Bathroom upgrade that's almost as fast as a quick shower

It is not uncommon to purchase a home and get a bathroom that is a horror: avocado green tub, pink wall tile or maybe an old, white sink.

The rest of the house may have charm and character, but you can't imagine living with this outdated bathroom. However, renovating a bathroom can be costly, especially if you decide to gut the room and start over.

While some bathrooms do require a total renovation, most don't require that at all. Most have "good bones" and can be renovated effectively without spending a small fortune, said Dimitris Nacopoulos, owner of Bath Planet of Chicagoland, based in Streamwood.

One option to consider is the use of an acrylic bath and wall system, also known as a bath liner. If you haven't investigated one in awhile, look again. They have come a long way in terms of looks and design and they are made nearby in Palatine, employing local workers.

Many Bath Planet products install right over the existing ugly wall tile and chipped or faded tub or shower for maximum cost-effectiveness and minimum mess. And you don't have to count on workers invading your home for days or weeks. Installation can be completed in as little as one day.

Bath Planet's products feature the elegant look of ceramic tile, granite or marble - in 16 colors and finishes - but without the grout, mess and irritating maintenance issues because the liners are made of a nonporous, easy-to-clean material. Add to that the array of finishing touches that are available, such as shower caddies, soap dishes, grab bars, curved shower rods and a selection of shower doors, and homeowners can easily create a complete, unique bathroom that meets their particular circumstances.

"Today's homeowners particularly gravitate toward our marbleized granite options. The solid colors are not as popular right now and while gray is extremely popular in the rest of the house, in bathrooms, most people still want the warmer tan colors or white," Nacopoulos said.

Gloria Bradshaw of North Aurora, winner of a Bath Planet bathroom and shower makeover in last year's Daily Herald Room for Living contest, is happy with her new tub and acrylic liner.

"They removed my old green cast iron tub and replaced it with a new white one," she said, "and covered the old tile with a tan granite-look surround including two-tier shelving, a soap dish and two grab bars. They also gave me a new shower rod, a fancy new shower head with many settings and a single faucet to replace the two I had."

The retired office worker was never happy with her old bathroom.

"I have always wanted to get rid of that pukey green tub but I have never had the money to do it. I am quite pleased and happy with the way that things turned out," Bradshaw said.

Renee Vogt of Lombard was another contest winner. One of the bathrooms in her 1940s Cape Cod home was very outdated. The Bath Planet makeover of her tub/shower became the impetus she and her husband needed to gut the whole bathroom, even replacing old galvanized steel pipes.

"We replaced the Vogts' old tub with a new one and put in new acrylic walls for a great, modern look," said Nacopoulos.

"It all turned out really nice," Vogt said. "We are very happy with it and now when my daughter comes back for visits, she will have a nice shower to use."

Nationally-recognized bathroom designers currently advocate three main options in bathroom color choice: entirely white (because white bounces light around the room and gives a clean, spacious feel); warm tones of brown, bronze and gold, which complement each other and make the space feel warm and comfortable; and bathrooms full of contrast - light countertops with dark tile or dark countertops with light tile.

For those whose bathroom configuration does not meet their basic living needs or wishes, replacement tubs and shower bases in a wide selection of colors, sizes and styles are available and easier to install than you might think and are an easy way to add value to your home.

Soaking tubs, for instance, are wildly popular today so many homeowners choose to replace their old tubs with them. In addition, accessibility and aging-in-place bath systems, which ensure independent living for as long as possible, can be easily installed in the place of an existing tub. Roll-in showers, walk-in tubs and even jetted tubs for easing tired muscles are all available, as are grab bars, hand-held shower nozzles and other accessibility products.

Nacopoulos said customers receive the Bath Planet exclusive lifetime warranty. In addition, Bath Planet's products have even been evaluated by the experts at The Good Housekeeping Research Institute and deemed worthy of the Good Housekeeping Seal.

Bath Planet products are made by BCI Acrylic/Bath Planet in Palatine. The firm was founded in 1999 by Scott Rosenbach and Tom Barzantny, who sought to distribute their product line through an authorized and trained dealership network. There are 122 Bath Planet dealerships around the country.

Nacopoulos has owned the Chicago-area Bath Planet dealership for 15 years. His territory extends from Rockford to Lake Michigan and from the Indiana border to southern Wisconsin.

"What sets us apart is the fact that we offer great service, competitive pricing, the most color and design options in the business and a lifetime warranty," Nacopoulos said.

For more information, call (877) 705-7177.