Canada East to the Maritimes
Metal: Black With Brass or Gold What’s going on. Product designers are pairing black metal with warm metallic finishes like brass and gold. The VanSickles, design pros from Apex, North Carolina, love the clean lines they’re seeing in black and brass pieces. “Black and brass would fly in North Carolina, and I also imagine this sophisticated look in urban high rises too,” Sandra says. Artwork: Wendover Art Group; furniture: Worlds Away
Carve out an office. If your main living area also needs to double up as an office space, you’ll probably want to create a quieter working zone away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. In an open-plan layout, this can be difficult to do, but the beauty of a broken-plan design like this, with a glass wall dividing the space into two clear areas, is that you gain an extra room without cutting off light and garden views.
Here, a large open-plan living area is neatly divided with the addition of a tall fireplace with see-through glass doors on both sides, allowing a line of sight from one side to the other while clearly separating the space into two living areas — a main seating area on this side and a smaller den behind. The neat firewood “wall” next to the fireplace is a practical addition and provides another division between the two spaces.
A honed finish, as seen here, also has the advantage of hiding scratches that can stick out in a gleaming polished stone. However, they can be more easily stained if not well-sealed, as the material tends to be more receptive to absorbing oils. Each has its advantages, so you should research your choice and not make a snap decision when meeting with the supplier. When looking at stone samples, be sure to ask what finishes are available and look at each individually, as the finish can greatly affect the appearance, even radically changing the apparent color. Applying sealant can also darken the appearance to a degree, so you should ask to see a sealed sample — it may be extra work for the supplier, but it will save you a potential surprise on installation day.
Selecting the material for your kitchen fixtures isn’t all about trends and pretty color palettes. Metals come in various finishes, and there can be major practical considerations as well. Try mixing stainless steel with brushed brass for a subtle contrast, as shown here. For instance, brushed finishes tend to hide fingerprints and light water spotting much better than polished ones. Brass and gold-tone finishes tend to be warmer and more dramatic, while stainless steel and silvery-tone finishes tend to blend into the color palette more but add more sparkle.
Golden nugget of advice. Unless it’s a color other than chrome, a [faucet is a faucet]. Something basic will be fine, so don’t spend your hard-earned cash there. Funnel your money into custom cabinetry instead. Having a smart drawer that fits your lipstick collection perfectly, in a color you love and with a concealed bin, will be worth so much more than the bragging rights for Italian [faucets].
Tight budget or short on ideas? Go big! This is one of my favorite tricks. Sometimes you can’t afford the Rolls-Royce of every element in your space. But if you can distract from your more economical, practical design decisions with a wow feature, you can save yourself thousands in upgrading everything unnecessarily. Oversized handles, for example, can add a touch of drama and interest to an otherwise plain bathroom. Have you got a high bathroom ceiling? Find the biggest pendant light your electrician can lift, and fill the bathroom with an object so demanding of attention that it develops a personality of its own. You’ll find it gives your bathroom a real designer edge and detracts from the cheaper elements in the space.
Brown, tan and mocha-colored grouts are hard to get right with regular grout. Many people are drawn to epoxy grout for its even color. The color of epoxy grout comes from the filler and is constant throughout. Regular grout can have its pigment removed during the cleaning phase. You can make epoxy grouts sparkle by adding iridescent particles to your mix. Ask your contractor to prepare a sample board in advance to see how much sparkle you really want. The options are endless — you can even fine-tune colors by purchasing different fillers and blending them. Tip: Medium gray is the safest color choice for regular grout, because many installations gray out over time as soap and water take their toll.
Epoxy grout is made from two different resins mixed with a filler, making it very waterproof and bettered suited to harsher cleaning products. Epoxy thinsets offer greater bond strength and chemical resistance than cementitious grouts. Although it has plenty of benefits, note that epoxy grout is more difficult to work with than regular grout. It also tends to look like plastic, which some homeowners don't like. Regular grout is very easy to shape in outside corners where tile wraps around a wall, curb or shower niche. It is harder to achieve the same effect with epoxy grout, since it takes a little longer to set up in the grout joint. I find it makes the most sense to grout a bathroom in three to five rounds. Epoxy grout sets quickly, so you don't want to mix all the grout for the bathroom and then rush it into place.
A good tiler will work more quickly than you could ever hope to, and they will be able to correctly use epoxy grout, giving you a superior and longer-lasting finish than you’d achieve yourself with a regular cement-based grout. They will also be able to disguise an uneven wall or an unsightly edge to a degree. The tiles and grout are your first defense against water damage. Inferior tiling puts your whole room and subfloor at risk. Step away from the tiles and call an expert.
Unless you’ve done it before, and done it well, don’t DIY the tile. It’s just not worth it. Planning the tiling and tiling itself are both art forms. I have seen far too many new bathrooms that only look good when you’re not wearing your glasses. Once you see a crooked tile or uneven grouting, it cannot be unseen. A tiler who plans the space, tile by tile, to ensure the placement of cuts and grout lines will be perfect is worth their weight in gold. You may be tempted to tackle a job that seems straightforward, but don’t do it. Especially if you have contrasting grout.
Specifying no cabinetry handles often means expensive opening mechanisms or hand-cut joinery. No [seams] in stone means buying oversized slabs and having an expert stonemason on hand to book-match the ends perfectly. And no grout lines means either huge, expensive tiles that take two tilers to lay (which doubles the labor cost) or porcelain sheets that can be cut and installed only by a stonemason — onto a wall that most likely has to be straightened instead of just packed
Minimalism (almost) never comes cheap. “Clean, sleek lines” is what my clients ask for — think single sheets of material, no [seams], no handles and no grout lines. The most common misconception I come across is that this is a cheap look to achieve. People are fooled by the apparent simplicity of the aesthetic. But to achieve a truly beautiful minimalist look, the detail in the build needs to be precise. Some of the simplest-looking spaces I have worked on have been the most expensive, due to the immense detail and meticulous planning
How did they do that? Any footings could have damaged the tree’s roots. So this “floating” portion is made of simple precast concrete pavers that are about 3 inches thick and placed atop large black-stained treated timbers set in a bed of sand and gravel. The timbers don’t extend all the way to the edges of the pavers, which creates the illusion that the pavers are floating. The pavers that don’t appear to float are set directly into a bed of sand and gravel. The edge around the tree was much trickier to accomplish. “Our contractor’s carpenter is a cabinetmaker, which was important to us,” Awes says. “He scribed the tree just as you’d scribe a wall for a cabinet.” The architects then worked out the silhouette and rendered the pieces using computer-aided design software. A water-jet company used the renderings to cut the curved edges of the concrete and the ipe. Then they drilled into the concrete (a tedious task) and bolted the wood to it, leaving a small gap detail between the two materials. Should the wood edge ever get in the way of the oak’s growth, they can remove it.
Another living area in the home is dubbed “the sanctuary.” It’s a place where the moms go to be alone and relax. They wanted their family memorabilia to be displayed here, and their trusted designer pulled out all the stops: Displaying their collected and inherited books on the built-in shelves was a given, but reupholstering a beloved piece of furniture became an extra-special mission. The mother of one of the homeowners had passed away a couple of years ago, and her daughter kept her old sofa. Pasquale made some modifications to the furniture frame to make it more current, and re-covered it in vibrant fabric, leaving a small section of the original fabric under one of the sofa cushions to preserve the memory of the cherished piece.
The kitchen is all about materials and textures, from the ground up. The wide-plank white oak floors have an oiled finish and a scrubbed open-grain texture that Pasquale says feels like old wood weathered by the ocean. The clients also really wanted brick in their kitchen; they had seen it before and loved it as a wall treatment. So the designer decided to use an old Chicago reclaimed brick on the exterior wall to create the illusion that it’s part of the structure.
Use the stair landing. A stair landing can be an underutilized space in a home. Consider adding a desk and shelves to a landing to make the most of the area, especially if it has breathtaking water views like this one in Charleston, South Carolina, does.
Flank a desk and striking wall art with custom window seats. Designer Lauren Webb added a second window in this Vancouver home office to maximize the view and add more light. Beneath each window is built-in seating that contains file drawers. The custom desk has leather cabinet pulls and grommet holes cut out for cord management.
Barn door. For this bathroom remodel, removing an inward-swinging door and replacing it with a sliding barn door freed up valuable inches. What’s more, the new door style allowed the designer to widen the door opening, which made the area feel even larger.
Use all five senses. We often think about sight and touch when it comes to design: How does it look? How does it feel? But don’t forget about sounds. The sound of a crackling fire, whether real or recorded, will help warm your spirits. And when it comes to smells and tastes, get those kitchens humming. When creating a homey, warm atmosphere, nothing is more evocative than your sense of smell. Go ahead and make that coffee and hot chocolate or bake your favorite cookies and pies. Your nose and taste buds will thank you.
Light it up. Lighting can set different moods depending on the type of lightbulbs used. For fall and winter months, avoid cooler shades, such as clear and blue-tinted bulbs. To create a soothing setting, warmer lightbulbs like soft white or yellow-tinted ones are recommended. Edison bulbs give a nice warm glow and are now available in LED as well. Try grouping your lights together to create a warm focal point.
Turn to the dark side. Dark paint colors on walls will create warmth in a chic, modern way. When balanced with lighter-colored furniture or accessories, dark walls can become a focal point while feeling comfortable and snug. Television rooms are a great spot for dark-colored walls, because they can provide that movie theater effect.
Large windows. The paned windows open the kitchen right up to horse country, bringing pastoral views into the kitchen. This bay window was also an opportunity to bring in a little French farmhouse style via the fleur-de-lis canisters, a topiary, pottery and paisley on the scalloped window treatments. 2. Oil-rubbed bronze fixtures and accessories. The antique look of the oil-rubbed finishes on the bronze faucets and hardware bring in a feeling of age and a rustic touch within the luxe space. Clement repeated the finish on the faucets, pot filler, hardware and decorative lantern to tie everything together. This finish also picks up colors in the marble countertops. The silhouettes on these pieces are elegant in their classic simplicity.
Furniture-inspired cabinetry. Farmhouse style often incorporates a mix of cabinet styles and finishes. This recalls the Yankee ingenuity of freestanding furniture one would likely have seen in a vintage farmhouse kitchen, such as china cabinets and pie safes. Hanson recommends going with classic cabinet and drawer styles for a similar look. This kitchen features beaded inset cabinetry with simple raised panel doors and slab drawer fronts. Mixing finishes on the hardware, as well as using the glass-front cabinet doors with mullions, also lends to that freestanding furniture piece look. Simple knobs and cup pulls and exposed finial hinges all work well together.
Master bedroom: Using the same colors as the rest of the house, Nguyen put an extra emphasis on romance in the master bedroom. A gold chandelier hangs over a custom solid maple bed and nightstands. Wallpaper: Crown Wallpaper; toss cushions and chunky knit throw: Indaba; Gold Bling chandelier: Robert Abbey; custom solid maple nightstands and mission-style bed; marble table lamps: West Elm
The wife wanted a retreat for reading a book or drinking a glass of wine, so a sunny nook in the kitchen was designated just for her. “The wing-back armchair is a cheeky nod to the queen of the home,” Nguyen says.
Cabinetry: Across from the sink, stained gray custom cabinetry with Shaker fronts and integrated refrigeration goes all the way to the ceiling.
Invest in an island baking station. If you’re a dedicated baker, you know that a regular-height countertop isn’t ideal for pressing and rolling out dough. A dedicated island extension for just this purpose could be a worthwhile investment. Here, a built-in baking station features a marble top perfect for keeping dough cool.
Do use the power of steam. Steam cleaners are a great tool for cleaning stone and grout in your shower. There are canister-style steamers that have a hose and attachments that are perfect for steam cleaning flat surfaces. They also have a small direct nozzle that will clean your grout without using any chemicals.
Do use eraser sponges. A great product that cleans your stone without any damage is an eraser sponge, like the one put out by Mr. Clean. It uses the technology of friction to “melt” the soap scum off the walls of your shower. Because there are no chemicals in the sponge, you can even use it while you are in the shower.
Don’t use ammonia. Ammonia is another no-no when it comes to cleaning stone showers. Besides breaking down sealants, if mixed with bleach it can also make for a toxic combination. So if you can’t use these things, how are you supposed to keep your stone shower clean and free of soap scum? I’ve got a few tips that will do the trick without any harsh chemicals.
French Blue Why it works: French blue, also known as Cadet blue, has a touch of gray and a slightly sunny undertone. It’s a true blue that can impart a historical feeling in a traditional kitchen, while its medium intensity can give a modern kitchen a fresh vibe.
Deep Teal Why it works: Similar to navy, deep teal is a dramatic partner to the white finishes in your kitchen. It has a luxurious intensity that can give your kitchen high style.
On your cabinets: Although a pale color, aqua is still notable when placed in the kitchen. Try using it as the focal point of the room such as on an island base. Alternatively, it can be a terrific color for all of your cabinetry, as shown in the previous photo, because it’s not an overwhelming tone. Try it with: Aqua is a well-rounded color and can work seamlessly with many palettes, from pale colors such as whites and grays to bright variations of reds and yellows. For metals and hardware, I recommend copper, brass or chrome.
On your cabinets: Choose cobalt blue for just your lower cabinetry if you want to make the area above the cabinets feel taller and brighter. Choose it all the way up on the cabinets if you want to draw the eye up. Try it with: Cobalt looks best next to warm or pale woods and white or gray finishes. Reflective accessories and fixtures tend to blend well with this bold blue. Go for copper and gold accessories or hardware to really give your kitchen a regal look.
On your cabinets: Navy is a terrific choice for kitchen island cabinets. As shown here, the dense color serves as an anchor within the space and creates a focal point in a mostly white kitchen. Try it with: Finishes in white, pale or warm woods and any shiny metals in the form of accessories, hardware or appliances will all look fabulous with your navy cabinets.
Navy Why it works: Classic and elegantly dramatic, navy is an excellent choice for kitchen cabinets, especially when paired with a white countertop. The bold contrast will give your navy cabinets a richer look and make your gleaming whites even more crisp.
Modern Farmhouse Touches Farmhouse elements are beloved for their warmth, practicality and nostalgic feel. In this powder room, a reclaimed-wood mirror, rustic wood vanity and shiplap accent wall create a farmhouse feel that’s not too precious.
Inky Walls The dark blue walls in this powder room envelop the space in drama and sophistication. For anyone who wants to test out a bold wall color, the powder room is a great place to start, as it’s small and not that frequently used.
Detail: Eat-In Kitchen Not every kitchen has room for a full eat-in space, but if you can work in a small table or even a place to dine on your island, it will bring that perfect sense of welcome to complete your farmhouse look. For extra style, mix and match your seating, and let your guests pull up the chair of their choice.
Essential: Vintage Elements Speaking of displaying treasured heirlooms, a farmhouse look benefits from the inclusion of some vintage furniture pieces as well. Colorful chairs with worn paint, an antique light fixture or a well-weathered table bring a sense of history that gives your kitchen a lived-in feel
Material: Weathered Metal There are few better foils to warm wood than crisp metal — and, of course, true farmhouses contain many a metal pail or tool — so it makes sense to find touches of metal in a farmhouse kitchen. Using too much sleek, polished metal in your space may push the look toward a more modern or transitional sensibility, but don’t be afraid to work with weathered or antiqued metals like galvanized steel, antique brass or blackened bronze. Add these through light fixtures, storage bins, accessories and brushed-finish appliances.
Patterned ceramic floor tiles and a sliding glass door give the bathroom a fresh, modern look. Designer Susan Klimala of The Kitchen Studio of Glen Ellyn used black, white and gray for most of the space, and then added in chrome and oak accents. For the tub-shower combo, she chose a chrome barn-door track for the glass door. The change from curtain to glass lets the light from within the showering area shine into the entire room.
The refinished tub-shower combo gleams in the bathroom designed by Michelle Ruber of Encircle Design and Build. The design-build firm, which focuses on sustainable work, had the original tub refinished. Not only did that save resources, but it also saved Ruber’s clients money. That allowed them to splurge on these aqua glass tiles. Inside, the family opted to include a shower head on the left side and a handheld sprayer along the back wall. This comes in handy when they bathe their two children. While bathing the kids, the parents can swing open the glass door. When it’s closed, the clear pane gives the room a more open, airy feel.
Distinct ELF Stone Look
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