You probably don’t think about towels everyday, but we think you should. It is an essential element of the everyday bathing experience! But take it from us, It’s the simple things like having a better towel that can make this everyday task wonderful. The Turkish bath towel — also called Peshtemal, Hammam or Fouta towels — is experiencing another revival and we want you to know what all the fuss is about!

The use of peshtemals stemmed from their use in traditional hammam bathhouses in the middle east, which was an integral part of everyday life that fulfilled a significant social, cultural, and physiological role in society. Now, peshtemals have made it’s way to pool sides, beaches, spas and bathrooms all around the world! If you don’t have one already, it’s about time you get one, and make it  your new favourite bath and home accessory. 

Image via The Merry Thought

Image via The Marion House

Turkish Towels  Vs.  Standard Terrycloth Towels
 

Turkish bath towels are made of Turkish cotton — a premium cotton with extra long fibres —  and are lightweight, soft, robust, extremely absorbent and incredibly versatile. They are typically larger than the standard towel, yet only weighs about a third of a terrycloth towel of the same size. This is because peshtemals are flat-woven with a smooth, soft texture. They are also known to become even softer, fluffier, and more absorbent with successive washings due to it’s unique material and its superior weave technique.

Fashionable & Decorative
 

Functional and decorative, turkish towels are all the rage right now, but they always have been, and always will be. They are simple yet refined. The thinner fibres and flatweave means more intricate designs can be achieved for a peshtemal than a regular terrycloth towel. They are timeless beautiful works of art that are sure to impress your guests hanging in your bathroom or draped over the couch. Whether you like bold bright colours or plain neutrals, simple solids or patterns, there is a design out there that will tickle your fancy and fit your home aesthetic.

It’s a 7-in-1 towel
 

Aside from its use in the bathroom, peshtemals can be used as a scarf, a summer throw, a picnic blanket, a tablecloth, a yoga mat cover, and as a coverup. To add, the Turkish towel's beautiful designs, lightweight, and ability to pack tightly mean it’s pretty much synonymous with beach vacations as their large size and high absorbency make it the perfect beach towel as well, and just having one around the house during the winter months can be enough to inspire a warm getaway.

Eco-friendly
 

These towels will appeal to the environmentalist in you. In general, peshtemals are made of 100% cotton — a sustainable material — and in many cases naturally dyed! Moreover, peshtemals are so lightweight, they are more energy-efficient than a typical terrycloth towel. They dry much faster, thus don't take on a musty smell...the result - they don't need laundering as often. And when it comes time to wash them, they take much less space in the washer and much less time in the dryer. 

Ideal for allergy suffers
 

Without the conventional loop/pile construction of a standard terrycloth towel, the flat weave and fast drying action mean that peshtemals trap fewer allergens. Making it ideal for allergy sufferers.

Turkish towels are truly a simple luxury that can elevate your bath experience and add a little flare in your life!  Have we converted you yet? Here are some of our favourite designs and sources:

MordernDesignTowel

Aegean Turkish Towel - $25.00
 

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Pokoloko

Fishbone - %55.00

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BathStyle

Diamond Style | Set of 4 - $76.38

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Alifeincolours

Burgundy Turkish Towel - $23.95

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Rug & Weave
(Guelph) 

Barumchuk peshtemal - $39.00

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Buldan Textile

Grey & White Stripe - $34.75

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Do you own a peshtemal? What’s been your experience with it? 

Are you trying to decide on a remodel and not sure what you want to put money into? This post is going to compare different aspects of a kitchen and bathroom renovation to hopefully help you in your decision-making process. The reason I focus on kitchen and bathroom remodeling and not something like say, a basement or deck is because kitchens and bathrooms generally get more attention, and tend to be hotspots of the home.  The kitchen is where you cook and socialize with family and friends. Whereas bathrooms are about taking care of your bodies. You can go ahead and spend a great deal of money on a deck and it could go unnoticed, but invest in a kitchen or bathroom and you are bound to get compliments on your home.

WHICH IS CHEAPER?

Short answer: Bathroom

Pulling some figures from 2016, the average bathroom renovation costs $9,348 for small to medium-bathrooms. Smaller projects can cost between $3,500 and $7,000, whereas larger more elaborate projects can cost you $13,000 to more than $20,000. Most homeowners spend between $5,666 and $13,031 on a bathroom remodel.

Using the same set of data for 2016, the average Canadian homeowner reports spending an average of $20,556 on a kitchen remodel. Smaller kitchens costing between $10,000 and $15,000, which may include painting, refacing cabinets, sink upgrade, and installing a tile backsplash. Larger renovation projects that include custom cabinets, new flooring, high-end appliances, stone countertops etc., can run upwards of $30,000. The vast majority of Canadian homeowners, however, spend between $12,759 and $31,733.*

Which is less invasive?

Short answer: Kitchen (by just a tad bit, but it depends)

Since eating, bathing and doing your business are all equally important things, it’s a close call. If there was only one bathroom in the house and you were to choose between a kitchen and bathroom renovation, you could probably do without a kitchen for a while since you can go to restaurants, order delivery, or microwave and hotplate. 

On the other hand, if you only had one bathroom in the house, and it’s going to be out of commission for a bit, there are little to no alternatives. It’s going to be disruptive to your lifestyle. You could make friends with a neighbor for when nature calls or take advantage of a gym membership and use the showers there.

However, my answer would quickly change to a bathroom being less invasive if there was a second bathroom in the home. 

 

WHICH IS FASTER?

Short answer: Bathroom

You can expect a bathroom renovation to last between 2-3 weeks on average, given there are no major hiccups. Whereas a kitchen remodel really depends on what's being done. Minor upgrades can be done in about 2 weeks, however, a comprehensive kitchen renovation can vary anywhere between 4-12 weeks. Again, this all depends on the time for design, demo, lead-time for products and materials (custom products take longer), and installation.

 

WHICH IS BEST FOR RESALE?

Short answer: Kitchen

This is another "it depends" answer, it depends on your geographical area and what buyers are looking for. I recommend talking to a real estate agent in your area to get a more accurate picture of what homebuyers are really looking for. Albeit, a larger majority of real estate professionals (52%) find the kitchen one of the most important rooms that influences a house sale according to consumer reports. They also have a higher return on investment over bathrooms on average. Although, the range for ROI is very similar for both renovation projects, ranging from 65% to 100%. 

BOTTOM LINE

Put simply, kitchen renovations are more invasive and expensive than bathroom renovations.  Yet renovated kitchens tend to provide more homeowner satisfaction and value added over bathroom renovations. However, every situation is different, you just need to weigh out these factors and consider which room is more appropriate to renovate for your specific needs.

Sources:

Home Advisor - Bathroom Spending

Home Advisor - Kitchen Spending

Consumer report