Wish List
7. Wood floors. I’ve been encouraging clients to use their wood flooring in both the living areas and the kitchen for years because it gives a home a beautiful sense of consistency.Yes, it is true that a wood floor will not handle major water spills or leaks in the same way as hard tile, but with a little care and upkeep, the beautiful, inviting look (and subtle softness underfoot) is more than worth it, so you can expect this trend to last and last.See how to clean your hardwood floors
Blue is an especially popular choice for kitchens going into 2018, either as an all-over cabinet hue or as an accent to a more neutral scheme. It’s technically a cool hue, but it’s a cheerful color that is many people’s favorite, so it’s a natural choice for those who want to try a less-neutral painted finish without taking a wild color risk they might regret.
5. Undermount sinks. Not charmed by the apron-front style? Another one of my personal favorites, and a popular choice at seemingly every trade show, is a crisply rectangular stainless steel undermount sink. The practicality of this style is high because the undercounter style avoids seams above the counter that can catch crumbs and debris. Stylewise, the look is understated, letting the bold features of the kitchen be the star but giving a subtly clean and modern look that says you have an eye for details.
4. Single-lever faucets. A great complement to an apron-front sink, or practically any style of sink really, is the beautifully simple single-lever faucet. The simple silhouette of this style of faucet suits a contemporary kitchen but also provides a smart modern counterpoint to traditional elements to achieve a transitional look.Look for models with a subtle pull-down hand spray to get multifunctionality while still preserving the sleek and simple look.How to pick a new faucet
3. Apron-front sinks. Speaking of farmhouse style, kitchens all over are embracing the beauty of apron-front sinks. This farmhouse essential works with a variety of styles, especially since it can look great in softly rounded porcelain, sleek stainless steel (possibly the top choice) or other metals and materials to create a variety of looks. This style of sink requires a different cabinet than a typical drop-in or undermount sink, so if you too are planning to add one to your kitchen, make sure to design with it in mind from the start.
2. Farmhouse style. Alternatively, another enduring style trend for kitchens is farmhouse or farmhouse-inspired style. Beadboard, soft heritage colors, rustic hardware and lighting, and planks of knotty wood all give a room a lived-in feel, in a less stuffy or fussy way than traditional styles can sometimes feel.The humble beauty of farmhouse kitchens can be a great inspiration for homes of any size or budget, so expect to see more and more of this style in 2018 and beyond.See how to get a farmhouse-style kitchen | Browse the latest farmhouse kitchen photos
Transitional kitchens mix traditional and contemporary elements, so the space can feel rich and inviting but also up-to-date. The somewhat relaxed nature of a transitional kitchen works well with other minor trend elements like furniture-style islands and open shelves, giving you the freedom to follow traditional rules when they suit you and break the rules when it suits your mood.See how to get a transitional-style kitchen
Ultimately, popcorn ceilings are not all alike, so if your only memory of this finish is from a well-worn apartment with a spiky, discolored ceiling, it may be worth giving the treatment a second look. When done well, texture paint can be very subtle.But if you prefer a more crisp or stylish finish, there are many more options to choose from.How to remove, hide or play down a popcorn ceilingMoreDesign Debate: Should You Ever Paint a Wood Ceiling White?11 Tricks to Make a Ceiling Look Higher
Popcorn CeilingsTexture-painted ceilings, usually known as popcorn ceilings, are common in older homes, but the finish is less commonly used in construction during the past few decades. To some people, the textured look is an eyesore, which is often made worse by the fact that the treatment is difficult to touch up once stained or damaged, assuming it was applied carefully and evenly in the first place.
Combining a coffered ceiling with some of the other ideas above can produce spectacular results, bringing rich color or pattern to the ceiling while still preserving an air of orderliness.A coffered ceiling like this makes a great upgrade for a dining room, bringing balance, coziness and sophistication while defining a point to hang a chandelier.
Alternately, wall coverings can be used to add subdued texture (instead of wild patterns) to a ceiling, giving a sense of richness similar to wood but even more subtle and in a range of hues. Essentially, a textured wallpaper can be used in the same way as an equivalent paint hue, just with added multi tonality that makes the result more subtle and complex, and even easier to live with.
MoldingThin, delicate wall moldings bring a sense of sophistication to a ceiling, giving the whole surface a richer look without demanding as much attention as many of the previous options. The effect is subtle and is well-suited to a more formal or classical room design.
Two-tone paint. Using a dark or dramatic paint color on the ceiling doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing decision. Like the opposite of an area rug, painting just part of a ceiling can help define a particular zone, like how this open-concept home has a gray paint used over just the kitchen, ending roughly at the edge of the island.Lining up the edge or edges with another element in the room will help it make visual sense, like how in this room the ceiling stripe ends at the same point where the wall finish below changes.
Paint FinishesSemigloss. The higher the degree of gloss in a paint, the more visual depth it will have and the lighter the perceived color will be. So, when choosing a darker shade especially, selecting a semigloss or more subtle satin finish can make a color seem less aggressive and more multidimensional and help keep the paint from absorbing all of the light in the room.
While a painted ceiling is immediately noticeable in a room with stark white walls, when a room has a lot of interesting and eclectic finishes on other surfaces, a rich hue can actually blend in better than a white ceiling. It’s a daring look for sure, but for those who love a lot of personality in their home, a colorful ceiling can be a very livable choice.For the best of both worlds, a navy, deep teal or royal blue shade will feel dramatic but still appear neutral enough to not overwhelm you.See 10 bold ceiling paint ideas
The sky is the limit when it comes to the amount of creativity and beautiful layering you can put into creating a decorative statement on the ceiling. But before we discuss the many stylish or unusual treatments to consider, let’s start with a classic finish you’ve probably seen before.
Painting. The homeowner’s sister helped her commission this painting in Nigeria. It’s by one of her favorite artists, who goes by the name Obi. Wing chair. While shopping with Rosene, the homeowner fell in love with this funky wing chair, which has striped velvet upholstery and nailhead trim. The designer added a cowhide pillow, and the ottoman is leather — a little Texas texture. A floor lamp and throw blanket make it a popular reading spot in the house. A fiddle leaf fig tree adds another organic touch. Wing chair and ottoman: C.R. Laine; fiddle leaf fig tree and gold container: Robert-Lawrence Designs
Built-ins. To make the most of the existing shelves, Rosene had her carpenter add cabinets for additional storage beneath them. There’s lots of room for the homeowners to display some favorite things here, such as the African necklace, decoupaged ostrich egg from South Africa and slingshots from Jamaica. Sofa. The sleeper sofa nestles into the existing 21-inch-deep alcove. It’s upholstered in a nubby textile with velvet piping.The desk. It was goodbye to the bulky desk-hutch unit and the electronics on it and hello to a walnut waterfall desk and a laptop. The base of the desk has another golden touch, a gold leaf Tobi Fairley motif. The chair has a beautiful woven fabric in a gray and bronze wavy pattern.Window treatments. The windows are covered in woven grass blinds, which add an organic texture to the room. The drapes are linen with a patterned trim. Desk: Thomas, Woodbridge; Desk chair: Cross Effect Icon, Sligh; seedpod: Robert-Lawrence Designs
Photos by Michael HunterStudy-Guest Room at a Glance Location: DallasSize: 190 square feet (18 square meters)Designer: Dona RoseneThis couple, a managed-care professional and a doctor, had one child and another on the way when they met their interior designer, Dona Rosene. They needed to turn a jumbled room into a space they could use as their study. And, more important at the time, the space needed to double as a guest room since family members would be arriving to help them after the baby was born. The style. One of the homeowners loves interior design and found Rosene via Houzz. The client was well-armed with lots of inspiration images, which reflected her preference for dark, dramatic colors and organic textures. The couple hail from Nigeria and also have interesting pieces from all over Africa. “I’d call the style Africa-inspired and organic,” Rosene says.
15. In a drawer. This one is a no-brainer, but recent developments in inserts and containers have taken the herb drawer to the next level. For example, by labeling the tops of these containers they are easy to store upright in the drawer, rather than on their sides. Also note that this large drawer front actually conceals two drawers.Find spice drawer organizers
13. The side of the island. Located in the middle of the work triangle, this side of the island is just the spot for neatly arranged herb shelves.
12. Under upper cabinets. This clever solution makes the most of the usually unused space beneath upper cabinets. There are a few ways to secure the jars, including Super-Gluing the lids to the bottom of the cabinet and using Velcro strips.
10. Herb wall. This artistic wall combines cute wooden racks, nice matching herb and spice containers and chalkboard paint. Writing the names in chalk on the wall adds to the charm.
7. Cabinet door racks. This is a great way to squeeze the most storage out of a cabinet. Remember to recess the interior shelves to accommodate the rack.Find wall-mounted spice racks
8. Quartz countertops. Speaking of surfaces, where you really need a hard-wearing material is on your counters, and for that reason engineered quartz has definitely solidified its spot as the top counter material (as confirmed by Houzz’s latest kitchen trends study).As a manufactured but natural stone-based material, quartz has the ability to mimic marble, slate or other stones, or create a solid-hued modern look, meaning it can truly suit any kitchen. This is probably why we’re seeing it so often, and why it won’t go away any time soon. The look may change, but the hard-wearing practicality won’t.
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