Elevate Your Shower Remodel: 11 Tips for a Blend of Luxury and Function!

The shower has transformed from a quick morning stop into a space for pure relaxation and rejuvenation. Today’s homeowners are looking for features that combine durability with elements of luxury, creating a personal retreat that still meets everyday needs. To help inspire your next remodel, we spoke with design professionals about the top finishes, fixtures, colors, and materials that bring a fresh, elegant feel to any shower space. 1. Infuse Spa-Like Elements Bring the serenity of a spa to your home with features like a steam system, multiple spray heads, or a rain shower head. Adding these elements can create a calming environment that offers relaxation beyond the daily routine. And don’t forget a built-in bench for the ultimate touch of luxury and practicality. 2. Combine Overhead and Handheld Showerheads For a versatile showering experience, many designers recommend a combo of an overhead rain shower and a handheld showerhead. This gives you both the luxury of a rainfall shower and the functionality of a handheld for easy rinsing and cleaning. It also makes your shower adaptable to different height people using your shower. You know the kids love your bathroom better :) TIP: A hand shower with additional plumbing on the wall can serve as a focal point in the bathroom, especially when integrated with dramatic tilework. 3. Go Bold with Shower Jets For a true spa-at-home vibe, water jets can deliver targeted streams of water that relieve muscle tension. With adjustable settings, you can customize your experience, from a gentle mist to a powerful massage. Tip: Delta’s H2Okinetic PowerDrench Spray, which has special technology that sculpts water into a unique wave pattern, forming a powerful, drenching spray is a pretty cool showerhead. 4. Opt for a Sliding Handheld Shower If space or budget constraints rule out a dual shower station, consider a handheld shower on a sliding rod. It provides flexibility for different heights and adds a striking focal point when paired with elegant tilework. 5. Future-Proof with Accessibility Features Adding features like grab bars and curbless entries enhances accessibility for years to come, while also adding style. A sleek, curbless shower adds a streamlined look and is perfect for maintaining open flow within the bathroom. 6. Invest in Built-In Storage Create ample, accessible storage with recessed niches or a built-in bench. Opt for larger and deeper niches to accommodate shampoo bottles, razors, and other essentials without cluttering the space. Tip: Go bigger and deeper than your contractor recommends. Most people have oversize shampoo bottles, soap, razors, kids’ products and more. If you don't have pre labled containers you may consider hiding the storage area on the front side so no one can see it. 7. Prioritize Drainage and Lighting A quality drain prevents standing water, and lighting can make or break your shower space. LED lights or a clerestory window allow for natural and ambient light, creating a welcoming environment. 8. Embrace Smart Features Smart technology is everywhere, including in the bathroom. Smart showers have many features that can make your shower experience more convenient and safer, including: Digital temperature control: Set and lock in your preferred water temperature, and use sensors to ensure the water is the right temperature.    Safety features: Prevent scalding with built-in safety features, like heat range limits for children.    Voice control: Use a voice command system, like Alexa, to control your shower hands-free 9. Choose the Right Door and Curtain Options A frameless glass shower provides a sleek, open feel, while a fabric curtain can soften the look and add a touch of color or pattern. For guest bathrooms, some designers favor curtains as a budget-friendly, flexible option to adapt the decor over time. Shower doors, on the other hand, offer a watertight barrier that keeps water contained and prevents splashes on the floor. Curtains offer more versatility than doors, allowing for easy, cost-effective updates to the bathroom's style. In larger bathrooms, opting for no door or curtain can create a more spacious look with less upkeep. Tip: Most shower curtains and liners are machine washable. Use a mild detergent and a gentle cycle for best results. 10. Pick a Striking Tile and Grout Finish Make a statement with bold feature tiles or porcelain in matte finishes for safety. Consider colored grout to add a custom touch while keeping maintenance easy. Tip: Choose matte-finished tiles for shower floors to enhance slip resistance; smaller tiles, like mosaics, provide even better traction. For the walls, opt for a glossier finish—these tiles are easier to clean, reflect light well, and keep the space feeling bright and open. 11. Experiment with Mixed Hardware Finishes Don’t feel limited to matching everything. Try mixing hardware finishes, like matte black with brushed nickel, for a unique and balanced look that enhances the overall aesthetic of the shower space.Metals, like colors, come in temperatures, with warmer tones being those we associate with yellows like brass, copper, gold, and bronze. In the same way, silver tones like stainless steel, nickel, chrome, and aluminum are considered cool tones. Black may be neutral, but it acts like a cool metal would. Any black metal, like cast iron, can easily work with other metal tones in your bathroom design plan.TIP: Try pairing shiny, polished fixtures with matte metals for a clean, modern look. For a sleek bathroom, try brushed finishes in complementary colors. Oil-rubbed bronze allows you to see just hints of bronze, so look for other warm-toned metals like polished bronze, copper, or even gold.    💡 Curious about more homeownership tips? Follow us at Rethinking Real Estate for insights and advice that keeps you informed! We have more blog posts at https://rethinkingre.com/blog or go to our youtube channel at  https://youtube.com/@rethinkingre

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Fright Night Lights: Easy Halloween Lighting Ideas for Your Home

Good eeeeevening!When the calendar flips to October and the nights grow longer, it’s the season to turn your abode into the most spook-tacular spot on the block! But what’s that you say? You don’t want to use just any old light bulbs? Check out these Halloween Flame Bulbs. Oh, my ghoulish friend, have no fear (or maybe have just a little!). This blog post will guide you through the most eerie-sistible lighting tricks and treats for Halloween with direct Amazon affiliate links to save all that shopping time. 1. Ghostly Glows Who knew that phantoms were such environmentalists? Opt for LED bulbs with a soft, eerie blue or green hue. Not only will they conserve energy, but they'll also give your house that ghastly glow, making it look like it's haunted by a few energy-saving spirits. 2. Jack-O-Lantern Jive Are your carved pumpkins feeling left out in the dark? Ditch the traditional candles and pop in a flickering LED light or even a color-changing bulb. It’s safer, lasts longer, and gives Mr. Pumpkin a disco vibe. He's been waiting all year for his moment to shine! Check out Pumpkin Lights that come in a 4-pack with a variety of colors and a remote control. 3. Witchy Hat Decor Halloween witch hats with lights are ideal for decorating yards, costume parties, or hanging on trees, porches, and more. You can even wear them as part of your costume! Find them here. 4. Let the Doorbells Bring the Fear Create a spooky doorbell with sound effects when rung! Ring and Google Nest doorbells both offer creepy sound effects like ghostly moans or witches' cackles. Enhance the experience with Halloween Doorbell Sensors. 5. Mummy-fied Chandeliers Wrap your chandeliers with white cloth strips or add skeletons for a tomb-raider feel. Check out the Skeleton Chandeliers. 6. Pathway to the Underworld Guide trick-or-treaters with luminescent pathway markers like glowing orbs or skeleton hands. Grab these hand lights here. 7. Monster Motion Sensors Make guests jump with motion-sensor lights that activate as they approach. We recommend Spidey Motion Lights. 8. Bat-tastic Bulb Covers Turn regular lights into flying bats with bat-shaped bulb covers. Find glowing bat LED covers on Amazon. 9. Final Frontier - UV Lights Want to see what's lurking in the shadows? Use UV (black) lights to highlight ghostly figures or spider webs. Check out Halloween UV Lights. There you have it—a guide to lighting up your Halloween in the most spook-tastic way possible! It’s all about setting the mood, whether you're going for fun and playful or dark and eerie. Get out there, have a blast, and light up the night!Happy Haunting!

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How to Avoid Capital Gains Tax When Selling Your Home: Key Tips for Homeowners,

  For many homeowners in Washington State, selling a home can come with significant financial benefits. One of the biggest concerns for sellers, however, is whether they will have to pay taxes on any profits they make from the sale. Fortunately, the federal tax code and Washington State laws offer some relief for homeowners through the Capital Gains Tax Exclusion for primary residences. Let’s break down what this means and how you can potentially avoid paying capital gains tax when selling your home. What Is Capital Gains Tax? Capital gains tax is a tax on the profit made from the sale of a property or an investment. When you sell your home for more than you paid for it, the difference between the selling price and the purchase price is considered a capital gain. This gain is generally subject to federal capital gains tax, and in some states, it’s also subject to state taxes. However, Washington State does not impose a state-level income tax on your personal residence, which means that, for most Washington homeowners, only the federal capital gains tax applies when selling their homes. How Does the Capital Gains Tax Exclusion Work? Under federal law, homeowners can exclude up to $250,000 of capital gains from the sale of their home if they are single, and up to $500,000 if they are married and file jointly. This means that, in many cases, homeowners can sell their primary residence without paying any capital gains tax at all, as long as certain conditions are met. What Conditions Must Be Met to Qualify for the Exclusion? To take advantage of the capital gains tax exclusion, the IRS requires that the following conditions be met: Ownership Requirement: You must have owned the home for at least two of the last five years before the sale. The ownership does not need to be continuous, but it must total at least two years. Use Requirement: You must have lived in the home as your primary residence for at least two of the last five years. Again, the two years don’t need to be consecutive. No Other Capital Gains Exclusion in the Last Two Years: You cannot have claimed the capital gains exclusion on another home sale within the last two years. This rule is designed to prevent homeowners from flipping properties tax-free. Primary Residence: The exclusion only applies to your primary residence, not second homes or investment properties. although there is a way to defer captial gains on investment property. We will go into more detail on this in another blog post. Examples of How the Exclusion Works: Let’s say you and your spouse bought your home in Lake Tapps 10 years ago for $300,000. Now, you’re selling it for $800,000, which means you’ve made a profit of $500,000. If this was your primary residence, and you meet the ownership and use requirements, you can exclude the entire $500,000 gain from federal taxes. Essentially, you would owe no capital gains tax on the sale. However, if you’re single and made the same $500,000 gain, you would only be able to exclude $250,000 of that profit from taxes. The remaining $250,000 would be subject to federal capital gains tax at a rate that could range from 0% to 20%, depending on your income level. Partial Exclusion: There are certain situations where a homeowner may qualify for a partial exclusion of capital gains. This may apply if you had to sell your home due to specific circumstances like a job change that required relocation, health reasons, or other unforeseen events. In these cases, you might be eligible for a prorated portion of the exclusion, even if you didn’t meet the full two-year requirement. Washington’s Stance on Capital Gains: Washington State, unlike many other states, does not have an income tax. Additionally, the state does not have a specific capital gains tax on the sale of primary residences. While the state does levy a capital gains excise tax on certain sales of stocks, bonds, and other assets, homes are generally excluded from this, meaning your home sale will not trigger a state capital gains tax. This lack of a state capital gains tax can be a significant advantage to Washington residents, making it an even more appealing place to sell a home.   What If You Exceed the Exclusion Limits? In the event that your profit exceeds the capital gains exclusion limits (for example, if you are a single filer who made more than $250,000 in profit on your home), you will be required to pay capital gains tax on the amount exceeding the exclusion. We recently had this happen with a client of ours. She had bought her home when she was single and then married her husband and never changed the title to add his name Federal capital gains taxes are calculated at rates of 0%, 15%, or 20%, depending on your taxable income. Most homeowners fall into the 15% bracket. There may also be an additional 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) if your income exceeds certain thresholds ($200,000 for single filers and $250,000 for married couples filing jointly). Tips for Reducing Your Capital Gains: Even if your home’s sale exceeds the exclusion limits, there are ways to reduce the amount of profit subject to capital gains tax: Home Improvements: The cost of major home improvements, such as a kitchen remodel or adding a deck, can be added to your home’s original purchase price, reducing your taxable gain. Selling Costs: Expenses like real estate agent commissions, title insurance, and transfer taxes can also be subtracted from your sale price, reducing the taxable gain. Document Everything: Keep thorough records of home improvements and selling expenses. These documents are essential for calculating your actual gain and maximizing the exclusion. Final Thoughts: For many Washington homeowners, the capital gains tax exclusion on primary residences offers an opportunity to keep more of the profit from selling their home. By meeting the ownership and use requirements and understanding the exclusions, you may be able to avoid paying any capital gains tax on the sale of your home. If you are getting ready to sell your home and would like to talk to a real estate agent who is familiarized with Capital Gains Tax give us a call at Rethinking Real Estate. We would love to help you save more money. As always, it’s a good idea to consult with a tax advisor or real estate professional to make sure you’re taking advantage of all the tax breaks available to you.  💡 Curious about more homeownership tips? Follow us at Rethinking Real Estate for insights and advice that keeps you informed! We have more blog posts at https://rethinkingre.com/blog or go to our youtube channel at  https://youtube.com/@rethinkingre

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