Don't forget the lighting

If I could name one constantly overlooked aspect of successful kitchen or bathroom renovation projects, it's the addition of proper lighting.  I always recommend additional lighting to make it more comfortable for the client, allow for a wider range of colour possibilities in cabinets or tile, and to give that "showroom" appearance to the room.  Some people point out that the room already has a light "that's good enough"  I'm here to tell you it seldom is.
   

 

Remember, builders are required merely to provide light to every room, which usually means a basic fixture to fulfill the technical requirements of the building code for safety.  Meaning the homeowner has to be kept from bumping into things, nothing more.  Very few homeowners expand upon this bare bones lighting to truly enhance their rooms, so years later, the house still has the bare minimum in each room, and has grown accosted to not having enough..

Halogen recessed lighting is the most common way to add quality lighting to a newly renovated room.  Most family sized bathrooms can use three; two over the floor, and a wet-area approved one over the tub or shower area, in addition to the vanity lighting.  Splitting a single light over the mirror into two sconces is another way to provide more light, although I'd almost always recommend at least a couple pots.   People are surprised that recessed lighting can be $150-200 each, but on a second floor especially, it means the light itself, a metal insulating box and vapour barrier in the attic, and of course the running of the wire and switch.   It can be done cheaper, but normally without a permit, which is something you never want to get into, or with inferior lights.  An qualified electrician will usually supply his own potlights that have been proven to fit snug against the ceiling (look for cheaper lights to have trim that never sits quite tight to the ceiling). 

Good lighting trumps the old fear of "dark colours making the room look smaller".  They don't.  Not on their own.  It is the lack of light being cast upon the dark colour (or whatever colour for that matter) that makes the room seem smaller.  Nice crisp halogen lighting lets you expand your colour palette to whatever tickles your fancy. You are missing out on a lot of choices if you don't at least consider a dark colour, even as an accent to a room.  And a black granite or quarts top looks fantastic on a lot of wood cabinetry if wanting a sophisticated look.    

Regarding a permit-do not ever consider doing electrical without one, or get talked into one not being needed.  The Electrical Safety Authority for Ontario http://www.esasafe.com/ has blitzed the radio stations the past year outlining the risks.  If un-permitted work should cause fire, other damage or injury, the homeowner has been forewarned-you should not expect to have a claim covered.  You will be liable in a worse case scenario, and the contractor can be fined $50,000 in the blink of an eye.  I have no idea why anyone would avoid a $100 permit.  I always use a master electrician who pulls a permit for the project. And with a a certified electrician on site, it's a good opportunity to get other odds and ends done that you always wanted to tackle.  It can all be done under the same permit as long as you give a little notice to the electrician.