunk that collects around them. The low backsplash will not protect your walls as much as a taller backsplash, however you will have lots of storage for things under the sink and if you like you will be able to install a built in dishwasher.

Another option for a seamless double drainboard sink is the Elkay Gourmet Lustertone stainlesss steel double drainboard sinks. They come in single or double sink version in a variety of sizes.They are very difficult to find on Elkay's website unless you have the code to plug in.

Elkay Gourmet Lustertone single sink with double drainboards are as follows

S5419
S5019
S7219

Elkay Gourmet Lustertone double sinks with double drainboards are as follows:

D6029
D6629
D7234
D8434



There is a rumor that Elkay has an option to customize this sink by adjusting the backsplash height and the side splash heights but I have not been able to find this and in general it is extremely difficult to find any of these sinks by Elkay on their website without the codes. I love the option of stainless steel but I really miss the rounded, bulbous shape of the porcelain over cast iron sinks with their 8 to 12 inch backsplash and their backsplash mounted faucets that prevent crude from collecting behind the deck mounted faucet and backsplash.