Received this in my email in-box Monday morning... what a great surprise!
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Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Best In Design - Room Reveal
Friday, January 11, 2013
10 Tips Everyone Should Know Before Remodeling by Carla Aston
10 Tips Everyone Should Know Before Remodeling
by Carla Aston of Aston Design Studio
Came across this post on Pinterest (are you noticing a theme?). I've read so many of these types of articles over the years, that I usually just skip right past them. Most are filled with the same vague, "no-kidding sherlock" information. This was one of the best I've read.
The tips are not rocket science, but simple (and important) things that most people just don't think of.
Worth a read and by the way Carla - that shower bench rocks!
by Carla Aston of Aston Design Studio
Came across this post on Pinterest (are you noticing a theme?). I've read so many of these types of articles over the years, that I usually just skip right past them. Most are filled with the same vague, "no-kidding sherlock" information. This was one of the best I've read.
The tips are not rocket science, but simple (and important) things that most people just don't think of.
Worth a read and by the way Carla - that shower bench rocks!
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Trending on Pinterest today...
Trending on Pinterest today...
It looks like Canadian Blogger Christine Dovey and her Designer, Meridith Heron had a ton of fun designing this Parisian Boutique meets New York apartment kitchen.
It looks like Canadian Blogger Christine Dovey and her Designer, Meridith Heron had a ton of fun designing this Parisian Boutique meets New York apartment kitchen.
Besides the combination of white & gold, traditional & modern that is so chic (and hot right now), I am particularly in love with the tall glass door cabinets. The one on the left has roll-out shelves for those special serving pieces that it's such a shame to hide away. The antique mirror fronts are a brilliant and gorgeous solution for hiding those not-so-pretty pantry items. I also love the mix of cabinet hardware. I think that those who are much more clever than I would call that "layering".
Imagine if that whole wall had been glass? well, I know... there's that pesky problem of where would you put the refrigerator(s).
This kitchen was featured in an issue of Style At Home
Great job Christine and Meridith~!
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Kitchen and Bath remodel budgets - When is it too much?
Thank you Jennifer H for your question!
"Ok, here's a question: how to do you know if you're over-renovating your house? I have many more projects I'd like to do, but I'm at risk of coming near my purchase price! I also have no plans on moving in the near future"
If you spend any time at all reading about remodels on the internet, you'll quickly find this is one of the most frequently asked questions that people have when it comes to remodeling. I think the reason people find it so hard to find a satisfying answer, is because there is no one right answer that applies to everyone in every situation. I have to admit, it bothers me a little bit when I read articles that state as fact that anyone considering a remodel should limit their budget to no more than "x" percentage of the value of their home "in order to get the maximum return on their investment". The truth is, the National Average Cost of for a Major Kitchen remodel in the US for 2011 was $82,000, and for many homeowners the typical 20% percentage amount would severely restrict their options for a remodel, or possibly not allow a major remodel at all. What these articles don't make clear is that an "investment" based budget is really only appropriate when your main, and possibly your only motivation, is to improve the value of your home. But, what if improving the asking price of your home is not your primary goal?
What if you're not planning to sell your home any time soon? What if you are motivated to simply improve how you and your family enjoy your home? What if you have the means and you want a little bit more of that "Want" side of the pie. Our homes are our most personal spaces, it's where we spend a huge amount of time, and it's where we make a statement to our friends, family and colleagues about who we are. How do you quantify that? I think we could all look around our homes and see things that we've purchased because we enjoy them, not necessarily for their investment value.
If someone truly is remodeling strictly to improve the value of their home for re-sale, then the absolute best thing they can do is not rely on any vague catch all formulas, but speak with a Real Estate professional who knows their area really well, and who can assess for them what improvements their home truly needs, and what return on investment their neighborhood can realistically accommodate.
I've written a little more on this topic on my website, www.shyloprestondesigns.com under Tips & Info / Priorities.
"Ok, here's a question: how to do you know if you're over-renovating your house? I have many more projects I'd like to do, but I'm at risk of coming near my purchase price! I also have no plans on moving in the near future"
If you spend any time at all reading about remodels on the internet, you'll quickly find this is one of the most frequently asked questions that people have when it comes to remodeling. I think the reason people find it so hard to find a satisfying answer, is because there is no one right answer that applies to everyone in every situation. I have to admit, it bothers me a little bit when I read articles that state as fact that anyone considering a remodel should limit their budget to no more than "x" percentage of the value of their home "in order to get the maximum return on their investment". The truth is, the National Average Cost of for a Major Kitchen remodel in the US for 2011 was $82,000, and for many homeowners the typical 20% percentage amount would severely restrict their options for a remodel, or possibly not allow a major remodel at all. What these articles don't make clear is that an "investment" based budget is really only appropriate when your main, and possibly your only motivation, is to improve the value of your home. But, what if improving the asking price of your home is not your primary goal?
What if you're not planning to sell your home any time soon? What if you are motivated to simply improve how you and your family enjoy your home? What if you have the means and you want a little bit more of that "Want" side of the pie. Our homes are our most personal spaces, it's where we spend a huge amount of time, and it's where we make a statement to our friends, family and colleagues about who we are. How do you quantify that? I think we could all look around our homes and see things that we've purchased because we enjoy them, not necessarily for their investment value.
If someone truly is remodeling strictly to improve the value of their home for re-sale, then the absolute best thing they can do is not rely on any vague catch all formulas, but speak with a Real Estate professional who knows their area really well, and who can assess for them what improvements their home truly needs, and what return on investment their neighborhood can realistically accommodate.
I've written a little more on this topic on my website, www.shyloprestondesigns.com under Tips & Info / Priorities.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Top 10 Trends from the 2011 NKBA Design Competition
Top 10 Trends from the 2011 NKBA Design Competition
Monday, May 16, 2011
Contact: Annette Gray
Editorial Services Coordinator
agray@nkba.org
(800) THE-NKBA ext. 3773
The National Kitchen & Bath Association reveals the latest in kitchen and bath design
HACKETTSTOWN, NJ (May 17, 2011) – The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) reveals the latest standout design trends culled from the 2011 NKBA Design Competition.Representing what’s currently fresh and forward-thinking in kitchen and bath design, distinct visual elements and color, unique design details, personalized products and materials, and an architecturally artistic approach to proportion are among the strong themes seen in the nearly 500 entries received in the competition.
"Each year, NKBA member designers exceed expectations and raise the standard we've come to anticipate from their entries in the NKBA Design Competition,” said 2011 NKBA President David Alderman, who is also a Certified Master Kitchen & Bath Designer (CMKBD). “NKBA designers continue to find surprising ways to incorporate complex design solutions and the latest technology into incredible kitchen and bathroom designs. The National Kitchen & Bath Association is excited to release the overriding trends conveyed in the 2011 NKBA Design Competition."
1) Commitment to Color
Design by: Jennifer Gilmer, CKD
Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Ltd.
Chevy Chase, MD
Photo: Bob Narod Photographer, LLC
Clients and designers alike are making strong commitments to color. The relationship with vibrant color is introduced into the room through a backsplash of back-painted glass in a strong carrot orange, representing a color that’s smooth and fresh, and also refined enough to pair with the contemporary exotic wood cabinetry. This is a sleek kitchen deserving of a color that makes a statement. The tangerine, mango, and carrot family of colors is being incorporated into the palette of stylishly appropriated residential spaces across the country.
2) Tactile Appeal through Textures
Design by: Aimee Nemeckay
Susan Fredman Design Group
Chicago, IL
Photo: Nick Novelli, Novelli Photodesign
The use of actual and implied texture offers a tactile and visual feast. Lines, colors, and patterns can act as either a point of interest in a given space or a mellow background to a more prominent component. The textured touch is apparent through an oversized glass mosaic tiled rug inset into the limestone floor, creating the effect of an actual textured and patterned area rug. A quilted effect, also seen in fashion trends, was created using custom-made glass keystone tiles, adding a shimmering surface to the wall of the shower.
3) The Attributes of Glass
Design by: Kirsti Wolfe
Kirsti Wolfe Designs
Bend, OR
Photo: Paula Watts Photography
The National Kitchen & Bath Association is seeing glass shining and glimmering throughout kitchen and bath designs this year. Lighted panels of Mica art glass incorporated into the design of the volcanic stainless steel hood, the window in the door, and a glass tiled backsplash shining from behind granite countertops act as pops of color and light against the warmth of wood. In this example, they also help to provide cohesion, and as glass continues to be used in so many places and spaces, the application appears almost limitless.
4) Freestanding and Angled Tubs
Design by: Susan J. Klimala, CKD
The Kitchen Studio of Glen Ellyn
Glen Ellyn, IL
Photo: Carlos Vergara Photography
Large freestanding tubs are taking front and center in bathroom design, and in this master bath retreat, the tub is centered and visible through French doors leading to the bedroom space. Freestanding tubs could be considered almost the norm, creating a focal point of near sculptural quality. Rounded, rectangular, and angled tubs are specified as an artistic accent that also provides a soothing soak. Whether situated on stones, wood flooring, or a low stage of sorts, the freestanding soaking tub is an integral part of many master or main bathrooms.
5) Espresso and Chocolate in Cabinetry
Design by: Melissa Nierman
Rutt of Los Altos
Los Altos, CA
Photo: ©Dean Birinyi
Silky hues of chocolate and espresso are shimmering from the doors and drawer fronts of distinct cabinetry, incorporated into striking kitchens, ranging from contemporary to traditional. Natural finishes—absent glazing, distressing, and overall pomp and circumstance—are now found in many kitchen designs, as simple chocolate browns act as the smooth and understated partner to brighter accents. Whether black coffee or milk chocolate, the cabinetry foundation in the mid to dark brown family of colors appears rooted in the residential design approach.
6) Walk-in Pantries
Design by: Sheila Off, CMKBD
Signature Woodworks, LLC
Gig Harbor, WA
Photo: Brian DalBaclon
With the introduction of greater amounts of open wall space, and less in the way of wall cabinets, the need for a larger separate pantry has been prompted. Open plan kitchens are requiring alternative pantry and storage solutions. The grand scale of this kitchen aptly allowed for a walk-in pantry designed for use as a working pantry. Sinks, dish storage, and food storage can be incorporated into pantries that appear as this one, to be entirely integrated in appearance into the space, and serving as a transition from one room to the next.
7) Detailed Ceilings
Design by: Jodi Hook
Klaff’s, Inc.
Danbury, CT
Photo: Digital Arts
This sophisticated design has a rustic touch that relies on traditional architectural features paired with sleek contemporary finishes and materials. The rough-hewn barn beam ceiling is beautifully detailed, and although the detail was newly created, it appears as if original to a comfort-worn space. The ceiling is highlighted by cable-strung lighting, which lights the textures and natural intricacies of the rough wood, bringing intimacy to the elongated space. This design feature straddles two trends seen strongly in the competition: detailed ceilings and textures.
8) Natural Elements
Design by: Lori W. Carroll
Lori Carroll & Associates
Tucson, AZ
Photo: Jon Mancuso
This refined rustic southwestern powder room is the perfect example of the use of natural elements in design. An agate slab became the foundation for this bathroom space that’s as unique and distinct as the elusively elegant stone itself. Translucent crystal formations within the rock are highlighted by backlighting that sets off the smoky grays, brown, and icy white. Polished stone combined with leather-wrapped cabinetry is at the core of this opulent space. When the beauty of nature can be brought inside a home, the impact is unmatched.
9) A Tiered Approach to Proportion
Design by: Tia Moras, CMKBD
Lonetree Ent. Ltd.
Vancouver, BC
Photo: Gary Beale, B-Plus Studios, LTD
The concept of stacked components and graduated overlapping heights was brought to a new level of sophistication in this urban kitchen. Varying heights of the island surfaces, the elevated and overlapping dining countertop, and the statuesque pantry cabinet create asymmetrical proportion, while complementing the cityscape outside the windows. The tallest point of the pantry, thickness of the countertops, and the dining surface resting effortlessly on the prep and cook surface convey a proportionally tiered balance to this contemporary space.
10) Inlaid Flooring
Design by: Mark Allen Schag, CKD
Allen Cabinetry & The Counter Top Shop
Mansfield, OH
Photo: Mark Allan Schag
Variations of inlaid flooring are being incorporated into many new kitchen and bath designs. To accommodate the wet environment in this French style master bathroom, a new wood-look ceramic tile combined with natural travertine was used. Each piece was hand-fitted and angled to mimic the look of a real parquet floor. French carved cabinetry legs draw additional attention to the stunning floor. Designers and installers are being called on to bring innovation, stretching old boundaries as materials are selected and flooring is installed.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Cupboards versus Cabinetry
I recently stumbled upon a forum, wherein a poster was asking for help in choosing where to purchase new cabinetry. Like many of us, she was torn between quality and price. Since cabinetry is a particular passion of mine, I couldn't help but share my two cents.
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Hi, as you said, your dilemma is a pretty common one.
Full disclosure; I am a Kitchen & Bath Designer and have been for close to 15 years. In that time I've worked with over 13 different cabinet lines, from very low end to very high end. On the low end you might be better off trying to install the cardboard box the cabinet came in, to the high end where you are literally lining your room with custom made fine furniture. Neither is appropriate in all situations.
In all of my experiences and the nightmares that I've seen in the field, my biggest take away is this... if this purchase is any more than a temporary fix, always buy the very best you can afford. Good quality cabinetry should last for 20+ years. Most of today's builder grade/ stock cabinets that look great in photography or in a showroom, will not hold up to the riggers of daily use, and within a very short time will begin to look really bad. Sagging hinges, failing drawer boxes & peeling finishes.
Realtors will often say the best way to get the largest possible return on your home is to purchase the least expensive house in a really nice neighborhood. It is similarly true of cabinetry; the best way to get the biggest bang for your buck is to find a very high quality cabinet with a lifetime warranty and a longstanding reputation for worth, and then with the help of the sales consultant, explore the least expensive options of that line. Often you'll end up enjoying all of the benefits of the quality construction, with only slightly limited selections on door style and color. In addition, a showroom that deals with high quality cabinetry is likely to have access to the best installers, which can make all the difference in the world to your finished product.
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Woodmode-Construction
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Hi, as you said, your dilemma is a pretty common one.
Full disclosure; I am a Kitchen & Bath Designer and have been for close to 15 years. In that time I've worked with over 13 different cabinet lines, from very low end to very high end. On the low end you might be better off trying to install the cardboard box the cabinet came in, to the high end where you are literally lining your room with custom made fine furniture. Neither is appropriate in all situations.
In all of my experiences and the nightmares that I've seen in the field, my biggest take away is this... if this purchase is any more than a temporary fix, always buy the very best you can afford. Good quality cabinetry should last for 20+ years. Most of today's builder grade/ stock cabinets that look great in photography or in a showroom, will not hold up to the riggers of daily use, and within a very short time will begin to look really bad. Sagging hinges, failing drawer boxes & peeling finishes.
Realtors will often say the best way to get the largest possible return on your home is to purchase the least expensive house in a really nice neighborhood. It is similarly true of cabinetry; the best way to get the biggest bang for your buck is to find a very high quality cabinet with a lifetime warranty and a longstanding reputation for worth, and then with the help of the sales consultant, explore the least expensive options of that line. Often you'll end up enjoying all of the benefits of the quality construction, with only slightly limited selections on door style and color. In addition, a showroom that deals with high quality cabinetry is likely to have access to the best installers, which can make all the difference in the world to your finished product.
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Woodmode-Construction
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
The Granite Gurus: An interview with a Soapstone Countertop Homeowner...
This is exactly the kind of "break it down" information that I'm hoping to bring here, and I didn't have to write a word! Please enjoy this post from one of my favorite blogs... The Granite Gurus: An interview with a Soapstone Countertop Homeowner...: "Soapstone is a very misunderstood countertop material, so I thought it would be fun to do an interview with someone who has Soapstone counte..."
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