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Planning and dreaming your Chicago bathroom remodeling project is the fun part. Enjoying your finished project is the thrilling part. Living through the remodeling process - - not so fun. There's no way to sugar coat it; remodeling is a noisy, messy business but the more prepared you are for what it entails, the easier it will be on your household.

Prior to brainstorming Chicago bathroom remodeling ideas, a bathroom sink is simply a hole in a vanity that collects water so it can drain through the plumbing, and the faucets you use while out and about are worth a cursory notice once in a while. Then, when it's time for you to select the sink and faucets for your bathroom remodel (insert spotlight and dramatic background music...), all of a sudden selecting your bathroom's plumbing fixtures is one of the most important decisions you have ever made in your life.

It's always a good idea to see what's trending in the world of bathroom design when planning your own remodel. It's not that you want to copy another design. Quite the contrary, since you want your design to reflect your personal lifestyle and daily routine. However, paying attention to Chicago bathroom remodeling ideas can give you fresh inspiration and may inspire ideas you wouldn't have thought about otherwise.

Houzz.com has become the go-to resource for most people interested in building or remodeling their home. We've written about those Houzz wizards before in our blog about The What and Why of Houzz. So, odds are that if their surveys report that something is trending, our Kitchens & Baths Unlimited clients will want to know about it.

In theory, almost everyone (everyone, meaning mostly women) fantasizes about a huge, deep, soaking tub, candle lit evenings, listening to the sounds of soft music, luxuriating in transcendent aromatherapy and drifting away on bubbly dreams.

Traditional bathroom designs are most common in master bath and powder room spaces. This is because the features that typically define them - neutral tones, decorative cabinet panels, faucets and fixtures with heavier embellishment create a natural segue from a cozy bedroom or living room space.

Oh, how you love the look of an antique clawfoot bathtub, or a beveled mirror with an embellished reproduction antique frame. On the other hand, you also dig the look of recycled glass countertops and big tile work with fun pops of color. How on earth can you reconcile your appreciation for both contemporary and traditional bathroom design motifs?

One of the first questions you should ask yourself when planning your Chicago bathroom remodel is, "What style are we going for here?" Typically, you will lean towards traditional, transitional or contemporary. Having a general idea of what you want will simplify the design process for you and your design team.

While we wouldn't say that the backsplash is frequently an afterthought (quite the contrary since it's often a major feature or highlight of a kitchen remodel), we will say that clients often wait a liiiiiiittle too long before choosing which type of backsplash they want. There are a few problems with this:

Early each year, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) hosts a mega-event, called the International Builders Show. Among other events and showcases taking place during the week is Design and Construction Week, which includes a "Concept Kitchen" designed and built by an applicant chosen by NAHB. This year's Concept Kitchen installation was created by Jonas Carnemark, CKD, CR, and owner of Bethesda, Md.-based companies Carnemark and Konst.